Solo Technology

I found a nice little windows utility the other day, courtesy of Larkware News. It has the world’s worst name but works so well that I think that can be excused. (but seriously, ask a co-worker, “Did you grab StExBar yet?” and marvel at the looks you get…)

The utility is called StExBar and has the tagline of “What Microsoft forgot to implement in explorer.” And you know what? That pretty much nails it.

Install it and you get a new toolbar in your Windows Explorer windows. Nothing startling new under the sun here — I think I’ve seen most of what it does in various PowerToys or other utilities. But this brings them all together and saves us from yet more right-clicking and waiting. For that alone it so very useful. What does it offer?

• Open console window in current directory (one click, no waiting)
• Create Directory. Now sure, you can always right-click, wait for the list to build and then click “New Directory.” But dang, this is so much faster.
• Copy selected files or folders to clipboard
• Copy full path of selected file to clipboard
• Bulk rename — with Regular Expression support!
• Customizable, add your own stuff
• For instance, following the example, I have a little Notepad++ launcher that will open the selected file.

I installed it on my work machine yesterday and have already become very accustomed to having it around. Keeper!

2 Responses to “StExBar - Cool Windows Utility”

1. RC on January 3rd, 2007 10:07 am
   

   Nice, but im a FF user, do they have one for it?

2. Chris on January 3rd, 2007 10:24 am
   

   Hi RC,

   I reckon I could’ve been clearer in the article. It’s for Windows Explorer, not Internet Explorer. In other words, the folders used to browse a windows machine.

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