Open Target Shell Extension: open shortcut "target folders" from the context menu in XP

Open Target Shell Extension: open shortcut “target folders” from the context menu in XP

Open Target Shell Extension installs an entry in the windows context menu that appears whenever you right-click a shortcut and functions to quickly open the original folder that the shortcut is pointing to. It is equivalent to right clicking a shorcut > properties > find target in Windows XP.

If you use Windows XP and frequently find yourself right-clicking on program or file shortcuts then properties then find-target in order to identify and open the folders that contain the original program or file … then this program is for you.

I am really excited to find this little context menu extension because I do the above properties/find folder dance ALL the time. What I did not know is that apparently a similar context menu is already featured in Vista, so if you are using that OS you do not need this program.

I am also happy to report that this extension works everywhere, including the desktop, the start menu, the quick-launch menu, etc.

Nothing more to say about this one, except that it has the potential to be extremely useful, depending on how you use your computer, and it does exactly what it promises. For a geek like me this little jem instantly makes it to my “must install” list of programs.

Version Tested: 1.0

Compatibility: Windows XP.

Go to the program page to download the latest version (approx 52K).

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Samer Kurdi

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September 12, 2008

Samer Kurdi

tireless

You just need a .vbs file,and it’s better than this Shell Extension.

save bellow codes as FT.bat,than run it:

@echo off
If exist %windir%\FT.vbs (
echo Uninstall?&echo.&pause
reg delete HKCR\lnkfile\shell\FT /f
del %windir%\FT.vbs
exit
)
reg add “HKCR\lnkfile\shell\FT” /f /ve /t REG_SZ /d “&Find Target…”
reg add “HKCR\lnkfile\shell\FT\command” /f /ve /t REG_SZ /d “WScript.exe %windir%\FT.vbs \”%%1\”"
more +11 %windir%\FT.vbs
dim ws,objArgs,strPath
Set objArgs = WScript.Arguments
if objArgs.Count>0 then
strPath=mid(objArgs(0),instr(objArgs(0),”/”)+1,len(objArgs(0))-instr(objArgs(0),”/”))
end if
set ws=CreateObject(“Wscript.Shell”)
ws.run “Explorer /select, ” & GetTargetPath(strPath)

Function GetTargetPath(LinkName)
On Error Resume Next
Dim Shortcut
Set Shortcut = CreateObject(“Wscript.Shell”).CreateShortcut(LinkName)
GetTargetPath = Shortcut.TargetPath
Shortcut.Save
Set Shortcut = Nothing
End Function
Kane

Windows 95 Powertoys had this and I still use that version today with WinXP. It’s always worked perfectly and adds a sub-menu to your shortcut right-click menu which allows you to find/manipulate the target of the shortcut.
tireless

sorry,I typed some wrong words,And,codes post to here will lose some Characters.

so,go to here:
http://www.bimbl.com/tireless/FTbat-912
blogward

Have another go, tireless:}
Samer

Hi guys,
I accidently deleted some comments that were posted here when what I wanted to do was approve them! Sorry! Please re-post if you can.
JC

I’ve used ChangeExt for a while now, and I recommend it. It has quite a few other features in addition to “Open in Explorer”, like the ability to copy a file’s path to the clipboard. The author’s website is down, but you can find it in Google’s cache:

http://is.gd/2xXw

download links (from the cached page):

32bit: http://is.gd/2xZj
64bit: http://is.gd/2xZr
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InKyEyES

Kane said it Best!

This has been a PowerToy since 95 and still works Great!
tireless

Download FT.bat here:
http://www.box.net/shared/zipuytqv4u
x

Ummm, I don’t see how a kludgy batch file/script is far better than a shell extension that works perfectly. I also don’t see how an ancient, 16-bit Win95 shell extension is preferable.
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tireless

Ummm, I don’t see how a kludgy batch file/script is far better than a shell extension that works perfectly. I also don’t see how an ancient, 16-bit Win95 shell extension is preferable.

It seems you are right.
Shell extension works perfect(faster) than the script.

I found FindTarget.dll from here,which is “Open folder and select file (Like Shell Find Target)”.
OpenTarget.dll just open folder.
tireless

oh sorry…please delete my three comments above,and delete this comment.Leave below comment.thanks again…
tireless

Ummm, I don’t see how a kludgy batch file/script is far better than a shell extension that works perfectly. I also don’t see how an ancient, 16-bit Win95 shell extension is preferable.

It seems you are right.
Shell extension works perfect(faster) than the script.

I found FindTarget.dll from here,which is “Open folder and select file (Like Shell Find Target)”.
OpenTarget.dll just open folder.
JC

[quote]I found FindTarget.dll from here,which is “Open folder and select file (Like Shell Find Target)”.
OpenTarget.dll just open folder.[/quote]

ChangeExt (see my post above) also selects the file when opening the folder containing the shortcut.
JC

[quote]I found FindTarget.dll from [...]

grrr….
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Monkee

Thanks for the script, tireless!

Open Target may be nice, but doesn’t work on XP x64 (is a 32 bit shell extension).

That script is just perfect.
justincase

http://web.archive.org/web/20060316102414/http://www.winwonk.com/utils/OpenTarget/
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qfunk

Thanks tireless, for the link to the dll file… there are many more dll’s on the source page!
luk3Z

@justincase

Thanks for the link
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n8wheel

Found a page with a registry edit that achieves the same (Winhelponline):
http://www.winhelponline.com/blog/add-the-open-file-location-context-menu-for-shortcuts-in-windows-xp/

Open Target Shell Extension: open shortcut “target folders” from the context menu in XP

Samer Kurdi

@freewaregenius

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