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Re: {rightclick} New | Text Document

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On Fri, 8 Nov 2024 21:53:12 +0100, Herbert Kleebauer wrote:

>> How the App Paths Registry Key Makes Windows Both Faster and Safer
>> https://helgeklein.com/blog/how-the-app-paths-registry-key-makes-windows-both-faster-and-safer/
> 
> I don't see why it will make Windows "Faster and Safer".

I don't either. All I know is when Microsoft gave us the System Registry, I
studied how it works & one of the neat things I found was 'App Paths'.
https://docs.revenera.com/installshield22helplib/helplibrary/IHelpAddAppPathsToComponent.htm

I latched on to the convenience of the App Paths subkey & its portability.
https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/win32/shell/app-registration

This was so long ago that I don't remember if it was Windows XP or 95 or
what, but I made scores of commands those days I'm still using today.

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\App Paths
Used to register an application for a single user

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\App Paths
Used to register an application for all users of the computer 

I simply export the App Paths key from one machine & load it into another.
It just works. And I've been using literally that same key for decades.
https://superuser.com/questions/1642149/what-does-hklm-software-microsoft-windows-currentversion-app-paths-actually-do

You export from one machine. You import into the new machine.
And all your commands work the same on both machines.

Of course I also bring over my batch & link directories (which contain
almost every script ever proposed on the Windows newsgroups, by the way).

And, of course, you can screw with the PATH and they'd likely still work.
But I have never touched the PATH on Windows in decades as I don't need to.

>>> Create a folder and add it to the PATH environment variable* (which is 
>>> something you only need to do once).  After that you can just drop any 
>>> program or batch file into it and start it using the "run" dialog (or from a 
>>> command console) - no "app path" fumbling needed anymore.
>> 
>> The article cited explains why it's sophomoric to modify the PATH variable.
> 
> There is nothing explained.

Agree with you. 

You're different than that other guy who was just complaining so I didn't
take him seriously. I take you seriously as you're not just complaining.

You're trying to be critically constructive. And that's good. So am I.

Many of my programs are those you wrote that I found on the archives for
this newsgroup whenever I search for things - like your spelling program.

I love that it gives me three chances to spell a word and if I get it
right, then it removes the word from my misspelled word list.

It's great! I think you wrote half the batch scripts that I've used,
although others wrote them too (like Zaidy036) as I copy them verbatim and
then when they work for me verbatim, I then modify them as needed.

I think you wrote my sort program, for example, that sorts by microsecond.
And I think you wrote the program I use that gets rid of the command
console when I run commands which leave an unnecessary console in place.

I never understood that (as it makes use of certificates) - but it works!
 showwin.exe 5
 del showwin.exe
 goto :eof

 -----BEGIN CERTIFICATE-----
 TVpgAQEAAAAEAAAA//8AAGABAAAAAAAAQAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA
 AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAoAAAAA4fug4AtAnNIbgBTM0hTmljZSB0byBtZWV0IHNvbWVi
 b2R5IHdobyBpcyBzdGlsbCB1c2luZyBET1MsDQpidXQgdGhpcyBwcm9ncmFtIHJl
 cXVpcmVzIFdpbjMyLg0KJFBFAABMAQEAUHmlNgAAAAAAAAAA4AAPAQsBBQwAAgAA
 AAAAAAAAAADIEAAAABAAAAAgAAAAAEAAABAAAAACAAAFAAAAAAAAAAQAAAAAAAAA
 ACAAAAACAAAAAAAAAwAAAAAAEAAAEAAAAAAQAAAQAAAAAAAAEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA
 GBAAADwAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA
 AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAQAAAYAAAA
 AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAALnRleHQAAAAmAQAAABAAAAACAAAAAgAA
 AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAIAAA4AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA
 AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAABoEAAAAAAAAJQQAACmEAAA
 uhAAAAAAAABgEAAAAAAAAAAAAABUEAAAABAAAIQQAAAAAAAAAAAAAHYQAAAIEAAA
 AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAABVU0VSMzIuZGxsAABoEAAAAAAAAAAAU2hvd1dp
 bmRvdwAAS0VSTkVMMzIuZGxsAACUEAAAphAAALoQAAAAAAAAAABHZXRDb21tYW5k
 TGluZUEAAABHZXRDb25zb2xlV2luZG93AAAAAEV4aXRQcm9jZXNzAP8VCBBAADHS
 SECAOAB0EYA4InUC99IJ0nXvgDggdepAMfa9BQAAAA+2EEAI0nQTgOowcvOA+gl3
 7mv2CgHWMe3r5QntdAKJ7v8VDBBAAFZQ/xUAEEAAagD/FRAQQAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA
 AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA
 AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA
 AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA
 AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA
 AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA==
 -----END CERTIFICATE----- 

