Adding applications to the Path-Windows Xp Tips and Tricks-Windows Xp Tips and Tricks

Adding applications to the Path

The ability to enter a short file name into the Run line to open a program can be extended to any program by putting the folder containing the program executable into the path. 

Alternatively, the Registry can be edited to explicitly contain the path to the desired executable file or files. The Registry key involved is
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\App Paths
Create a new sub-key with the name of the executable file that you wish to add to the path. e .g., 
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\App Paths\somefile.exe
In this new key, add a string variable named "Path" containing the value of the the path to your new executable file, e.g., 
C:\Program files\newprogramfolder\
The new key will already have an empty variable (Default). Edit it to have the string value of entire address of the new program executable , e.g., 
C:\Program files\newprogramfolder\somefile.exe 
You can now enter "somefile.exe" into the Run line to open the program. An example of what the Regedit entries look like is shown in the figure below. I have added a chess game with the executable "winchen.exe" to the path. 

A number of files are likely to have already been added on your system. Many applications place themselves here when they are installed. Examples are Microsoft Office components. It is sufficient to enter "winword" into the Run line to open Microsoft Word or "excel" to open Microsoft Excel.