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Introduction

The Command Prompt Explorer Bar is a small tool that extends Windows Explorer.

Version 1.1 is now available.

Ever tried to run one of those console programs ("Hello World!" to name a few), .BAT, .VBS or .JS scripts just to see black window popping up and disappearing? I did. Especially after I started using .Net framework I find myself doing this more often. No wonder - with all this ALs , NGENs and TLBIMPs. So if you are like me then this tool is right for you. Next time you need to run a program without GUI, just press the 'Ctrl+M' key combination in your explorer. A command prompt will start and appear automatically. Its current directory will be exactly the same as the current path you are browsing. And better yet the console will appear inside your explorer window - like any other explorer bar does - 'History', 'Favorites', 'Folders' etc. Now you can have the best of both worlds combined together - easy and fast navigation of explorer and power of batch processing of the command prompt. Or should I say Command Prompt Explorer Bar:

Well, that is how it looks like. Isn't it a beauty?

You may have noticed a toolbar on the left of the console window. I tried to put some nice timesaving features there. The most powerful is a button with a 'Script' icon on it. It has a drop down menu where you can select a command you like to be executed. It even knows how to substitute '{0}' for the name of the current files selected in explorer. Here is when it can be useful. Let's say you want to install your assembly into a 'Native Images Cache'. With Command Bar it is as simply as selecting your assembly in explorer and clicking on 'ngen {1}' menu item. It also works just fine for multiple selected files (use {0} instead). Now you can compile your .cs or .vbs files without leaving a comfortable explorer shell. And yes, you can change this menu and scripts the way you like them. It is as simple as editing a text file in a Notepad.

And here is another (besides pressing 'Ctrl+M') way of starting this tool:

I hope you'll enjoy this little tool. Send me your comments, requests and bug reports to PavelZolnikov@yahoo.com.

History

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GeneralNow thats nice ...
stixoffire
7:39 26 Feb '10  
I like the tool. I will be doing my best to run it- as it looks like life made easier.
GeneralNot working on Vista 64 but??
ingoklemm
1:36 4 Oct '09  
Installation seems succesful.

But:
* STRG + M : Nothing
* Can't find it in Context-Menu.


Any Advice? Thanxs!
GeneralWorks well with QT Tab bar too!
im_chc
16:04 20 Sep '09  
http://qttabbar.wikidot.com/[^]
GeneralWindows 7
neuwirthe
22:45 26 Aug '09  
It does not install in Windows 7. Are there any plans to adapt it?
GeneralJust a size glitch
gabrielmaldi
5:35 4 Apr '09  
The console window doesn't get all the width of the explorer window, it looks as if it is missing the size of a scrollbar all the way to the right:
http://img3.imagebanana.com/view/uqgf7bew/commandpromptexplorerbarglitch.JPG[^]
GeneralPerfect idea!
michaelogical
10:59 9 Mar '09  
Great to be able to start a prompt in the current window. Make's life easy. Thanks!
GeneralWin XP SP3 x86 edition on 64 Bit Hardware - Crashes Explorer
gutharius
18:26 9 Jan '09  
in the dos prompt I typed:

echo hello > hello.txt

the window and the dos prompt were set to C:\

when I double clicked the hello.txt in the window explorer crashed. Looks like this program needs some updates...

Really awesome program! Even if it is showing it's age... Big Grin
GeneralWorks in IE but not Explorer when installing on Windows XP 64-bit
pashleb
1:26 8 Jan '09  
Please can you help me. I have installed the app on the Windows XP 64-bit and can only seem to activate it when using IE as my explorer. When I only explorer I have no option under View - Explorer Bar or by clicking Control-M.

I would love to use this so any help would be much appreciated!

Thanks,

Ben
GeneralRe: Works in IE but not Explorer when installing on Windows XP 64-bit
Russ McMackin
9:33 19 Feb '09  
I'm having the same problem and would also love to get this working.
GeneralXP x64 problem.
oleg63
10:57 2 Oct '08  
I've tried to install it on XP x64, but it's not working.
How can I fix that?
GeneralWhat a nice and nicer idea!!!!
rahulja
3:59 10 Sep '08  
I would like to thank you for this kind of new utility.
Greate work and keep it up!!!
QuestionVista Installation Issues - Error Code 2869 and Error 1304: Error writing to file zcommon.dll
picardo
11:21 29 Aug '08  
I tried installing this both from the installer and from the commandline. Installer gives me Error 2869 and commandline gives the other one, 1304.