Some day I'll actually understand what you did in the above that works.

But for now, I just type "x" in my Runbox to open the directory and then I
type the batch file that you wrote that runs what I need w/o the console!

(I never put the two together so that the Runbox command would do both
tasks of going to the directory and running the command - because it's NOT
in the PATH since I never mess with the path - which takes us full circle.)

>> The App Paths key provides a per-process PATH configuration which increases
>> security by eliminating the need to touch the global system PATH variable.
> 
> Why does this increase security?

I don't know. I was just trying to get rid of the guy who was complaining
about how Microsoft does the PATH. I told him to complain to Bill Gates.

I'm just using a feature of the PATH that I've been using for decades.
It's why I never have to modify the PATH.

> A Windows App normally isn't just a single exe file but comes with a lot
> of additional files, so it needs its own program directory. If you have
> a lot of such Apps installed it would be indeed a stupid idea to add all
> these program directories to the PATH variable. On the other side, if
> you have dozens of single file utilities or batch files, then it would
> be stupid, to spread them all over the disk and use a Registry entry
> for each of them. Just put them all in a single command directory and
> add it to the PATH variable.

That works too. But not every command is a batch file. Some are links. 
Links do things easily that batch files don't do as easily, although both
can be made to do everything I'm sure.

Where I use links is when I have to bring up the Windows task scheduler.

Usually I do that only to run commands which need admin privileges.
Or when I want to pin something to the taskbar that won't pin otherwise.

I'm not using the App Paths for any other reason than convenience.
And portability. 

Because the Windows App Paths key does more than just run batch files.

> When setting up a new PC, the first thing I do, is to copy this command
> directory to the new PC and modify the PATH variable. Then my collection
> of helper utilities is immediately available.

Yup. I do something similar in that I set up all my concurrent machines and
the new machine the same as I set it up on Windows XP and moved forward.

Over time, of course, there are tweaks (for example, the executable for
%Windir%\System32\curl.exe ifconfig.me didn't exist in early Windows 10),
but essentially the App Paths key contains everything I run every day.

We both accomplish that portability in a very consistent way.
Only different.

I never mess with the PATH. You do.
You never mess with the App Paths subkey. I do.

The end result is similar and only slightly different from your approach.
Your approach is typical. Mine is perhaps not as typical. Both work.

There are other methods also to find any given command on Windows.
https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/win32/shell/app-registration

>> When I want template #1 for example, I type "1" in the Runbox.
>> When I want template #2, I type "2"; "3" for template #3, etc.
> 
> Instead of typing <WIN>-R I prefer to have a CMD window open all
> the time. 

Rest assured I *never* type "Win+R". I just type that because most people
don't know anything about the runbox so it makes it clear for *them*.

I keep a runbox shortcut pinned to teh taskbar in a prominent spot.

(I just added "prominent" to my spelling list you created, as I had spelled
it "prominant" by mistake and it got squiggled so I added it to your list.)

> I simple click into the task bar brings it to foreground
> so you can enter the commands. But when using the AppPath method
> to register 1.exe, 2.exe and 3.exe you have to type "start 1",
> "start 2" or "start 3", 1, 2 or 3 works only with the PATH method.

Each method works. Neither is "abuse" of the mechanism Microsoft provided.

As the other guy already said, the best way to do this (using either
method) is to write a script that has as input which template you want.
 command template1
 command template2
 command template3

What would be a neat trick, although I don't need it, is to populate the
clipboard not with a "type file.txt | clip" but with a word document or an
excel spreadsheet (where "type" won't likely work for those templates).

