Run a node script from the windows context menu on a directory

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There are certain file operations in Windows (7/10) I'd like to automate (ie moving all files of a certain file type in a given directory up a directory, and then deleting that directory and the rest of the files in it).

I know how to write a program in Node to do this, but rather than going into each directory and right click -> Git Bash Here -> run my script, I'd like to be able to just right click on the directory and have an option in the directory's context menu to run my Node script directly.

Is there some sort of way to do this through the Windows registry without having to write a full-blown, installed, native application?

I'm just looking for a simple, lightweight, hacky(?) way to run a small Node script from the windows directory context menu (that does simple operations on the files in that directory).

node.js registry windows
2 Answers

Figured it out.

Open the Registry Editor (Start > regedit):

  1. Navigate to HKEY_CLASS_ROOT\Directory\shell
  2. Right click on shell > New > Key (call it whatever)
  3. Click on new key, then double click on (Default), enter the string you want to have appear in the context menu
  4. Right click on the key you created in step 2 > New > Key > must call it command

  5. Click on command, then double click on (Default), enter:

    "C:\Program Files\nodejs\node.exe" "X:\PATH\TO\script.js" "%V"

  6. When running the script, process.argv[2] will be a string containing the directory you called the script on (i.e. the value of %V).

user_65672140

Note: index.js specified file will be executed

Run this script using nodemon:-

const express = require('express');
const app = express();
const { exec } = require('child_process');

const port = process.env.NODE_ENV === 'production' ? (process.env.PORT || 80) : 3000;
const server = app.listen(3001, function () {
    console.log("running server @ 3001");
    exec(`reg add "HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\\Directory\\shell\\REFI-Created\\command" /f /d "C:\\Program Files\\nodejs\\node.exe 'C:\\Users\\Sahil_Shikalgar\\Desktop\\Export chart as a file\\Refresh All charts functionality\\index.js' '%V'"`, 
    (err, res) => {
        console.log(res);
        console.log(err);
    })
});

Description:

1) Key creation path: HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Directory\shell\REFI-Created\command

2) Node Application: C:\Program Files\nodejs\node.exe

3) Your script file to execute: C:\Users\Sahil_Shikalgar\Desktop\Export chart as a file\Refresh All charts functionality\index.js

4) '%V' to pass selected context menu directory path.

user_120756350
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