I use Open Shell on my computers except for a Windows 10 tablet. I amWhy do you need a menu program?
trying to build a menu system with various levels. I know there are at
least 2 programs out there that are suppose to simplify this. You are suppose be able to do this with shortcuts but I can not get it to work.
Would somebody provide the names of those menu programs?
On 2/21/25 05:08 PM, Bill Bradshaw wrote:
I use Open Shell on my computers except for a Windows 10 tablet. I am trying to build a menu system with various levels. I know there are at least 2 programs out there that are suppose to simplify this. You are suppose be able to do this with shortcuts but I can not get it to work. Would somebody provide the names of those menu programs?
Why do you need a menu program?
Couldn't you just make folders in:
C:/ProgramData/Microsoft/Windows/Start Menu/Programs
I made one "--My Programs--" then dragged 2 dozen or so links from
other places. Everything is consolidated now under that one folder.
And since the folder name is -- it sorts at the top.
Alan K. <alan@invalid.com> wrote:
On 2/21/25 05:08 PM, Bill Bradshaw wrote:
I use Open Shell on my computers except for a Windows 10 tablet. I
am trying to build a menu system with various levels. I know there
are at least 2 programs out there that are suppose to simplify
this. You are suppose be able to do this with shortcuts but I can
not get it to work. Would somebody provide the names of those menu
programs?
Why do you need a menu program?
Couldn't you just make folders in:
C:/ProgramData/Microsoft/Windows/Start Menu/Programs
I made one "--My Programs--" then dragged 2 dozen or so links from
other places. Everything is consolidated now under that one folder.
And since the folder name is -- it sorts at the top.
Exactly. That's what the ...\Start Menu\Programs folder (and its
user- specific counterpart [1]) is for. Anything you add there is
reflected in the native Start menu and in the Open-Shell Menu.
As to "with various levels", the standard menu has already two
levels. No reason why you can't add any number of more levels.
So you (Bill) should probably explain why you think the standard
Windows ...\Start Menu\Programs folders can not do what you want.
[1] C:\Users\<users>\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start
Menu\Programs
Frank Slootweg wrote:The above works for a single folder but yes, I don't think making subfolders works.
Alan K. <alan@invalid.com> wrote:
On 2/21/25 05:08 PM, Bill Bradshaw wrote:
I use Open Shell on my computers except for a Windows 10 tablet. I
am trying to build a menu system with various levels. I know there
are at least 2 programs out there that are suppose to simplify
this. You are suppose be able to do this with shortcuts but I can
not get it to work. Would somebody provide the names of those menu
programs?
Why do you need a menu program?
Couldn't you just make folders in:
C:/ProgramData/Microsoft/Windows/Start Menu/Programs
I made one "--My Programs--" then dragged 2 dozen or so links from
other places. Everything is consolidated now under that one folder.
And since the folder name is -- it sorts at the top.
Exactly. That's what the ...\Start Menu\Programs folder (and its
user- specific counterpart [1]) is for. Anything you add there is
reflected in the native Start menu and in the Open-Shell Menu.
As to "with various levels", the standard menu has already two
levels. No reason why you can't add any number of more levels.
So you (Bill) should probably explain why you think the standard
Windows ...\Start Menu\Programs folders can not do what you want.
[1] C:\Users\<users>\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start
Menu\Programs
I can already do the above. What I want to do is put folders under folders. Top folder System Utilities > Backup > Macrium & EaseUS.
I use Open Shell on my computers except for a Windows 10 tablet. I am
trying to build a menu system with various levels. I know there are at
least 2 programs out there that are suppose to simplify this. You are suppose be able to do this with shortcuts but I can not get it to work.
Would somebody provide the names of those menu programs?
On 2/22/25 12:26 PM, Bill Bradshaw wrote:
Frank Slootweg wrote:
Alan K. <alan@invalid.com> wrote:
On 2/21/25 05:08 PM, Bill Bradshaw wrote:
I use Open Shell on my computers except for a Windows 10 tablet. I
am trying to build a menu system with various levels. I know there
are at least 2 programs out there that are suppose to simplify
this. You are suppose be able to do this with shortcuts but I can
not get it to work. Would somebody provide the names of those menu
programs?
Why do you need a menu program?
Couldn't you just make folders in:
C:/ProgramData/Microsoft/Windows/Start Menu/Programs
I made one "--My Programs--" then dragged 2 dozen or so links from
other places. Everything is consolidated now under that one folder.
And since the folder name is -- it sorts at the top.
Exactly. That's what the ...\Start Menu\Programs folder (and its
user- specific counterpart [1]) is for. Anything you add there is
reflected in the native Start menu and in the Open-Shell Menu.
As to "with various levels", the standard menu has already two
levels. No reason why you can't add any number of more levels.
