How to get filepath of selected file in windows explorer context-menu in C#? -

i've created music player using visual studio 2012 windowsform c#, want play/add songs windows explorer other player(windows media player,winamp,mpcstar,vlc...) does! think wouldn't real hard! of these programs simple!

so example: select 3 songs in directory in explorer , right click on them , select "play " , should use application add function added playlist , start playing! if user press enter key should operation!

if user select "add playlist" songs should added playlist (not replace previous playlist songs)

i don't want create program need answer know how can paths of selected files windows explorer context-menu!

*** want selected files path not single file!

** update: found solution! posted answer below! hope helps others :)

ok i've got solution :)

this link helped me paths of selected files in explorer clicking on context-menu item: .net shell extensions - shell context menus

real easy :)

here's steps:

1) download thee sharpshell library>>

download 'sharpshell library' zip file @ top of article , add reference downloaded sharpshell.dll file.

or can download via nuget:

if have nuget installed, quick search sharpshell , install directly - or package details @ https://www.nuget.org/packages/sharpshell.

add following references:

system.windows.forms system.drawing 

use these @ top of code:

using system; using system.collections.generic; using system.linq; using system.text; using system.threading.tasks; using sharpshell; using sharpshell.sharpcontextmenu; using system.windows.forms; using system.io; using system.runtime.interopservices; using sharpshell.attributes; 

derive class sharpcontextmenu right click on sharpcontextmenu part of line , choose implement abstract class.

canshowmenu

this function called determine whether should show context menu extension given set of files. files user has selected in property selecteditempaths. can check these file paths see whether want show menu. if menu should shown, return true. if not, return false.

createmenu

this function called create context menu. standard winforms contextmenustrip need return.

here's whole namespace sourcecode:

namespace countlinesextension { [comvisible(true)] [comserverassociation(associationtype.classofextension, ".txt")] public class class1 : sharpcontextmenu { protected override bool canshowmenu() {         //  show menu.         return true;         //throw new notimplementedexception();     }      protected override contextmenustrip createmenu()     {         //  create menu strip.         var menu = new contextmenustrip();          //  create 'count lines' item.         var itemcountlines = new toolstripmenuitem         {             text = "count lines"         };          //  when click, we'll call 'countlines' function.         itemcountlines.click += (sender, args) => countlines();          //  add item context menu.         menu.items.add(itemcountlines);          //  return menu.         return menu;         //throw new notimplementedexception();     }     private void countlines()     {         //  builder output.         var builder = new stringbuilder();          //  go through each file.         foreach (var filepath in selecteditempaths)         {             //  count lines.             builder.appendline(string.format("{0} - {1} lines",               path.getfilename(filepath), file.readalllines(filepath).length));         }          //  show ouput.         messagebox.show(builder.tostring());     }   } } 

next, must give assembly strong name. there ways around requirement, best approach take. this, right click on project , choose 'properties'. go 'signing'. choose 'sign assembly', specify 'new' key , choose key name. can password protect key if want to, not required

now install , register shell extension: regasm tool

you can use tool 'regasm' install , register shell extension. when using regasm, shell extension installed registry (i.e. class id of com server put in com server classes section , associated path actual server file), register associations.

the server manager tool

the server manager tool preferred approach installing/uninstalling , registering/unregistering, @ least during development, because lets install , register separate steps. let specify whether you're installing/uninstalling etc in 32 bit or 64 bit mode.

it whole sample sourcecode. can add number of context-menu items, function,any fileextension,etc.

for example i'm gonna use '.mp3' fileextensions , change countlines function function send selecteditempaths playlist , rest of operations.

hope others too!