SubMenuPack Context-Menu Shell Extension
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Description & Features
This package installs a new sub-menu in the right-click (aka "context") menu that appears on the
Desktop and folder backgrounds. The sub-menu gives you the ability to customize the sub-menu by adding any
of your favorite programs, scripts, etc. to a menu for easy access. It includes a "Configumilator"
utility for creating new command options in the sub-menu. For the more tech savvy, you can also define your
own command options directly from the registry if you are so inclined (or from a registry script).
The commands take path to the program or script that is to be launched
The name that appears on the menu may be changed by altering a value in the registry.
This can be done via a registry script (as shown below) or using regedit and changing the "(Default)" value found at the key in the example below.
Example regsitry script, "nameChange.reg":
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Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00 [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\SpiritPyre Extensions\SubMenuPack] @="New Name Here" |
Note: You can use the & symbol in the display name to make keyboard shortcuts. For example,
using &M would make it so you can press M when the menu comes up to choose the item.
Just be careful not to use keys that are already taken, or it won't work.
Screenshots
Here's a screenshot of the installer.
Here's some screenshots of the extension and its included "Configumilator" utility
Installation
After downloading the installer to your computer, run the installer and follow the simple on-screen directions.
For advanced users, the installer provides the following commandline switches:
Installer Commandline Options:
| /S | Silent Install Mode. |
| /path="[dir]" | Specify install path as [dir]; must use quotes. |
| /nomenu | Start Menu items will not be created. |
| /capt="[name]" | Specify custom caption as [name]; must use quotes. |
| /help or /? | Displays the Installer's Help Dialog. |
Also note that none of the option switches are case-sensitive and that either a hypen or a forward-slash may be used. In other words, the following statements are all equivalent:
- /HELP
- /help
- -HELP
- -help
Example regsitry script, "checkmarkToggle.reg":
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Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00 ; Add a command to call Window's Calculator [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\SpiritPyre Extensions\SubMenuPack\Item List\001-Calc] @="Calc" "Command"="%%SystemRoot%%\\System32\\calc.exe" "HelpText"="Can't Add? Don't Know Algebra? No Problem!" ; - OR - ; Add a command to call MyProg.exe and pass it the folder [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\SpiritPyre Extensions\SubMenuPack\Item List\020-MyProg]] @="MyProg" "Command"="\"%ProgramFiles%\\MyProg\\MyProg.exe\"" "HelpText"="This calles MyProg and points it to the current folder." "Parms"="/path:\"%CD%\"" ; - OR - ; Add a command to call Window's cmd.exe and pass it the folder and drive [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\SpiritPyre Extensions\SubMenuPack\Item List\006-CmdPromptHere] @="C&ommand Prompt" "Command"="\"%SystemRoot%\\System32\\cmd.exe\"" "HelpText"="Go back to the good old days of DOS. This calls a command prompt window set to this folder." "Parms"="/k cd \"%1\" && %DRIVE%" |
Note: You can use the special varaibles in the parameters to pass dynamic information (such as
the folder the extension is being used in) to the program. These varaibles are described below.
Command Variables:
| %1 | The folder the extension was used in. (use '!%1' to escape to '%1') |
| %CD% | The folder the extension was used in. |
| %DRIVE%/td> | The drive of the folder the extension was used in. Ex: 'C:' |
Note: You can change the behavior of the special variables in the registry. For more information, see the
file "SubMenu Usage Readme.txt"
To uninstall, use the uninstaller or remove the extension from Add/Remove Programs in the Control Panel.
Some files may be not be deleted if they are in use by Windows at the time of installation.
If this is the case, Windows may needed to be restarted before the file(s) can be removed.
License
All of my shell extensions are freeware. They can be freely distributed, so long as no profit is made and I am given credit for my work. If in doubt, please contact me.
I reserve the right to make changes the licensing. However, any changes would likely apply only business-use and not to personal-use. If you would like a more detailed license descriprion then see here.
At this point in time, it is unlikely that the source will be made freely available.
However, I would gladly share the NSIS installer scripts if anyone should be interested.
Download
The extensions are currently available via 2 locations: a mirror generously provided by Zxian and copies mirrored on RapidShare.
- Download SubMenuPack_1.0.11.0_Setup.exe
Download SubMenuPack_1.0.11.0_Setup.exe from Zxian.org mirror
Additionally, if you need a manual installation you can download an archive containing all the files for this extension (the .dll files, the "Configumilator" utility, etc.) However, this is not recommended unless you know how to install a .dll extension via scripting or other means.
Download SubMenu_1.11.0.0_Binaries.zip (Manual Setup) from Zxian.org mirrorDownload SubMenu_1.11.0.0_Binaries.zip (Manual Setup) from Zxian.org mirror
Known Issues
None of my shell extensions do work perfectly under Windows 9x (and possibly ME). They were developed with Windows 2000/NT/XP in mind, so there are no plans to add support for these systems.
Any given shell extension, may or may not work on unsupported systems. Examples of problems experienced with these systems include improper menu placement and failure of some extensions to operate (usually due to the OS's lack of some API, etc.). However, the author does not recommend the use of the extensions on any of the unsupported systems.
Should you decide to disregard the author's recommendation and attempt to install one of his shell extensions on an unsupported system,
then do so at your own risk and do not expect any form of support.