I don't have that script but if someone posts it, I'll use it.
Most of my stuff is written by you & others like Zaidy03 <Eric@Bloch.com>.

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{rightclick} New | Text Document Wolf Greenblatt <wolf@greenblatt.net> - 2024-10-15 08:47 -0400
  Re: {rightclick} New | Text Document Big Al <alan@invalid.com> - 2024-10-15 09:53 -0400
  Re: {rightclick} New | Text Document Herbert Kleebauer <klee@unibwm.de> - 2024-10-15 16:43 +0200
    Re: {rightclick} New | Text Document Wolf Greenblatt <wolf@greenblatt.net> - 2024-10-15 13:04 -0400
      Re: {rightclick} New | Text Document Herbert Kleebauer <klee@unibwm.de> - 2024-10-16 00:44 +0200
        Re: {rightclick} New | Text Document Herbert Kleebauer <klee@unibwm.de> - 2024-10-16 01:49 +0200
          Re: {rightclick} New | Text Document Wolf Greenblatt <wolf@greenblatt.net> - 2024-10-15 23:12 -0400
            Re: {rightclick} New | Text Document Herbert Kleebauer <klee@unibwm.de> - 2024-10-16 09:44 +0200
              Re: {rightclick} New | Text Document Wolf Greenblatt <wolf@greenblatt.net> - 2024-10-16 16:31 -0400
            Re: {rightclick} New | Text Document Newyana2 <newyana@invalid.nospam> - 2024-10-16 08:52 -0400
  Re: {rightclick} New | Text Document Newyana2 <newyana@invalid.nospam> - 2024-10-15 11:26 -0400
  Re: {rightclick} New | Text Document Paul <nospam@needed.invalid> - 2024-10-15 13:38 -0400
  Re: {rightclick} New | Text Document Wolf Greenblatt <wolf@greenblatt.net> - 2024-11-07 22:42 -0500
    Re: {rightclick} New | Text Document "R.Wieser" <address@is.invalid> - 2024-11-08 09:07 +0100
      Re: {rightclick} New | Text Document Wolf Greenblatt <wolf@greenblatt.net> - 2024-11-08 09:14 -0500
        Re: {rightclick} New | Text Document "R.Wieser" <address@is.invalid> - 2024-11-08 17:18 +0100
          Re: {rightclick} New | Text Document Wolf Greenblatt <wolf@greenblatt.net> - 2024-11-08 13:58 -0500
            Re: {rightclick} New | Text Document "R.Wieser" <address@is.invalid> - 2024-11-08 22:18 +0100
              Re: {rightclick} New | Text Document Wolf Greenblatt <wolf@greenblatt.net> - 2024-11-08 20:24 -0500
                Re: {rightclick} New | Text Document "R.Wieser" <address@is.invalid> - 2024-11-09 10:22 +0100
        Re: {rightclick} New | Text Document "R.Wieser" <address@is.invalid> - 2024-11-08 17:30 +0100
        Re: {rightclick} New | Text Document Herbert Kleebauer <klee@unibwm.de> - 2024-11-08 21:53 +0100
          Re: {rightclick} New | Text Document Wolf Greenblatt <wolf@greenblatt.net> - 2024-11-08 23:14 -0500
            Re: {rightclick} New | Text Document Zaidy036 <Zaidy036@air.isp.spam> - 2024-11-09 10:20 -0500
              Re: {rightclick} New | Text Document Wolf Greenblatt <wolf@greenblatt.net> - 2024-11-25 17:50 -0500
            Re: {rightclick} New | Text Document Herbert Kleebauer <klee@unibwm.de> - 2024-11-09 16:35 +0100
            Re: {rightclick} New | Text Document Herbert Kleebauer <klee@unibwm.de> - 2024-11-09 16:36 +0100
            Re: {rightclick} New | Text Document Herbert Kleebauer <klee@unibwm.de> - 2024-11-09 16:37 +0100
            Re: {rightclick} New | Text Document Herbert Kleebauer <klee@unibwm.de> - 2024-11-09 16:38 +0100
            Re: {rightclick} New | Text Document Wolf Greenblatt <wolf@greenblatt.net> - 2024-11-25 18:04 -0500

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