Classic Shell: Forum

I would like to add programs to the programs bar that are not currently accessible through the Windows start menu. I have had no luck with the things I have tried, and as such am asking you all to tell me how to do it.

You can drag anything over the Start button, wait for the menu to open and drop it inside the pinned programs area. The next major version will also add a "Pin to Start Menu" item to make pinning easier by right clicking.

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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.

I mean specifically to add a program or program group to the programs panel that opens when you hover over the programs bar. Thank you for your prompt reply.

Okay now I understand what you want to do. To *add*/create new shortcuts inside the "Programs" folder, there are multiple ways. You can add them using either of these methods:

1. Right click an empty area of the menu inside Programs or right click any item and choose "New shortcut" (to add a program) or "New Folder" (to add a program group). The wizard is the standard Windows one to create a new shortcut. Once it is added, you can drag to reposition the item anywhere you want inside Programs.

2. Another method is to right click 'Programs' and then choose 'Open' (per-user) or 'Open All Users' (All Users). This will open the Start Menu folders in Windows Explorer where you can copy-paste existing shortcuts, or create new ones by right clicking in an empty area -> New -> Shortcut. You can also copy the source EXE and do "Paste shortcut" in Explorer.

3. Drag and drop also works inside the menu to create a new shortcut. Drag and drop an item for which you want to create a new shortcut over the Start button, wait for the menu to pop up, keep holding and drag over the Programs folder so it opens and then finally drop it inside Programs. You can rename it using F2 or right click -> Rename.

4. The above 3 methods will create a shortcut on the file system (on your hard drive) as a file. Instead, you can also add shortcuts using Classic Start Menu's own custom items feature which uses the registry to store their links. So if you back up Start Menu settings, these custom items also get backed up in the XML file.


Right click the Start button, open Settings, go to the Customize Start Menu tab. Scroll all the way down in the right column and locate 'Custom' command. Drag it over to the left column and drop it on the 'ProgramsMenu' to add it as a subitem for 'ProgramsMenu'. Next double click the item you just added and you can define its Command OR Link, and Label (Name), Tip, Icon etc. A Link allows expandable folders.

_________________
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.