Shell Integration and Multi User

[pjdevries]

Hi,

I use XYplorer on two Windows 7 workstations. One of those is also used by my girlfriend, who has her own user account. I want XYplorer to be my default file manager but my girlfriend doesn't. Unfortunately the "XYplorer is default file manager" setting seems to be system wide. Is there some kind of workaround for that?

[admin]

Not that I know of.

[TheQwerty]

Shouldn't this be just a case of having "XYplorer is default file manager" write the keys in the HKEY_CURRENT_USER hive instead of HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE?

[admin]

Shouldn't this be just a case of having "XYplorer is default file manager" write the keys in the HKEY_CURRENT_USER hive instead of HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE?

Well, these keys are in HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT.

[TheQwerty]

Shouldn't this be just a case of having "XYplorer is default file manager" write the keys in the HKEY_CURRENT_USER hive instead of HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE?

Well, these keys are in HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT.

But HKCR is just the result of merging HKCU with HKLM. More information...

To change the settings for the interactive user, store the changes under HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes rather than HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT.

To change the default settings, store the changes under HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Classes. If you write keys to a key under HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT, the system stores the information under HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Classes.

If you write values to a key under HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT, and the key already exists under HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes, the system will store the information there instead of under HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Classes.

That last sentence makes things confusing, but regardless I think XY should only be setting these for the current user in the first place. (Or possibly base it off whether it was installed for all users or just one... )

[admin]

Wow, new to me. But makes sense. A bit tricky to upgrade from previous configurations... hmmm...

ADD: Looking at my registry (Win XP) I see that only very few software writes at HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes. So it would be very unusual for XY to do this...

[admin]

What about this: New checkbox in Configuration / Shell Integration: Only for the current user. (Please help with English.) Or should it better be a dropdown that shows both options:
- Only for the current user
- For the entire computer

[TheQwerty]

Wow, new to me. But makes sense. A bit tricky to upgrade from previous configurations... hmmm...

ADD: Looking at my registry (Win XP) I see that only very few software writes at HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes. So it would be very unusual for XY to do this...

Here on a Win 7 x64 they are about the same, but the majority of software here gets installed for all users and the machine is treated as a single-user one. While it may be unusual I think it is ultimately the correct way that this should be handled.

What about this: New checkbox in Configuration / Shell Integration: Only for the current user. (Please help with English.) Or should it better be a dropdown that shows both options:
- Only for the current user
- For the entire computer

I was typing up the same suggestions (though I went with "For All Users" as the child option) before you posted that.

I'm thinking the dropdown might make the most sense: "XYplorer is default file manager: Disabled/For All Users/For Current User"

[pjdevries]

Thank you all for thinking along. I'm looking forward to the final solution.

[admin]

Wow, new to me. But makes sense. A bit tricky to upgrade from previous configurations... hmmm...

ADD: Looking at my registry (Win XP) I see that only very few software writes at HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes. So it would be very unusual for XY to do this...

Here on a Win 7 x64 they are about the same, but the majority of software here gets installed for all users and the machine is treated as a single-user one. While it may be unusual I think it is ultimately the correct way that this should be handled.

What about this: New checkbox in Configuration / Shell Integration: Only for the current user. (Please help with English.) Or should it better be a dropdown that shows both options:
- Only for the current user
- For the entire computer

I was typing up the same suggestions (though I went with "For All Users" as the child option) before you posted that.

I'm thinking the dropdown might make the most sense: "XYplorer is default file manager: Disabled/For All Users/For Current User"

Maybe. Need to think about it...