The context menu (right-click menu) is a handy tool to speed up your work in Windows. Today we will reveal a few simple secrets of working with the context menu and the system registry. Read like without software third party applications customize this important element to suit your needs, using only the built-in registry editor regedit.
Why is the context menu (right-click menu) convenient and why should you clear it
I would like to immediately determine the terminology so that there will be no confusion in the future.
The Explorer context menu, or, as it is sometimes called, the action menu, is a set of commands that can be invoked by clicking right (contextual) mouse buttons on any file or folder. Depending on the object for which it is called, the menu will have different kind or "context".
Note. Of course, the action menu is not only for Windows Explorer, and the majority installed applicationsbecause it is the most convenient way to access the most important commands.
Immediately after installing the operating system, the context menu has a standard and tidy look, but as additional software is installed, new items are constantly added to it. Eventually, there are so many of them that using this useful tool turns into flour. Therefore, it is critical to be able to maintain the content of the context windows menu for fast and comfortable work.
This can be done in two ways:
- Semi-automatic using third-party software.
- Manually, using the Windows Registry Editor.
Perhaps the first method can be a little easier, but the second method does not require using various questionable programs downloaded from the Internet, everything is done by standard means.
Moreover, using the registry will allow you to delve deeper into the internal processes of the system and learn a lot of new things, so we will tell you exactly about the second option.
How to edit Explorer context menu via registry
Launch Registry Editor:
- We enter the menu P usk.
- We enter the command in the search bar regedit and press Enter.
Important! Any careless and thoughtless operations can have dangerous consequences, up to a complete failure windows boot... To insure yourself against mistakes, be sure to do backup registry before you start editing it!
Procedure for creation backup file registry:
- We go to the menu " File"In the open editor.
- We select the item " Export».
- In the window that opens, in the lower field “ Export range", Choose" Whole register».
- We indicate the desired location and name of the new file and click " Save».
Note.In case of problems after manual editing, the registry can be restored to its original state from a backup copy using the item " Import" on the menu " File»Editor regedit.
As you can see, the registry itself has an original tree structure. The tree itself is displayed on the left side of the editor, and the list of parameters in the selected branch on the right. To work with the context menu, we are interested in a single section: “ HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT».
As already mentioned, different sets of commands correspond to different objects (folders, files), so you will have to edit them in the registry separately. Our main goals: cleaning context menu folders and common menu items for all file types.
Important! Standard system items we will not change the context menu through the registry. Only items added by installed applications are edited.
Clearing the context menu of folders
All settings of the context menu of directories are stored in the branches:
... Directoty Shell.
... Directory Shellex ContextMenuHandlers.
... Folder Shell ex ContextMenuHandlers.
If you look closely, you can easily see familiar commands among the branches of these branches. So, the registry branch “ Directory Shell"Contains the items at the top of the menu, and" Directory Shellex ContextMenuHandlers"- bottom. " Folder ShellEx ContextMenuHandlers"Basically repeats the content of the previous branch, so remove the same items if necessary from both branches.
It remains only to remove unnecessary commands. The choice of what to remove and what to leave on the list is a personal matter for everyone. Moreover, depending on the list of installed applications, the content of the menu will differ significantly. Right click on not desired entry in the registry and select " Delete". Then repeat this operation for the rest of the selected items.
This is the neat appearance of the registry branches in question and the menu itself after the completion of the cleaning procedure.
Clearing the context menu of files
The procedure itself is no different from the one that was carried out in the previous section. Only the branches of the registry branch have changed " HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT", Storing the required parameters.
Now this:
... * shellexContextMenuHandlers.
They store common elements for all file types registered in the system.
Following the example of cleaning for folders, we delete all unnecessary branches in the registry and get a nice and convenient context menu.
From this white paper you will learn about how to call the context menu for any file, folder, shortcut, etc. using several different methods.
The context menu is a list of available commands that depend on the currently selected object. Folders, files, desktop or all kinds of programs with which each of the users works every day, almost all of them have a context menu that has its own difference in the number of items, and therefore opportunities.
How do I call the context menu?
To do this, you just need to right-click on the selected object, but in the keyboard shortcut Shift + F10 the menu of the currently active window is called, or simply press the key to call the context menu (about this key and other useful combinations keys can be read in this article).
If you click on the desktop in free space PKM (with the right mouse button), then a menu will appear with the sections available in it and if you click on the file, other sections will appear, and the shortcut will also have personal differences in items, etc.