So you (Bill) should probably explain why you think the standard
Windows ...\Start Menu\Programs folders can not do what you want.
[1] C:\Users\<users>\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start
Menu\Programs
I can already do the above. What I want to do is put folders under folders.
Top folder System Utilities > Backup > Macrium & EaseUS.
The above works for a single folder but yes, I don't think making
subfolders works. Microsoft wants to extract all links to the main
menu, or at least the 'all programs' list. Been doing that since,
well forever. It groups your personal menu and the system menu too.
So you're dead trying to get subs.
If that's what you want, yep, you need a third party program.
On 2/21/2025 5:08 PM, Bill Bradshaw wrote:
I use Open Shell on my computers except for a Windows 10 tablet. I am
trying to build a menu system with various levels. I know there are at
least 2 programs out there that are suppose to simplify this. You are
suppose be able to do this with shortcuts but I can not get it to work.
Would somebody provide the names of those menu programs?
    It's just folders. I open the all users start menu folder and create subfolders, like Office, Internet, Utilities, Graphics, etc.
Then I put all the actual program shortcuts into those folders.
If necessary I rename the shortcuts. If the shortcut says,
"The Amazing Acme Editor v. 4.56" I just rename it to "Acme Editor".
So Office has Libre Office Writer, Wordpad, PDF View, WinMerge.
Graphics has Paint Shop Pro, IcoFX, IrfanView, etc.
 Once I've distributed the shortcuts I delete the leftover
junk, like unistaller links, website links, etc. Then I open the
user start menu folder and anything in there that's not in
all users gets moved into one of my topical folders. Then I
delete everything else, leaving the user start menu folder
empty.
 The Start Menu Programs menu is just a reflection of whatever folders/lnks you have in your Start Menu Programs folder. Here's
a picture of mine:
https://pictr.com/image/xLem7X
 With Open/Classic Shell you can just right-click the Start button
to access each of those folders.
Alan K. <alan@invalid.com> wrote:
On 2/22/25 12:26 PM, Bill Bradshaw wrote:
Frank Slootweg wrote:
Alan K. <alan@invalid.com> wrote:
On 2/21/25 05:08 PM, Bill Bradshaw wrote:
I use Open Shell on my computers except for a Windows 10 tablet. I >>>>>> am trying to build a menu system with various levels. I know there >>>>>> are at least 2 programs out there that are suppose to simplify
this. You are suppose be able to do this with shortcuts but I can >>>>>> not get it to work. Would somebody provide the names of those menu >>>>>> programs?
Why do you need a menu program?
Couldn't you just make folders in:
C:/ProgramData/Microsoft/Windows/Start Menu/Programs
I made one "--My Programs--" then dragged 2 dozen or so links from
other places. Everything is consolidated now under that one folder. >>>>> And since the folder name is -- it sorts at the top.
Exactly. That's what the ...\Start Menu\Programs folder (and its
user- specific counterpart [1]) is for. Anything you add there is
reflected in the native Start menu and in the Open-Shell Menu.
As to "with various levels", the standard menu has already two
levels. No reason why you can't add any number of more levels.
So you (Bill) should probably explain why you think the standard
Windows ...\Start Menu\Programs folders can not do what you want.
[1] C:\Users\<users>\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start
Menu\Programs
I can already do the above. What I want to do is put folders under folders.
Top folder System Utilities > Backup > Macrium & EaseUS.
The above works for a single folder but yes, I don't think making
subfolders works. Microsoft wants to extract all links to the main
menu, or at least the 'all programs' list. Been doing that since,
well forever. It groups your personal menu and the system menu too.
So you're dead trying to get subs.
If that's what you want, yep, you need a third party program.
Doesn't Windows just traverse the folder trees in C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs and C:\Users\<users>\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs?
As I wrote, the standard menu already has two levels (Accessories\
System Tools), so why can't Bill have the two levels he wants?
So I think he should just try it: Create a 'System Utilities' top
folder, create a 'Backup' folder in it and then copy and paste (copy
instead of cut, just to be safe) the current Macrium and EaseUS folders
to the Backup folder (or is "Macrium & EaseUS" one folder?) . Easy to
try. If it doesn't work, he can always look for something else.
https://pictr.com/image/xLem7XGreat job. Like it. Now isn't that easier than all this junk windows
is doing?
That's why I like Linux. It's that way by design.
Doesn't Windows just traverse the folder trees in C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs and C:\Users\<users>\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs?
As I wrote, the standard menu already has two levels (Accessories\
System Tools), so why can't Bill have the two levels he wants?
So I think he should just try it: Create a 'System Utilities' top
folder, create a 'Backup' folder in it and then copy and paste (copy
instead of cut, just to be safe) the current Macrium and EaseUS folders
to the Backup folder (or is "Macrium & EaseUS" one folder?) . Easy to
try. If it doesn't work, he can always look for something else.
