1) Step : Creating A Batch File

If you want to create the entry in the context menu first create a .bat file. The format for the .bat file is:

dir /a /-p /o:gen >filelisting.txt

The name of the .txt file may be whatever you'd like it called. In the example above it's filelisting, but it could just as easily be filelist, listoffiles, namedfiles, or even wally. In case you've chosen the name, then create the file in Notepad. Then save the file in your Windows folder as stated below. If you wish, just copy and paste the example up above.

Fig. 01

2) Step: Modifying The Context Menu

Having the .bat file created then you have to make it functional and easily accessible by integrating it into the context menu which opens when a right click is executed. To do this:

• Open Windows Explorer. Click Tools. Then click Folder Options.

• Click the File Types tab. Then click Folder.

• Click the Advanced button. Then click New to pen the New Action box that is presented below.

Fig. 02

Type the name you wish to appear in the context menu in the New Action [Fig. 02] box. You have a wide latitude in choices however, something akin to Create File Listing is going to be probably more useful than naming it Martha Stewart. The example that is above indicates, that I ditched Martha in favor of Create File Listing. So browse to the location where the .bat file which you created is located. Then select it and let it be the Application Used to Perform Actions. Finally, click OK and do the standard Windows dance of Apply then OK again in order to close all the windows that are opened.

So congratulations! A new item is created on the context menu that's ready for work. Now open up Windows Explorer as it is done in the example [Fig. 03] below.

Fig. 03

You may navigate to whatever folder you wish to use as the basis for the file list and right click in order to open the context menu. Then click on the Create File Listing item and the list is going to be generated and displayed at the bottom of the open window as filelisting.txt. The example which is below was created from the Sample Music folder presented above. Being a text file it may be fully edited, copied, pasted, printed, etc for any purpose.

Fig. 04

Note: So if for any reason you wish to remove the Create File Listing entry from the context menu you have to edit the registry. This can be fulfilled by navigating to HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Folder\shell\Create_File_Listing using regedit and deleting the Create_File_Listing key in the left pane. Then close regedit and reboot in order removal to be completed.

Additional File Modifications Submitted by TEG Readers