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Tip/Trick

Open A Command Prompt Anywhere

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4.98/5 (127 votes)
8 Mar 2016CPOL 177.2K   40   63
This hidden key-click combination adds the ability to open a command prompt window from a Windows Explorer view.

Maybe I'm the last one to find/discover this trick but I was so pleased to find it, I had to share it anyways.

Often when browsing directories in Windows Explorer, you want to open a command shell, using the directory being viewed as the current directory. In older versions of Windows, you could add an item to the context menu by adding a registry setting or installing a third-party utility.

In Windows 7 (and possibly Vista, Windows 2008), a menu item is added to the context-sensitive right-click menu by holding down SHIFT as you click:

Image 1

License

This article, along with any associated source code and files, is licensed under The Code Project Open License (CPOL)


Written By
Engineer Robotic Assistance Devices / AITX
Canada Canada
Yvan Rodrigues has 30 years of experience in information systems and software development for the industry. He is Senior Concept Designer at Robotic Assistance Devices

He is a Certified Technician (C.Tech.), a professional designation granted by the Institute of Engineering Technology of Ontario (IETO).

Yvan draws on experience as owner of Red Cell Innovation Inc., Mabel's Labels Inc. as Manager of Systems and Development, the University of Waterloo as Information Systems Manager, and OTTO Motors as Senior Systems Engineer and Senior Concept Designer.

Yvan is currently focused on design of embedded systems.

Comments and Discussions

 
AnswerRe: Cmd Pin
Yvan Rodrigues22-Feb-13 3:08
professionalYvan Rodrigues22-Feb-13 3:08 
GeneralMy vote of 5 Pin
Mehuge28-Jan-13 22:57
Mehuge28-Jan-13 22:57 
GeneralMy vote of 5 Pin
Zuoliu Ding28-Jan-13 13:24
Zuoliu Ding28-Jan-13 13:24 
GeneralMy vote of 3 Pin
Elrond28-Jan-13 6:47
Elrond28-Jan-13 6:47 
GeneralRe: My vote of 3 Pin
Yvan Rodrigues28-Jan-13 7:05
professionalYvan Rodrigues28-Jan-13 7:05 
GeneralRe: My vote of 3 Pin
Elrond28-Jan-13 7:15
Elrond28-Jan-13 7:15 
GeneralRe: My vote of 3 Pin
Mehuge28-Jan-13 22:59
Mehuge28-Jan-13 22:59 
GeneralRe: My vote of 3 Pin
Elrond28-Jan-13 23:04
Elrond28-Jan-13 23:04 
GeneralRe: My vote of 3 Pin
Mehuge28-Jan-13 23:39
Mehuge28-Jan-13 23:39 
GeneralMy vote of 5 Pin
RaviGupta798627-Jan-13 22:48
RaviGupta798627-Jan-13 22:48 
GeneralMy vote of 5 Pin
RdickeyTech23-Jan-13 8:14
RdickeyTech23-Jan-13 8:14 
GeneralMy vote of 1 Pin
ii_noname_ii23-Jan-13 1:24
ii_noname_ii23-Jan-13 1:24 
QuestionWow Pin
JonasAndersson22-Jan-13 11:46
JonasAndersson22-Jan-13 11:46 
GeneralMy vote of 5 Pin
Global Analyser7-Nov-12 3:45
Global Analyser7-Nov-12 3:45 
GeneralMy vote of 5 Pin
Global Analyser7-Nov-12 3:42
Global Analyser7-Nov-12 3:42 
GeneralGood tip. Pin
SoMad16-Jun-12 10:56
professionalSoMad16-Jun-12 10:56 
QuestionDo you associated code with the page ? Pin
sanlingdd23-Apr-12 2:21
sanlingdd23-Apr-12 2:21 
GeneralMy vote of 5 Pin
AminRahimi17-Apr-12 2:59
AminRahimi17-Apr-12 2:59 
GeneralMy vote of 5 Pin
Reza Ahmadi9-Apr-12 4:56
Reza Ahmadi9-Apr-12 4:56 
GeneralReason for my vote of 5 Believe me, you are not the last one... Pin
RaisKazi28-Dec-11 20:04
RaisKazi28-Dec-11 20:04 
GeneralI've used this for a while, but for some reason on my home c... Pin
lewax009-Nov-11 11:38
lewax009-Nov-11 11:38 
GeneralReason for my vote of 5 Good one! I didn't know that. Pin
Dr.Walt Fair, PE31-Aug-11 8:23
professionalDr.Walt Fair, PE31-Aug-11 8:23 
GeneralReason for my vote of 5 Excellent tip, thanks for sharing! Pin
DrABELL24-Jun-11 8:58
DrABELL24-Jun-11 8:58 
GeneralCool, Great tip My 5! Pin
Vivek Krishnamurthy23-Jun-11 23:39
Vivek Krishnamurthy23-Jun-11 23:39 
GeneralReason for my vote of 5 Reason for my vote of 5 Nice Tips Pin
RaviRanjanKr22-Jun-11 1:13
professionalRaviRanjanKr22-Jun-11 1:13 

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