Windows 7: Move the address bar below the menu bar in Windows Explorer

Anixx · 12 Dec 2014

Quote: Originally Posted by Butters

Well if you're like me and you've modified it (e.g. classic theme and such) then maybe. It really depends on what you want out of it. It does have a few nice features, like the ability to mount .ISO files, but if I had the choice I'd go with Windows 7.

WinCD mounts .iso files on the fly in Win7. One advantage of Win 8 is that I will be able use Classic theme with DWM enabled (so no tearing). I wonder whether there will be any other advantages.

Also I wonder if it possible to get rid of the ModernUI completely. I heard the Wi-Fi dialog is Modern UI based and also the "open with" dialog. I wonder whether it is true.

Butters · 12 Dec 2014

Quote: Originally Posted by Anixx

WinCD mounts .iso files on the fly in Win7. One advantage of Win 8 is that I will be able use Classic theme with DWM enabled (so no tearing). I wonder whether there will be any other advantages.

None I can think of offhand, but I could be forgetting some things. I'll let you know if I remember anything.

Quote: Originally Posted by Anixx

Also I wonder if it possible to get rid of the ModernUI completely. I heard the Wi-Fi dialog is Modern UI based and also the "open with" dialog. I wonder whether it is true.

Both those things are true, but I use alternatives. For the 'open with' dialog, I use OpenWith Enhanced, and for the network dialog I use PE Network Manager.

Getting rid of the Modern UI completely is something I'm still trying to do.

Anixx · 13 Dec 2014

Quote:

Both those things are true, but I use alternatives. For the 'open with' dialog, I use OpenWith Enhanced, and for the network dialog I use PE Network Manager.

This is pity! I thing the Win7's "open with" dialog is one of its very few advantages over XP!

Butters · 13 Dec 2014

Very true. But OpenWith Enhanced does imitate the Windows 7 Open With dialog, so you wouldn't be missing it in Windows 8.

Anixx · 14 Dec 2014

Taskbar placement fixer (fixeds the 1-px off issue):

Code:

#NoEnv
#NoTrayIcon
 
SetControlDelay, -1
Gui +LastFound
hWnd := WinExist()
 
Sleep, 5000

;WinGet, id,, ahk_class Shell_TrayWnd

WinGetPos,,,ww,wh, % "ahk_id " id

ControlMove, ReBarWindow321,,4,,,  % "ahk_id " id

ControlGetPos, ,y,,h,ReBarWindow321,  % "ahk_id " id
ControlMove, TrayNotifyWnd1,,4,,h-4,  % "ahk_id " id

WinSet, Redraw,,  % "ahk_id " id

DllCall( "RegisterShellHookWindow", UInt,hWnd )
MsgNum := DllCall( "RegisterWindowMessage", Str,"SHELLHOOK" )
OnMessage( MsgNum, "ShellMessage" )
Return

ShellMessage(wParam,lParam) {


   If (wParam = 1 or wParam = 2) ;  HSHELL_WINDOWCREATED := 1
   {

;WinGetClass, WinClass, ahk_id %lParam%

WinGet, lParam,, ahk_class Shell_TrayWnd

WinGetPos,,,ww,wh, % "ahk_id " ahk_id %lParam%

ControlMove, ReBarWindow321,,4,,,  ahk_id %lParam%

ControlGetPos, ,y,,h,ReBarWindow321,  ahk_id %lParam%
ControlMove, TrayNotifyWnd1,,4,,h-2,  ahk_id %lParam%

WinSet, Redraw,,  ahk_id %lParam%

}

}

Butters · 15 Dec 2014

Oh, thank you so much, Anixx. That's been bugging me so much.

Anixx · 18 Apr 2015

This script removes the address bar more reliably:

Code:

#NoEnv
#NoTrayIcon
 
SetControlDelay, -1
Gui +LastFound
hWnd := WinExist()
 
DllCall( "RegisterShellHookWindow", UInt,hWnd )
MsgNum := DllCall( "RegisterWindowMessage", Str,"SHELLHOOK" )
OnMessage( MsgNum, "ShellMessage" )
Return

ShellMessage(wParam, lParam) {

   If (wParam = 1) ;  HSHELL_WINDOWCREATED := 1
   {

WinGetClass, WinClass, ahk_id %lParam%
if (WinClass = "CabinetWClass") {

SendMessage, 0x0082,,,ReBarWindow321, ahk_id %lParam%
WinGetClass, WinClass, ahk_id %lParam%