Any ideas how to solve this?


btw, the source files above are very unhelpful. I had to find the the msi file somewhere else after a Google search.
AnswerRe: Vista Installation Issues - Error Code 2869 and Error 1304: Error writing to file zcommon.dll
Member 4118388
4:50 26 Oct '08  
You need to install it as admin:

Create a batch file e.g. install.bat with this content:
msiexec /i <path to msipackage>

Then rigth-click the install.bat and select Run as administrator

Hope this help, Jesper
QuestionControlling Sidebar from BHO
Alex Shneyder
18:24 9 Oct '07  
I have figured out how to show and hide sidebar from BHO using ShowBrowserBar call. Does anyone knows how to update the url in the sidebar from the BHO?
QuestionHow to display Explorer Bar
vikrant kpr
11:50 7 Sep '07  
Hi Friends

after installing the explorer bar , is it possible that the bar is displayed withouut going to view - > explorer bar?

Regards
AnswerRe: How to display Explorer Bar
toonen26
12:29 17 Oct '07  
Press Control-M to toggle it Smile
GeneralNeed drag and drop
sinbao
20:05 18 Jul '07  
Hi,
I noticed it does not support "drag and drop" like real command window, it would be good if you can add this feature~~
GeneralCauses WinMerge to fail.
UKCodeMonkey
0:25 17 Jul '07  
With Command Prompt Explorer Bar installed, I found I couldn't start WinMerge. WinMerge would crash on startup until Command Prompt Explorer Bar is uninstalled. Not sure how Command Prompt Explorer Bar causes this or whether this is a problem with Command Prompt Explorer Bar or WinMerge but thought it best to report the problem I encountered.

Never argue with an imbecile; they bring you down to their level, and beat you with experience.

GeneralBest Power toy ever!
kerneljag
19:38 23 Jan '07  
It's a brilliant tool for people don't like having a gazillion windows open and the integration between the command prompt and the main window is a god sent!

Thanks so much Pavel! Smile
QuestionPowerShell Support
irishjd
6:05 13 Dec '06  
First, very nice tool (thanks a lot)! Second, any plans on adding support for PowerShell?

TIA,
Jon
QuestionMultiple explorer windows with command prompt?
NathanPalmer
8:09 30 Nov '06  
I didn't see this mentioned anywhere. Can you have multiple explorer windows open with their own command prompt? Every time I hit Ctrl-M or select it from the Explorer menu my command prompt switches from one window to another.

Is this normal behavior? OMG
Generalvisual 2005
hezyz
12:30 13 Nov '06  
I get some errors building the application

hz law
GeneralThe best
Zabersoft-ahj
15:48 10 Aug '06  
Been using tool for what.. Years? Excellent stuff... Smile
GeneralBugs [modified]
The_Mega_ZZTer
10:42 2 Aug '06  
1. Even if there is no path to the current folder (IE My Computer), it still tries to change to it, making for a useless "cd /D".
2. Tries to change to network paths using sync, which CMD.EXE doesn't allow.
3. It would be nice if, instead of Grow and Shrink, it resized itself automatically, as it does vertically.
4. If you click from another window on top of explorer into the cmd window, the explorer window is active as well as below the other window. You can't bring it to top unless you switch away and back.

This is VERY nice tho.

Also it would be nice if sync allowed you to move around in the command bar and it would move you around in the corresponding folders... might be too hard to keep track of if the user was in the command prompt or a sub-program.
GeneralWinXP, VisStudio 2005 -- no joy
Number8
13:48 1 Jul '06  
Has anyone rebuilt this in VisStudio 2005?
I'm getting a bunch of errors trying to build either one of the solutions (Command Prompt Explorer Bar and Setup).

TIA.


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