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My IDLE shortcut in the right click menu has disappeared. I think it's because I used to use Python 2.7, but I installed Python 2.5 without uninstalling Python2.7, and then uninstalled Python 2.5. I found one file named idle.bat, and it works, but that isn't a good way to solve this problem.

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  • I though this is because I installed two Python in my computer, then I remove one. Maybe I should try keyword like "How to insert shortcut into right-click menu". Anyway thanks for your help.
    – Jimmy
    Oct 6, 2011 at 3:35
  • That probably is the reason it went missing, but your question is how to fix it Oct 6, 2011 at 4:23
  • You could try to uninstall Python using Revo Uninstaller Freeware, clean up the registry via CCleaner free, then reinstall Python.
    – harrymc
    Dec 4, 2014 at 7:28

3 Answers 3

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Here's a reg file to add the command to edit with IDLE for Python.File (.py) and Python.NoConFile (.pyw) file types. It's for Python 2.7, installed in C:\Python27, so substitute the paths to pythonw.exe and idle.pyw that are relevant to your installation. Save it to a .reg file. Then right-click and choose Merge.

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Python.File\shell\Edit with IDLE\command]
@="\"C:\\Python27\\pythonw.exe\" \"C:\\Python27\\Lib\\idlelib\\idle.pyw\" -e \"%1\""

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Python.NoConFile\shell\Edit with IDLE\command]
@="\"C:\\Python27\\pythonw.exe\" \"C:\\Python27\\Lib\\idlelib\\idle.pyw\" -e \"%1\""
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  • Hi, I used another way to add the right-click command, but it apply to all my files. Actually, I just want to apply to *.py file. How can I delete the right-click command I added before ? Then I can add your command. Thank you.
    – Jimmy Lin
    Oct 6, 2011 at 11:19
  • @Jimmy: You can use regedit to inspect HKCR\*\shell, HKCR\*\shellex, HKCR\AllFilesystemObjects\shellex, and so on. This is tedious if you don't find the culprit quickly. Or try a a context menu editor such as ShellMenuView and ShellExView.
    – Eryk Sun
    Oct 6, 2011 at 12:03
  • Hi, I find the command in the redgit and delete, but I still can't add the right-click command by these two command. I don't know why. I just want to add the command on the right-click menu of *.py and *.pyw file. Thanks again.
    – Jimmy Lin
    Oct 7, 2011 at 8:27
  • @Jimmy: When you save the above to say idle.reg and right-click the file idle.reg, do you see the option 'Merge'? If that seems to work fine and you confirm that the settings were added, then open a command prompt and check that the output of assoc .py is .py=Python.File.
    – Eryk Sun
    Oct 7, 2011 at 10:52
  • Hi,actually I didn't see the idle.pyw. I see the idle.bat, so I replace idle.bat with idle.pyw.
    – Jimmy Lin
    Oct 11, 2011 at 9:57
2

This worked for me:


(Also view: edit with idle (python gui) context menu windows-7)

  1. open regedit

  2. go to [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Python.File\shell\Edit with IDLE\command], if it doesn't exist create it.

  3. copy the following line into the registry:

    "C:\Python27\pythonw.exe" "C:\Python27\Lib\idlelib\idle.pyw" -e "%1"

  4. go to [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Python.NoConFile\shell\Edit with IDLE\command], if it doesn't exist create it.

  5. copy the same line in the the registry:

    "C:\Python27\pythonw.exe" "C:\Python27\Lib\idlelib\idle.pyw" -e "%1"

Note: if your python path is different (e.g. c:/program files/...) then change the paths to match the pythonw.exe and idle.pyw file locations.

This should also work for a clean ActivePython install (to give you that classic idle feel!).

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I had the exact same scenario and my fix was to re-run the installer for the current version of python that you have and choose the "repair" option.

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