ControlGetPos, ,y1,,ha,ReBarWindow321, ahk_id %lParam%

Control, Hide,, WorkerW1, ahk_id %lParam%
Control, Hide,, ReBarWindow321, ahk_id %lParam%

SendMessage, 0x0082,,,ReBarWindow321, ahk_id %lParam%

ControlGetPos,,y2,,h1,ShellTabWindowClass1, ahk_id %lParam%
ControlMove, ShellTabWindowClass1,, y1,,(y2-y1)+h1, ahk_id %lParam%
ControlMove, ReBarWindow321,,,,0, ahk_id %lParam%
WinSet, Redraw,, ahk_id %lParam%

Sleep, 100

ControlGetPos, ,y1,,ha,ReBarWindow321, ahk_id %lParam%

Control, Hide,, WorkerW1, ahk_id %lParam%
Control, Hide,, ReBarWindow321, ahk_id %lParam%

SendMessage, 0x0082,,,ReBarWindow321, ahk_id %lParam%

ControlMove, ReBarWindow321,,,,0, ahk_id %lParam%
WinSet, Redraw,, ahk_id %lParam%

Sleep, 100

ControlGetPos, ,y1,,ha,ReBarWindow321, ahk_id %lParam%

Control, Hide,, WorkerW1, ahk_id %lParam%
Control, Hide,, ReBarWindow321, ahk_id %lParam%

SendMessage, 0x0082,,,ReBarWindow321, ahk_id %lParam%

ControlMove, ShellTabWindowClass1,, y1,,(y2-y1)+h1, ahk_id %lParam%
ControlMove, ReBarWindow321,,,,0, ahk_id %lParam%
WinSet, Redraw,, ahk_id %lParam%

;WinGetPos, , , , h, ahk_id %lParam%
;WinMove, ahk_id %lParam%,,,,,h-1
;WinMove, ahk_id %lParam%,,,,,h
}

}
  
}

Butters · 21 Apr 2015

Quote: Originally Posted by Anixx

This script removes the address bar more reliably:

Code:

#NoEnv
#NoTrayIcon
 
SetControlDelay, -1
Gui +LastFound
hWnd := WinExist()
 
DllCall( "RegisterShellHookWindow", UInt,hWnd )
MsgNum := DllCall( "RegisterWindowMessage", Str,"SHELLHOOK" )
OnMessage( MsgNum, "ShellMessage" )
Return

ShellMessage(wParam, lParam) {

   If (wParam = 1) ;  HSHELL_WINDOWCREATED := 1
   {

WinGetClass, WinClass, ahk_id %lParam%
if (WinClass = "CabinetWClass") {

SendMessage, 0x0082,,,ReBarWindow321, ahk_id %lParam%
WinGetClass, WinClass, ahk_id %lParam%

ControlGetPos, ,y1,,ha,ReBarWindow321, ahk_id %lParam%

Control, Hide,, WorkerW1, ahk_id %lParam%
Control, Hide,, ReBarWindow321, ahk_id %lParam%

SendMessage, 0x0082,,,ReBarWindow321, ahk_id %lParam%

ControlGetPos,,y2,,h1,ShellTabWindowClass1, ahk_id %lParam%
ControlMove, ShellTabWindowClass1,, y1,,(y2-y1)+h1, ahk_id %lParam%
ControlMove, ReBarWindow321,,,,0, ahk_id %lParam%
WinSet, Redraw,, ahk_id %lParam%

Sleep, 100

ControlGetPos, ,y1,,ha,ReBarWindow321, ahk_id %lParam%

Control, Hide,, WorkerW1, ahk_id %lParam%
Control, Hide,, ReBarWindow321, ahk_id %lParam%

SendMessage, 0x0082,,,ReBarWindow321, ahk_id %lParam%

ControlMove, ReBarWindow321,,,,0, ahk_id %lParam%
WinSet, Redraw,, ahk_id %lParam%

Sleep, 100

ControlGetPos, ,y1,,ha,ReBarWindow321, ahk_id %lParam%

Control, Hide,, WorkerW1, ahk_id %lParam%
Control, Hide,, ReBarWindow321, ahk_id %lParam%

SendMessage, 0x0082,,,ReBarWindow321, ahk_id %lParam%

ControlMove, ShellTabWindowClass1,, y1,,(y2-y1)+h1, ahk_id %lParam%
ControlMove, ReBarWindow321,,,,0, ahk_id %lParam%
WinSet, Redraw,, ahk_id %lParam%

;WinGetPos, , , , h, ahk_id %lParam%
;WinMove, ahk_id %lParam%,,,,,h-1
;WinMove, ahk_id %lParam%,,,,,h
}

}
  
}

Awesome work, Anixx. This works so much better! Although, I still occasionally get a blank address bar (see attachment). The good news is this only seems to be happening now when I press Windows key + E to open Explorer windows. Before, the address bar would occasionally be visible when opening folders from a desktop shortcut or in a new Window. So this is quite a nice improvement.

