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Top 10 Right-Click Tools
Posted by Kevin Purdy at 2:00 AM on September 18, 2008
The right mouse button—beloved by geeks for its power, theoretically unnecessary on a Mac, and generally under-utilised on the average desktop. Right-clicking can be a powerful tool for automating file actions and saving yourself time and arm effort, but only if you've put your own stamp on the offerings of that secondary button. Today we're rounding up some of the best tools for adding power and precision to your right-click menu on Windows, Mac, and Linux systems, so check out what can be done from the other side of the scroll wheel. Photo by geobeo.
10. Add convenient actions to Nautilus (Linux)
The default file manager for GNOME-based Linux systems has a pretty sparse right-click menu when first installed. Install a few helper packages, however, and soon you're rotating and resizing images without an editor, popping open terminals for quick system work, and skipping the sudo command entirely with a "Run as administrator" link. Ubuntu users can install the nautilus-gksu, nautilus-image-converter, and nautilus-open-terminal packages for starters; users of other distributions should search their package manager for "nautilus" (or "konqueror" for KDE-based systems) to see what's available for quick right-click fix-ups.
9. Use two fingers for trackpad right-clicking
If you're new to Macs, or you just haven't dug deep into its configuration options, it's easy to miss this one. Mac laptops only have one button; instead of stretching your hands an octave-length to the Control key, put two fingers on the trackpad and click. To enable it, head to the Keyboard & Mouse section of System Preferences, under the Trackpad section, check this option: "For secondary clicks, place two fingers on the trackpad then click the button."
8. Get Google Map directions without a street address
You can know where "that restaurant with the good burgers" is (a few blocks over from the big intersection) without knowing an actual street address. Find the general spot in Google Maps, right-click, and click for directions to or from that area. You might find it helpful, or you might not truly appreciate it until you're on a scarcely-there Wi-Fi connection, trying to find a way across town and furiously Google-ing for possible addresses.
7. Make one-click FTP uploads with RightLoad
Anyone with access to their own web space, or with a need to do a lot of FTP transfer, should add RightLoad to their file-swapping arsenal. Set up your FTP servers in RightLoad's preferences, and sending files to the server is as easy as right-clicking and choosing a server. After you're done, RightLoad creates HTML-formatted links for quick web writing or friend-linking, and automatically renames duplicate files. Your overworked FTP client thanks you for the downtime.
6. Tweak Windows' Send To Menu
If you're not a fan of installing contextual applications or power toys on your system, Windows' built-in "Send to" menu on the right-click box can offer a lot of flexibility—you can create instant shortcuts, email or open a file, and much more. Lifehacker reader Howard Dickens explained the process for adding "Send To" actions and items in Windows 98 and XP; for the Vista method, check with the How-To Geek.
5. Customise the Mac Finder's actions with FinderPop
One of those apps that gives back the more that's put into it, FinderPop is a hugely customisable tool for cutting down the number of clicks needed to copy, move, or alias files between locations on your Mac. FinderPop can also launch applications or kill runaway processes, making the right-click (or Ctrl-click) menu a powerful launching pad.
4. Add or delete context items with ShellExView
Programs come and go from your computer, and even after they're thoroughly scrubbed, they can leave behind annoying traces in your context menu. ShellExView is where you get complete control over what shows up when you right-click a file, your desktop, or even Internet Explorer. You can add any program, delete useless links, and otherwise hook yourself up with time-saving shortcuts.
3. Roll your own right-click Mac actions with OnMyCommand
Let's face it—some of the work you do is creative, and some of it is just resizing a bunch of images to 400 pixels wide and converting them to JPEG. Automate those mandatory tasks with OnMyCommand, an AppleScript/command-line app that adds your own scripts or already-compiled offerings to Finder's right-click menu. Check out SimpleHelp's concise and clear guide for help getting started with OnMyCommand.
2. Create file-aware right-click options
Many of the tools listed above make adding custom file-wrangling options to your right-click menu easy, but only for every file or folder you click. If you want to get specific with certain file types, adding custom for-this-file-type-only actions isn't as hard as it might seem. Adam has explained the custom context menu process (pulled from a MetaFilter thread) for Windows XP; Vista users should check out FileMenuTools, detailed elsewhere in this list.
1. Combine lots of right-click tools with FileMenuTools
If you're a Windows user and only have time to try out one of the right-click tools we've gathered here, FileMenuTools is a safe bet for maximum utility. It doesn't get as in-depth as some of the utilities it rolls together, but it lets you create contextual file actions, improve your Send To menu, add super-helpful tweaks like "Run Command Line from Here" and "Copy Path," and generally geek out your right-click menu without touching the registry or hunting down obscure command line options.
Right-click menus are definitely a to-each-their-own tool, as the most useful tools depend on what you're trying to get done. So we ask our dear readers: What right-click actions, links, and tweaks help you act quickly and shuttle files more efficiently? Share your own tips in the comments below.
