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Open-Shell Documentation

repository·master·Indexed 27 days ago

https://github.com/open-shell/open-shell-menu

A utility suite that restores classic Windows interface elements to modern versions of Windows (7, 8, 8.1, 10, and 11). Key features include a classic style Start menu, Explorer toolbars, status bars displaying file size and disk space, and classic copy UI for Windows 7. Includes detailed configuration options for Classic Explorer navigation panes, title bars, address bars, and Internet Explorer customizations.

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What's inside Open-Shell

  1. Overview of Open-Shell features

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    Open-Shell is a collection of utilities designed to bring classic Windows features to modern versions of Windows (7, 8, 8.1, 10, and 11).

    Key features include:

    • Classic style Start menu
    • Toolbar for Windows Explorer
    • Explorer status bar displaying file size and disk space
    • Classic copy UI (Windows 7 only)
    • Title bar and status bar for Internet Explorer

  4. Configure Menu Visual Styles and Skins

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    Open-Shell supports various visual themes and transparency settings:

    • Skins:
      • Default, Windows Aero, Windows Basic, Classic, Full Glass, Smoked Glass, Windows XP Luna, Windows 8, Midnight, Metro, Metallic, Immersive.
    • Transparency and Glass:
      • Enable Menu Glass: Uses glass transparency (requires Aero Glass mod).
      • Override Glass Color: Uses a custom color instead of the system glass color.
      • Glass Color: Set via RRGGBB format.
      • Glass Intensity: Set brightness from 0 (dark) to 100 (bright).
      • Glass Opacity: Set opacity from 0 (transparent) to 100 (opaque).
      • Menu Color Blending: Controls how much the menu skin color blends with the glass (0-100).
      • Transparency Style: Two-tone (system light/dark colors for main section, transparent glass for surfaces) or Full glass (entire menu uses transparent glass).
    • Other Visuals:
      • Menu Shadow: Enables menu shadows.
      • Menu Theme: Light, Dark, or Use system setting.
      • DPI Override: Set a custom DPI value between 96 and 480 to control icon and text size (use 0 to disable).

  5. Configure Search Behavior

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    Customize how the Start menu searches for items:

    • Search Programs and Settings: Includes programs and settings in results.
    • Search Metro Apps: Includes modern Metro apps in results.
    • Search Files: Includes files, emails, and other items from indexed locations.
    • Search Contents: Searches within file contents and metadata.
    • Search Categories: Groups files by library (Documents, Music, Pictures, etc.).
    • Search Everywhere: Searches all indexed folders; otherwise, only libraries and the Desktop are searched.
    • Search Internet: Adds an option to search the Internet.
    • Search Keywords: Looks at keywords associated with settings.
    • Search Results Limits: Use IDS_SEARCH_MAX2 (results per category) and IDS_SEARCH_MAX3 (results per maximized category) to limit output.

  6. Configure Menu Sorting and Layout

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    Open-Shell provides several options for organizing menu items:

    • Sorting:
      • Z->A: Sort the main menu in descending order.
      • Sort Once: The menu is sorted automatically the first time it is opened; subsequent items added will appear at the bottom.
      • Sub-menu Sorting: Options to sort sub-menus in descending order.
      • Folders First: If enabled, the All Programs tree shows folders before programs.
    • Layout:
      • Open Up: Menus will open upwards instead of downwards if space is limited.
      • Multiple Columns: The menu uses multiple columns if it cannot fit on the screen.
      • No Expand: If an item links to a folder, it will not automatically expand as a sub-menu.
      • Items First: If a menu has both a folder link and child items, child items appear before the folder's files.
      • Split Buttons: Items can be split into separate parts for the command and the sub-menu arrow. Use IDS_SPLIT_DELAY to set a delay multiplier (%) for hovering over the main portion of a split button.

