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Tip/Trick

Open A Command Prompt Anywhere

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4.98/5 (127 votes)
8 Mar 2016CPOL 174.9K   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

 
GeneralIt does works in Windows XP SP3 also. Pin
oorja21-Jun-11 1:13
oorja21-Jun-11 1:13 
GeneralReason for my vote of 5 Very helpful Pin
efbe20-Jun-11 17:26
efbe20-Jun-11 17:26 
Generalits there in old XP as well Pin
Member 435326914-Jun-11 20:44
Member 435326914-Jun-11 20:44 
GeneralRe: Really? Pin
Yvan Rodrigues15-Jun-11 2:31
professionalYvan Rodrigues15-Jun-11 2:31 
GeneralRe: its there in old XP as well Pin
fihsak8-Mar-16 22:43
fihsak8-Mar-16 22:43 
GeneralReason for my vote of 5 Very Cool Trick Indeed !!! Pin
The-Mad-Pirate14-Jun-11 17:09
The-Mad-Pirate14-Jun-11 17:09 
GeneralReason for my vote of 5 nice... Pin
ashishkumar00814-Jun-11 9:02
ashishkumar00814-Jun-11 9:02 
Generalcool, thanks for sharing Pin
Shahriar Iqbal Chowdhury/Galib14-Jun-11 2:12
professionalShahriar Iqbal Chowdhury/Galib14-Jun-11 2:12 
GeneralReason for my vote of 5 thanks! i saw this item plenty of ti... Pin
moragos13-Jun-11 19:50
moragos13-Jun-11 19:50 
GeneralReason for my vote of 5 Cool. Thanks. Pin
Darryl Bryk13-Jun-11 12:42
Darryl Bryk13-Jun-11 12:42 
GeneralGreat tip. Right-clicking a folder while holding SHIFT down ... Pin
Luc Pattyn7-Jun-11 13:58
sitebuilderLuc Pattyn7-Jun-11 13:58 
GeneralReason for my vote of 5 very handy Pin
johannesnestler7-Jun-11 5:48
johannesnestler7-Jun-11 5:48 

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