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Filed under: Utilities, Windows, Freeware

How to add a "copy path" option to the Windows context menu

Windowsby Brad Linder Sep 29th 2009

Copy Path
When you right-click on any file in the Windows Explorer, you can cut, paste, open, delete, or rename the file. But what if what you really want to do is copy the file path so you can paste it into a new window, a text document, or another file?

Copy Path is a utility that adds a... well, a "copy path" option to the Windows right-click context menu. It's similar to ClipPath, a program we covered a few years ago. but Copy Path has one option that ClipPath doesn't, which is the ability to copy not just the path for an individual file, but also the path for a folder and/or the parent folder of the file or folder you just clicked on.

If you're still not convinced that ClipPath is actually useful, think about how many times you've tried to upload an email attachment and had to click the browse button and sort through folders to find the file you want to upload. With Copy Path (or ClipPath), if you already have the file open in another window you can just right-click, copy the file path and paste it into the attachment window for your email client.

[via Freeware Genius]

Tags: clippath, context-menu, copy-path, shell-utilities, windows-explorer

Filed under: OS Updates, Windows, Microsoft, How-Tos, Windows x64

Windows 7 tip: (elevated) command prompt anywhere

Windowsby Lee Mathews Feb 9th 2009


The command prompt here power toy was a feature that a lot of users requested be built-in to Windows 7. Microsoft listened, and added it to a secondary context menu.

By holding shift and right-clicking a folder, you'll see additional commands not listed on the standard menu, such as open in new process, copy as path, and open command window here. Suppose you need a command window with elevated privileges. Then what?

In Windows Vista, it could be done through the start menu by typing cmd into the search box and holding shift+control and hitting enter. This works in Windows 7 as well.

Combine the two, and you've got a right-click elevated command window shortcut: shfit+control+right click on a folder and choose open command window. Check your title bar: if it starts with Administrator, you're set!

Some other sites have posted registry hacks to add a context menu entry for the admin option, but why bother? It's already there - just hidden!

Tags: context-menu, elevated, right-click, tips, windows-7

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Filed under: Utilities, Windows, Productivity, Freeware

Open++ is a Windows context menu tweaker's dream

Windowsby Lee Mathews Dec 10th 2008

I've seen plenty of context menu enhancement apps before. Most of the free ones, however, offer a standard set of actions and only allow a few minor tweaks.

Open++ is another story. Virtually any command or file your computer knows how to execute can be set up as a right-click action using its customize window. Arguments are also supported, and can either be pre-configured or requested via a prompt. You can even pick an icon to display next to your entries.

Roll Open++ with NirCMD, for example, and you can embed functions like volume control, display resolution switching, and shutdown options. Create a few simple "move to" commands with Open++ to simplify hard drive organizing chores. If you're willing to invest some time and get creative, there's really no limit to what Open++ can do with your context menu.

The author's download page was inaccessible when I tried, but you can find the file on both Softpedia and Tucows. It's freeware for Windows only, but didn't work with Vista x64.

[ via Freeware Genius ]

Tags: context-menu, right-click

Filed under: Utilities, Windows, Freeware

WinFlog powers up your Windows context menus

Windowsby Brad Linder Dec 1st 2008

WinFlog
WinFlog Extreme is a tiny Windows utility that lets you add a handful of useful items to your right-click context menus. That includes the ability to turn Aero desktop effects on or off in Windows Vista, eject a CD or DVD, or turn on the Flip 3D Windows switcher in Windows Vista. You can also add an option to turn off your display from the context menu. Don't worry, it will come back on as soon as you move your mouse.

The utility lets you pull up these features when you right click your My Computer icon, when you right click on your desktop or a Windows Explorer Window, or when you click your middle mouse button or scroll wheel.

The only feature that actually seems to work for Windows XP users is the option to turn off the monitor by right-clicking on the My Computer icon. So if you're running Windows XP, I'd recommend downloading the lite version of WinFlog, which offers just a few features, rather than the full WinFlog Extreme. Of course, both versions take up less than half a megabyte, so unless you're on a dialup connection where every KB counts, you might want to just go ahead and splurge and get the full version.

[via Download.com]

Tags: context-menu, winflog

Filed under: Utilities, Windows, Freeware

Shell Tools: Add copy URL, copy file name and more to Windows shell

Windowsby Brad Linder Apr 4th 2008

Shell ToolsTired of right-clicking on a file and selecting properties or rename in order to copy the file name to your clipboard? Shell Tools adds a Copy Filename feature to the Windows right-click context menu, plus several other useful utilities.

You can choose which components to install, and once they're installed, you can choose selectively which ones to enable, so there's no need to clutter your context menu any more than you're comfortable with.

Here are a few of the tools included:
  • Copy Filename - Does pretty much what you'd expect
  • Filenote - Adds notes to a file by creating a text file with the same name
  • Show hidden files - Quickly toggles the Windows show hidden files option
  • FontLoader - Adds load/unload/install/uninstall options to the context menu for font files
  • CopyURL - Copies URL information from favorites/internet shortcuts to the clipboard
  • Fresh Icons - Forces Windows to rebuild icons when for shortcuts and files with the wrong shortcut
  • Register Server - Adds register/unregister server commands to the context menu for some DLL, OCX, and EXE files
[via Shell Extension City]

Tags: context-menu, copy-filename, filenote, right-click, shell-extension, shell-tools, show-hidden-files

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