Open With Edit & Folder Runner

[TheSaint]

For the Folder Runner program go to Post #4

Today first thing, I crafted a simple little program to address a long time annoyance with my PC.

Basically I've gotten fed up waiting for my right-click menu to get populated, and also the same with the 'Open With' menu ... if that even has an entry I want for some files.

Every day on my PC I am opening the same kind of files using that right-click menu. Whether that be an AU3 file I want to work with in SciTE or some other text based file I want to look at or work with in SciTE.

I've no idea why I have put up with things for so long, but anyway I now have a dropbox program to make things better & quicker ... less slow & fiddly.

Some of you might also find my program handy.

Basic Usage is as follows.

1. Start the Open With Edit program using the desktop shortcut you create (recommended).

  shows initially, then changes to 

2. Drag the text based file you want to use with it onto that floating Dropbox.

3. If you have already added settings for that file type to the program, it should just execute in the specified editor type program. If not, the Setup window will appear, where you can then apply settings for that file type ... using the BROWSE button to browse for the editor type program file etc.

NOTE - The ShellExecute command is used.

4. You can also setup things manually by typing or copy & paste and then use the ADD button.

5. The LAST button retrieves that last added program detail.

6. The ADD button is not needed when you use the BROWSE button.

7. There is a TEST button at far left of the ADD button. This only works with the source file you dragged & dropped, to fine tune parameters etc if you need to with the specified program.

8. The REMOVE button should be self explanatory, but basically it removes (deletes) the selected file type and all settings related to it.

9. Program Information dialog has more information.

10. The Dropbox has various right-click options. One of which is to go straight to the Program Setup window, though you can just left click the drop zone to achieve the same thing.

I added the following file types, and all use SciTE. I'll no doubt add others as the need arises

AU3, HTML, INF, INI, LOG, OPF, TXT

Other ones that come to mind are JSON and PY and M3U etc.

WARNING
Because none of the files I tested with so far (and programs) need any parameters, I've not tested that feature at all yet. It is also possible I guess, that another field might need to be added for working directory, but once again I did not need that, so did not add it. Those two things are easy enough to test and add if needed.

Enjoy!  

Open With Edit.au3    Edit.ico

Edited July 5, 2023 by TheSaint

[TheDcoder]

37 minutes ago, TheSaint said:

Basically I've gotten fed up waiting for my right-click menu to get populated

What? Isn't that instant?

[TheSaint]

15 hours ago, TheDcoder said:

What? Isn't that instant?

Not on my old PC, not anymore.

The more programs you have installed the slower it gets. After many years I have many programs installed.

And it is always worst at startup, when I want to get going. It isn't anywhere near as bad later .. unless memory issues impact.

Anyway, its not just about slowness, but also about fiddly. Much easier just to double-click that desktop shortcut and drag & drop my text based file onto the resulting floating dropbox ... especially if more than one file.

Edited June 20, 2023 by TheSaint

[TheSaint]

I decided to create a companion program called Folder Runner.

   

Another fairly simple affair, where you drag & drop a folder onto the floating Dropbox, and then choose what installed program to pass the folder path to (run with).

Some like me, might prefer this, to using their Windows right-click  context menu (Open With, etc).

When the Folder Runner program runs for the first time, it scans the Registry for programs listed in the Directory key. The user then responds to a prompt for each program found, about whether they want to add that program to the list or not. Programs can be ignored or even skipped if the user wants. The REFRESH THE LIST button will rescan the Registry, ignoring programs designated as skipped, unless the user chooses otherwise. A program can be added to the list manually with the NEW button plus copy & paste. Entries can be pruned (removed) from the list with the CUT button, with a prompt about setting as 'Skip' for future rescans.

Program Path and Parameters can be updated using the UPDATE button, which is also a SAVE button when manually adding a new list entry.

An executable without a path, is supported if that program file exists in either the Windows or System directory folders. Support for %PATH% could be added, but isn't in this version.

If the Run On List Select checkbox is enabled, then clicking a list entry will automatically start that program with the drag & dropped folder. The Folder Runner program automatically closes in that instance, but will stay open if you use the TEST RUN button instead.

The Dropbox has right-click options, one of which allows access to the Program Run Options window, where you can modify settings if you wish, without closing the Dropbox. You can also simply access that window by left-clicking the Dropbox dropzone, but in that instance, the Dropbox will also close.

Folder Runner.au3    Foldrun.ico

Enjoy!

[TheSaint]

Just a small update to Folder Runner, to add some handy program options.

(1) Open in New Window.

(2) Properties.

(3) Create Alphanumeric Folders

All very simplistic, but handy never-the-less ... and obvious inclusions when I thought about it.

 (v1.1)

Folder Runner.au3

(1 prior download of this version, before bugfix)

Edited July 12, 2023 by TheSaint

[TheSaint]

Quick little bugfix and a third option added. See previous post.

I didn't bother to increment the version, as only one person had downloaded ... My apologies to that person.