This is actually what the context consists in, that is, the composition of the sections changes from a certain type of object.
Extended context menu
To call it, hold down the key Shift and right-click on the selected object, which makes the list increase by several points, in contrast to the usual call.
In the given example, you can observe these differences.
In the left screenshot, the standard call with the right button on the object, and in the right screenshot, the extended call, where the command line call tab has been added ( cmd.exe).
With the key combination Shift+ click PKM the menu will always expand from one to several new items, which can be very useful in some cases.
I also want to draw your attention to the fact that some tabs have a small arrow on the right side, if you hover over it, an additional submenu will pop up with a list of additional tabs.
To expand the functions of the desktop context menu, there are special third party utilities which can add new items, for example, you can add some programs and run them from there in order not to clutter up the desktop with shortcuts, I personally think this is not really necessary.
There are also utilities, on the contrary, for removing unnecessary items from the menu that may remain from some past long-deleted program, such a utility can be useful.
All these utilities, if you suddenly need them, can be easily found on the Internet.
Of course, all actions to remove or add can be done through the computer registry, but this method is not at all for a beginner.
And finally, watch a short video guide on this topic, I say goodbye to you on this.
Valery Semenov, moikomputer.ru
Context menu (eng.
Context menu
contextmenu, pop-upmenu) is a hidden menu that appears when you right-click. This menu is a list of commands and functions for the selected object or element (folder, file, selected text, etc.).
Pop-up menu, as it is often called, has a different content depending on the type of the selected element and the program. For example, if you select a folder and right-click on it, then in the context menu that opens, you will see the commands that can be executed for this folder (open, copy, rename, etc.).
Below is an example of a popup menu for selected text in microsoft program Word.
The context menu can be opened not only for selected objects, but also from empty space (for example, the desktop, inside a folder, taskbar).
How do I open the context menu?
There are several ways to open the context menu in operating systems Windows.
In OS X, the pop-up menu can be opened by holding down the Control key and clicking the left mouse button on the desired object.
see also: Start menu.
Context menu in Windows
The menu is the most important element of the graphic user interface, with which you can select the desired program option.
Types of menus in the computer:
- by execution - text and graphic
- by function - main application menu, pop-up, context and system menus
What is the context menu how to call it
The context menu is separate species menu in the computer; list of available commands for working with this file.
Where is the context menu?
Its storage location is windows registrywhich is divided into two sections. Some of the programs are stored in the HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT \\ * \\ shell section, the other in the HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT \\ * \\ shellex \\ ContextMenuHandlers section.
How does the context menu open?
Exists different ways how to call the context menu
- At the bottom of the keyboard, between the "ALT" key and the "CTRL" key, there is a special button. It shows the additional functions and actions available for of this file... It usually contains a sign and a mouse pointer. This button calls the context menu.
Use it if you need to highlight labels required files, as well as inside already running programs. When this button is pressed, the context menu is called in accordance with the current situation.
Right mouse button on the keyboard is also successfully replaced by this button.
This method is for those who prefer to use the keyboard, while the context menu can also be opened with the mouse.
- Hovering the mouse over desired file, select it by clicking the left button. Right-clicking on the selected area will open a context menu. When several items are selected, the context menu will display the actions available for the selected group of files.
- How to open the context menu when working on a laptop or netbook? On these devices, the mouse function is transferred to the built-in touchpad. The context menu is invoked by right-clicking on the selected area.
How to customize the right-click context menu
For the right mouse button, the context menu will be configured using the simple Context Menu Tuner program. It will show you how to customize the Windows 7 context menu.
Let's look at how to customize the right mouse button.
- Download and run the program
- The program interface is made up of two different panels: the left one contains a list of commands supported by the program, the right one includes the OS conductor areas.
How to change the right button menu. Clearing the Windows Context Menu
We set the Russian language in the settings
- Add a command. To do this, select it on the left side and “connect” it to the preferred element on the right. Click "Add".
Other commands are added in the same way.
To delete a command, select it and click "Delete"
The right-click context menu is now configured.
Published: 10 March 2014, 12:06Your comment on the article:
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How to add or remove items in the context menu?
A mouse pointing device is often used to select menu items and commands on the toolbar. When using a mouse, pressing the left button usually selects and points to a point on the screen; right-clicking brings up a context menu. The form and content of the menu depend on the position of the mouse pointer and the state of the task: for example, fast access to the options required for the current command.
