Handler | Description | Can be implemented on | Required shell version |
---|---|---|---|
Context menu handler | Adds menu items to the context menu. It is called before the = context=20 menu is displayed. | Per file type | Windows 95 = and later.=20<Windows 95 = and=20 later Windows 7 introduced IExecuteCommand=20 |
Drag-and-drop handler | Controls the action upon right-click drag and drop and modifies = the=20 context menu that appears. | Global | Windows 95 and later |
Drop target handler | Controls the action after a data object is dragged and dropped = over a=20 drop target such as a file. | Per file type | Windows 95 and later |
Data object handler | Controls the action after a file is copied to the clipboard or = dragged=20 and dropped over a drop target. It can provide additional = clipboard=20 formats to the drop target. | Per file type | Windows 95 and later |
Icon handler | Assigns a custom icon to an individual file amongst a class of = file=20 types. It is called before file icons are displayed. | Per file type | Windows 95 and later |
Property sheet handler | Replaces or adds pages to the property sheet dialog box of an = object.=20 | Per file type | Windows 95 and later |
Copy hook handler | Allows running, modifying or denying the action when a user or=20 application tries to copy, move, delete, or rename an object. = | Not associated with a file type | Windows 95 and later |
Search handler | Allows shell integration of a custom search engine. | Not associated with a file type | Windows 95 through Windows XP |
Infotip handler | Allows retrieving flags and infotip information for an item and=20 displaying it inside a popup tooltip=20 upon mouse hover. | Per file type | Windows=20 Desktop Update and later |
Thumbnail image handler | Provides for a thumbnail image to be generated and displayed = along=20 with its alpha type when a file is selected or the thumbnail view = is=20 activated. | Per file type | Windows Desktop Update and later. Windows Vista introduced a = newer=20 IThumbnailProvider interface that also shows thumbnails in the = Details=20 pane. The older IExtractImage is still supported but not in the = Details=20 pane.[36]=20 |
Disk=20 Cleanup handler | Add a new entry to the Disk=20 Cleanup application and allows specifying additional disk = locations or=20 files to clean up. | Per folder | Windows 98 = and later=20 |
Column handler | Allows creating and displaying custom columns in Windows = Explorer=20 Details view. It can be used to extend sorting and = grouping. | Per folder | Windows=20 2000 and later |
Icon overlay handler | Allows displaying an overlay icon over a shell object (a file or = folder icon). | Per file type | Windows 2000 and later |
Metadata handler | Allows viewing and modifying metadata stored in a file. It can = be used=20 to extend details view columns, infotips, property pages, sorting = and=20 grouping. | Per file type | Windows 2000 and later |
Filter handler (IFilter) | Allows file properties and its contents to be indexed and = searched by=20 Indexing=20 Service or Windows=20 Search | Per file type | Windows 2000 and later |
AutoPlay = handler | Examines newly discovered removable media and devices and, based = on=20 content such as pictures, music or video files, launches an = appropriate=20 application to play or display the content. | Per file type category Windows XP only: per device and per = file=20 type category |
Windows XP and later |
Property handler | Allows viewing and modifying system-defined and custom = properties of a=20 file. | Per file type | Windows=20 Vista and later, on Windows XP if Windows=20 Search is installed. |
Preview handler | Renders enhanced previews of items without launching the default = application when a file is selected. It can also provide file=20 type-specific navigation such as browsing a document, or seeking = inside a=20 media file. | Per file type | Windows Vista and later |