How to add program to every single file's “open with…” list?

Question

How do I go about adding a program to every files right click "open with..." list in Windows 7?

For example; I like to regularly view files in HxD hexeditor; there are various types of files I do this for. How do I add to every single file type on the system that HxD would be in every single files "open with..." menu?

Answer 1

Short answer is: with great difficulty.

Longer answer:

In the registry under HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT you'll find an entry for each registered file extension. You need to add a key called "OpenWithProdids" to each file extension that you want to handle. Within this key you then need a string value where the name is the ProgId for the HxD.

There is a much easier way, however. If you put a shortcut to HxD in C:\Users\\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\SendTo, then for ANY file in the system you can right-click, and then pick Send To->HxD from the context menu.

Answer 2

This likely is not correct, but something in this manner should work.

 REGEDIT4

 [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\HxD]

 [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\HxD\shell]

 [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\HxD\shell\open]

 [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\foo\shell\open\command]
 @="\"C:\\Program Files\\Application\\HxD.exe\" \"%1\""

Doing (something like) this should add a context menu (but that may not actually be there in what I've posted?) that should display for every file type, allowing you to open the file with HxD.

Vim does this providing an "Edit with Vim" context menu for all file types.

(There are other Registry keys where the same sort of thing can also be accomplished.)

Someone more knowledgeable should be able come up with the actual working solution.

Answer 3

Put the following in a text file and name it something like Add HxD to Context Menu.reg, update the paths, save it, and run it.

REGEDIT4

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\*\Shell\HxD]
@="&HxD"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\*\Shell\HxD\Command]
@="\"C:\\Program Files\\HxD\\HxD.exe\" \"%L\""

Answer 4

You can use the ShellExView tool for this.