Yesterday, I wrote:
Doesn't Windows just traverse the folder trees in
C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs and
C:\Users\<users>\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start
Menu\Programs?
As I wrote, the standard menu already has two levels (Accessories\
System Tools), so why can't Bill have the two levels he wants?
So I think he should just try it: Create a 'System Utilities' top
folder, create a 'Backup' folder in it and then copy and paste (copy
instead of cut, just to be safe) the current Macrium and EaseUS
folders to the Backup folder (or is "Macrium & EaseUS" one folder?)
. Easy to try. If it doesn't work, he can always look for something
else.
I just tried what I suggested above and it works as expected.
In Open-Shell Menu, I can now just do:
Start -> Programs -> System Utilities -> Backup -> Macrium -> Reflect
Macrium Reflect
That starts Macrium Reflect, just like it did (does because I copied
instead of cut) for:
Start -> Programs -> Macrium -> Reflect -> Macrium Reflect
I didn't find 'System Utilities' in the native (Windows 11) Start
menu, but that was not the purpose of this exercise. Perhaps it will
appear after a re-login or reboot, who knows?
Frank Slootweg wrote:
Yesterday, I wrote:
Doesn't Windows just traverse the folder trees in
C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs and
C:\Users\<users>\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start
Menu\Programs?
As I wrote, the standard menu already has two levels (Accessories\
System Tools), so why can't Bill have the two levels he wants?
So I think he should just try it: Create a 'System Utilities' top
folder, create a 'Backup' folder in it and then copy and paste (copy
instead of cut, just to be safe) the current Macrium and EaseUS
folders to the Backup folder (or is "Macrium & EaseUS" one folder?)
. Easy to try. If it doesn't work, he can always look for something
else.
I just tried what I suggested above and it works as expected.
In Open-Shell Menu, I can now just do:
Start -> Programs -> System Utilities -> Backup -> Macrium -> Reflect
Macrium Reflect
That starts Macrium Reflect, just like it did (does because I copied instead of cut) for:
Start -> Programs -> Macrium -> Reflect -> Macrium Reflect
I didn't find 'System Utilities' in the native (Windows 11) Start
menu, but that was not the purpose of this exercise. Perhaps it will
appear after a re-login or reboot, who knows?
I installed Open Shell which I use on the other computers and just used one of the config files to set it. Easier and I know the program.
Thanks,
Macrium Reflect
Bill Bradshaw <bradshaw@gci.net> wrote:
Frank Slootweg wrote:
Yesterday, I wrote:
Doesn't Windows just traverse the folder trees in
C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs and
C:\Users\<users>\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start
Menu\Programs?
As I wrote, the standard menu already has two levels
(Accessories\ System Tools), so why can't Bill have the two levels
he wants?
So I think he should just try it: Create a 'System Utilities' top
folder, create a 'Backup' folder in it and then copy and paste
(copy instead of cut, just to be safe) the current Macrium and
EaseUS folders to the Backup folder (or is "Macrium & EaseUS" one
folder?) . Easy to try. If it doesn't work, he can always look for
something else.
I just tried what I suggested above and it works as expected.
In Open-Shell Menu, I can now just do:
Start -> Programs -> System Utilities -> Backup -> Macrium ->
Reflect -> Macrium Reflect
That starts Macrium Reflect, just like it did (does because I
copied instead of cut) for:
Start -> Programs -> Macrium -> Reflect -> Macrium Reflect
I didn't find 'System Utilities' in the native (Windows 11) Start
menu, but that was not the purpose of this exercise. Perhaps it will
appear after a re-login or reboot, who knows?
I installed Open Shell which I use on the other computers and just
used one of the config files to set it. Easier and I know the
program.
Thanks,
I'm a bit confused.
What do you mean by "[I] just used one of the config files to set
it"?
I'm not aware that Open-Shell Menu has any config files (just its own Settings ("Settings for Open-Shell Menu ...")), nor what they "set".
Did you accomplish to create/utilize
Start -> Programs -> System Utilities -> Backup -> Macrium -> Reflect
Macrium Reflect
(or similar) like I did?
Did you accomplish to create/utilize
Start -> Programs -> System Utilities -> Backup -> Macrium -> Reflect
Macrium Reflect
(or similar) like I did?
Maybe I was confusing. At the bottom of the opening screen under the "Start Menu Style" selection there is a "Backup" button that will allow you to save your settings to an "XML" file. You can use this file to move your settings from one Open Shell installation to another.
Frank Slootweg wrote:[...]
Bill Bradshaw <bradshaw@gci.net> wrote:
Frank Slootweg wrote:
I just tried what I suggested above and it works as expected.
