How do I add "edit" or "open with" to the context menu for .bat files in Windows Explorer in Windows 7?

Question

I've tried this by mucking around with "Set Associations", but all I've accomplished there is messing up the default Open action. I've also found a bunch of registry scripts attached to random forum threads, but I'm too nervous to run them.

Solution 1

You can get 'Open With' in the context menu for any file by simply holding the Shift key as you right click.

If Shift + right click doesn't work, Shift + F10 may work.

To get 'Edit' in the context menu you need to edit the registry. Open up regedit and browse to HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\bat\shell. Create a new key called Edit, then create a new key under that called command. Edit the default value of the command key to be "c:\windows\notepad.exe" "%1".

Solution 2

For me, open with does not appear even for shift. However, Editing the registry as specified in the other answer does work. With one modification:

C:\> reg.exe add HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\batfile\Shell\Edit\Command /ve /t REG_EXPAND_SZ /d "xxx"

You need to use the above in cmd to create a key with default type expandable string.

Also, When I screwed up the open command, I had to fix it by deleting:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\FileExts\.bat

and all sub keys.

Comments

[BillP3rd]

Have you seen msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb166549(VS.80).aspx and msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb165967(v=VS.80).aspx?

[AJM]

The links in the above comment are out of date - try web.archive.org/web/20100731044415/http://msdn.microsoft.com‌​/… and web.archive.org/web/20100731045651/http://msdn.microsoft.com‌​/… instead.

[felixfbecker]

The Shift method does not work for me

[Hashim Aziz]

Same here with regards to Shift always bringing up Open With, this turned out to be incorrect for me.

[imoatama]

If Shift + right click doesn't work, Shift + F10 may work.