Create Simple Script to Show / Hide Checkbox to Select Items in Windows Vista and Later

We have posted 2 similar tutorials in past about creating scripts to show/hide hidden file or folders and file extensions in Windows:

We also posted tutorials to add options to show/hide hidden files or folders and file extensions in Desktop and Explorer context menus to make the task a lot easier and quicker:

Show_Hide_File_Extensions_Option_Context_Menu.png

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Today in this tutorial, we are going to share another similar script which can be used to show/hide checkbox to select items in Windows Vista and later Explorer upon request from one of our very active readers “TheAslan“.

This script when executed, checks the status of “Use checkbox to select items” option and toggles its value. So if its set to hide checkbox, it changes the option to show checkbox and vice versa.

Simply copy paste following code in NOTEPAD and save the file with name “Show_Checkbox_On_Off.vbs” (including quotes):

FileExt = "HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced\AutoCheckSelect"
Set Sh = WScript.CreateObject("WScript.Shell")
St = Sh.RegRead(FileExt)
If St = 1 Then
Sh.RegWrite FileExt, 0, "REG_DWORD"
Else
Sh.RegWrite FileExt, 1, "REG_DWORD"
End If
Sh.SendKeys("{F5}")

That’s it. You can place this script at any location like Desktop, Quick Launch toolbar and whenever you need to toggle the “Use checkbox to select items” option, simply run the script.

PS: If you don’t want to create the script manually or face any problem while creating the script, you can download a ready-made script using following link:

Download Script

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Also check:

Add “Show/Hide Checkbox” to Select Items Option in Desktop/Explorer Context Menu in Windows

Published in: Windows 7, Windows Vista

About the author: Vishal Gupta (also known as VG) has been awarded with Microsoft MVP (Most Valuable Professional) award. He holds Masters degree in Computer Applications (MCA). He has written several tech articles for popular newspapers and magazines and has also appeared in tech shows on various TV channels.

Comments

NOTE: Older comments have been removed to reduce database overhead.

  1. Hello Vishal Sir
    I don’t understand what this script is gonna do.I am aware of the function in 7 the provides a checkbox when we hover on a ny item but not Xp..Please elaborate & if possible give a snapshot..:-)

  2. Is it possible to set/unset Teracopy as a default copu handler, there’s these 2 .reg files in Teracopy installation folder, one sets and second unsets its as a default copy handler.

    But now i’m asking that how i can make it work like this checkbox context menu thing??

    Can i do it by myself??

  3. I agree with Ashish. That function is already available….or are you talking about something else.
    @TheAslan, I heard that it’s impossible to get rid of TerraCopy once you have installed it. It really doesn’t speed up file transfers that much anyway.

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