Folder Menu is a free utility that can display a popup-list of favorite folders, files, and program shortcuts via hotkey or by using the middle mouse button. An added function is the ability to browse your files and folders within the popup dialog.
Is there anything more useful than an app that can instantly open your favorite folders or files or launch your favorite apps or websites? It’s possible, I suppose, but either way this favorite-folders at your fingertips app is pretty darn handy.
Folder Menu provides a number of interesting features; for example it can display a list of recently-opened folders, and it allows you to browse your files and folders within the interface if you like. It works within Windows explorer as well as inside many other apps, and provides the possibility of manually adding any apps that are not supported by default. More notes below:
- My favorite Folder Menu functions: (1) Favorite folders; (2) Browsing folders within the interface; (3) Launching favorite apps, and (4) Opening selected path/URL by hotkey (see “open selected text” below).
- How it works: the middle mouse button will bring up the Folder Menu by default. For those who are keyboard-inclined (or, like me, use a laptop) Win+W can invoke the app as well.
- Entities supported: you can launch folders, files, URLs, as well as registry keys.
- Browsing: bring Folder Menu on screen, then press CTRL and left-click on your folders. This allows you to browse your folders quickly and freely. CTRL+Shift will display files as well as folders. Also, CAPS LOCK will toggle browsing if its on (this behavior can be switched off in the settings).
- Filtering (for vista): a handy function where you can filter open folders by your desired file type. Sadly does not work on XP, so I couldn’t see it in action.
- Open selected text: select/highlight a URL or path (or registry key) then press
Win+J to open it. Pretty cool. - Adding favorites: go to options/favorites, and then drag and drop the folder you want to add. To change the display order use shift+arrows; to delete press “delete”.
- System tray icon: you can access Folder Menu from the system tray. Note that it is possible to hid the system tray icon from the settings if you want to.
- Memory use: approx. 11 megs in memory, which is reasonable though not lightweight.
- Installation: portable, no installation needed. Place the .exe in an appropriate folder and run; it will create a config file when first run.
Wish list: (or how this program could be even better)
- Support for Open/Save dialogs: while the program states that it supports open/save dialogs in Windows and MS Office, I couldn’t get this to work when I tested on XP (using both ver. 1.20 and 2.0 beta).
The verdict: a great little app which can be extremely useful. The interface (for setting up your favorite folders and customizing the app) could be more user friendly, but overall the program works really well. I remain continually amazed with the kind of cool apps that are made using Autohotkey.
Version Tested: 2.00 b5
Compatibility: Windows All.
Go to the program page to download the latest version (approx 267K).
Thanks, Samer.
Gonna give a look at it and maybe try it out. But what about Clavier+? Have ever heard about it? Available at: http://utilfr42.free.fr/ (with this one, the user can use both the left and right Ctrl keys etc. for shortcuts and more)
Also worth a look at:
HotKeyP http://petr.lastovicka.sweb.cz/others.html
HotkeyZ http://www.skynergy.com/
All the best from Brazil.
Don’t know if the program is any good because I have not tried it yet, but while viewing the download website I received a malware threat from Norton Internet Security 2009. False positive or real I do not know. Here is the info.
Threat Name: Infostealer
Location: http://autohotkey.net/file/users/Members/Ace_NoOne/AHK/Civ4_modLaunch/Civ4_modLaunch.exe
Discovered: December 8, 1997
Updated: April 4, 2007 5:02:59 PM
Type: Trojan
Systems Affected: Windows 98, Windows 95, Windows XP, Windows Me, Windows NT, Windows Server 2003, Windows 2000
Infostealer is a generic detection for Trojan horse programs that attempt to steal sensitive information such as login credentials.
Note: Virus definitions dated 3rd May, 2006 or earlier may detect this threat as PWSteal.Trojan.
Protection
* Initial Rapid Release version December 20, 2000
* Latest Rapid Release version May 23, 2009 revision 016
* Initial Daily Certified version December 20, 2000
* Latest Daily Certified version May 23, 2009 revision 003
* Initial Weekly Certified release date December 10, 1997
Click here for a more detailed description of Rapid Release and Daily Certified virus definitions.
Threat Assessment
Wild
* Wild Level: Low
* Number of Infections: 0 – 49
* Number of Sites: 0 – 2
* Geographical Distribution: Low
* Threat Containment: Easy
* Removal: Easy
Damage
* Damage Level: Medium
* Payload: Steals sensitive information from the compromised computer.
Distribution
* Distribution Level: Low
Yeah… We should be cautious following links these days… Softpedia scans my ports now and again, but other “reliable” sites do the same. Black times these days… We can never know… Hard to tell the goodies from the baddies…
Ok, I scanned both available (English) versions of Folder Menu with the VirusScan service, and both came out with a clean bill of health. VirusScan, if you’re unfamiliar with it, scans your files using 40 anti malware engines, including the big, heavy hitters.
For ver 1.29 (English)
http://www.virustotal.com/analisis/750c48c6e966dfa4b07a860a2ec519fdeeba456b280a6a0ca4ab6ed65005386e-1243101250
For ver 2 b5 (English)
http://www.virustotal.com/analisis/0edbd6ceb7c7d411af4d6394fbdbc4f63e3ae7dd6c87c3f56bd0f22174c59a75-1243102850
In both cases there was one positive out of 40, which is a spectacular result. Moreover, my own desktop security apps, which I trust highly, did not act up when I tested this one.
Note that this is an Autohotkey-based app, and many anti malware engines have a problem with Autohotkey script false positives. I’ve seen it over and over.
So that takes care of the program itself. As for the SITE, I looked at it using the following services:
- Google safe browsing
- Web of Trust
- SiteAdvisor
- Browser Defender
Again it came out clean.
Ergo, I am 100% sure that this software and site is safe and clean, and that what you guys are seeing are false positives.
Hi, it’s nice to see it here.
And for the wish list, I’ve tested on windows xp (in virtual PC) and it works fine in dialogs.
Is it didnt change the folder or the menu didn’t show?
rexx,
It didn’t change the folder
Do you use win+w or middle button?
win+w (show menu 2 hotkey) will always open a new explorer.
middle mouse button (show menu 1 hotkey) will open in the active window.
Thanks Samer, this one is excellent!
Well, I use Windows XP SP3 and can confirm that it works well even in the open/save dialogs.
Also, FILTERING works very well in the open/save dialogs.
btw, I used the middle mouse button.
@Rexx,
I set Win+W to open menu 1 rather than menu 1.5 and it works beautifully. Not only does it invoke fave folders in the open/save dialog but the file filtering function works as well.
I am loving this app. I will re-write the review at some point to reflect this.
My GeSwall Sandboxed Internet Explorer reported some type of “Possible Malicious behavior attempt” when I clicked into this page…Luckily whatever it did (if anything) will be undone as soon as I close the browser…Tread Carefully my friends, for we are swimming with the sharks…Oh and also….stay thirsty my friends….lol…