Right-clicking in the drawing area brings up one of six context menus:
- standard - contains a set of standard functions designed, in particular, for working with the clipboard, zooming, panning. To call this menu, you must deselect the objects, end the currently active command and right-click;
- editing - combines functions for editing objects. The range of functions may vary depending on the type of object selected. To call the menu, you must select one or more objects, end the current active command and right-click;
- command - contains a set of functions that make it easier to execute commands with the mouse. This also includes the options for the current command displayed in command line... To call this menu, right-click when executing any command;
- object snap - allows you to select or configure object snap modes, enable coordinate filter. To call the menu, right-click while holding down the -Shift key;
- pens - Contains functions that allow you to edit with pens. To call the menu, select the handles on the object and right-click;
- OLE - combines functions that allow you to edit OLE objects. To call the menu, right-click on the OLE object inserted into the picture.
Object snap, grips, and OLE context menus are always on and can be invoked at any time. Context menus are standard, editing and command can be disabled.
In this case, clicking the right mouse button will correspond to pressing the Enter key. By default, these three context menus are enabled.
For other elements of the AutoCAD window, in addition to the drawing area, you can call the following context menus:
- toolbar. To enable / disable any panel or to configure the panels, you need to right-click on any of them. To display the list of panel groups, right-click on a free area to the right of the standard toolbar;
- command line. To select one of the six last commands, or to invoke some of the functions used when working with the command line, you must right-click on the command line or in the command window;
- dialog box (this menu is not available to all dialog boxes). Typically, context menus are associated with either drop-down lists or value fields and allow you to delete, rename individual list items, or work with the clipboard. Context menus can be associated with some other window elements. To call the menu, right-click on an element of the dialog box;
- status bar. To switch the drawing mode or change the settings, you must right-click on the line area where the current coordinates are displayed, or on any button for switching the drawing mode or changing the settings;
- model / Layout tabs. To open the print windows and configure page parameters, as well as manage sheets, right-click on the Model tab or one of the Layout tabs.
Right-click menus are called contextual menus because their content depends on context — in other words, which program you are in and which object you clicked on. File utilities, many free programs and other applications, to make it easier to use them, often add their commands and entire sections to context menus. This is done, in particular, by the archivers WinZip and WinRar, as well as mail clients Outlook Express and The bat! that add packing and sending commands to the context menus of files e-mail as attachments.
Unfortunately, the more such programs are installed, the longer the context menus, the more clutter they are, and the more difficult it is to find the required command. The situation is aggravated by the fact that many programs, especially free ones, are guilty of the fact that the context menu commands created by them remain even after the programs themselves are uninstalled.
However, some utilities provide convenient ways setting and deleting context menu commands. This is the best and most reliable way putting things in order. But if there is no such function in the program (or if you managed to remove it), the menu composition can be changed using the Windows system registry.
However, before going into the registry (which is not always safe), let us consider several of the most common programs, which provide not only the creation of context menu commands, but also the possibility of their safe removal.
WinZip archives
The popular archiving utility WinZip adds several commands (such as Add to Zip) to the file context menus, or selects them in the WinZip submenu. To configure these commands, run WinZip in "classic" mode (not in wizard mode) and select the Options\u003e Configuration command. In version 8.1 and later, go to the System tab under Explorer Enhancements. In order not to rummage too long in search of the desired command, in these versions you can disable the Display context menu items in a submenu mode - and then the archiving commands will be placed in the main menu, as in previous versions WinZip.
To change individual commands, select or deselect the appropriate items in the Context menu command section. By turning off the Display icons on context menus mode, you can leave the commands on the menu, but remove the icons.
Finally, to completely exclude WinZip commands from the context menu, turn off Use shell extension (versions 7 and 8) or Enable Explorer enhancements. However, keep in mind that in doing so, you will lose the ability to extract the contents from the archive by dragging it with the right mouse button, and you will not be able to replenish the archive by dragging and dropping files onto its icon.
Customizing context menu commands created by the popular WinZip archiver
Winamp music
The free Winamp media player adds three commands to the folder menu: Play in Winamp, Enqueue in Winamp, and Add to Winamp's Bookmark list. To remove them, open Winamp and select Options\u003e Preferences, or right-click in the program window or panel and select the same command from its own context menu. The image will appear on the left side of the window hierarchical structure menu. In the General Preferences ( Common parameters) select the File types branch - in earlier versions it is called Setup - and turn off Show Winamp in folder context menus in Windows Explorer (Show Winamp in Explorer folder context menus) or, in earlier versions, Directory context menus and click the Close button.
