Solved Move the address bar below the menu bar in Windows Explorer

[Butters]

Yeah I really don't use IE either. For me it works fine, but it's just not my preferred web browser. It still looks cool though. I actually wouldn't mind figuring out something similar for Firefox.

Edit: I'll be able to create a 3D border like that for Firefox by modifying userChrome.css

 

[Anixx]

Edit: I'll be able to create a 3D border like that for Firefox by modifying userChrome.css

Have u succeeded?

 

[Butters]

Edit: I'll be able to create a 3D border like that for Firefox by modifying userChrome.css

Have u succeeded?

Eh, haven't really tried yet to be completely honest. But I can tell you for sure that it's possible; I've messed around with Firefox's CSS enough to know. I'll do it soon, and update here when I do.

 

[Butters]

Ok, I got the 3D border for Firefox to work. Just add this to your userChrome.css file.

browser {
padding:1px !important;
}

.browserStack {
border-top: 1px solid ThreeDShadow !important;
border-left: 1px solid ThreeDShadow !important;
border-right: 1px solid ThreeDHighlight !important;
border-bottom: 1px solid ThreeDHighlight !important;
}

.browserStack:before {
    content:"\a0" !important;
    display:block !important;
    padding:2px 0 !important;
    line-height:1px !important;
    border-top:1px solid ThreeDDarkShadow !important; 
    border-left:1px solid ThreeDDarkShadow !important; 
    border-right:1px solid ThreeDLightShadow !important; 
    border-bottom:1px solid ThreeDLightShadow !important; 
}

 

[Anixx]

Well, at least this does not work for SeaMonkey... Or maybe I put the file in incorrect place.

 

[Butters]

I tested it with SeaMonkey, and it doesn't work for me either. Maybe SeaMonkey has a different ID for its browser view?

 

[Anixx]

I found a way to hide the address bar! It works perfectly!

Here is the script:

#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") {

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%
}

}
  
}

 

[Anixx]

The executable:

 

[Butters]

Oh my, that does work perfectly. Great job, Anixx!

So I think it safe to mark this thread as solved then (finally)?

 

[Degadus]

Amazing work, Anixx! I didn't think this was even possible. This works almost flawlessly, though I do notice a few small issues.

1. QTTabBar (if enabled as a toolbar) will most of the time cause any new window that you open to have a large blank space (space that the address bar once occupied) below the title bar. However, if you change the focus from the newly opened folder, the blank space disappears and everything works as it should. Is there any way you could fix this script to work with QTTabBar? I need some of the functionality that QTTabBar provides.

2. When opening the "Network" special icon on the desktop, the address bar is visible but not usable, and text boxes are empty. When changing focus from the folder, however, the address bar disappears and the window looks as intended.

3. You're probably already aware that there is a small delay for when the address bar is hidden as you open up a new folder. The address bar is visible for a fraction of a second before it disappears (which is not that big a deal). Is this a limitation of AutoHotKey or can this be adjusted/fixed?

4. If using any other theme besides Classic (e.g. Aero), the menu bar and command bar appear to have visual issues.

If you could possibly tweak the script to fix some of the issues I've mentioned above, I'd be a very happy person!

 

[Anixx]

Is there any way you could fix this script to work with QTTabBar? I need some of the functionality that QTTabBar provides.

One can try to insert a delay somewhere in the script, like

Sleep, 100

Try to insert it somewhere and report if it works.

The address bar is visible for a fraction of a second before it disappears (which is not that big a deal). Is this a limitation of AutoHotKey or can this be adjusted/fixed?

This is a limitation of the method, the address bar gets hidden after the window created. It may be before the window is drawn though. A similar thing occurs with ShellFolderFix utility, which remembers positions of folder windows and repositions new ones.

If using any other theme besides Classic (e.g. Aero), the menu bar and command bar appear to have visual issues.

There is another method of hiding the Address Bar in non-Classic themes, look at this thread at earlier pages
http://www.sevenforums.com/customiz...-menu-bar-windows-explorer-3.html#post2733630

 

[Butters]

Occasionally the address bar will show up whenever I open an explorer window using Windows key + E (which I do a lot) but it will disappear when the window is resized.

Also, I sometimes see the address bar for a fraction of a second before it disappears, but to be honest it's pretty rare for me. Maybe it's my computer or something. But that is no big deal anyways.

 

[Degadus]

One can try to insert a delay somewhere in the script, like

Sleep, 100

Try to insert it somewhere and report if it works.

Well, I tried to insert that line of code right after the #NoEnv and #NoTrayIcon, and also towards the end of the script, but I still get the same result each time. The blank space still appears above the menu bar. The space seems to be completely transparent as I can see my background through the space. It goes away when I click something else, though.

I'm not really good at scripting... I'm novice at best. I'm probably doing it wrong.

This is a limitation of the method, the address bar gets hidden after the window created. It may be before the window is drawn though. A similar thing occurs with ShellFolderFix utility, which remember position of folder windows and repositions new ones.

I can live with it, haha. Thanks for your response.

There is another method of hiding the Address Bar in non-Classic themes, look at this thread at earlier pages
Move the address bar below the menu bar in Windows Explorer

I completely forgot about that being posted earlier lol, sorry!

Any clue as to why the "Network" special shortcut icon on desktop is not behaving properly when opened?

 

[Anixx]

Try adding the following towards the end of the script, it will resize the window back and forward automatically so to make it redraw.

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

 

[Degadus]

Try adding the following towards the end of the script, it will resize the window back and forward automatically so to make it redraw.

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

Nice! That fixed both the "QTTabBar" and "Network icon" issues! Thank you so much! KUDOS!

 

[Anixx]

Butters, can you please tell me whether upgrading to Win8 worth it?

 

[Degadus]

Now, does anyone know of a replacement address bar so we are not completely without an address bar? I've only found QTAddressBar, and it's kinda buggy. Any ideas?

 

[dw85745]

I still use Classic and frustrated as *&^%*.
M$ doesn't seem to give a (*&^% about those of us who have been around since DOS 1 or 1.1.

Just had a crash which required a new build.
In process of reinstalling Win7 and trying to get things up and going.
While I keep a mirror backup of everything -- this new UEFI standard and windows makes it almost impossible or impossible to port things over from my mirror drive.
So here I am having to manually install all my old menus for my programs.
I've always kept a Grandfather, Father, Son mirror for just in case BUT
whether I can even mirror my drive after this is still unknown with this new standard.

I do a lot programming and don't want things popping up everywhere or window wanting to constantly update things.
The only way M$ is ever going to listen is if a lot of people stop buying windows and go to another OS.
I know I'm about at that point.

================================================

Haven't had a chance to check into it but look up Nirsoft, ShellViewEx which allows you to extent the Explorer shell. It may have what you want.

 

[Butters]

Butters, can you please tell me whether upgrading to Win8 worth it?

Meh.

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.

 

[Butters]

Now, does anyone know of a replacement address bar so we are not completely without an address bar? I've only found QTAddressBar, and it's kinda buggy. Any ideas?

This would be nice. I actually talked about an address bar alternative in my earlier posts. I can't say I'm too happy with QTAddressBar either (not too big on the whole breadcrumbs thing, and I wish it was slightly more compact) but at least it's better than the default. I'll look for an alternative.

Edit:
Well I think QTAddressBar is open source, so that's something. Maybe I'll look into that, although I don't think I can do a whole lot with that myself.

Edit:
It would also be nice if the damn thing would stop crashing my explorer.exe. I think It probably does this because it was designed for XP though.