ShellFolderFix - Manage folder window positions/size

tweaker said:

Does it work if you double-click on the shortcut?

I've never tried opening a shortcut through the right-click menu, will have to try that tomorrow and see if there's any difference.

It does sound like you're experiencing a deadlock issue with SFF. Killing the SFF process when that happens could possibly also resolve the situation, in case you haven't tried that. Not sure why it's happening, from what I remember no one else has reported that kind of problems.

You mentioned that "open each folder in a new process" slows down noticably, so I assume your computer isn't.. how do I put this nicely.. too powerful? Maybe there's some undiscovered issue that happens on less powerful setups. I'll have to see if I can somehow simulate such a situation, unless it turns out that the right-click menu is the source of the problem.

Click to expand...

Double-clicking the folder shortcut opens the folder as expected.

I haven't tried killing SFF while the lock-up was in progress. The shell isn't generally working to well at that point and some things aren't possible - I'll try to kill it and get back to you with the results (I'm back on my XP machine at the moment).

As for less powerful machine - It's an Intel core i7 920 - when I said 'slows down noticeably' I should probably have said there's a perceptibly longer delay as the window opens - about the same as the time it takes SFF to move a window from it's opened to where SFF knows it's really supposed to be. It's still very quick, however, and that's the workaround I'll use until and if there's a fix available.

Thanks for the quick response! Like your tool, hearing back so quickly is a pleasant surprise.

Robert

Am I missing a forum setting somewhere? I'm having to type html breaks in order to keep everything from running together. First time that's happened to me in any forum, so far.

robertwallace said:

I create a shortcut on the Desktop to a folder on a harddrive (right-click-the-folder -- drag-to-desktop -- create-shortcut-here.) If I right-click on the folder shortcut on the Desktop and select 'Open folder location', the first time, maybe two, it might work and open the containing folder. After that, it will pop up the outline of the folder window and then hang, never filling in the contents.

Click to expand...

I just tried this and get the same result. If I double click the shortcut it works fine but right click and 'Open folder location' it hangs and I have to close Explorer.

It doesn't really effect me as I never open a folder that way and I'm not getting any other issues.

Just thought I'd pass it on.

[reporting back]

Killing SFF while the 'hang' is in progress doesn't release the hang. Only restarting Windows Explorer (with SFF not running) restores the shell to normal operation.

[hmm - seems my problem with message formatting in the forum has cleared up. Line breaks with the Enter key are working, now.]

Robert

I tried that too, and the problem reported by robertwallace exists also for me. Only that after the explorer restart I can open some folders, and other ones I can't (about 50/50).

And if anyone is interested, my problem has been solved. Tweaker made some debug versions for me and we have tracked the problem down (it was an internal explorer name, that has been translated in Polish version if Win 7 (but apparently not in other non-English versions), and SFF couldn't properly detect uninitialized windows because of that).

robertwallace said:

As for less powerful machine - It's an Intel core i7 920 - when I said 'slows down noticeably' I should probably have said there's a perceptibly longer delay as the window opens

Click to expand...

Ah same as mine, which is good because reproducing the bug is more likely.

I managed to reproduce it, and yes it's the context menu open folder location thing that triggered the issue. Thanks Protium and kazink for confirming.

I've fixed the bug, a new version will be released shortly (as in today or tomorrow-ish if nothing else pops up).

tweaker said:

robertwallace said:

As for less powerful machine - It's an Intel core i7 920 - when I said 'slows down noticeably' I should probably have said there's a perceptibly longer delay as the window opens

Click to expand...

Ah same as mine, which is good because reproducing the bug is more likely.

I managed to reproduce it, and yes it's the context menu open folder location thing that triggered the issue. Thanks Protium and kazink for confirming.

I've fixed the bug, a new version will be released shortly (as in today or tomorrow-ish if nothing else pops up).

Click to expand...

Excellent! Glad I could contribute to the development process by finding a bug.

I'll be waiting enthusiastically for the next release but, really, it's already a very nice piece of work!

Robert

Thanks a million!

WOW! I am SO glad I found this tool, I really LOVE it!!

The extra features you added are awesome and SO useful! Especially how the windows adjust their size as you go backwards and forwards- without having to open them in a new window. It's fantastic.

Thank you so much!


This is probably completely out of the scope of what you're thinking about doing but there are two features that I've been dreaming of for quite some time now.
The first one was at one point (might still be) a Macintosh feature.
1. A button with "Minimize" Maximize" & "Close" which I would call "Optimize" which changes the window's size/shape in order to get eliminate both scroll bars if possible, or at least one.
2. A button (or an on/off feature) that would move/snap the window (and possibly adjacent ones) so that it does not overlap other windows and (possibly) align the top or side, or if the screen is filled with open windows let them begin to snap into a cascade pattern.

I'm sure that would require a whole LOT of code which is probably somewhat unrelated to what you're working on; but I figured it can't hurt to throw it out here. Maybe someone else will do something with it or let me know about something already out there that does one or both of those things!

Thanks again man!

v1.1.3 is available now.


Changes:
- fixed folder tracking bug with (some or many?) non-english Windows versions,
which could cause some windows to open with wrong size/position
- fixed explorer deadlock bug that often happened when using "Open folder location"
from the context menu
- fixed small (and rare) mis-positioning issue with desktop icon restore
- added confirmation dialogs for desktop icons save/restore, to reduce the risks
of accidently picking the wrong one
- added option for temporarily enabling extended display times of help tooltips

JonPattrsn75 said:

I'm sure that would require a whole LOT of code which is probably somewhat unrelated to what you're working on

Click to expand...

