Get Multiple Files Path with Right Click

Question

I have added my application to the right click menu of Windows with the help of the registry

"C://myapp.exe "%1"

I am able to get the path of the selected file in a MessageBox using the below code.

static void Main(string[] args)
{
   foreach (string path in args)
   {
       MessageBox.Show(path);  
   }
}

It is okay if I want to open a single file, but if I select multiple files, it runs multiple instances of my application. I need the path of all selected file in the single instance only. Can anyone give me an idea of how to do this?

Answer 1

A non-programming work-around, to copy all the paths simultaneously is the following (tested at Windows 7):

1. Select the files you want.
2. Shift+Right Click.
3. Click "Copy As Path" (it appears as an additional option!).

All paths are copied as expected!

Answer 2

I tried it and the application is running a new instance for each selected file. I even tried to add "%2" "%3" etc to the registry command, that also did not work.

If it is really necessary to run a single instance for all files, maybe you can setup your app as with a class derived from WindowsFormsApplicationBase, set the IsSingleInstance property and override OnStartupNextInstance (no link to that 'cause my reputation does not allow more than 2 links)