Code:
ShellFolderFix ReadMe.txt
=========================
This file, "ShellFolderFix ReadMe.txt", is the plain text documentation describing a small utility for Windows 7, called ShellFolderFix. I wrote it for my own use, to overcome an annoyance that made using Windows 7 unpleasant. I have released it for anybody else to use if they wish.
Purpose and Functions
=====================
ShellFolderFix is an application for Windows 7 that manages shell folder windows, so that they remember size and position. Future versions may also manage per folder view modes and layout, but currently it does NOT. There is a slim chance that it also works on Windows Vista but that is neither tested, intended nor officially supported.
Availability
============
The latest version of ShellFolderFix is available from the official ShellFolderFix partner website, Windows 7 Forums, at:
https://www.sevenforums.com
Follow instructions on the website to download ShellFolderFix.
Cost
====
- You can use any version of ShellFolderFix described in this file without charge.
- You may not sell ShellFolderFix.
- You may provide a complete copy of ShellFolderFix, including this documentation, on any website, provided only that the website is available to the public free of charge.
- You may provide a complete copy of ShellFolderFix, including this documentation, on any compilation disc, provided only that you do not charge more than a modest fee for materials and handling.
- If you choose to make ShellFolderFix available to others, you must prominently display the official partner website - described above under "Availability" - where the latest version of ShellFolderFix is available.
Which program should I use to install ShellFolderFix?
====================================================
There are three methods of installation, as follows:
For easy installation:
---------------------
Download and run "ShellFolderFixSetup.exe", which is a full installer program that automatically works out what kind of Windows 7 system you have, and installs the appropriate version of ShellFolderFix.
For any 32-bit Windows 7 system:
-------------------------------
Download "ShellFolderFix32.zip" and unzip it into a suitable folder (e.g. "Program Files\ShellFolderFix\") to install ShellFolderFix.
For any 64-bit Windows 7 system:
-------------------------------
Download "ShellFolderFix64.zip" and unzip it into a suitable folder (e.g. "Program Files\ShellFolderFix\") to install ShellFolderFix.
Using the program
=================
If you wish, you can pin the ShellFolderFix to the Start Menu.
First use
---------
The first time you run ShellFolderFix, you should set the Options to suit the way you like to work. To understand what each option does, just hover the mouse cursor over the option and read the tooltip, i.e. the hint that pops up. By default, the tooltip disappears after a short while. You can change this behaviour by checking the "Extended tooltip display times" checkbox near the bottom of the Options window.
Commandline switches:
====================
/portable
Will load and save configuration and all data files (database, workspaces etc.)
to the same folder as the ShellFolderFix executable. Options will also be stored
in a file instead of the Windows registry. This functionality is primarily intended
when running from a portable device. The "Start automatically at logon" option will
be disabled as it makes little sense when running from a portable device.
Note that this isn't intended to be used with the installer-based version, as the
installer will not delete any data files from the application folder should that be
requested.
Limitations:
===========
- Handles a maximum of 200 open folder windows (A folder window is a regular folder
as well as My Computer, Network Neighborhood, network folders etc.)
- Database size configurable from 300 to 10,000 folders
Known Issues:
============
- Does not restore special folders like My Computer, Network Neighborhood etc.,
when restoring a workspace or at startup. This also applies to network computer
root folders (ie. "\\somecomputer"), unless Windows folder option "Display the full
path in the title bar" is enabled. Note that it works the same way for Aero even
if the folder option says "Classic theme only".
Will hopefully be solved in future versions.
- Save/Restore Desktop Icons will not properly restore multiple icons with same name.
For example "desktop.ini", which may be visible when hidden files are displayed,
will often show up twice on the desktop, once from the All Users desktop and once
for the logged in user.