Just out of curiosity, would it be possible to do the same for the ClientEdge AHK script? I honestly haven't really used that in a while, but I've been kind of wanting to use it again.

By the way, how's Windows 8 been for you?

Anixx · 21 Apr 2015

[QUOTE=Butters;3050901]

Quote: Originally Posted by Anixx

This script removes the address bar more reliably:

Awesome work, Anixx. This works so much better! Would it be possible to do the same for the ClientEdge AHK script?

ClientEdge works for me without any issues at all, in all windows where it is applicable. As I said, there are two versions, one is for "open folders in separate windows" checked, the other (more complicated) for the opposite case.

I have also updated the taskbar placement fixer, see the code above.

Quote:

By the way, how's Windows 8 been for you?

It works much faster than Windows 7. I do not know why, actually, maybe because I disabled superfetch. Under Win 7 I experienced constant lags in games, no such problem in Win8. Also in Win7 it took a long time to switch from a full-screen game to the desktop using Alt+Tab, here it is fast. Under Win7 I always had to wait after exiting a game before using Classic Shell menu (it was always swapped) while here I can use the menu immediately. This may be because of disabled Superfetch though.

One additional advantage is the boot choice screen which is now displayed on the external monitor. I use a laptop in a desktop role with an external monitor and under Win7 I had to open the laptop to choose an operating system or a safe mode. Now I can do it without touching it.

I also like the default Win8 theme more than Aero (but of course less than the Classic theme).

There is a lot of disadwantages though: the system setup (autostart) settings were moved to the task manager which does not work with Classic theme, wi-fi setup also does not work.

One annoying problem is thatn occasionally in the Alt+Tab menu appear up to 3 unnamed applications, which cannot be trermanated with the task manager, only reboot helps (seems they appear after enetring sleep mode or mounting drives). But they do not consume mych resources. In all, Win 8 needs more setup.

But also I am grad that I got rid of the evil tearing...

Here is my desktop:

http://storage3.static.itmages.ru/i/...19c12ed5ae.png

Butters · 21 Apr 2015

Quote: Originally Posted by Anixx

ClientEdge works for me without any issues at all, in all windows where it is applicable. As I said, there are two versions, one is for "open folders in separate windows" checked, the other (more complicated) for the opposite case.

Alright, I'll have to try it again.

Quote: Originally Posted by Anixx

It works much faster than Windows 7. I do not know why, actually, maybe because I disabled superfetch. Under Win 7 I experienced constant lags in games, no such problem in Win8. Also in Win7 it took a long time to switch from a full-screen game to the desktop using Alt+Tab, here it is fast. Under Win7 I always had to wait after exiting a game before using Classic Shell menu (it was always swapped) while here I can use the menu immediately. This may be because of disabled Superfetch though.

One additional advantage is the boot choice screen which is now displayed on the external monitor. I use a laptop in a desktop role with an external monitor and under Win7 I had to open the laptop to choose an operating system or a safe mode. Now I can do it without touching it.

I also like the default Win8 theme more than Aero (but of course less than the Classic theme).

There is a lot of disadwantages though: the system setup (autostart) settings were moved to the task manager which does not work with Classic theme, wi-fi setup also does not work.

One annoying problem is thatn occasionally in the Alt+Tab menu appear up to 3 unnamed applications, which cannot be trermanated with the task manager, only reboot helps (seems they appear after enetring sleep mode or mounting drives). But they do not consume mych resources. In all, Win 8 needs more setup.

But also I am grad that I got rid of the evil tearing...

Yeah, it does have some nice features. But there are some things I'm irritated with in Windows 8.1. Mainly, the OS checks certain system files for digital signatures, meaning that if you modify these files the system won't boot. This is especially annoying with shell32.dll.

The autostart settings have also been annoying for me, especially if you're using the classic Task Manager like I am. If you are, you can't even change those settings. But hey, at least the classic Task Manager works with the Classic Theme.

As for the unidentified applications in Alt+Tab, yeah I get that too. This happens to me when I'm using the Classic Theme and I wake my computer from sleep mode. Restarting Explorer.exe will remove them.