Searching for files with Windows 7 file explorer

Hi,

I have been frustrated by the way the Windows 7 search results 'Folder' information is displayed.

I often sort search results by the Folder field but with the new way of displaying the information my sorts are not nearly as useful to me as they once were.

Previous versions of Windows displayed search results as follows:

C:\Path\More Path\Final Dir\

Windows 7 displays the results like this:

Final Dir (C:\Path\More Path)

Just looking at the results is annoying to me. The root drive labels do not all line up. For instance, results appear like this:

Folder 1 (C:\Users\blah\)
Another Folder (C:\Users\blah\)

Is there any way to switch back to the classic/legacy way of displaying this information? If not, has anyone else been frustrated with this? How have you coped?

I was thinking about running a File Explorer through Virtual XP as a standalone app (I forget the proper term for setting it up that to run from the start menu). I don't like the idea of doing that though because I would like my solution to work on every Windows 7 box that I use, not just the ones I have configured.

Thanks.

techphets

Hello techphets,

Welcome to Seven Forums.

Do a search, then rt.click on the columns header row/select 'more'/select 'path'. If you wish to get rid of the other column then uncheck it in that menu.

Hope this helps.

Gary

I assume you have the results displayed as "Detail" right-click on the columns bar > More... > scoll thought the list and check "Path".

Edit...too slow of me D:

Awesome. Thanks guys!

While we're on the subject of paths...

Is there a way to show the path in the address bar as plain text? I often press ALT+D in order to see it but that doesn't work when the window isn't active.

techphets

Why do you need to see it as plain text? The information is the same despite being displayed in a different matter. Just a matter of adding backslashes "\". But no, there isn't a means to make it plain text all the time.

Why I would like a text address bar...

logicearth said:

Why do you need to see it as plain text? The information is the same despite being displayed in a different matter. Just a matter of adding backslashes "\". But no, there isn't a means to make it plain text all the time.

Click to expand...

I'd like to see it as plain text because the the plain text takes up much less space.

See the attached .jpg.

The first is what 7 File Explorer shows by default. The second is a text path.

It wouldn't matter all that much but more often than not the default path does not fit and I end up path which is cut-off at the front, illustrated at the bottom of the .jpg.

When my path is cut-off like that I can not glance at the address bar and have a quick feel for "where" I am at.

techphets

I think this is what you are looking for:

Disable Explorer Breadcrumbs in Windows Vista - the How-To Geek

Also, you can click in the address bar and the breadcrumb will become highlighted text for copying. It will turn back into a breadcrumb trail when focus is removed though.