markdown-converter/scripts

PanConverter Windows Explorer Context Menu Integration

This directory contains scripts to add PanConverter to the Windows Explorer context menu, allowing you to right-click on files and convert them directly without opening the full application.

Features

Context Menu Options

• Convert with PanConverter: Shows a format selection dialog for any supported file
• PanConverter > Convert to...: Direct conversion options (for Markdown files)
  • PDF
  • HTML
  • DOCX
  • LaTeX
  • PowerPoint

Supported File Types

• Markdown: .md, .markdown
• HTML: .html, .htm
• Documents: .docx, .odt, .rtf
• LaTeX: .tex
• PDF: .pdf
• Presentations: .pptx, .ppt, .odp

Installation Methods

Method 1: Automatic (During PanConverter Installation)

When installing PanConverter using the Windows installer, you'll be prompted to install context menu integration automatically.

Method 2: Manual Installation

Using PowerShell (Recommended)

1. Right-click on install-context-menu.ps1
2. Select "Run with PowerShell"
3. Follow the prompts (will request administrator privileges)

Using Batch File

1. Right-click on install-context-menu.bat
2. Select "Run as administrator"
3. Follow the prompts

Using Registry File Directly

1. Right-click on install-context-menu.reg
2. Select "Merge"
3. Confirm the registry modification

Uninstallation

Using PowerShell

.\install-context-menu.ps1 -Uninstall

Using Batch File

Run uninstall-context-menu.bat as administrator

Using Registry File

Run uninstall-context-menu.reg

How It Works

Command Line Interface

The context menu integration works by passing command line arguments to PanConverter:

• --convert <file>: Shows conversion dialog for the specified file
• --convert-to <format> <file>: Directly converts to the specified format

Examples

# Show conversion dialog
PanConverter.exe --convert "document.md"

# Direct conversion to PDF
PanConverter.exe --convert-to pdf "document.md"

Conversion Process

1. PanConverter reads the input file
2. Creates a temporary file if needed
3. Uses Pandoc to convert to the target format
4. Saves the output in the same directory as the input file
5. Shows a Windows notification when complete

Requirements

• PanConverter must be installed in the default location: %LOCALAPPDATA%\Programs\PanConverter\
• Pandoc must be installed and accessible from the command line
• Administrator privileges required for registry modifications

Troubleshooting

Context Menu Not Appearing

1. Ensure you ran the installation script as administrator
2. Try logging out and back in, or restart Windows Explorer
3. Check if PanConverter is installed in the expected location

Conversion Failures

1. Verify Pandoc is installed: pandoc --version
2. Check if the input file is not corrupted or locked
3. Ensure you have write permissions in the output directory

Permission Errors

• The installation scripts require administrator privileges to modify the registry
• If you get permission errors, right-click and "Run as administrator"

File Descriptions

• install-context-menu.reg: Registry entries for context menu
• uninstall-context-menu.reg: Registry entries removal
• install-context-menu.ps1: PowerShell installation script
• install-context-menu.bat: Batch installation script
• uninstall-context-menu.bat: Batch uninstallation script
• nsis-installer.nsh: NSIS installer integration script

Security Note

The scripts modify the Windows registry to add context menu entries. Only run these scripts if you trust the source and understand the changes being made to your system.