Classic Shell: Forum

Why? Call me crazy fussy.
If MS gave us the WIN+X menu in Windows 8,
I want to customize it with shortcuts using WinXMenuEditor,
to work on the desktop.
I cut and added links, so it is perfect,
except for missing start menu programs link.
That is where the great Classic Shell comes in.
It can be customized to the point of just having one item,
in this case, programs menu.
It merges both desktop Windows menu locations with ease.

Problem.
Is there any way to open it without physical keyboard strokes?
I tried a moddified copied vbscript from eightforums.
Set objShell = CreateObject ("WScript.Shell")
objShell.SendKeys "^{ESC}"
objShell.SendKeys "{DOWN}"
objShell.SendKeys "{ENTER}"

It actually works. I have "Start menu" shortcut link as third entry in Win+X menu.
When I click with mouse, CSM opens up the programs at same place,
so it kind of blends together.
Just one problem. "num lock : on" displays on desktop for 5 seconds, each time I open menu.
Is there a better way to have link in Win+X menu,
to open CSM and show programs opened up, or,
is there a link already in Classic Shell program, that I can use to intergrate better?:o

Are you trying to open the start menu? The command "ClassicStartMenu.exe -open" will do that.

If all you want is a menu in the bottom-left corner where you can customize all items, why not simply use the CSM? It is crazy customizable.

Crazy people see no logic.
Yep. Clicking on a shortcut that opens menu automatically to the point of hovering over,
on opened programs menu, so all main entries are visible. Then I can link it in Win+X

I still want to use CSM.
I did have the full unaltered version of CSM for months.
If there is a box to disable Win+X menu, I would probably still be using full version.
Thing is,
I hate too much duplication even in the old windows menus. Just like simplicity, not redundancy.
So I started chopping off the bits that I didn't require,
as they were in a simple Win+X menu, or the pinned folder.
So in the end, all I needed was an expandable program launcher.
Tried other Windows methods, toolbars on taskbar, library menu folder, virtual "programs folder".
Tried other start menus from net.The best are Startisback and Classic shell.
Yes, I'm still using CSM in my minimalist way,
just as it was designed to be, for all different types of people.
I will try your command. Not sure if it will get to show the exploded programs view.
Time to learn more about commands.

Oh Boy, I realize now that the script is really wonky. It interacts with mouse wheel, when on internet.
Still don't know enough to get your command to work.
I have now downloaded and tried "Show Start".exe. It is now the middle man program between WinXeditor and CSM. It works without any side effects.
Only takes me to the Programs link rectangular box in CSM,
but won't open up fully. Still it's good. Thanks Ciprian. Will still have to click with mouse again.
I may very well be the only person in world who wants menus configured in such a way.
Anyway, starting to run out of time. Win 8.1 will be a comin down road soon.

Marriage Menu crazyman is back.
Menu X, do you take Menu C, for better or worse......

Tried .vbs file again.
I think the Ctrl gets stuck on.
Guessing that a final electronic sledgehammer hit will reset it.
I have no idea what I'm talking about.

Probably .vbs would look like this:

Set objShell = CreateObject ("WScript.Shell")
objShell.SendKeys "^{ESC}"
wscript.sleep 100
objShell.SendKeys "{DOWN}"
wscript.sleep 100
objShell.SendKeys "{ENTER}"
wscript.sleep 100
objShell.SendKeys "^"

It's 99 % better than it was.
Well I learned something today.
Pushing Ctrl and rolling mouse wheel will change desktop icons,
or web page, small or gigantic, at least in Win8.

I did manage to find a slightly better solution to integrating Win+X menu and CSM program.
There are keyboard navigation shortcut keys, in one of the CSM site's pages.

The ones, I were looking for were "Win flag" and the "P" keys. They open up the programs menu, just the way I wanted.
As for the vbscript link that flashes Num loc on screen each time, I gave up.
Instead of using Window's vbscript, I put the two CSM key functions in Autoitexe.
A much better program to link with.

Thanks for information, CSM.

One last thing.

The command "ClassicStartMenu.exe -open"
never worked for me.
I think the quotation mark was in wrong place.

This one below,

"C:\Program Files\Classic Shell\ClassicStartMenu.exe" -open

worked as a shortcut, but did not open the programs expanded view for me, the way I wanted.
Still a good shortcut for other uses. Like say, if shortcut is pinned to metro start screen.
Can zip back to Classis menu.

Thanks for trying.

There is no way to open the start menu AND open programs at the same time.

I'll suggest this again: Why not just put all your commands in the start menu instead of the Win+X menu? Pretty much any command you can put in one you can put in the other. You can even get a very similar look if you just use the Classic skin.

Hi. Is this the Program God?

It opens perfectly to the programs menu with your left "win" key and "p" key converted to shortcut script in autoit.
Very happy with outcome. That's all I need. Just to the point of the expanding/flyout programs folders/shortcuts.

I did have all these shortcut items in CSM, but there was one thing that I didn't like though.
The shutdown button never shutdown directly, but took me to a shutdown box.
I think I read somewhere, It's being fixed in next version.
Yes, I could transfer the mini programs I got from around the net that are linked in Win+X back into CSM.
I just like the way Win+X menu shows up in Desktop mode and Tile screen mode. It's always there. Got addicted to it.

Not sure if Win+X menu disappears on a touchscreen tablet. Will be buying one soon. If it does vanish, will definitely be going back to full CSM.
I want it all-the past-the present-the future.

To make the Shutdown item directly shutdown instead of showing the shutdown dialog, go to 'Customize Start Menu' tab in Settings. Locate "ShutdownBoxItem" in the left column and double click it. Change the "Command" from "shutdown_box" to just "shutdown" (or "sleep" or whatever you want).

_________________
Links to some general topics:

● Compare Start Menus

● Read the Search box usage guide.

I am a Windows enthusiast and helped a little with Classic Shell's testing and usability/UX feedback.