The concept of a context menu is faced by absolutely all computer users, regardless of the type of operating system used or its developer. Such an element is available in all known OSs today. But let's see what the Windows context menu is, what types it is and how to handle it. We take Windows as a basis only for the simple reason that most users in the post-Soviet space work with these OSs. And for a start, a few words about the term itself.
What is a context menu in the general sense?
Actually, the name of the menu itself comes from the English context. As for the simplified understanding, the context menu of Windows 10 or any other operating system can be interpreted as some additional element of the graphical interface of the system, in which there are certain commands for quick access to some basic or additional functions.
So to speak, in the context of selecting an object for which an additional menu is used, different commands will be available (this will be considered separately).
Menu views
Actually, in the operating system itself there are several types of main and additional menus. For example, the main menu is accessible by pressing the "Start" button. Installed programs usually have their own element in the form of a top panel, on which sections of basic operations are displayed, etc. Naturally, all such menus differ in appearance and purpose. But it’s the context menu that is universal in its way, and in a sense even connects applications with the operating system without the use of additional tools. Forgot how to perform some action? Nothing wrong! This menu will tell you what and how to do it, especially since many menus of this type can also open additional lists.
Context Menu Items
As already mentioned, for different objects the contents of the menu can differ quite a lot. It all depends on the type of object selected and the actions that are supposed to be performed. Everyone knows that in the "Explorer" through this menu, when you select a file or folder, you can specify copying, moving, deleting, opening, and many more operations, except for the use of hot keys or their combinations.
On the "Desktop" when you click on a blank area of the screen, you can quickly call up the screen settings or create shortcuts. But in order to carry out such actions, following the standard methodology, it will take much more time. In general, it is believed that the context menu is a unique invention. Despite the fact that almost all of the items it contains are duplicated by the operating system itself and some installed programs, its use often reduces the time it takes to access certain actions and functions.
Differences between menus for different objects
Now we will consider the most important question regarding the difference between menus of this type when choosing a specific object. It goes without saying that it will not work to describe all types, so we will dwell on the most basic ones.
Files and folders were sorted out a bit. It can be added that antiviruses, archivers and some other programs integrate their own commands into such menus, therefore, in addition to a set of standard actions, you can use their additional features.
If you use the menu for a disk or partition, you can already access the system tools here. Programs have their own elements of this type, however, the context menu for almost all active applications, if the upper left corner of the program window on the header is used as the selected object, the items are the same: closing, moving, minimizing and maximizing the active window, resizing, etc. It is clear that the content of each context menu for applications depends on the specific use of the program. So, in web browsers, among the items there are commands related specifically to actions with tabs or settings.
When using the menu for panels, it becomes possible to configure them, go to additional options, add or remove elements, etc. As already mentioned, it is impossible to describe the contents of all types of opened menus simply physically, so let's move on.
How to open an additional menu: a few basic ways
Now a few words about how to call or open the context menu. Everyone knows that in Windows PCM is used for this (click on the right mouse button). This action is set in the default settings, although some use the reassignment of buttons, after which the control is called by the left button. In general, the context menu of the mouse, depending on the type of manipulator used, can be configured as you like. For example, for the same gaming mice, in which there are a lot of additional buttons, usually accompanying software is installed, which allows you to manage all their parameters and configure the buttons for a specific action, including calling up additional menus.
Few people know that in Windows you can use not only RMBs. For example, for laptops, it is very important to use the combination Shift + F10. Also, the right button on the touchpad is designed for this. On some non-standard keyboards for stationary computer terminals, you can find a special Menu key, which is usually located to the right of the Win button.
How to add additional items to the menu?
Finally, let's see how to add additional items or commands to the context menu. You can, of course, use Windows tools, but for this you have to delve into the registry, and this is very inconvenient.
The easiest way is to use the small Context Menu Tuner program, the interface of which consists of only two panels with sets of commands and Windows Explorer areas.
Only two buttons are provided for adding or removing elements, so there should not be any difficulties with using them.
Practical Benefits of Using
As for the pluses, a lot has already been said about them. This applies not only to the fact that the correctness of the invocation of certain actions can simply be forgotten. The universality of such menus consists precisely in speeding up access to some standard and non-standard functions or actions, the call of which according to the usual scheme would take much more time. And so - RMB and all the necessary commands at hand!
Instead of a total
Hopefully, after reading the above material, many figured out what constitutes this element of the operating system. As for its use, there shouldn’t be any questions at all, since in some situations one simply cannot do without it. And practice shows that one hundred percent of users out of a hundred context menus always use, regardless of the actions performed.