How can I
add a Command Prompt option to the
default Explorer right click context
menu?
If you
find that you frequently open a Command
Prompt window and change to a specific
directory, you can add the Command
Prompt to your shortcut menu. This
option enables you to right-click on a
folder within Windows Explorer and
choose the Command Prompt - which opens
a Command Prompt window with that folder
as your active directory.
To add the
Command Prompt option to the default
right click context menu in Windows
Explorer you can do one of the
following:
Method #1:
Microsoft Powertoys
This is
the easiest and most idiot-proof method.
Use the
old Microsoft Powertoy called "DOSHERE".
You can download it from
HERE (1kb). Unzip it and then right
click the INF file and choose install.
You can
also use the newer MS Powertoys found
HERE. Download the
Open Command Window Here file and
install it.
Method #2:
Send to Toys
One of my favorite tools,
one that I usually install right after
finishing setting up any new system.
Send To Toys is an
enhancement of the Send To system menu.
It has many nice features including:
-
Send To Toys Control
Panel Applet allows you to manage
the Send To system menu content, and
configure Send To Toys settings.
-
"Add to Send To menu"
and "Remove from Send To menu"
allows you to personalize the Send
To system menu for drives, folders,
and programs.
-
Send To "Clipboard
(as name)" copies the name of the
file or files to the clipboard. Hold
down the CTRL key to change the
settings for this extension.
-
Send To "Command
Prompt" opens a DOS console window,
setting the current directory to the
selected folder. If the selection
was a file, the folder containing
the file will be the active
directory and the name of the file
will be typed for you at the prompt.
Hold down the CTRL key to change the
active directory to a different
folder
-
Send To "Favorites"
adds a shortcut to your Favorites
list. Hold down the CTRL key for the
"Add Favorite" dialog.
-
Send To "Folder..."
sends a file or files to another
folder, you will be shown a dialog
box that lets you choose where the
files should be copied. To move the
files press and hold down the SHIFT
key. The creation of a new folder is
not supported on Windows 95, 98, and
NT.
-
Send To "Recycle Bin"
send a file or files to the Recycle
Bin. Hold down the CTRL key to
perform a file shredding.
-
Send To "Run..."
sends a file or files to the Run
command dialog
Send to Toys is freeware
and can be installed on any version of
Windows.
Download Send to Toys v2.3 (495kb)
Method #3:
Manually add the context menu
-
In
explorer, open Tools, Folder
Options.
-
Select
the File Types tab.
-
For
Windows XP: Go to NONE / Folder.
-
For
Windows 2000: Press n to scroll to
the N/A section.
-
For
Windows NT/98/95: Press f to scroll
to the Folders section.
-
Select
the entry labeled Folder
-
For
Windows 2000/XP: Press Advanced
button.
-
For
Windows NT/98/95: Press Edit button.
-
Select
New
-
In the
action block type "Command Prompt"
without the quotes.
-
In the
app block type "cmd.exe" without the
quotes.
-
Save
and exit Folder Options.
Now right
click on Start, you should have a new
drop down option. Open explorer and
right click on a folder, select Command
Prompt and a command window opens in
that folder.
Method #4:
Through batch file
-
Begin
by creating a batch file. For
example, you could create a batch
file named StartPrompt.cmd. Add the
following commands to your batch
file:
-
Save
this batch file to your Windows
NT/2000/XP root directory (which is
usually C:\WINNT or C:\WINDOWS for
XP).
-
Open
Windows Explorer.
-
Choose
View | Options to display the
Options dialog box.
-
Select
the File Types tab.
-
In the
list of Registered File Types,
select Folder then click Edit.
-
Click
New to display the New Action dialog
box.
-
In the
Action text box, type Command
Prompt.
-
In the
Application Used To Perform Action
text box, type:
-
Click
OK to close the New Action dialog
box, then click Close twice.
Open
Windows NT Explorer, then right-click on
a folder. You should now see a new
option called "Command Prompt" on the
shortcut menu. If you choose this
option, Windows Explorer opens a new
Command Prompt
window with the selected directory as
your current directory.
Method #5:
Through the Registry
-
Navigate in your Registry to
and
create a key called "Command Prompt"
without the quotes.
-
Set
the default string to whatever text
you want to appear in the
right-click menu.
-
Create
a new key within your newly created
command prompt named "command," and
set the default string to
You
may need to add %SystemRoot%/ before
the Cmd.exe if the executable can't
be found.
-
The
changes should take place
immediately. Right click a folder
and your new menu item should
appear.
Note:
You can do the same for Windows 98. Type
in "c:\windows\command.com /k pushd %L"
(without the quotes). |