In Open-Shell Menu, I can now just do:
Start -> Programs -> System Utilities -> Backup -> Macrium ->
Reflect -> Macrium Reflect
That starts Macrium Reflect, just like it did (does because I
copied instead of cut) for:
Start -> Programs -> Macrium -> Reflect -> Macrium Reflect
I didn't find 'System Utilities' in the native (Windows 11) Start
menu, but that was not the purpose of this exercise. Perhaps it will
appear after a re-login or reboot, who knows?
I installed Open Shell which I use on the other computers and just
used one of the config files to set it. Easier and I know the
program.
Thanks,
I'm a bit confused.
What do you mean by "[I] just used one of the config files to set
it"?
I'm not aware that Open-Shell Menu has any config files (just its own Settings ("Settings for Open-Shell Menu ...")), nor what they "set".
Did you accomplish to create/utilize
Start -> Programs -> System Utilities -> Backup -> Macrium -> Reflect
Macrium Reflect
(or similar) like I did?
Maybe I was confusing. At the bottom of the opening screen under the "Start Menu Style" selection there is a "Backup" button that will allow you to save your settings to an "XML" file. You can use this file to move your settings from one Open Shell installation to another.
Frank Slootweg wrote:
Bill Bradshaw <bradshaw@gci.net> wrote:
Frank Slootweg wrote:
Yesterday, I wrote:
Doesn't Windows just traverse the folder trees in
C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs and
C:\Users\<users>\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start
Menu\Programs?
As I wrote, the standard menu already has two levels
(Accessories\ System Tools), so why can't Bill have the two levels
he wants?
So I think he should just try it: Create a 'System Utilities' top
folder, create a 'Backup' folder in it and then copy and paste
(copy instead of cut, just to be safe) the current Macrium and
EaseUS folders to the Backup folder (or is "Macrium & EaseUS" one
folder?) . Easy to try. If it doesn't work, he can always look for
something else.
I just tried what I suggested above and it works as expected.
In Open-Shell Menu, I can now just do:
Start -> Programs -> System Utilities -> Backup -> Macrium ->
Reflect -> Macrium Reflect
That starts Macrium Reflect, just like it did (does because I
copied instead of cut) for:
Start -> Programs -> Macrium -> Reflect -> Macrium Reflect
I didn't find 'System Utilities' in the native (Windows 11) Start
menu, but that was not the purpose of this exercise. Perhaps it will
appear after a re-login or reboot, who knows?
I installed Open Shell which I use on the other computers and just
used one of the config files to set it. Easier and I know the
program.
Thanks,
I'm a bit confused.
What do you mean by "[I] just used one of the config files to set
it"?
I'm not aware that Open-Shell Menu has any config files (just its own
Settings ("Settings for Open-Shell Menu ...")), nor what they "set".
Did you accomplish to create/utilize
Start -> Programs -> System Utilities -> Backup -> Macrium -> Reflect
Macrium Reflect
(or similar) like I did?
Maybe I was confusing. At the bottom of the opening screen under the "Start Menu Style" selection there is a "Backup" button that will allow you to save your settings to an "XML" file. You can use this file to move your settings from one Open Shell installation to another.
Bill Bradshaw <bradshaw@gci.net> wrote:
Frank Slootweg wrote:[...]
Bill Bradshaw <bradshaw@gci.net> wrote:
Frank Slootweg wrote:
I just tried what I suggested above and it works as expected.
In Open-Shell Menu, I can now just do:
Start -> Programs -> System Utilities -> Backup -> Macrium ->
Reflect -> Macrium Reflect
That starts Macrium Reflect, just like it did (does because I
copied instead of cut) for:
Start -> Programs -> Macrium -> Reflect -> Macrium Reflect
I didn't find 'System Utilities' in the native (Windows 11) Start
menu, but that was not the purpose of this exercise. Perhaps it
will appear after a re-login or reboot, who knows?
I installed Open Shell which I use on the other computers and just
used one of the config files to set it. Easier and I know the
program.
Thanks,
I'm a bit confused.
What do you mean by "[I] just used one of the config files to set
it"?
I'm not aware that Open-Shell Menu has any config files (just its
own Settings ("Settings for Open-Shell Menu ...")), nor what they
"set".
Did you accomplish to create/utilize
Start -> Programs -> System Utilities -> Backup -> Macrium ->
Reflect -> Macrium Reflect
(or similar) like I did?
Maybe I was confusing. At the bottom of the opening screen under
the "Start Menu Style" selection there is a "Backup" button that
will allow you to save your settings to an "XML" file. You can use
this file to move your settings from one Open Shell installation to
another.
I see, but my question was (as Newyana2 also noted), if you were able
to create your desired multi-level menu, i.e.
System Utilities
Backup
Macrium
EaseUS
So, could you create/add that menu structure in/to your Open-Shell
Menu?
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