Christian Long Tech notes and tidbits

Matthias Wandel's ftpdmin is a handy, minimalist ftp server, useful for flinging files around on the fly.

Preston Gralla, author of O'Reilly's Windows XP Hacks shows how to add commands to the right-click context menu for folders in Windows Explorer.

Combining the two, here's an easy way to add an option to the right-click context menu that will start up the ftp server rooted at your current folder. For example, if you were to right-click on the C:\My Stuff folder, you could then choose to start up ftpdmin using C:\My Stuff as the root folder served by the ftp server.

To add the option, run the Registry Editor (regedit.exe), then go to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE/Software/Classes/Folder/Shell.
Create a new key called FTP. For the default value, enter whatever text you want to appear when you right-click on a folder-for example, Start FTP Server Here.

Create a new key beneath the FTP key called Command. Set the default value to

Cmd.exe /k ""C:\My Path\To\ftpdmin.exe" "%L""

(note the double double quotes). That value will launch Cmd.exe, which is the Windows 2000/XP command prompt. The /k switch puts the prompt into interactive mode. "C:\My Path\To\ftpdmin.exe" is the path to the ftpdmin executable; modify this value to point to the place you have installed ftpdmin on your system. "%L" provides the name of the current directory. Make sure that you quote properly, as in the example.

Exit the Registry Editor. The new menu option will show up immediately. Note that it won't appear when you right-click on a file; it shows up only when you right-click on a folder.