Slideshow: Modify Windows Explorer Command Bar for all folders
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The CanonicalName is Generic
The CanonicalName is Generic
ntEditing the Registry
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ntIt is important to keep in mind that the Windows Registry file is vital to the operating system and changing it can be dangerous if you inadvertently make a mistake. As such, you should take a few moments to back up your system by creating a system image in the Backup and Restore tool. That way if anything goes awry, you can restore your system and get right back to work.
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ntTo launch the Registry Editor, click the Start button, type Regedit in the Start Menu’s Search box, and press [Enter]. When the UAC dialog box appears, respond appropriately.
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ntThe Command Store
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ntDon’t forget that the CommandStore key in the registry contains the codes that are the source of the commands that appear on Windows Explorer’s context sensitive Command Bar. From within the Registry Editor, navigate to the following folder:
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ntHKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\CommandStore\shell
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ntWhen you select shell, you’ll see all of the codes that you can use to customize Windows Explorer’s context sensitive Command Bar. Keep in mind that while each of these keys contains subkeys and other details, you need only be concerned with the names in the shell key. For example, to add the Delete command, all you need to know is the code Windows.delete.
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ntChanging the permissions
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ntOnce the Registry Editor appears, navigate to the following folder
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ntHKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\FolderTypes\{5c4f28b5-f869-4e84-8e60-f11db97c5cc7}
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ntWhen you do, you’ll see that while the key is technically named {5c4f28b5-f869-4e84-8e60-f11db97c5cc7}, its CanonicalName is Generic, which I’ll use from here on out to refer to it. You’ll also notice that the Generic key does not contain the TasksItemsSelected and the TasksNoItemsSelected keys by default. As I said, you will have to add then manually.
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ntImage created by Greg Shultz for TechRepublic.
Select the Advanced button
Select the Advanced button
ntHowever, before you can do so, you will have to change the permissions of the Generic key. To begin, right click on the Generic key and select the Permissions command. When you see the Permissions for dialog box, as shown, immediately select the Advanced button to bring up the Advance Security Settings dialog box.
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ntImage created by Greg Shultz for TechRepublic.
Change owner
Change owner
ntNow, select the Owner tab and change the Current owner to Administrators. To do so, select Administrators in the Change owner to panel and click Apply. Once the Current owner is set to Administrators, as shown, click Ok to continue.
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ntImage created by Greg Shultz for TechRepublic.
Full Control
Full Control
ntWhen you return to the Permissions dialog box, choose Administrators in the Group panel and then select the Full Control Check box in the Permissions panel, as shown. Click OK to continue.
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ntImage created by Greg Shultz for TechRepublic.
New keys installed
New keys installed
ntEditing the Generic key
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ntNow that you have full control of the Generic key, you are ready to begin editing. To get started, right-click {5c4f28b5-f869-4e84-8e60-f11db97c5cc7} and select the New | Key command. When the new key appears, name it TasksItemsSelected. Then, choose the New | Key command again and create the TasksNoItemsSelected key. At this point, your Generic key should look like the one shown.
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ntImage created by Greg Shultz for TechRepublic.
Type the Windows.delete code
Type the Windows.delete code
ntAt this point, I’ll reuse the list of codes that I chose for the last week’s article:
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- nt
- nttWindows.delete
- nttWindows.navpane
- nttWindows.previewpane
- nttWindows.menubar
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ntSince the Windows.delete code requires an item to be selected, it will be added to the TasksItemsSelected key. The Windows.navpane, Windows.previewpane, and Windows.menubar codes do not require an item be selected, so they will go in the TasksNoItemsSelected key.
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ntAs you can see, the TasksItemsSelected key only contains the String Value titled Default, which is where we’ll put the Windows.delete code. Double click the Default icon to access the Edit String dialog box. Then type the Windows.delete code in the text box, as shown.
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ntImage created by Greg Shultz for TechRepublic.
separate each command
separate each command
ntNow, access the TasksNoItemsSelected key, double click the Default icon, and add the Windows.navpane, Windows.previewpane, and Windows.menubar codes in the text box, as shown. Be sure to use semi-colons to separate each command.
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ntImage created by Greg Shultz for TechRepublic.
New commands
New commands
ntAt this point, close the Registry Editor and launch Windows Explorer. When you do, you’ll see the new commands on the Command Bar in Windows Explorer when you access any folder.
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ntImage created by Greg Shultz for TechRepublic.
