workstation
User Interface 		File Type Actions

    from the previous example @ File Typing:

    HKEY CLASSES ROOT
      .{extension}
      		<No Name> : REG_SZ: {registered.filetype}
      {registered.filetype}
      		<No Name> : REG_SZ: {display name}

      		shell

      		edit

      		command <No Name> : REG_SZ: {command}

      		open

      		command <No Name> : REG_SZ: {command}

      		myCommand

      		command <No Name> : REG_SZ: {command}
    Adding items to a File Type's context menu can be done either via the Edit File Types dialog in Explorer (from the View\Folder Options menu), or by adding the actions directly to the shell subkey for that file type in the Registry.

      One possible new command for a file type could launch the file in multiple applications by using the cmd.exe in conjunction with the start command to launch each desired application.

      For example, to launch both my editor and Internet Explorer when I click on an HTML file, I'd add a new action with the following command as a data value:

      C:\WINNT\System32\cmd.exe /c "start uedit32.exe "%1" & start explorer.exe "%1""

    For more information about File Type Actions, see a reprint of my June 16, 1998 article for Suite101.com, Actions in Context Menus.


 		Cool Context Menu Add-ons

Quick: CRYPT is a freeware context menu add-on that allows you to encrypt/decrypt files using Blowfish.

ImageConverter is a $20 shareware program that lets you convert an image file format to another image file format, from Explorer. Huh. It previews the image in the context menu, and handles GIFs, JPGs, TIFs, TGAs, and the ubiquitous BMPs and PCXs. You can also make an image the wallpaper, resize it, or copy it to the clipboard. Works on batches of files, as well. Expires 15 days after installation.

CAD Thumb allows you to preview AutoCAD DWG files within the context menu. $24.95