How to add commands to run (WIN+R) to run programs like Firefox, Sublime etc

Question

How to add commands to run (WIN+R) to run programs like Firefox, Sublime etc.

I need that because I prefer keyboard to mouse, and it's faster for instance to just press WIN+R -> type cmd and press Enter.. I want the same for programs like sublime etc. or maybe is it possible also to open folder by typing custom command something like open folder project or it is something impossible?

Answer 1

Windows Run dialog basically runs programs that exist in your path. It is great for running windows software (I use it all the time to run Notepad). It cannot be scripted, and you would need to add any folder that you have required files in, to your path, which is not really practical.

What Windows are you using?

Windows 7+ has a search in Start, so basically you press WIN key and start typing, and it starts search. It searches everything that you have in your start menu, and even more. I actually use it more than run dialog because I can press win key and start typing, and it usually finds what I need.

Before Windows 7 I was using Launchy which is highly adaptive and at the time was a great quick launch utility.

I hope you can use some of this.

Answer 2

Well, besides "The Path"(environment variable). There is this location in the registry.

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\App Paths

Answer 3

if someone is currently looking for it, there is an easier way: just add a shortcut to the windows rais folder and rename the shortcut with the command you want to run.

https://i.sstatic.net/FeXVj.png

FLP

Answer 4

I've come up with idea of making new folder called CUSTOM_PATH anywhere you want. Then I edited environment variables of my window and added path to that folder. That allowed me to throw in shortcuts to programs and call them via WIN+R

^{click to enlarge}