Using 32-bit shell extensions in Windows 7 64-bit

Question

I\'d like to develop a shell extension (context menu handler) compatible with both Windows XP SP2 (32-bit) and Windows 7 64-bit.

Is it possible to run 32-bit shell

Answer 1

Shell extensions are COM components. If you install it as an out-of-process server, Windows (DCOM) should take care of all the 32 <-> 64-bit marshalling.

The MIDL compiler will then create the 64-bit stub which loads in process.