Windows – How to Add Context Menu Item for Files

Here is how you do it with an executable, I would assume it could be done with any program.

Open regedit.exe through the start menu search or run box, and then browse down to the following key:

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\ *\shell

Right-click on “shell” and choose to create a new key, calling it “Open with (your program name)”. Create a new key below that one called “command”. Double-click on the (Default) value in the right-hand pane and enter in the following:

"C:\Folder path where the program resides\Program.exe" "%1"

The change should take effect immediately… just right-click on any file and you’ll see the next menu entry.

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Source of Information (sort of)

. [Note: Article-comments report author's method works for Vista; and also XP. - Ed.]

for your first problem:

Make sure you add the key to the right parent:

• HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Directory\shell when you want to right click on a folder
• HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Directory\Background\shell when you want to right click in the folder window

if you want to add a context entry for files, it's a bit more complicated. You normally add it for specific file-types (specific extensions). If you want to add it for every type, there's HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\*

for your second problem:

You need to run the python application with your script as an argument. (and then probably "%1" for the file you right clicked on as a second argument) If you start your script by double clicking it or by typing it into a command-window, the system looks for the python application and runs it with your script as an argument.

So this is what you need to put into the registry key: c:\path\to\your\python.exe c:\path\to\yourScript.py "%1"