[Tracking Issue] Better Windows integration - Improve Explorer Shell Extension (to e.g. wipe free space of drives)

[Tobias-B-Besemer]

I think there's a Explorer Shell Extension missing to wipe free space of drives! If BB would be able to do that with a command line parameter, I can include it into the NSIS Installer.

[Tobias-B-Besemer]

I did a short search and found some interesting info...

https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/win32/shell/reg-shell-exts This doc hopefully describes the right key for drives...

https://stackoverflow.com/questions/20449316/how-add-context-menu-item-to-windows-explorer-for-folders/54953717#54953717 This page explains:

• You can register a shell extension for a user, or system wide;
• Explorer left panel is other regkey then right panel;
• Folders tree icons have an other regkey, again.

https://www.online-tech-tips.com/computer-tips/windows-right-click-context-menu/amp/ This page explains how to add a Shell Extensions to files...

https://www.ghisler.ch/wiki/index.php/Explorer_integration ...and this page explains the changes in Win7 and how to add a SE to the Recycle Bin.

So it looks like for me, that if we wanna do it right, it all needs a re-do! I'm willing to work on it and can provide (if welcome) many small PRs that fix each one case...

The question to clearify is now: What is BB able to shred with command line ??? Entire Drives? Complete Folders? Single Files? Content of Recycle Bin? (Maybe some tests are needed to fully clearify that...)

Can't find a doc about the exact possibilities of BB Command Line in shredding drives/folders/files... Is this right? Maybe I should do that in this case, too... https://docs.bleachbit.org/doc/command-line-interface.html

[Tobias-B-Besemer]

First PR of NSIS changes for better Windows integration in very small piece: "NSIS.MUI2.ShellExtension.1 (add just the icon)" https://github.com/bleachbit/bleachbit/pull/720

[az0]

The question to clearify is now: What is BB able to shred with command line ??? Entire Drives? Complete Folders? Single Files? Content of Recycle Bin? (Maybe some tests are needed to fully clearify that...)

Use the option --wipe-free-space to wipe a drive. Pass it the directory of any writable folder on that drive.

Use the option --shred to shred any folder or file. If you pass it a folder, it will shred each file in that folder. This does not wipe free space.

Can't find a doc about the exact possibilities of BB Command Line in shredding drives/folders/files... Is this right? Maybe I should do that in this case, too... https://docs.bleachbit.org/doc/command-line-interface.html

It was out of date, so I added two sections.

[Tobias-B-Besemer]

Add "wipe free space" to the drives and "shred" to folder & files, or use a cascaded shell extension to give multiple options to the user? (Maybe a "Start Bleachit and free space" on at least drive C, too?) We can also improve installer e.g. in component selection and each user can select the shell extensions he wanna have... (...and maybe cascade it, if he choose more then one.) You see: Many possibilities... ^^

[Tobias-B-Besemer]

Adding BB to "Send to" would be possible, too, and give the user a solution to shred multiple files at ones from the context menu.

https://github.com/bleachbit/bleachbit/issues/726 https://stackoverflow.com/questions/1826791/how-to-pass-in-multiple-file-folder-paths-via-a-right-click-event-verb-to-an-e

[GregariousJB]

Just adding my support for this. Eraser will shred multiple files from the context menu. I'm not sure how it works, but it does.