Changing "folder select" dialog?

laukejas · 29 Sep 2013

Hello,

As I moved to Windows 7 from XP, I noticed that select folder dialog has changed, and for worse. This one:

It doesn't remember last used folder, it doesn't allow to paste address, so every time I have to navigate down to the needed folder - it takes up time, especially with repeated tasks.
Many programs call for this dialog - from installers to various applications.

I would like to change it to something like this:

Or similar. It would be so much better.

How do I do it? 3rd party application solutions are also acceptable.

Ztruker · 29 Sep 2013

What are you doing to bring up that folder dialog? Looks like you are trying to import something? If so in what program?

laukejas · 30 Sep 2013

Many installers of various programs. Also, (what I remember now), SolidWorks program (CAD software). There are more, but I don't recall right now.

MilesAhead · 30 Sep 2013

The trouble is the programs that would call the "souped up" version of BrowseForFolder won't know about the added functionality. They will just check for return values that they expect to be there.

laukejas · 30 Sep 2013

So, what are my options to change this dialog into something more user-friendly?

MilesAhead · 30 Sep 2013

laukejas said:

So, what are my options to change this dialog into something more user-friendly?

I don't know if there's a replacement for the system objects that would be totally transparent. Microsoft deliberately made the FileOpen and FileSave dialog boxes sealed classes. Meaning the programmer cannot just subclass them to get all that functionality and just add the bits he wants extra. The whole thing has to be coded from scratch. BrowseForFolder is likely of the same ilk.

I know you can get 3rd party code to substitute for those if you're writing programs to use them. Whether you can just drop them in and other programs will transparently use them correctly I don't know. I never had the money to just go and buy libraries for $300 or $400 per object like that.