Explorer context menus
In Windows 2000 and XP Pro, you can use the Group Policy tool to remove individual commands from the My Computer shortcut menu and folders. Suppose we want to remove the Manage command, which launches the Computer Management administration tool, from the My Computer context menu. To do this, select Start\u003e Run, type gpedit.msc and press Enter. A window will open with a hierarchical tree of commands displayed in the left pane. Go to Local Computer Policy \\ User Configuration \\ Administrative Templates \\ Windows Components \\ Windows Explorer, double click on Hides the Manage item on the Windows Explorer context menu, select Enable (Enabled) and click the OK button.
This utility is also launched by the Start\u003e Programs\u003e Administrative Tools\u003e Computer Management command and if you choose Start\u003e Run, type compmgmt.msc and click the OK button.
To remove the entire folder context menu in Windows 2000, go to the Windows Explorer icon in the left pane and double-click on Remove Windows Explorer "s default context menu. In Windows XP you need to select the item of the same name, activate the Enable mode and click on the OK button.The next time you right-click on the folder located on the desktop or on the icon in Explorer, nothing will happen - however, the context menus of other objects, toolbars such as toolbars will still work.To undo these changes, simply return to the dialog box described, select the Not configured mode and click OK.
In Windows 9x, to edit the context menu of a specific file type, open the My Computer window and select View\u003e Folder Options. The Folder Options dialog box opens. If you go to the File Types tab, select the file the right type and click on the Edit button, another window will open - Edit File Type (Edit file type). This window has several useful functions, in particular, you can change its icon or description. But the main thing is that at the bottom of the window there are those of the context menu commands that can be changed, and a series of buttons for this: Remove, Set Default, as well as Edit and New.
Configuring Windows 9x Explorer context menus
As you can see, context menu commands can not only be deleted, but also created. True, for this it is necessary to be aware of certain agreements adopted when drawing up such commands. You can, of course, read smart books on this topic. However, for educational purposes, you can use free program with a set of ready-made contextual commands. It's called Send To Toys and is located at http://www.gabrieleponti.com/software. Many of them, such as passing the file name and path to the clipboard, are useful on their own - but even more as a visual aid for composing your own context menu commands.
If you've ever right-clicked on something and wondered where this junk came from, you're not alone.
By windows default includes many options in this context menu, and the list grows as new applications are installed. Sometimes it seems like every application is fighting for a part of your context menu, although most of us don't even use half of the commands.
Today we'll show you how you can delete items by editing your registry, as well as an easier cleanup method using a couple of free third-party apps. We'll also show you how to add some useful commands. Without much effort, you can only "clog" the context menu useful commands - optimized and efficient.
Editing the context menu registry
If you want to clean up the context menu in a crude way, you can do it from the Registry Editor without the need for a third party software... We'll move on to lighter tools later, but we think this introduction will help you understand how other tools work with the registry.
Standard warningRegistry Editor is a powerful tool and misuse can make your system unstable or even unusable.
Open the Registry Editor by pressing the Win + R key combination and typing regedit... Press Enter to open the Registry Editor and then give permission to make changes on your computer.
Unfortunately, the items that populate your context menu are located in different places in the registry. You can find most of the context menu items used for files and folders in one of the following registry keys:
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT \\ * \\ shell HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT \\ * \\ shellex \\ ContextMenuHandlers HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT \\ AllFileSystemObjects \\ ShellEx
You will find context menu items specific to folders in one of these sections:
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT \\ Directory \\ shell HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT \\ Directory \\ shellex \\ ContextMenuHandlers
You will need to handle the context menu items found in these locations a little differently, so keep reading as we explain how to do that. At the moment, it may be convenient to find each of these places in the registry and adding to the favorites list, to make it easier to find later.
Remove Shell Items
Let's take one point as an example. I am using VLC video player. When I installed it, VLC added a context menu item called "Add to VLC Playlist". I never use it and most likely will not use it.
Here's how we get rid of this menu item. In the registry editor, navigate to the following key:
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT \\ Directory \\ shell \\ AddtoPlaylistVLC
I noticed the AddtoPlaylistVLC key while browsing the shell looking for items to remove. Items under a regular shell key are usually very easy to find and understand.
We have several options for how to handle this. We could just remove this AddToPlaylistVLC completely and that would remove the item from the context menu. However, if you don't back up your registry or export the key first, it won't be easy for you to get it back if you change your mind.
