Request support for access key shortcuts (ampersands) in context menu labels

[opal_1]

Hello,

I’d like to request support for access key shortcuts (ampersands) in context menu labels in Everything.

When a context-menu label contains an ampersand (for example "@="&Search Everything"), Windows underlines the letter after the ampersand and — while the context menu is open — pressing that letter key activates the menu item immediately. This makes keyboard navigation faster and is consistent with Windows behavior.




For example:

Before:
----------------------------------------------------
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Directory\Background\shell\Search Everything 1.5a...]
@="Search Everything 1.5a..."
"Icon"="C:\\Program Files\\Everything 1.5a\\Everything.exe,0"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Directory\Background\shell\Search Everything 1.5a...\command]
@="\"C:\\Program Files\\Everything 1.5a\\Everything.exe\" -path \"%V\""
----------------------------------------------------

After (with access key enabled):
----------------------------------------------------
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Directory\Background\shell\Search Everything 1.5a...]
@="&Search Everything 1.5a..."
"Icon"="C:\\Program Files\\Everything 1.5a\\Everything.exe,0"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Directory\Background\shell\Search Everything 1.5a...\command]
@="\"C:\\Program Files\\Everything 1.5a\\Everything.exe\" -path \"%V\""
----------------------------------------------------

Small change, big usability win for keyboard users. Thanks for considering it.

[void]

I would prefer to keep the default of no access keys.

They will usually conflict with something.
All menu items can be customized with access keys in Everything 1.5.
Either through the registry, localization strings or menu_escape_amp.

I will consider a UI feature to make it easier to change some of the more prominent menu items.
Thank you for your suggestions and sharing the registry code to change the Search Everything access key.