  7. Configure Windows 8/10/Metro Integration

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    Settings for handling the Windows Metro/Modern interface:

    • Skip Metro Screen: Automatically skips the Metro screen after login to enter the Desktop.
    • Disable Start Screen Popup: Prevents the Start screen popup at the bottom corner when the taskbar is at the bottom.
    • Open Start Screen/Menu Shortcut: Adds a shortcut to the original Windows Start menu/screen to the main menu.
    • Open Start Screen on Monitor with Mouse: Pressing Shift+Win opens the Start screen on the monitor where the mouse is located.
    • Show Metro Apps: Includes a folder for Metro apps in the programs tree.
    • Hide App Shortcuts: Hides Metro app shortcuts that are outside the dedicated Apps folder.
    • Invert Metro Icon Color: Displays Metro icons as colored symbols on a transparent background.
    • Recent Metro Apps: Includes recent Metro apps in the recent programs list.

  8. Configure the Start Button Appearance

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    You can customize the Start button via the following settings:

    • Enable Start Button: Adds a Start button to the taskbar.
    • Button Look:
      • Classic: Uses the classic look.
      • Aero: Uses the Aero look.
      • Custom: Allows selecting a custom bitmap image.
    • Button Customization:
      • Replace Start Button: Replaces the standard button with a custom image.
      • Button Image: Select the bitmap for the button.
      • Button Size: Set the width for custom images (use 0 to use the actual bitmap size).
      • Button Icon: Select the icon for the classic Start button. Set size to 0 for default.
      • Button Text/Tooltip: Set the text and tooltip for the classic button.
      • Align to edge of taskbar: Aligns the button to the edge of the taskbar instead of the middle.
    • Button Icon Size: Select the size for the button icon (use 0 for default).

  9. Configure Custom Menu Items

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    When creating custom menu items in Open-Shell, you can use the following properties:

    • Link: Enter a full path to a file or folder. Files are executed; folders open as sub-menus. You can use environment variables like %windir%\Notepad.exe.
    • Text: The label for the menu item. If the text starts with $, it will be looked up in the StartMenuL10N.ini file (e.g., $Menu.Network).
    • Infotip: The tooltip text for the item. If the text starts with $, it will be looked up in StartMenuL10N.ini (e.g., $Menu.NetworkTip).
    • Icon: The icon for the button. Use a path to a .ico file, a combination of a .dll file and an icon ID, or use none to have no icon (the default link icon will be used instead).

  10. Windows for ARM compatibility warning

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    Open-Shell is compatible with Windows for ARM starting from version 4.4.196.

    Warning: If you install a version older than 4.4.196 on a Windows for ARM installation (such as via Parallels Desktop on Apple Silicon), you may be unable to log into your account after a reboot. Avoid installing older versions on ARM-based Windows environments.

  11. Configure Menu Appearance and Animation

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    Adjust the visual style and motion of the start menu:

    Styles

    • Classic style
    • Classic with two columns
    • Windows 7 style
    • Skins: Use custom skins via the skin settings.

    Animations

    • Main menu animation: Choose between No animation, Fade, Slide, or Random (mix of slide and fade).
    • Sub-menu animation: Choose the animation type for sub-menus.
    • Animation speed: Set the duration (in ms) for main menu and sub-menu animations.
    • Fade speed: Set the duration (in ms) for the fade animation of a selected item.

    Layout

    • Menu width/Sub-menu width: Set width based on average-width characters.
    • All columns are same size: Force all columns to be uniform.
    • Align start menu to working area: Align to the working area instead of the taskbar (useful for custom taskbars).
    • Offsets: Set Horizontal position offset and Vertical position offset in pixels.

  12. Configure Classic Explorer Title Bar and Address Bar Settings

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    Customize the appearance and functionality of the Explorer window headers.

    Title Bar

    • Show caption in the title bar: Displays the current path in the title bar.
    • Show icon in the title bar: Displays the icon of the current folder in the title bar.

    Address Bar

    • Disable breadcrumbs: Disables breadcrumbs and shows the full path in the address bar.
    • Address bar history: Controls the contents of the history dropdown.
      • Normal history: Shows default contents (recently visited folders and websites).
    • Hide Search box: Hides the search box from the address bar.
    • Simple path: Shows the parents of the current folder all the way to the Desktop.
    • Extended path: Shows the parents of the current folder plus all immediate folders of the Desktop and Computer (Windows XP style).
    • Additional shortcut for the address bar: Allows assigning a letter 'A' through 'Z' to act as a shortcut for the address bar (e.g., Alt + [Letter]).