Context-Menu Customization

  • Thread starter Thread starter El Senior-E
  • Start date Start date
E

El Senior-E

I'm trying to customize my context (right-click) menu, but I've only
had partial success. I was able to delete context-menu entries created
by third-party software, but what I really want to do is delete some
default entries that come standard with Windows XP. They are NOT
referenced in the registry where the third-party entries are.

Specifically:
On most (or possibly all) context-menus for image file types, there are
options to rotate the image clock-wise or counter-clockwise. I have
never used this feature deliberately. I work with icons a lot, and it
even shows up on them. How many times have you caught yourself saying
"I really wanna rotate this icon! If only there was an easier way..."?
Yeah. NEVER.

I found one program that did almost what I wanted called 'Mmm Free.'
Unfortunately, it adds ugly side-bars all the context-menus (unless
you buy it), and it has to be running in the background for it to take
effect. I'm hoping that there is just some easy registry-edit that can
get rid of these abominations, and possibly others.

Thanks for your help,
El Senior-E

PS: Sorry for being so long-winded.
 
There are standard verbs (Cut/Copy/Paste type), simple verbs (what you already found), and complex verbs - these are provided by a program. The registry specifies a com server - you won't see any words from the menu. Programs are called for each file and the program decides what to show or even if it is to show something.

HKCR\<ext or progid or classid)\shellex\contextmenuext\<long number to com server> = Optional Description or
HKCR\<ext or progid or classid)\shellex\contextmenuext\Description = <long number to com server>

Your specific one is

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\SystemFileAssociations\image\ShellEx\ContextMenuHandlers\ShellImagePreview]
@="{e84fda7c-1d6a-45f6-b725-cb260c236066}"

But note this may (may doesn't mean will) interfere with Preview (it also can make the default verb preview). Just depends on what you installed and how they installed themselves.
 
sorry for the repeat of the Mmm software...

some might want this information though


--
Kenny - www.ComputerBoom.com

"Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic."

-Arthur C. Clarke
--
 
I tried the websites mentioned in Post #2, which had great information,
but wasn't quite specific enough. I tried that other program mentioned
in Post #3, which also came very close, but not quite close enough.

I tried deleting the key mentioned in Post #4, and IT WORKED! I
exported the key first just in case it broke Preview, but it didn't!
Preview still works just fine. I would definately recommend this tweak
to others. If I ever need to rotate an image that bad, there are
buttons to do it from inside the Preview program. Oh no! Now it takes 3
mouse clicks to rotate an image instead of 2! :P

Thank you guys so much! My context-menus are exatly as I want them now!
However, if I ever find something else I need to change, I will
definately refer to the info in Posts #2 and 3.

El Senior-E
 
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