Comments (AU Comments · US Comments)
There are currently no AU comments for this post.
gravi_t
Posted 2:37 AM 18/9/08
I use Mmm+
[hace-software.com]
You can hide menu items or you can put them in a subfolder. You can also set up your own subfolders and wildcard rules to hide changing items, like zip-file items. It also has a free version with no time limit but fewer features.
gravi_t
Perceptus
Posted 2:37 AM 18/9/08
For Linux users who use Compiz Fusion and want a customizable desktop right click can use compiz-deskmenu.
Details here by quazi (bottom post for a semi-tut): [ubuntuforums.org]
Perceptus
apex2000
Posted 2:35 AM 18/9/08
FileMenu Tools is what I've been using for ages now. It's perfect for my needs. My vote goes to this app.
apex2000
goatmale
Posted 2:23 AM 18/9/08
You forgot bbclean which converts a windows box into a blackbox/fluxbox environment. I've never used a right click so much.
goatmale
chuckiemac
Posted 2:19 AM 18/9/08
I use the "More" submenu in the Mac's right-click menu heavily. I have a lot of Automator actions that are accessible from there, as well as Toast (for burning a folder) and a "send to" submenu for sending files to my cell phone via bluetooth.
The ability to right-click a file or folder and create or execute a workflow via Automator is the most useful function. This has allowed me to mimic some of the Windows right-click menu items that are missing from the Mac, such as the ability to create a new file or attach a document to an email. I'm used to using those when I'm in Windows, and I miss them when I'm using someone else's Mac.
chuckiemac
garbanzo-bean
Posted 3:09 AM 18/9/08
good post. be careful with these though, you can really trash your system if you're not careful.
i don't use these tools. i use Emerge Desktop as my shell which gives me a custom right-click and middle-click menu on my desktop, along with Directory Opus, which gives custom right-click menus for every registered filetype. both Emerge and DOpus have command line interfaces, so all their commands can be integrated into Samurize. it's a very powerful trio!
garbanzo-bean
PDRIFT
Posted 3:04 AM 18/9/08
Does anyone know how I can add an entry into my right click menu on xp pro that would let me send files through bluetooth? I hate the way I have to go through this stupid menu and navigate to the file I want to send to my phone. It would be nice if I could just right click on the actual file and be able to send it to my phone.
anyone?
PDRIFT
UnStatusTheQuo
Posted 2:56 AM 18/9/08
One of my favorites is Drop to DOS. from the site:
"With Drop to DOS, you can right click on any folder and choose the Drop to DOS option to take you to a command prompt within that folder. Works with Windows 9x/ME/NT/2000/XP."
Available here: [www.terabyteunlimited.com]
UnStatusTheQuo
Phoshi
Posted 2:51 AM 18/9/08
Adding clicks to a samurize config is pretty powerful.
Phoshi
patski
Posted 2:45 AM 18/9/08
Hello GOOG, can you hear me?
"Search Nearby" would be a lot handier on the Google Maps right click...
patski
scokar
Posted 3:33 AM 18/9/08
I'm big on the Send To menu tweak.
[www.smartproductivity.com]
scokar
gravi_t
Posted 3:32 AM 18/9/08
@PDRIFT: when you have an active bluetooth connection, the "send to bluetooth device" item is in the Send menu.
gravi_t
metalmarious
Posted 3:58 AM 18/9/08
stupid macs hehehehe..... jk
but seriously I have respect for macs but I find the 'one mouse button is enough argument' to be a polished piece of crap
metalmarious
PDRIFT
Posted 3:53 AM 18/9/08
@gravi_t
for some reason it doesn't show up for me.
I have an eee pc that I added internal bluetooth
and I use it a lot with my cell phone.
PDRIFT
MichaelBrazell
Posted 3:48 AM 18/9/08
How are mouse gestures not included? The quintesential epitome of the best of Right Click.
MichaelBrazell
prospero
Posted 3:36 AM 18/9/08
you forgot unlocker
[ccollomb.free.fr]
prospero
eeefresh
Posted 5:01 AM 18/9/08
I am a huge fan of Nautilus scripts when using Ubuntu, especially the ones mentioned here:
[lifehacker.com]
One of the options allows you to open a folder as root, which I prefer to using terminal.
eeefresh
Phoshi
Posted 4:59 AM 18/9/08
@anthonylitz: I didn't realise it was a cursor until I saw it in speed dial.
