XYplorer context sensitive menu and "private" paths to apps

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jbir359
Posts: 25
Joined: 02 Jul 2010 00:39

XYplorer context sensitive menu and "private" paths to apps

Post by jbir359 »

I am running windows 7 x64, and latest XYplorer.

For whatever reason context sensitive menus in windows explorer and XYplorer are not similar.

As a workaround, I am adding adding some "open with" applications to the "SendTo folder".

Today i added 2 x64 application shortcuts to "SendTo folder".

When trying to send to them from XYplorer I get a pop-up error
"C:\Program Files (x86)\... The specified path does not exist"

Of course it does not exist, it is in "Program Files\..."

I have no idea where XYplorer is taking the path information from. I searched the registry and found nothing.

nas8e9
Posts: 2232
Joined: 21 Jun 2008 14:50

Re: XYplorer context sensitive menu and "private" paths to a

Post by nas8e9 »

jbir359 wrote:I am running windows 7 x64, and latest XYplorer.

For whatever reason context sensitive menus in windows explorer and XYplorer are not similar.
This FAQ explains why.
jbir359 wrote:As a workaround, I am adding adding some "open with" applications to the "SendTo folder".

Today i added 2 x64 application shortcuts to "SendTo folder".

When trying to send to them from XYplorer I get a pop-up error
"C:\Program Files (x86)\... The specified path does not exist"

Of course it does not exist, it is in "Program Files\..."

I have no idea where XYplorer is taking the path information from. I searched the registry and found nothing.
I've tried this with EmEditor's SendTo-shortcut, which works fine.

A possible explanation is that the shortcuts you added use the %ProgramFiles% environment variable instead of explicitly specifying "C:\Program Files\". If so, it's because 64-bit Windows lies to 32-bit apps about certain locations for compatibility reasons.

To solve it, replace %ProgramFiles% in the executable's path to %ProgramW6432%.

jbir359
Posts: 25
Joined: 02 Jul 2010 00:39

Re: XYplorer context sensitive menu and "private" paths to a

Post by jbir359 »

nas8e9 wrote:
jbir359 wrote:I am running windows 7 x64, and latest XYplorer.

For whatever reason context sensitive menus in windows explorer and XYplorer are not similar.
This FAQ explains why.
jbir359 wrote:As a workaround, I am adding adding some "open with" applications to the "SendTo folder".

Today i added 2 x64 application shortcuts to "SendTo folder".

When trying to send to them from XYplorer I get a pop-up error
"C:\Program Files (x86)\... The specified path does not exist"

Of course it does not exist, it is in "Program Files\..."

I have no idea where XYplorer is taking the path information from. I searched the registry and found nothing.
I've tried this with EmEditor's SendTo-shortcut, which works fine.

A possible explanation is that the shortcuts you added use the %ProgramFiles% environment variable instead of explicitly specifying "C:\Program Files\". If so, it's because 64-bit Windows lies to 32-bit apps about certain locations for compatibility reasons.

To solve it, replace %ProgramFiles% in the executable's path to %ProgramW6432%.
So, all the context shortcuts reside in one “SendTo” folder but 32bit applications only see 32bit shortcuts?

Sorry, but this is not the reason.

When you say works fine you mean from inside XYplorer?

I manually dragged / created the shortcut from the source folder to the “C:\Users\jb..\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\SendTo” folder

When checking the shortcut properties, it specifically spells out "C:\Program Files\CFi\ShellToys\CFiShell.exe" and even includes the “Start in:” path correctly. (I can't attach a screenshot unfortunately).

I had the same problem with another program in the past and discovered it by coincidence (registry scan?), managed to fix it but can’t recall now what it was and how, I am guessing editing the registry.

PeterH
Posts: 2826
Joined: 21 Nov 2005 20:39
Location: DE W11Pro 24H2, 1920*1200*100% 3840*2160*150%

Re: XYplorer context sensitive menu and "private" paths to a

Post by PeterH »

If I understand it correct, windows(x64) will change a path C:\Program Files\... requested from a 32bit program to C:\Program Files(x86)\...

In my words: you use the right path, and windows makes it wrong...

(I will be beaten for that, I'm afraid :roll: )

nas8e9
Posts: 2232
Joined: 21 Jun 2008 14:50

Re: XYplorer context sensitive menu and "private" paths to a

Post by nas8e9 »

jbir359 wrote:I am running windows 7 x64, and latest XYplorer.

For whatever reason context sensitive menus in windows explorer and XYplorer are not similar.
jbir359 wrote:So, all the context shortcuts reside in one “SendTo” folder but 32bit applications only see 32bit shortcuts?

Sorry, but this is not the reason.
There are indeed no distinct SendTo-folders for 32- and 64-bit.

I'm hoping we're talking about the first level of context menus, i.e. the level with Open, Print, Edit, Send to, etc.? In that case, the discrepancy on this level of the context menu is explained in the FAQ I linked to earlier. The two screenshots at the bottom illustrate the different number of third-party shell context menu items between a 32-bit file manager and a 64-bit one.
jbir359 wrote:When you say works fine you mean from inside XYplorer?

I manually dragged / created the shortcut from the source folder to the “C:\Users\jb..\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\SendTo” folder

When checking the shortcut properties, it specifically spells out "C:\Program Files\CFi\ShellToys\CFiShell.exe" and even includes the “Start in:” path correctly. (I can't attach a screenshot unfortunately).

I had the same problem with another program in the past and discovered it by coincidence (registry scan?), managed to fix it but can’t recall now what it was and how, I am guessing editing the registry.
With regard to what works on my computer: the first two screenshots show that in both cases the same Send to-shortcut to EmEditor is present; it also works in both cases.

The third and last screenshot shows the properties of this (working) Send to-shortcut.

As for what's going wrong for you, my one hunch about your Send to-shortcut using a variable in the target instead of the full path as you have, didn't pan out. I don't know why you couldn't attach screenshots: you did find the Upload attachment-tab below the three buttons below the text edit-area? If that's it: could you post screenshots of both your XYplorer context menu with Send to expanded, as well a the shortcut properties of one of your Send to-items?

jbir359
Posts: 25
Joined: 02 Jul 2010 00:39

Re: XYplorer context sensitive menu and "private" paths to a

Post by jbir359 »

thanks.

how does one attach screenshots?

j_c_hallgren
XY Blog Master
Posts: 5826
Joined: 02 Jan 2006 19:34
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Re: XYplorer context sensitive menu and "private" paths to a

Post by j_c_hallgren »

jbir359 wrote:how does one attach screenshots?
Just look a bit lower on the "Post Reply"...it's right under the normal text box...just browse to file and upload it...easy!

Though as one with a smaller screen, I also suggest that any screenshots be 1024x768 or similar as huge ones aren't easily seen as whole otherwise.
Still spending WAY TOO much time here! But it's such a pleasure helping XY be a treasure!
(XP on laptop with touchpad and thus NO mouse!) Using latest beta vers when possible.

jbir359
Posts: 25
Joined: 02 Jul 2010 00:39

Re: XYplorer context sensitive menu and "private" paths to a

Post by jbir359 »

j_c_hallgren wrote:
jbir359 wrote:how does one attach screenshots?
Just look a bit lower on the "Post Reply"...it's right under the normal text box...just browse to file and upload it...easy!

Though as one with a smaller screen, I also suggest that any screenshots be 1024x768 or similar as huge ones aren't easily seen as whole otherwise.
gee. thanks

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