Send To as shortcut

Topic

New Reply

I’m looking for a method to achieve the following in Windows Explorer:
o Right-click a file (in right pane) and select an item from context menu “Create Shortcut in XYZ”.
“XYZ” is an existing path, which I’d like to “hard code”, so in reality it might read “Create Shortcut in E:MyStuff”
o Have a simple input dialog open and type in a descriptive name.
o Have the new shortcut appear as requested.

In short, it would work something like “Send To” -> “MyStuff as Shortcut”, followed by the dialog. I have used a couple of context menu enhancements that take user input, like Create a New Directory and Copy To Clipboard, but I was hoping to get away with something simpler, that I didn’t have to program.

Suggestions appreciated,

Alan

Reply | Quote

Replies

Talking to myself again, I can’t seem to find anything that fulfills these requirements. What I did manage to do is write a VBScript that provides the functionality, but only via the “Send To” menu, not the single right-click context menu item I’d hoped for. I’ve attached it for anybody interested – and it’s just what you need if that’s what you’re after . Just rename the .TXT extension to .VBS and follow the instructions within. For my particular use, it sends shortcuts with descriptive names to a custom “quick launch” toolbar folder I use from the taskbar, but it’s easily modified to suit other situations.

Problem (for me) appears to be that the right-click context items are registered as CLSIDs that are accessed from .DLLs, so they’re not an easy thing to implement. It seems that the Send To menu is the only avenue for a simple solution.

I’d appreciate any feedback.

Alan

Reply | Quote

Moonsoftware used to have a program called File Targets, I have tried it, but prefer the Send To from PowerToys. The Win98 version works on XP Home.
File Targets is under Free Utilities at http://www.moonsoftware.com/freeware.asp%5B/url%5D and yes it is free.
Ted

Reply | Quote

Thanks Ted. I’ve tried both of these but, as far as I recall, they don’t offer the feature of naming the shortcut “on the fly”. Is this correct?

Alan

Reply | Quote

I believe that the Powertoys is the most useful, it has a MRU list that reserves the previously used directions.

The Moonsoftware is completely configurable, I found it cumberson.

The other little utility is the PCMag ContextMenu Plus Menu Editor.

Hope this helps.

I have all three installed, there aren’t any conflicts but use the Powertoy Version on my Win XP Home System

Reply | Quote

Just to make the requirement a bit clearer: with the script I wrote, I can right-click the file shexview.exe, for instance, and select to Send To -> Launchbar as Shortcut… The dialog on left appears and I can then type the descriptive name of the shortcut, on the fly, as shown on right. The script is “hard coded” to send all shortcuts created by this method to I:U but it could be edited to suit any destination. Do any of the programs you mention allow for such interactive input? I couldn’t see any indication of this from their descriptions in websites; only configurability in terms of the target folder location.

Alan

Reply | Quote

Just to make the requirement a bit clearer: with the script I wrote, I can right-click the file shexview.exe, for instance, and select to Send To -> Launchbar as Shortcut… The dialog on left appears and I can then type the descriptive name of the shortcut, on the fly, as shown on right. The script is “hard coded” to send all shortcuts created by this method to I:U but it could be edited to suit any destination. Do any of the programs you mention allow for such interactive input? I couldn’t see any indication of this from their descriptions in websites; only configurability in terms of the target folder location.

Alan

Reply | Quote

I believe the context menu from PCMag may fulfill your requirements.

Ted

Reply | Quote

Thanks Ted. I checked the article and, right at the end under Creating Your Own Right-Click Commands, read “ContextMenu Plus simply adds the parameter (percent1)* to your Command text which will, in effect, pass your file to the program you have selected.” I think I’d still have to use something like my custom script as the “command” in this capacity. So really, I’ve narrowed my search to something that will do all the registry fiddling to add an existing right-click command for all file types.

I’d also forgotten that PCMag had gone “subscription”. Since this is the only extra functionality I’m after, I might give it the miss… unless it’s on CD in my public library that is .

Alan

* I tried using a % followed by a 1 here, and it near blew the lounge to pieces!

Reply | Quote

Thanks Ted. I checked the article and, right at the end under Creating Your Own Right-Click Commands, read “ContextMenu Plus simply adds the parameter (percent1)* to your Command text which will, in effect, pass your file to the program you have selected.” I think I’d still have to use something like my custom script as the “command” in this capacity. So really, I’ve narrowed my search to something that will do all the registry fiddling to add an existing right-click command for all file types.

I’d also forgotten that PCMag had gone “subscription”. Since this is the only extra functionality I’m after, I might give it the miss… unless it’s on CD in my public library that is .

Alan

* I tried using a % followed by a 1 here, and it near blew the lounge to pieces!

Reply | Quote

I believe the context menu from PCMag may fulfill your requirements.

Ted

Reply | Quote

I believe that the Powertoys is the most useful, it has a MRU list that reserves the previously used directions.

The Moonsoftware is completely configurable, I found it cumberson.

The other little utility is the PCMag ContextMenu Plus Menu Editor.

Hope this helps.

I have all three installed, there aren’t any conflicts but use the Powertoy Version on my Win XP Home System

Reply | Quote

Thanks Ted. I’ve tried both of these but, as far as I recall, they don’t offer the feature of naming the shortcut “on the fly”. Is this correct?

Alan

Reply | Quote

Moonsoftware used to have a program called File Targets, I have tried it, but prefer the Send To from PowerToys. The Win98 version works on XP Home.
File Targets is under Free Utilities at http://www.moonsoftware.com/freeware.asp%5B/url%5D and yes it is free.
Ted

Reply | Quote

Talking to myself again, I can’t seem to find anything that fulfills these requirements. What I did manage to do is write a VBScript that provides the functionality, but only via the “Send To” menu, not the single right-click context menu item I’d hoped for. I’ve attached it for anybody interested – and it’s just what you need if that’s what you’re after . Just rename the .TXT extension to .VBS and follow the instructions within. For my particular use, it sends shortcuts with descriptive names to a custom “quick launch” toolbar folder I use from the taskbar, but it’s easily modified to suit other situations.

Problem (for me) appears to be that the right-click context items are registered as CLSIDs that are accessed from .DLLs, so they’re not an easy thing to implement. It seems that the Send To menu is the only avenue for a simple solution.

I’d appreciate any feedback.

Alan

Reply | Quote