Adding functions to the RUN button?

[Panarchy]

Hello!

I know there are a few program that do this for you, but I am wondering how to do it manually (and I would also like to know the programs out there that do it for you) on how to add 'functions' to the run button.

I know that if I got Start -> Run: firefox it opens firefox, and I know if I go STARTKEY + R then CCleaner it will open up CCleaner, but I don't know how to add them myself.

I would imagine it would be in the registry somewhere... but I don't know where!

Thanks in advance,

Panarchy

PS: Please also list the programs that you know of that do this for you!

[Techin]

Panarchy, the run prompt is simply a command line function. Command line functions are merely an older way of accessing a program... any program. When you click on an Icon the icon runs the command line code for you. The run key is most often used by administrators or advanced users that want to access some advanced feature that they don't want a novice user to access by leaving an icon around for them to click on...

[Scarecrow Man]

BACKUP YOUR REGISTRY FIRST!

eventvwr

services.msc

control userpasswords2

appwiz.cpl

regedit

compmgmt.msc

etc..

All commands inputted are looked for in folders defined in the %PATH% environment. You can edit this in your environment variables, or the following registry key.

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\App Paths

To add a program to this, you must first create a new KEY. Name this key with the name of your program. For example, firefox.exe

The default STRING will contain the exact path of the executable. Example, C:\\Program Files\\Firefox\\Firefox.exe

The path STRING will contain the folder the item is located in. Example, C:\\Program Files\\Firefox"

Here is an example reg file for what I just talked about.

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\App Paths]

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\App Paths\Firefox.exe]
@="C:\\Program Files\\Firefox\\Firefox.exe"
"Path"="C:\\Program Files\\Firefox"

Cheers.

[Panarchy]

Wow... okay... thanks.

I'll add what I need!

PS: Are there any programs that do this for you automatically? Like maybe a freeware one...

[Scarecrow Man]

PS: Are there any programs that do this for you automatically? Like maybe a freeware one...

Not that I know of, but if you copy my example reg file and just replace the values with your own, it will create it for you.

You can also have multiple programs in one file.

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\App Paths]

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\App Paths\Firefox.exe]
@="C:\\Program Files\\Firefox\\Firefox.exe"
"Path"="C:\\Program Files\\Firefox"

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\App Paths\Safari.exe]
@="C:\\Program Files\\Apple\\Safari\\Safari.exe"
"Path"="C:\\Program Files\\Apple\\Safari"

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\App Paths\CCleaner.exe]
@="C:\\Program Files\\CCleaner\\CCleaner.exe"
"Path"="C:\\Program Files\\CCleaner"

[Panarchy]

^hehehe... nice! You just saved me a lot of time!

Now... time to add windows media player, msn & google talk!

Wish me luck!

Panarchy

[ithonicfury]

Theres a program called Launchy that will search your programs (i think it just looks at links in the start menu) and you can set it up as a hotkey like ctrl+space and it brings up a window and you type it what you want and it will guess what you want and you hit enter and it launches it. (so you could probably hit ctrl+space, then type in fir and it will suggest firefox.)

Another one (that i think may be better than launchy but ive never persoanally used it) is colibri - http://colibri.leetspeak.org/

[Panarchy]

^Hmm... thanks...

But I would like to add them to the run button instead.

Thanks anyway.

[D4\/!d]

Theres a program called Launchy that will search your programs .... you can set it up as a hotkey like ctrl+space and it brings up a window

Launchy is a good program and its popular.

On the other hand, if you right click any icon and go to Properties, select the shortcut tab, you can specify a Ctrl + Alt + (x) shortcut key.

To my mind that's so much easier to do. For example Ctrl + Alt + C opens CCleaner for me

[spaesee]

you could simply put the path to your program (.exe i assume) in the environment variable "path" this is the simplest solution and u dont have to download anything...do lemme know if u are not aware of this solution so that i can put a step by step instruction of doing it...

[Scarecrow Man]

you could simply put the path to your program (.exe i assume) in the environment variable "path" this is the simplest solution and u dont have to download anything...do lemme know if u are not aware of this solution so that i can put a step by step instruction of doing it...

That is exactly what I have suggested, except I do it through the registry directly.

:)