I can keep an eye out, but unfortunately yes I think you're right, it seems like it would somewhat out of the scope of the app.

tweaker said:

v1.1.3 is available now.


Changes:
- fixed folder tracking bug with (some or many?) non-english Windows versions,
which could cause some windows to open with wrong size/position
- fixed explorer deadlock bug that often happened when using "Open folder location"
from the context menu
- fixed small (and rare) mis-positioning issue with desktop icon restore
- added confirmation dialogs for desktop icons save/restore, to reduce the risks
of accidently picking the wrong one
- added option for temporarily enabling extended display times of help tooltips

Click to expand...

Thanks Georg - Explorer deadlock bug has been fixed (smashed to a gooey mess and tossed in the bin.)

Robert

Organize\Layout

tweaker said:

I can keep an eye out, but unfortunately yes I think you're right, it seems like it would somewhat out of the scope of the app.

Click to expand...

You're reply is very much appreciated, thank you!

I'm curious a couple things... (I apologize if they've already been asked; I admit I only skimmed over the thread)
I'm wondering why it is/seems that (at/after user login) all explorer windows 'must' have the same 'layout' (pane) configuration- e.i. navigation pane on or off (which seems to reflect the layout config of the last active window of the previous session).
Would it be possible for each window to remember a unique layout config? For some to have the navigation pane, others to have the previews pane and some to have the menu bar on or off? Is this a technical limitation? Is this something you have thought about or tried to "write around"?

Thank you!

JonPattrsn75 said:

I'm wondering why it is/seems that (at/after user login) all explorer windows 'must' have the same 'layout' (pane) configuration- e.i. navigation pane on or off (which seems to reflect the layout config of the last active window of the previous session).

Click to expand...

A question best asked microsoft

I'd say that it's simply a result of them removing the ability of individual folders remembering anything, be it size, position or layout. As little sense as that boneheaded design decision makes, it would have made even less sense if folders had remembered one thing, but not the other.

Would it be possible for each window to remember a unique layout config? For some to have the navigation pane, others to have the previews pane and some to have the menu bar on or off? Is this a technical limitation? Is this something you have thought about or tried to "write around"?

Click to expand...

This is something I've always wanted to have, but I don't know if it's going to be possible. I hope that I can figure out some workaround eventually, as time permits (har har), but secretly I'm hoping MS is going to be faster than me and release an update that fixes it.

Why oh WHY is this app not edited into the OP of this thread as a solution?

http://www.sevenforums.com/customization/8801-make-windows-7-remember-window-positions-size.html

First, to tweaker, thank you THANK YOU for this app. It works PERFECTLY! However, I just found out about it now, even though it was apparently released back in November. It was mentioned one day ago in the thread I linked above, which I have been monitoring for almost a year. It should REALLY be edited into the OP of that thread as a solution. It is THE solution as far as I am concerned.

You ROCK tweaker!

Tweaker- Thank you so much for this! This was my second day on Win 7 and you fixed a problem that was driving me NUTS!!! You sure no tip jar? You deserve it!

Need to get in touch.....

tweaker said:

JonPattrsn75 said:

I'm wondering why it is/seems that (at/after user login) all explorer windows 'must' have the same 'layout' (pane) configuration- e.i. navigation pane on or off (which seems to reflect the layout config of the last active window of the previous session).

Click to expand...

A question best asked microsoft

I'd say that it's simply a result of them removing the ability of individual folders remembering anything, be it size, position or layout. As little sense as that boneheaded design decision makes, it would have made even less sense if folders had remembered one thing, but not the other.

Would it be possible for each window to remember a unique layout config? For some to have the navigation pane, others to have the previews pane and some to have the menu bar on or off? Is this a technical limitation? Is this something you have thought about or tried to "write around"?

Click to expand...

This is something I've always wanted to have, but I don't know if it's going to be possible. I hope that I can figure out some workaround eventually, as time permits (har har), but secretly I'm hoping MS is going to be faster than me and release an update that fixes it.

Click to expand...

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Hi Tweaker / Georg Fischer

I would like to know if the shellfolderfix program can be used in a commercial setup? And if you have any news on a feature like remembering column size and the like for windows explorer windows.

Thank you very much.

Regards.
/Lars B.
Inventio.IT

lsb said:

I would like to know if the shellfolderfix program can be used in a commercial setup? And if you have any news on a feature like remembering column size and the like for windows explorer windows.

Click to expand...

Could you specify a bit further what you mean by commercial setup? Do you mean it being part of a commerically sold package, or just being used on company computers by employees? The latter is fine, the former would be problematic as it conflicts with the license.

There's no news yet regarding remembering any type of view/layout settings. Haven't really had much left over time lately.

Yes of cause....

The program would be used on our hosting system, so various of our customers might use the program. But the program is not going to be included in any paid software package.

Thank you for a great program and I hope you get time to look at some new features in the coming months.

Thanks
/LSB

working fine. looking forward to see more of your works tweaker

lsb said:

The program would be used on our hosting system, so various of our customers might use the program. But the program is not going to be included in any paid software package.

Click to expand...

That sounds ok to me.

Cool...Thank you very much.