P4EXP no longer works with TotalCmd

[woodypwx]

Hello,

Perforce integration to Windows File Explorer (P4EXP, can be downloaded as a part of P4V client) always worked fine, but it recently (with update 2014.2 Patch1) stopped working. File context menu in both 32bit and 64bit version of TC doesn't show anything related to Perforce eventhough it works in the Windows File Explorer. 32bit of TC context menu -> X64 -> Configure... menu shows "P4EXPContextMenuExtension" as available menu shell extension that could be excluded though. I have heard something about transition of the P4EXP to .NET4. Could that be a problem for TC?

Regards,
Tomas


EDIT by Mod:
Update below at "Posted: Thu Jan 22, 2015 11:48"
The latest P4V build 985932 (released January 14), fixed the issue, although there is nothing about it in the release notes.

[ghisler(Author)]

Since nothing was changed in TC, but in P4EXP, the problem must be in P4EXP. Maybe they deliberately block third party file managers now, just like Norton Antivirus does? Try renaming totalcmd.exe to Explorer.exe (uppercase 'E') to see if it helps. Otherwise please contact the Perforce support.

[woodypwx]

Yes, I already reported the problem to the Perforce support, but they think if it works well in the Windows File Explorer, it is not their fault. So I'm trying to find a reason why it doesn't work. Could you please install the P4V client with the P4EXP and see why TC doesn't show any Perforce context? Even though you are not connected to any server, there should be at least a simple submenu "Perforce" with items "Connection Information", "Preferences..." and "Help".

The P4V client can be downloaded on perforce(.)com/downloads/Perforce/Customer
It should be version 2014.2, build 959839

[ghisler(Author)]

Sorry, I haven't had the time to try it yet. TC does not create the context menu by itself. It just calls a Windows OLE function (QueryContextMenu) and Windows returns it. If Windows doesn't return the Perforce context menu extensions, then something is wrong with them.

Are you perhaps running TC with different credentials (e.g. "as administrator")?

[woodypwx]

Hello ghisler,

Thank you for the replay. I tried both "run as admin" and without it with no success. I'm going to pass through your description to the Perforce support ticket I have opened.

Regards,
Tomas

[ghisler(Author)]

Here is a little tool which calls the context menu like Total Commander: Can you try it with the various options to check whether the menu items are shown or not?
https://plugins.ghisler.com/addons/testrightclick2.zip

[woodypwx]

Here are my results:

rclick util:
Image: http://woodypwx.fileburst.com/rclick.jpg

windows:
Image: http://woodypwx.fileburst.com/win.jpg

totalcmd:
Image: http://woodypwx.fileburst.com/TotalCmd.jpg


Please note the check-boxes has no effect on the result in the rclick util.
As you can see. Not only the Perforce is missing, but also the "Edit with Notepad++" unlike the TotalCmd

[HolgerK]

Not only the Perforce is missing, but also the "Edit with Notepad++" unlike the TotalCmd

May be I'am wrong, but as far as i remember the "rclick util" is 32bit and can't show shell extensions which are installed as 64bit version only.

Regarding the missing perforce context menu:
http://ftp.perforce.com/perforce/r08.1/doc/help/p4exp/p4exp.htm
under "Preferences":

Restrict the Explorer plug-in to the following folders: Display the full Perforce menu only when browsing the specified paths.

Could it be that this setting is active, and not handled correctly by the perforce shell-extension if running in slightly different environments like TC?

Regards
Holger

[miroslav.vrlik]

as I wrote in different thread:

Actually I've checked Total Commander registry access using SysInternals' Process Monitor and I can clearly see that Total Commander IS checking that extension in registry when context menu is about to open. So the problem must be inside P4EXT filter.

I think I will report this to Perforce, too.

[miroslav.vrlik]

The proof that the P4EXP problem is present evereywhere except the Windows Explorer:

Open Notepad or Paint and go to Open File dialog --> P4EXP submenu is missing there.

This clearly confirms the problem is outside the Total Commander.

[miroslav.vrlik]

I got response from perforce helpdesk, something like: known issue – will be patched. We will e-mail you once the fix is published.

[miroslav.vrlik]

Workaround until P4EXP is fixed:

While in TC panel where you need P4EXP, press Shift+Right arrow, then period (.) and Enter.

This sequence opens Windows Explorer at the same directory so you can start working with P4EXP right away.

[woodypwx]

The latest P4V build 985932 (released January 14), fixed the issue, although there is nothing about it in the release notes.

EDIT: It's mentioned in the P4EXP release notes that can be found in the Plugins&Integration section of the Perforce downloads site.