How to customize the Send To Menu

Infopackets Reader Cleo writes:

" I have tried putting Microsoft Word in my Send To Menu a dozen times: it shows up in the send to folder in the C drive, but won't show up in the Send To Menu. Any ideas? "

My response:

It is possible that the Send To shortcuts were placed in the wrong SendTo folder. For Windows 9x and NT, the SendTo folder location is C:\Windows\SendTo.

For Windows 2000 and XP, the whereabouts of the [current] SendTo folder depends on which user logged in to the machine.

The Send To feature allows users to launch a file using a program which has not been previously assigned (associated) via Windows.

For Example: A text file has the file extension .TXT and (by default) opens with Windows NotePad. Using the Send To feature, the same .TXT file could have been launched with such programs as: WordPad, MS Word, or any other favorite word processing / editing program.

RE: Initiating and Customizing the SendTo Folder

If memory serves correct, the Send To feature is available with Internet Explorer 5+ installed. The Send To menu may be produced by right-clicking over an object (such as a file or folder) on the Desktop.

The contents of the Send To Menu are actually shortcuts which have been placed in a Windows system folder. To place an object in the Send To Menu, drag and drop the desired shortcut files (IE: shortcut to MS Word, MS Access, etc) to the SendTo folder (detailed below).

SendTo: For Windows 9x and NT

The Send To folder is located in C:\Windows\SendTo (or whatever drive Windows has been installed to).

SendTo: For Windows 2000 and XP

The SendTo folder is in a different location than it is for Windows 9x and NT. System files must not be hidden in order to manipulate the SendTo folder. To make the SendTo folder visible:

• Double left-click My Computer
   
• Double left-click the hard drive which contains Windows (usually the C drive)
   
• A new Explorer Window will open: click Tools -> Folder Options -> View tab
   
• Under the heading "Hidden files and folders", checkmark "Show hidden files and folders"
   
• Click OK; this will bring you back to the Windows Explorer view of your C drive
   
• Navigate to Documents and Settings -> Current User -> SendTo Example: c:\Documents and Settings\DennisFaas\SendTo
   
• Drag an application shortcut (example: MS word) into the Send To folder
   
• Initiate a dialogue menu from the desktop to produce your new Send To shortcut

That's it!

Side note: not all programs will work with the Send To feature.