Phoshi
agroom
Posted 4:59 AM 18/9/08
I like the MS Power Toy Picture Resize. I post/email a lot of pictures online and it's super easy for me to highlight several pics and pick from 3 webbased presets to resize the pics to.
agroom
ross.m
Posted 4:54 AM 18/9/08
Re: #9 - "Use two fingers for trackpad right-clicking" - also works on guest OSs installed in Parallels or VMware Fusion. And in BootCamp as well (very handy for Vista).
ross.m
raineym
Posted 4:34 AM 18/9/08
For #6, I'm partial to Gabrial Ponti's Send To Toys. You configure it in the Control Panel, so you don't have to keep digging down into C:\Documents and Settings\UserName\SendTo on XP every time you need to add/edit/delete something from the Send To menu.
raineym
utkarshseth
Posted 4:25 AM 18/9/08
how do i get the google maps app ?
utkarshseth
inno
Posted 4:18 AM 18/9/08
You can do the 2-finger scrolling/right-clicking on older macs (on my Powerbook G4, for example), just download iScroll : [iscroll2.sourceforge.net]
inno
anthonylitz
Posted 4:08 AM 18/9/08
...that picture of the mouse cursor makes my eyes twitch a little...
anthonylitz
loudcox
Posted 5:34 AM 18/9/08
FolderGuide absolutely does it for me.
Very simple: right mouse click in any folder / file dialog and select from list of folders to navigate there instantly within the dialog. Brilliantly implemented.
[www.freeware365.com]
loudcox
djnrempel
Posted 6:14 AM 18/9/08
My most common uses for right-click are to
- Play folders in winamp
- load unknown filetypes in Notepad
- load video in a non-default media player
- Display properties
- System properties (on My Computer
- Customize start menu
Pretty boring I know...
djnrempel
gforster
Posted 8:11 AM 18/9/08
I use it mainly for checking properties on a file or the "extract here" function for archived files. I believe it is default on my ubuntu install and is part of 7-zip functionality in windows.
gforster
Drakar2007
Posted 10:25 AM 18/9/08
You forgot to mention "Open command window Here", the Windows Powertoy for right-clicking on Explorer Folders. It's amazingly useful.
Drakar2007
Wargames91
Posted 1:59 PM 18/9/08
Piky Basket and 7Zip, all I need.
Although I would like a tip to get "open as directory" in my right click menu. Also when I installed from HowToGeek the right click own script it replaced the run as administrator option.
Wargames91
TechnoLaziness
Posted 6:00 PM 18/9/08
I frequently use Piky Basket, Backup to Email and unlocker(all Windows) .
Till now , I was using registry hacks but FileMenuTools seems to integrate all of them and many more other features. I am surely going to try it.
TechnoLaziness
duckworth
Posted 10:17 PM 18/9/08
The best utility that I have seen is ShellToysXP [www.shelltoysxp.com] which now supports Vista x64 and has 50+ shell extentions. The included clipboard history utility is the best part and I have scoured the web for one that is a simple and useful as the one in ShellToysXP.
duckworth
llamasonic
Posted 10:16 PM 18/9/08
i just posted on another cool right click tool that adds symbolic links, helpful for dropbox. symboliclinker
llamasonic
jawnz
Posted 2:56 AM 19/9/08
Send To Toys - can't stand working w/o it
jawnz
yathosho
Posted 4:29 AM 19/9/08
mp3ext and clickfont for me [shellwell.blogspot.com]
yathosho
rob311fan
Posted 8:21 AM 19/9/08
To get the nautilus options to show up either logout & then back in or in terminal type nautilus -q
rob311fan
TechnoLaziness
Posted 2:24 PM 19/9/08
@UnStatusTheQuo: That is cool!
TechnoLaziness
gautambjain
Posted 3:39 PM 19/9/08
The most common right click tools I use is the IZArc compression utility.
gautambjain
rjdsmith
Posted 5:56 AM 18/9/08
Personally, I am a fan of the right click program, enterra, a desktop icon manager
rjdsmith
BlairHester
Posted 4:21 PM 18/9/08
Hi, my most used Right Click Tool is the "Context Search"-plugin for Firefox which adds all OpenSearch-Plugins from the Search Box to the context menu. Just mark any text and right click on it and look it up in Google, Amazon, whatever... https://addons.mozilla.org/de/firefox/addon/240 have a nice day, Richie
BlairHester
Ssseth
Posted 6:05 AM 19/9/08
Microsoft has a image resizer power toy for Windows XP. One of my all time favorites. Amazinging enough, it's called Image Resizer. :)
[www.microsoft.com]
Ssseth
JeFFFFFFFY
Posted 6:25 PM 18/9/08
The right click tool I use the most has got to be winrar's extract and add archive tool
JeFFFFFFFY
pavs
Posted 5:48 AM 18/9/08
How about CMD here with MS Powertoys, you can CMD from any folders or drives by right click on the folder:
[www.microsoft.com]
Look for CMDHere.exe
pavs
wolfamongwolves
Posted 4:19 AM 18/9/08
Right Click 9 isn't available on OS 10.4.11. No wonder I had no idea. Stupid Power PC.
wolfamongwolves
SujayaPolyxena
Posted 3:19 AM 18/9/08
My all-time favorite Right Click with Windows XP was the "Right Click - Resize Pictures". Now that my home PC has Vista, there does not seem to an add-in for this functionality. The closest I've come is third party tools to use their application. Are you aware of a simple Vista right-click method for resizing pictures?
SujayaPolyxena