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Groups > alt.comp.os.windows-10 > #188864

Re: Tutorial: Add "Copy path to clipboard" into the rightclick file explorer context menu when saving files

Cross-posted to 3 groups.

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Andy Burns wrote:
> I'm not sure I think of IrfanView as a modern app (certainly not modern 
> looking, more like win2K era) but I must admit I haven't installed it 
> for a few years.

Hi Andy,

You bring up a good point that Irfanview is "old", but I just tested it
with Firefox & Notepad++ and the rightclick menus are EXACTLY the same.

What matters is the API used by the app, so while you're right that
IrfanView itself looks very "classic Win32", the important bit here isn't
the app's age or style. It's the API it calls when you hit File > Save As. 

IrfanView, Firefox, Notepad++, and most other "modern" programs all rely on
the same Windows-supplied Common File Dialog. That dialog is a system
component provided by the shell, not something the app builds itself.

Because of that, the right-click menus we see inside those dialogs are
generated by Windows in exactly the same way, regardless of whether the
host app looks like Windows 2000 or Windows 11. 

The consistency comes from the API contract. So if an app uses the common
dialog, we all get the same shell integration and context menus. However,
if an app rolls its own custom file picker (some UWP/"modern" apps do),
then we'll see different behavior.

So the real dividing line isn't "old vs. modern looking," it's which
Windows API the app uses to request a file dialog.

>> Please look closely at this screenshot which shows where I'm looking.
>>   <https://i.postimg.cc/QxB1MwgM/Irfanview-File-Browse-GUI.jpg>
> 
> I used win11 Notepad, and did a file/saveas, navigated into a nested 
> folder, just right-click on any folder while still in that saveas 
> process and the context menu includes "copy as path" which places the 
> full path (even for UNC shares) to the clipboard.

Are you on Windows 10 or Windows 11? I trust your observation, so I looked
it up and it turns out Windows 11 really does behave differently here.

In Windows 10, Copy as path isn't a default menu item. It exists, but only
shows up if you hold Shift while right-clicking in Explorer or in a
Save/Open dialog.

In Windows 11, Microsoft changed this. For Windows 11, apparently, "Copy as
path" is now a built-in, always-present verb. That applies not only in File
Explorer, but also in the Common File Dialog (the Save/Open dialog used by
Notepad, IrfanView, Firefox, etc.), since they all host the same shell
view.

I hadn't realized this until I dug into why you see it and I don't.

If we want Windows 10 to behave more like Windows 11, this registry tweak
removes the "Shift-only" restriction and makes Copy as path always visible:

 Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

 ; --- Always show "Copy as path" on right-click ---
 [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\AllFilesystemObjects\shell\windows.copyaspath]
 "NeverDefault"=-

This affects both File Explorer and Common File Dialogs, so my Windows 10
menus will match what you're seeing in Windows 11. To revert, just restore
the NeverDefault value.

Thanks for bringing up this difference between Windows 10 & Windows 11,
which I had not realized existed until you & Herbert brought it up here.

Note also though that the registry tweaks in the OP handle 3 menu items.
   Rightclick: [Copy Path to Clipboard]
               [Open CLI Window Here]
               [Open File Explorer Here]
-- 
We can all learn from each other as we strive to improve our knowledge.

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Thread

Tutorial: Add "Copy path to clipboard" into the rightclick file explorer context menu when saving files Marion <mariond@facts.com> - 2025-10-27 00:21 -0600
  Re: Tutorial: Add "Copy path to clipboard" into the rightclick file explorer context menu when saving files "R.Wieser" <address@is.invalid> - 2025-10-27 11:13 +0100
    Re: Tutorial: Add "Copy path to clipboard" into the rightclick file explorer context menu when saving files Marion <mariond@facts.com> - 2025-10-27 13:14 -0600
      Re: Tutorial: Add "Copy path to clipboard" into the rightclick file explorer context menu when saving files "R.Wieser" <address@is.invalid> - 2025-10-27 23:07 +0100
        Re: Tutorial: Add "Copy path to clipboard" into the rightclick file explorer context menu when saving files Marion <mariond@facts.com> - 2025-10-27 19:34 -0600
  Re: Tutorial: Add "Copy path to clipboard" into the rightclick file explorer context menu when saving files MikeS <mikes@is.invalid> - 2025-10-27 13:30 +0000
    Re: Tutorial: Add "Copy path to clipboard" into the rightclick file explorer context menu when saving files Marion <mariond@facts.com> - 2025-10-27 12:58 -0600
      Re: Tutorial: Add "Copy path to clipboard" into the rightclick file explorer context menu when saving files Andy Burns <usenet@andyburns.uk> - 2025-10-27 19:06 +0000
        Re: Tutorial: Add "Copy path to clipboard" into the rightclick file explorer context menu when saving files Marion <mariond@facts.com> - 2025-10-27 13:51 -0600
          Re: Tutorial: Add "Copy path to clipboard" into the rightclick file explorer context menu when saving files Herbert Kleebauer <klee@unibwm.de> - 2025-10-27 22:11 +0100
            Re: Tutorial: Add "Copy path to clipboard" into the rightclick file explorer context menu when saving files Marion <mariond@facts.com> - 2025-10-27 18:56 -0600
          Re: Tutorial: Add "Copy path to clipboard" into the rightclick file explorer context menu when saving files Andy Burns <usenet@andyburns.uk> - 2025-10-27 22:05 +0000
            Re: Tutorial: Add "Copy path to clipboard" into the rightclick file explorer context menu when saving files Marion <mariond@facts.com> - 2025-10-27 19:12 -0600
  Re: Tutorial: Add "Copy path to clipboard" into the rightclick file explorer context menu when saving files Marion <mariond@facts.com> - 2025-10-29 11:48 -0600

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