- When using the "Disable flashing folder window titles" option it can in some cases cause
an auto-hiding taskbar to stay visible constantly after windows logon, until all open
folders have been brought to front once. For some reason the taskbar thinks that the
folders are still flashing and does not auto-hide until each folder has been brought
into focus. This might only be the case if the Windows option "Restore previous folder
windows at logon" is enabled.
Help
====
There is an active forum where you can ask questions about ShellFolderFix at the official ShellFolderFix partner website, Windows 7 Forums, at:
https://www.sevenforums.com
Follow instructions on the website to access the ShellFolderFix forum.
Copyright and License:
=====================
Copyright (C) 2009-2010 Georg Fischer
This software is provided 'as-is', without any express or implied warranty. In no event will the author be held liable for any damages arising from the use of this software.
Permission is granted to anyone to use this software and redistribute it freely, subject to the following restrictions:
1. The origin of this software must not be misrepresented; you must not
claim that you wrote the original software.
2. This notice may not be removed or altered from any distribution.
3. This software may not be sold individually or as a part of a package.
Change log:
==========
v1.1.3
------
- 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
v1.1.2
------
- fixed bug with recently used folder list not being restored across sessions even
though "Keep recent folder across sessions" was enabled (this only happend when
the database was at full capacity)
- added /portable commandline switch which loads/saves all configuration and data
files in the same directory as the EXE file (Windows registry is not used)
- added window extact overlap prevention when multiple windows of the same folder is
opened (avoids the windows ending up at the exact same position)
- fixed (rare?) bug that did not correctly identify search windows, which could result
in incorrect behavior in some areas including "Update window for search result"
- some other smaller internal fixes
v1.1.1
------
- changed workspace saving to include "temp" folders when using "Temporarily use
window as is"
- fixed minor issue with Aero window icons, when "Show window title icons" is enabled,
resulted in a less crisp (wrongly scaled down) icon
- fixed incorrect workspace order across sessions (most recently restored workspace was
no longer on top of list in next session)
- added workspace manager dialog (to delete and/or access more than 16 workspaces)
- added (manual) online version check functionality
v1.1.0
------
- added option to enable/disable restoring of open windows from previous session on
start up (previous versions always restored windows)
- changed manual app start behavior, leaves already open and minimized windows as
minimized
v1.0.9
------
- fixed serious bug in db mem handling, could cause issues when db is full (and oldest
entries are discarded)
- fixed bug which (hopefully) was the cause of some windows occasionally not being
saved in workspaces
v1.0.8
------
- added desktop icon save/restore, saves/restores positions (only) of desktop icons
v1.0.7
------
- fixed workspace loading bug, failed to correctly restore minimized windows (related
to same bug partially fixed in v1.0.6)
v1.0.6
------
- fixed bug (introduced in v1.0.3) with restoring minimized windows on start up
v1.0.5
------
- fixed minor bug with reading recently used folder size from registry
- added option to enable a workaround for window redraw issues when using the
Basic theme (or non-transparent Aero)
v1.0.4
------
- hotfix for 32-bit version (all previous version failed to init due to incorrect
32-bit dll symbol)
v1.0.3
------
- added recently used folder list functionality
- added more error handling and messages when app initialization fails
- fixed bug where opening a folder, that was previously minimized, opened
it in minimized state (should only happen on windows startup)
v1.0.2
------
- added options to enable window title text and/or icon, when using Aero theme
- fixed so tray icon should correctly re-appear after an explorer restart/crash
v1.0.1
------
- added default settings functionality, when opening folders not yet in the database
- fixed handling of snapped windows
- added minimize all folders option to tray context menu
- fixed bug with update of dialog controls after pressing cancel
v1.0.0
------
First working release.
Last update
===========
This documentation file, "ShellFolderFix ReadMe.txt", was last updated on 3 September 2010. The author is Georg Fischer. This documentation file is Copyright (C) 2009-2010 Georg Fischer.
Quote
However, since the file is plain text - just an edit of your own "ReadMe.txt"(*) - I'll include it below as "code" and you can just copy & paste it.