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Re: {rightclick} New | Text Document

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On 11/8/2024 11:14 PM, Wolf Greenblatt wrote:
> 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>.

Thanks for the mention.
If I was doing something similar I would use one batch and its first 
step would be to ask how many (0-9) , kill batch if 0 otherwise use the 
number to do what I want. Why have multiple batches when one will work 
and take less file space? The make a shortcut to start the batch and 
perhaps also a "Shortcut Key" which would give efficient activation.+

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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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