The second option is disable the key, not delete it... To do this, just right click AddToPlaylistVLC or whatever key you are working with and select Create a → String parameter... Name the new string value LegacyDisable.
Once you create LegacyDisable, the changes are immediate. Right-click on a file or folder in File Explorer and you will see the Add to VLC Playlist item disappear from the context menu.
There is also a third option. If you occasionally use a menu item but don't want it to clutter up the normal context menu, you can hide it in the extended context menu, which you will only see when you hold down Shift while right-clicking a file or folder.
To do this, right-click AddToPlaylistVLC or whatever key you are working with and select Create a → String value... Name it Extended.
Now it will only appear if you right-click on the folder while holding Shift.
Remove Shellex Items
You may have noticed that some of the shared registry keys we listed at the top of this section are named “shellex” (shell extension) instead of “shell”. You will have to handle these types of keys a little differently.
As an example, we'll go to one of the keys we talked about:
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT \\ Directory \\ shellex \\ ContextMenuHandlers
Shellex items are a little more difficult to decipher, but you can identify an item by its key name on the left. Here we will work with Yandex.Disk.3 inside ContextMenuHandlers.
When Yandex.Disk is installed, it will add the "Copy Link to Yandex.Disk" command to the context menu. Since I'm more into drag and drop, I never used this command and am going to get rid of it.
You won't be able to use the tricks with the above LegacyDisable and Extended. However, you can delete the entire DropboxExt key to remove it from the context menu (and be sure to return the key if you do), but there is an easy way to disable it. Just select the key on the left and then double-click on the (Default) value to open the properties window.
In the properties window, in the "Value" field, change the existing value by placing several dashes in front of it, without deleting the existing characters. Then, if you change your mind, you can just go back and remove the dash. When you're done, click OK.
The change will be immediate: try right-clicking something in Explorer and make sure the command is gone.
Unfortunately, when it comes to shellex keys, it is not possible to hide them in the extended context menu the way we did with shell items. They can either be removed or disabled.
Explore other locations by file type
If you want to remove context menu items that you only see when you right-click on certain file types, you can also get rid of them. These items are stored in elswhere. To find them, you first need to find the file extension key under HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT.
For example, you want to remove a menu item to open excel document (XLSX) in Excel when you right click it. Why would you do this? This is just an example. Other apps can also add different types commands you don't need.
You can start by looking at the following registry key for the XLSX extension:
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT \\ .xlsx
Data column Value for key (Default) lets you know that the actual file type is Excel.Sheet.12.
You can now navigate to this extension:
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT \\ Excel.Sheet.12 \\ shell
Now that you have found the correct shell key, you can use the same methods we described in the previous section on shell elements to remove, disable, or hide an item in the extended context menu. Remember string values LegacyDisable and Extended? Yes, these techniques work here too.
Controlling the Context Menu with NirSoft Utilities
Now that you know how to do something difficult, let's take a look at an easy way. Instead of editing the registry, you can download two tools from NirSoft to clean up the context menu.
Why two instruments? Because one of them handles regular shell items and one handles shellex items. They are much easier to use than editing the registry, but a behind-the-scenes understanding of how these tools handle the registry will give you an understanding of all the items displayed by these tools.
Start by downloading both tools. The first tool is ShellMenuView, which processes regular shell items. The second tool is ShellExView, which handles shellex items. Scroll down to the bottom of both of these pages to find download links. Tools and works with almost any version of Windows from 98 all the way up to 10.
In the ShellMenuView window, just look at the list until you find the item you want to disable. You can only disable items with these tools, not delete or hide them from the extended context menu. And by the way, these tools disable items by creating a LegacyDisable inside the corresponding key - just like we did when manually editing the registry.
When you find the item you want, click the Disable button on the toolbar (red light).
Another advantage of using these tools is that you can select multiple items and then turn them off all at once. In our example, we disabled the "Add to VLC playlist" item only when right clicking on the folder (the same example we used in the registry key earlier), but we could easily select all "Add to VLC playlist" items, and then click Disable to remove this command from the context menu of all supported file types.
When you're done removing the shell items, the next step is to run the ShellExView tool and remove the shellex items. This works exactly the same as the first tool. Just select one or more items and then click the Disable button to remove items from the context menu.
In the end, you will be surprised at how much more enjoyable it is to use a clean context menu with only the commands you need. So what are you waiting for? It's time to start making these context menus more useful!
