> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://mintlify.com/microsoft/powertoys/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# New+

> An enhanced file creation context menu that lets you create files from templates directly in File Explorer.

New+ extends the Windows File Explorer "New" context menu with customizable file templates. Create files from your own templates with a single right-click.

## Activation

<Steps>
  <Step title="Open Context Menu">
    Right-click in any File Explorer window or on the desktop.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Navigate to New+">
    Hover over **New** or **New+** in the context menu.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Select Template">
    Choose from your configured templates or built-in options.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Name File">
    Enter a name for the new file and press Enter.
  </Step>
</Steps>

<Note>
  New+ appears as an enhanced version of the standard Windows "New" menu when enabled in PowerToys Settings.
</Note>

## Features

### Custom Templates

Create files from your own templates instead of empty files.

<Accordion title="Template Configuration">
  New+ uses a template folder where you store template files:

  **Default location:** `%USERPROFILE%\Documents\PowerToys\New+\Templates`

  Any file placed in this folder becomes available in the New+ menu.
</Accordion>

<Steps>
  <Step title="Create Template">
    Create a file with your desired content (e.g., `template.md`, `script_template.py`).
  </Step>

  <Step title="Add to Templates Folder">
    Copy the file to your New+ templates directory.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Configure Settings">
    Optionally customize the template name, icon, or visibility in PowerToys Settings.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Use Template">
    Right-click in File Explorer > New+ > Select your template.
  </Step>
</Steps>

### Variable Substitution

New+ supports variable replacement in template files.

From source `/src/modules/NewPlus/NewShellExtensionContextMenu/constants.h:37`:

<CodeGroup>
  ```text Available Variables theme={null}
  $PARENT_FOLDER_NAME - Name of the current folder
  ```
</CodeGroup>

**Example Template:**

```markdown README Template theme={null}
# $PARENT_FOLDER_NAME

Project description goes here.

## Installation

## Usage

## License
```

When created in a folder named "MyProject", this becomes:

```markdown Generated File theme={null}
# MyProject

Project description goes here.
...
```

<Tip>
  Use variables to create context-aware templates that adapt to the current folder or project.
</Tip>

### Template Organization

<Tabs>
  <Tab title="Flat Structure">
    Store all templates in the root templates folder:

    ```
    Templates/
      template.md
      script.py
      config.json
    ```

    All templates appear at the top level of the New+ menu.
  </Tab>

  <Tab title="Nested Folders">
    Organize templates in subfolders:

    ```
    Templates/
      Documents/
        letter.docx
        report.docx
      Code/
        python_script.py
        javascript_module.js
    ```

    Subfolders appear as submenu items in New+.
  </Tab>
</Tabs>

## Configuration

### Settings

Configure New+ in PowerToys Settings > New+:

<AccordionGroup>
  <Accordion title="Template Location">
    **Setting:** `TemplateLocation`

    Customize where New+ looks for template files. Default is `%USERPROFILE%\Documents\PowerToys\New+\Templates`.

    From source `/src/modules/NewPlus/NewShellExtensionContextMenu/constants.h:19`
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Hide File Extension">
    **Setting:** `HideFileExtension`

    When creating files from templates, hide or show the file extension in the initial filename.

    From source `/src/modules/NewPlus/NewShellExtensionContextMenu/constants.h:13`
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Hide Starting Digits">
    **Setting:** `HideStartingDigits`

    Remove leading digits from template names when displaying in menu (useful for ordering templates).

    Example: `01_markdown.md` displays as `markdown.md`

    From source `/src/modules/NewPlus/NewShellExtensionContextMenu/constants.h:15`
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Replace Variables">
    **Setting:** `ReplaceVariables`

    Enable or disable variable substitution in template files.

    From source `/src/modules/NewPlus/NewShellExtensionContextMenu/constants.h:17`
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Hide Built-in New Menu">
    **Setting:** `BuiltInNewHidePreference`

    Hide the standard Windows "New" menu items and show only New+ templates.

