Explorer Shell extension

07-06-08, 04:39 PM

AGP

I have been looking far and wide for an easy to implement shell extension.
My needs are basic...for two file extensions .YYY and .ZZZ I would like the
context menu in explorer to simply show my app icon and "Open with
MyCooolApp". Are there any recommendations for a shell extension code base?
I am trying to look for one that is easily changed and compiled and will run
as a unique extension to my app.

Rgds
AGP

07-06-08, 04:59 PM

Steve Gerrard

AGP wrote:
> I have been looking far and wide for an easy to implement shell
> extension. My needs are basic...for two file extensions .YYY and .ZZZ
> I would like the context menu in explorer to simply show my app icon
> and "Open with MyCooolApp". Are there any recommendations for a shell
> extension code base? I am trying to look for one that is easily
> changed and compiled and will run as a unique extension to my app.
>

I would start here:

RegSetValueEx: Create a Registered File Association
http://vbnet.mvps.org/code/reg/association.htm

07-07-08, 04:58 AM

AGP

"Steve Gerrard" <mynamehere> wrote in message
news:nz2d
> AGP wrote:
>
> I would start here:
>
> RegSetValueEx: Create a Registered File Association
> [..]
>
thanks for the link but I think you may have misunderstood me. I know how to
associate a file extension with my
app. that is fairly starightforward. instead my challenge here is to
implement a shell extension with a context menu
that one shows the application icon and two will execute my app when
selected. to see what i mean just clikc here
http://www.burgaud.com/scite-context-menu/
The icon shows in the context menu and that is only done through a custom
DLL.

AGP

07-07-08, 08:45 AM

Steve Gerrard

AGP wrote:
>
> thanks for the link but I think you may have misunderstood me. I know
> how to associate a file extension with my
> app. that is fairly starightforward. instead my challenge here is to
> implement a shell extension with a context menu
> that one shows the application icon and two will execute my app when
> selected. to see what i mean just clikc here
> [..]
> The icon shows in the context menu and that is only done through a
> custom DLL.

Oh, you mean that kind of extension. :)

For that, I would start with: The Complete Idiot's Guide to Writing Shell
Extensions:

http://www.codeproject.com/KB/shell/...uideindex.aspx

It's a quite extensive (and serious) treatment by Michael Dunne. Brush up on
your C# and C++.

07-07-08, 08:38 PM

AGP

"Steve Gerrard" <mynamehere> wrote in message
news:nz2d
> AGP wrote:
>
> Oh, you mean that kind of extension. :)
>
> For that, I would start with: The Complete Idiot's Guide to Writing Shell
> Extensions:
>
> [..]
>
> It's a quite extensive (and serious) treatment by Michael Dunne. Brush up
> on your C# and C++.
>

yep i've read those too and many other articles but alas i do not program in
C.
i was hoping for something that is easily modifed for my own app. again my
need is simple. one context menu item with an icon and text. ill keep
looking.

AGP

07-09-08, 08:55 PM

Chris Dunaway

On Jul 7, 2:38 pm, "AGP" <sindizzy> wrote:
> "Steve Gerrard" <mynameh> wrote in message
>
> news:nz2d
>>
>>
>>
> yep i've read those too and many other articles but alas i do not program in
> C.
> i was hoping for something that is easily modifed for my own app. again my
> need is simple. one context menu item with an icon and text. ill keep
> looking.
>
> AGP

The short answer is that you cannot (or rather should not) write shell
extensions using any managed language (VB.Net, C#, etc). Your only
choice is to use an unmanaged language like C++ or VB6 and COM.

See this link for additional information:

http://www.mastropaolo.com/2006/11/0...c-andor-vbnet/

Chris

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