Creating a new registry enty for a new context menu entry

For text editing and browsing a file's contents, I always use Textpad because it is a very sophisticated text editor. Also installed Notepad++ "just in case." NP++ has a neat context menu option "Edit with Notepad++" appearing in any context. In prior Windows versions the identical Textpad context menu option also showed up as "Edit with Textpad" but it no longer shows up on Windows 10 in any context. This option is controlled in Textpad's Preferences menu. Contacted the developers and they instructed me to execute the following in the command prompt window:

Code:

> cd "C:\Program Files\TextPad 8\system"
regsvr32 ShellExt64.dll

But it just added the program to the "Open with" context submenu. So, I copied the Notepad Key, created another unique key number, changed the all values to point to TextPad and imported it into the registry, but nothing shows up.

Here is the original Notepad++ key and my registry key copy modified:

Code:

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\CLSID\{B298D29A-A6ED-11DE-BA8C-A68E55D89593}]
@="ANotepad++64"

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\CLSID\{B298D29A-A6ED-11DE-BA8C-A68E55D89593}\InprocServer32]
@="C:\\Program Files\\Notepad++\\NppShell_06.dll"
"ThreadingModel"="Apartment"

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\CLSID\{B298D29A-A6ED-11DE-BA8C-A68E55D89593}\Settings]
"Title"="Edit with &Notepad++"
"Path"="C:\\Program Files\\Notepad++\\notepad++.exe"
"Custom"=""
"ShowIcon"=dword:00000001
"Dynamic"=dword:00000001
"Maxtext"=dword:00000019

Code:

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\CLSID\{B298D29A-A6ED-11DE-BA8C-A68E55D89595}]
@="ATextpad"

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\CLSID\{B298D29A-A6ED-11DE-BA8C-A68E55D89595}\InprocServer32]
@="C:\\Program Files\\TextPad 8\\system\\ShellExt64.dll"
"ThreadingModel"="Apartment"

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\CLSID\{B298D29A-A6ED-11DE-BA8C-A68E55D89595}\Settings]
"Title"="Edit with &Textpad"
"Path"="C:\\Program Files\\TextPad 8\\TextPad.exe"
"Custom"=""
"ShowIcon"=dword:00000001
"Dynamic"=dword:00000001
"Maxtext"=dword:00000019

Is there a way I can get this to work?

P.S: I have several Macrium backups, so please don't lecture me on the dangers of editing the registry.

Hi, programs like this:

(not free)
http://1-abc.de/en/0023/index.htm

make this easy and reliable.

This one's free:

https://www.askvg.com/right-click-co...-context-menu/

dalchina said:

Hi, programs like this:
(not free)
http://1-abc.de/en/0023/index.htm

make this easy and reliable.

This one's free:
https://www.askvg.com/right-click-co...-context-menu/

Thanks for the links and it is really appreciated. Downloaded and activated the freeware, but I am wary of their approach, and what they might have installed on my system. The software itself does not install into the registry, it just runs on its own, and Revo uninstaller shows nothing.

ineuw said:

Thanks for the links and it is really appreciated. Downloaded and activated the freeware, but I am wary of their approach, and what they might have installed on my system. The software itself does not install into the registry, it just runs on its own, and Revo uninstaller shows nothing.

Vishal Gupta is extremely reputable. I have used these tools over some years. Much more convenient and more reliable than fiddling around in the registry.

If you prefer you could use the venerable Context edit.
Download ContextEdit 1.2

As they say, the choice is yours.

The software itself does not install into the registry, it just runs on its own,

There's no necessity for (smaller, simpler) programs to use registry entries.

@Edwin, already reinstalled once, but there was no success. I suspect that the restored ConfigState.xml and GUIState.xml files from Windows 7 installation may contain code that is not compatible.with Windows 10. Rebuilding them would be a major undertaking, because of my customizations. But must try again with a completely clean installation and new .xml files.

dalchina said:

Vishal Gupta is extremely reputable. I have used these tools over some years. Much more convenient and more reliable than fiddling around in the registry. If you prefer you could use the venerable Context edit. Download ContextEdit 1.2

Thanks again dalcina. In that case I give it a try. Also downloaded Context edit 1.2 to see if it works and Nir utilities also has a context menu browser.

@Edwin, I did a completely clean install of TextPad 8, rebuilt everything new and didn't use any of the old .xml files,
but it made no difference.

@dalchina, I ended up using Vishal's software, added the context menu entry, but it only opens the app. When I place the pointer on a document, the context menu entry disappears.

So, I came to the conclusion that there may be something wrong in the Registry and I better not tinker with it. My additional suspicion is that Windows 10 is doing some things differently than Windows 7 where the Context menu worked OK.

Thanks for the help.

added the context menu entry

- you need to know exactly what to add. Did you add a parameter to pass the argument- the document- to the program? Typically %1, possibly with ""

Have you researched command line syntax for Textpad?

If all you added was the path to the exe, then all that will happen will be that the program opens.

dalchina said:

- you need to know exactly what to add. Did you add a parameter to pass the argument- the document- to the program? Typically %1, possibly with ""
Have you researched command line syntax for Textpad?
If all you added was the path to the exe, then all that will happen will be that the program opens.

You are right. I will give it another try but only tomorrow. Will restore an earlier version of the mirror because of my suspicions about the registry. It only takes about 6 minutes to restore everything. Thanks.