Create a new text file in lightning speed!

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  1. Posts : 4
    windows 7 home premium 64bit
       #1

    Create a new text file in lightning speed!


    I use windows 7 home premium 64bit.

    To generate a new text file in a certain directory, we do :
    Right click empty area -> New -> text document.
    This consists of 3 steps :
    1) right click any emtpy area
    2) move the mouse pointer to "New"
    3) left click "text document"

    But I want to ""simplify"" above process to only 2 steps:
    1) right click any empty area
    2) left click "New text document"

    Certainly, there is no menu called "New text document" now. Editing registry or making dll file may create such menu. Help!
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  2. Posts : 1,800
    Windows 7 Pro x64 SP1
       #2

    Easier way would be to just create a shortcut to notepad on your desktop.
    double click on it and type away to create a text file.

    or quit and then select save give it a name and it will close.

    of course you cold create a link to cmd.exe and then from the dos prompt
    copy con name.txt
    type away
    press f6 or control z
    exit

    <GG>
    :)
    rich
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  3. Posts : 6,668
    Windows 7 x64
       #3

    ...well you could just add notepad to the context menu.

    Context menu shortcut add ons.

    Context Menu - Add Shortcuts with Icons
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  4. Posts : 4
    windows 7 home premium 64bit
    Thread Starter
       #4

    Thanks but I am not satisfied.

    In fact, "Adding Notepad shortcut to context menu" method is not as efficient as proposed method. I have to choose filename and select directory in case of "Adding Notepad shortcut to context menu" method.

    In case of proposed method, the filename is automatically given new text.txt and the directory automatically becomes the directory where I was working. Help !
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  5. Posts : 2,726
    Windows 7 Ultimate 64bit
       #5

    Don't know what mouse you have, but some logitech mice can record a macro. Which means you could record a series of mice clicks which you could then assign to one of your spare mouse buttons. I tested it earlier with my G9 and it worked.
    Failing this maybe some macro recording software might help Macro Recorder
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  6. Posts : 195
    Windows 7
       #6

    I sympathize, as I like to use text files a lot, and it's nice to have an instant way to get them created where you want.

    I have solved this for myself with a homemade autohotkey script that's mainly a macro. I'm no programmer, and it was a bit of a struggle to get it to work from ANY place in an open folder, and to work on the Desktop. Check out Autohotkey and see if you want to do it.

    If you're interested I could post the script, but it would almost certainly have to be modified (i.e., tailor-made) to work in a completely different computer and explorer setup than mine, so you would still have work to do.
      My Computer


  7. Posts : 2,039
    Several, including Windows 7 x64 Ultimate
       #7

    pchangb said:
    I use windows 7 home premium 64bit.

    To generate a new text file in a certain directory, we do :
    Right click empty area -> New -> text document.
    This consists of 3 steps :
    1) right click any emtpy area
    2) move the mouse pointer to "New"
    3) left click "text document"

    But I want to ""simplify"" above process to only 2 steps:
    1) right click any empty area
    2) left click "New text document"

    Certainly, there is no menu called "New text document" now. Editing registry or making dll file may create such menu. Help!
    You could use this, or vary it to suit what you want.

    It will toggle any program on or off with a single click;

    Classic Shell Add On Buttons

    Regards....Mike Connor
      My Computer


  8. Posts : 5
    Windows 7 Ultimate x64
       #8

    Built-in Windows keyboard accelerator keys


    I realize this thread is old, but it comes up high on the web search results, so I wanted to save others some trouble. Here's the easiest way I've found using only the built-in keyboard accelerator keys of Windows Explorer:

    Alt+f w t

    (Alt+f opens the File menu, w opens New, and t creates a new text file in the opened directory ready for naming.)

    Similarly, use of the Apps key (or Right-click) followed by f w does the same thing (though this can be tricky since it is context sensitive, requiring current pointer placement/selection to be in an empty area, not an existing file).

    This trick works for a few other things as well, including new folders (Alt+f w f), shortcuts (Alt+f w s), and Windows Journal (.jnt) documents (Alt+f w j).

    Thanks to these posts at LifeHacker and SuperUser for the tips!

    NOTE ON LANGUAGE DEPENDENCY: the actual keys to use will vary depending on the language of your Windows 7 installation (see this post at SuperUser). I can confirm the above works for US English.

    NOTE ON INSTALLED SOFTWARE DEPENDENCY: the above works great as long as there is only one item in the list that starts with that letter. If there is more than one item in the "File" or "New" list that starts with the same letter (e.g., w or t), you'll either have to press enter (if the one you want is already selected) or press the same letter again repeatedly (e.g., w or t) to toggle through them until the one you want is selected and then press enter. If this is the case for you, then something else like AutoHotKey might be the way to go.
    Last edited by rccryan; 18 Mar 2013 at 15:33. Reason: Added/updated notes on dependencies for software installed and OS language
      My Computer


  9. Posts : 3,300
    Win7 Home Premium 64x
       #9

    Just looked. I like your approach. testing on xp, the "w" doesn't open the menu, just moves to the "New" submenu. (just a note for anyone who also uses XP)

    Keyboard shortcuts are often overlooked and what takes mouse movements and hand-eye coordination can usually be done with a quick set of keystokes.

    This doesn't decrease the number of steps, but it does make the process more fluid if you have to do it on a regular basis. you can program this into a macro though....
      My Computer


  10. Posts : 5
    Windows 7 Ultimate x64
       #10

    Hi Thorsen, thanks for your feedback. Actually, it works the same on my WinXP SP3 Media Center Edition as it does on my Win7 machine.

    However, I see now that it depends on what programs you have installed on your computer that have added things to the menus. I'll edit my post accordingly.

    You are right, macros or AutoHotKey might be better, but this way requires no software installs or custom setup.
      My Computer


 
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