    From source `/src/modules/NewPlus/NewShellExtensionContextMenu/constants.h:21`
  </Accordion>
</AccordionGroup>

### Template Icons

New+ displays icons based on file type associations:

* Uses Windows file type icons automatically
* Custom icons via template configuration
* Light/dark theme support

From source `/src/modules/NewPlus/NewShellExtensionContextMenu/constants.h:29-35`:

```cpp theme={null}
new_icon_light_resource_relative_path[] = L"\\Assets\\NewPlus\\New_light.ico";
new_icon_dark_resource_relative_path[] = L"\\Assets\\NewPlus\\New_dark.ico";
```

## Use Cases

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Development Workflows" icon="code">
    Create pre-configured source files:

    * Python scripts with standard imports
    * React components with boilerplate
    * Config files with defaults
  </Card>

  <Card title="Documentation" icon="file-lines">
    Quickly create documentation files:

    * README templates
    * API documentation
    * Project proposals
  </Card>

  <Card title="Project Initialization" icon="folder-tree">
    Start new projects with:

    * License files
    * .gitignore templates
    * CI/CD configurations
  </Card>

  <Card title="Productivity" icon="bolt">
    Common file patterns:

    * Meeting notes templates
    * Task lists
    * Email drafts
  </Card>
</CardGroup>

## Example Templates

<AccordionGroup>
  <Accordion title="Python Script Template">
    **File:** `python_script.py`

    ```python theme={null}
    #!/usr/bin/env python3
    """
    $PARENT_FOLDER_NAME - Script Description

    Author: Your Name
    Date: 2024
    """

    import sys
    import os

    def main():
        """Main function."""
        pass

    if __name__ == "__main__":
        main()
    ```
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Markdown Document">
    **File:** `document.md`

    ```markdown theme={null}
    # Document Title

    **Project:** $PARENT_FOLDER_NAME

    **Date:** 2024-03-04

    ## Overview

    ## Details

    ## Conclusion
    ```
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Git Configuration">
    **File:** `.gitignore`

    ```gitignore theme={null}
    # $PARENT_FOLDER_NAME - Git Ignore

    # Python
    __pycache__/
    *.py[cod]
    *$py.class
    *.so
    .Python

    # Virtual environments
    venv/
    env/

    # IDE
    .vscode/
    .idea/

    # OS
    .DS_Store
    Thumbs.db
    ```
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="HTML5 Boilerplate">
    **File:** `index.html`

    ```html theme={null}
    <!DOCTYPE html>
    <html lang="en">
    <head>
        <meta charset="UTF-8">
        <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1.0">
        <title>$PARENT_FOLDER_NAME</title>
        <style>
            body {
                font-family: system-ui, sans-serif;
                max-width: 800px;
                margin: 0 auto;
                padding: 2rem;
            }
        </style>
    </head>
    <body>
        <h1>$PARENT_FOLDER_NAME</h1>
        <p>Content goes here.</p>
    </body>
    </html>
    ```
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="JSON Configuration">
    **File:** `config.json`

    ```json theme={null}
    {
      "name": "$PARENT_FOLDER_NAME",
      "version": "1.0.0",
      "description": "",
      "settings": {
        "enabled": true,
        "debug": false
      }
    }
    ```
  </Accordion>
</AccordionGroup>

## Advanced Features

### Template Ordering

Control the order of templates in the menu by prefixing filenames with numbers:

```
Templates/
  01_readme.md
  02_license.txt
  03_gitignore.txt
```

With "Hide starting digits" enabled, the menu shows:

* readme.md
* license.txt
* gitignore.txt

### Context Menu Integration

New+ integrates with File Explorer through a shell extension:

From source `/src/modules/NewPlus/NewShellExtensionContextMenu/constants.h:23-27`:

```cpp theme={null}
context_menu_package_name[] = L"NewPlusContextMenu";
module_name[] = L"NewPlus.ShellExtension";
```

The shell extension is registered dynamically when PowerToys loads.

## Troubleshooting

<AccordionGroup>
  <Accordion title="New+ Not Appearing in Context Menu">
    * Ensure New+ is enabled in PowerToys Settings
    * Restart File Explorer: Right-click taskbar > Task Manager > Restart "Windows Explorer"
    * Verify PowerToys is running
    * Check that templates folder exists and is accessible
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Templates Not Showing">
    * Verify template location setting points to correct folder
    * Check that template files exist in the templates directory
    * Ensure files are not hidden or system files
    * Restart File Explorer after adding new templates
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Variables Not Substituting">
    * Enable "Replace variables" in PowerToys Settings
    * Verify variable syntax: `$PARENT_FOLDER_NAME`
    * Check that template file is not read-only
    * Some binary file formats may not support variable substitution
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Icons Not Displaying">
    * File icons come from Windows file type associations
    * Install applications that register icon handlers for custom file types
    * Rebuild icon cache if icons appear corrupted
  </Accordion>
</AccordionGroup>

## Source Code

Location: `/src/modules/NewPlus/`

* Shell extension: `NewShellExtensionContextMenu/`
* Constants and settings: `NewShellExtensionContextMenu/constants.h`
* Template utilities: `NewShellExtensionContextMenu/new_utilities.cpp`