DFTContextMenuHandler - a windows shell extension

This is a shell extension for windows 10 (x64) that adds a file tools submenu to the windows explorer context menu for folders and files in general. Long path names are supported.
As the support of older Windows versions has ended, it is no longer tested on these or on 32-bit versions.

Screenshots

Functions

The My File Tools submenu should be located above the Send to item and offers the following functions which are executed on the selected files

• Convert dots to spaces converts dots in the filenames to spaces
• Convert spaces to dots converts spaces in the filenames to dots
• Convert underscores to spaces converts underscores in the filenames to spaces
• Convert spaces to underscores converts spaces in the filenames to underscores
• Remove group names (...-name.mp3) removes -name from the filenames
• Rename extension... renames the file extensions to the choosen one
• Append extension (.mp -> .mp3)... appends the entered text to the extension names
• Remove n characters from filename... removes the last N characters from the filenames (use -N to remove the first characters)
• Set file date/time... sets the modification timestamp to the entered value
• Append to filename... appends the entered text to the filenames
• Insert before filename... prepends the entered text to the filenames
• Edit filename... makes it possible to edit filenames, especially if Windows Explorer blocks it due to long paths
• Empty file(s)... removes the contents from the files (zero-byte files remain)

The following functions are executed on the selected folder:

• Flatten folders (del empty ones)... flattens the subfolder structure by moving all files to the selected folder (automatically adding numbers to filenames to prevent overwrites)
• Flatten folders2 (+: folder _ file.ext)... flattens the subfolder structure by moving all files to the selected folder and renaming them to foldername _ filename.ext (automatically adding numbers to filenames to prevent overwrites)
• Delete empty subfolders... removes empty subfolders after initial confirmation
• SlideShow... starts a basic slideshow application for viewing all image files (.bmp/.gif/.jpg/.jpeg/.tif) inside the selected folder and its subfolders
  • the title bar shows the following information: Slideshow (<Duration>s[ecs], <ImageCnt>/<TotalCurrFolder>, <ImageCntAllFolders>/<TotalAllFolders>) [<FolderCnt>/<TotalFolders>] <Filename>
  • the following keys can be used:
    • up / down key increase / decrease the viewing time (in seconds)
    • p pauses / restarts the slideshow
    • f skip the rest of the images inside this folder and continue with the next one
    • ESC first time stops the slideshow / second time closes the application
    • Space toggles between fullscreen and window mode

The following functions appear in the submenu on drag & drop into a folder:

• Copy items here copies the dragged files and folders to the drop target folder
• Move items here moves the dragged files and folders to the drop target folder

As per windows standards, ... behind a menu entry indicates that the function isn't executed immediately, but another dialog opens which still allows it to be cancelled.

Build and Installation

The DLL has to be built and installed by the following steps (you probably need administrative access):

• You don't need to copy the file to C:\Windows\System32 or a similar system path.
• Register the DLL (open a command prompt, change to the folder where the DLL (x64_Unicode_Release) was built, and type regsvr32 DFTContextMenuHandler.dll) If you want to use the additional option (SlideShow), you have to compile the project in the respective subfolder.

For convenience, you can download the source code with prebuilt binaries under Releases.

Authors

• based on a template by Nick Carruthers
• this shell extension: thomas694

License

DFTContextMenuHandler by thomas694 is licensed under GNU GPLv3.
Based on a template from a disappeared source (should have been on CodeProject).