Cascading list of programs in right click context menu in Windows 7

In the last tutorial, we added a custom named website’s cascading list with custom menus. In this tutorial, we will create a right click custom named menu and cascading list of sub menu of third party or default Windows programs with icons of your choice too. Like this screenshot:

Practically, you will rarely need to click the Start Button. It is less complicated than the previous tutorial. Only registry entries are enough to do this; you will not need any batch file this time. Features of this right click context menu:

• All the names in right click menu can be changed
• You can add as many as third party or Windows default programs you want, though it is better to keep within a limit
• You can change the icon of them as well
• You may create one menu named Favorites, one Graphics and so on
• It works on Windows 7 Desktop, inside the folders (Explorer) also
• There is no reason to think it will consume huge RAM, unless if you use huge sized icons

Understanding a basic difference between 32 bit and 64 bit version of Windows 7

• For 32 bit of Windows 7, all programs are installed in C:Program Files

• For 64 bit of Windows 7, some programs which supports 64 bit, are installed in C:Program Files (like Adobe Photoshop CS4 upwards); but mostly get installed in C:Program Files (x86)

So, you need to change the path in the registry accordingly. Please, do not ask what kind of program is that gedit, XAMPP, iTunes or ColorPic; there is a nice button with a blank field beside named Search to search this website; use it. All are written.

Creating the registry file

This will add the functionality to get working from right click context menu. Open Notepad, copy paste the following and modify as per your need :

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

 

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTDirectoryBackgroundshellMy Programs]

“Icon”=”C:\websites\favicon4.ico”

“MUIVerb”=”My Programs”

“SubCommands”=”Opera;gedit;Abobe Photoshop;ColorPic;XAMPP;iTunes”

 

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionExplorerCommandStoreshellOpera]

@=”Opera” “Icon”=”C:\Program Files (x86)\Opera\opera.exe”

 

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionExplorerCommandStoreshellOperacommand]

@=”C:\Program Files (x86)\Opera\opera.exe”

 

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionExplorerCommandStoreshellgedit]

@=”gedit” “Icon”=”C:\Program Files (x86)\gedit\bin\gedit.exe”

 

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionExplorerCommandStoreshellgeditcommand]

@=”C:\Program Files (x86)\gedit\bin\gedit.exe”

 

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionExplorerCommandStoreshellAbobe Photoshop]

@=”Abobe Photoshop” “Icon”=”C:\Program Files\Adobe\Adobe Photoshop CS4 (64 Bit)\Photoshop.exe”

 

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionExplorerCommandStoreshellAbobe Photoshopcommand]

@=”C:\Program Files\Adobe\Adobe Photoshop CS4 (64 Bit)\Photoshop.exe”

 

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionExplorerCommandStoreshellColorPic]

@=”ColorPic” “Icon”=”C:\Program Files (x86)\ColorPic 4\ColorPic.exe”

 

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionExplorerCommandStoreshellColorPiccommand]

@=”C:\Program Files (x86)\ColorPic 4\ColorPic.exe”

 

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionExplorerCommandStoreshellXAMPP]

@=”XAMPP” “Icon”=”C:\xampp\xampp-control.exe”

 

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionExplorerCommandStoreshellXAMPPcommand]

@=”C:\xampp\xampp-control.exe”

 

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionExplorerCommandStoreshelliTunes]

@=”iTunes” “Icon”=”C:\Program Files (x86)\iTunes\iTunes.exe”

 

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionExplorerCommandStoreshelliTunescommand]

@=”C:\Program Files (x86)\iTunes\iTunes.exe”

We have highlighted only one set. That is for the main menu named My Programs and Opera sub menu. The address in red text is the path of the icon. It must be of *.ico format and better if of 16 x 16 pixels size. If you place it in C: ; then the address will be C:\favicon4.ico; if you place it in C:UsersAbhishekMusic ; then it will be C:\Users\Abhishek\Music\favicon.ico.

The blue text is semicolon separated names of the Programs.

The greenish text is the path of the icon of that Program as well as the path of the executable.

Save the file as Add Programs.reg and do not forget to change the file type from text to All files from drop down menu in Notepad before saving it. Name does not matter here at all. You can save with your pet dog’s name for example.

Now, double click the reg file and accept the security warnings and you will see the option in right click context menu when clicked on a folder or any empty place inside folder or Windows 7 desktop.

Changing or updating the list

Easy, find out the Program’s path and replace it; do not forget to change the names. Otherwise Clicking Adobe Photoshop will open your added Internet Explorer (if you have added only the path and saved). Save it and run it.

Removal

Add a minus sign before the H starts after the third bracket; like [-HKEY_CLASSES.... to all where there is HKEY and save it (with some good name) as reg file and run it. It will break the association; so the option will disappear from right click context menu. Obviously, you might delete the bat files manually too.

Downloads:

As usually all the required files are here for your download. The rar file is password protected, type thecustomizewindows.com as the password.

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