Automatically Expand to Current Folder: half-finished?

[HighWisdom]

For starters, let me state that:

1. I've searched all over Win7 forums on this site and others, and haven't found a solution.

2. I've seen the tutorials on this site. I know how to access the options.

So please spare me any FAQish advice and basic tutorial links.

What I'd like to know is this:

Currently, even with the "automatically expand to current folder" option enabled, that functionality only occurs when navigating in the right hand panel. Opening a folder via double- (or possibly, single-) click in the right hand panel causes the left panel to reflect that change: the folder tree expands to show that folder.

This is only half satisfying, however, as I would ultimately like to see the FOLDER I OPENED expanded (showing me it's subfolders in the left panel), not just it's parent folder expanded to show the one I opened along with its siblings.

Even worse, when you navigate in the left-hand folder tree, you are still required to double click to expand a folder.

Even if I enable the "single click to open an item" option, folders in the left hand panel don't expand after a single click.

SO...

Is there any way to make folders in the tree expand with a SINGLE CLICK in the left hand panel (i.e. how it worked in XP)?

1. Win +E
2. single click on computer in folder tree
2a. computer automatically expands in left panel (NOT in right)
3. single click on C:\ in folder tree
3a. C:\ expands in left (again, not in right)

if I want to make the right panel change, i double click

Is this possible in Win7 via a hidden option? Registry hack? Something?

 

[mtakala82]

Bumbing this too. I really need the single-click to expand in the folder tree pane. Maybe a tweak or in SP1....

 

[Disk4mat]

For some reason I dont get it, maybe Im half asleep. I single click in the left pane by selecting the expand arrow ([+] and [-] in XP). I never have to double click in the tree. Only when navigating in the right pane.

 

[Frostmourne]

You can both double click and click the arrow. I don't think you can do that though. Why would you want it?

 

[mtakala82]

The arrow is much smaller to click than the tree item itself, which makes it harder to click.

 

[Kika]

however, as I would ultimately like to see the FOLDER I OPENED expanded (showing me it's subfolders in the left panel), not just it's parent folder expanded to show the one I opened along with its siblings.

I've been searching solution for this since 7 beta and there is none. I've been posting all over the places for this. So if there is possible to downgrade to wmp11 and ie7 in windows 7, maybe someone could make Vista explorer work under it?

 

[MacGyvr]

I'm with the other poster who said if you just click the arrow one time, you're there. Can't see a need for anything beyond that.

 

[Kika]

I started use this software instead default explorer - Software Q-Dir 3.95 makes your files and folder easy to manage.

 

[cuyocksol]

I agree with High Wisdom...

Previously (XP) single click on a left-hand pane folder performed a dual function:
1. To expand the folder in the left-hand pane;
2. To open the folder.

Whoever is saying "just click on the arrow on the left" fails to understand this doesn't open the folder!

Previously it was very fast to navigate through even long and complicated tree structures with only single clicks................ Now that is lost.

 

[MacGyvr]

Previously (XP) single click on a left-hand pane folder performed a dual function:
1. To expand the folder in the left-hand pane;
2. To open the folder.

Whoever is saying "just click on the arrow on the left" fails to understand this doesn't open the folder!

Previously it was very fast to navigate through even long and complicated tree structures with only single clicks................ Now that is lost.

I don't need the folder open unless it is the actual folder I'm going to, and one click on the folder name does that. I don't double-click anything in the left panel, ever.

 

[cuyocksol]

MacGyvr,

"I don't need the folder open unless it is the actual folder I'm going to, and one click on the folder name does that. I don't double-click anything in the left panel, ever."

We don't understand each other.
Yes, I want the folder that I open to expand at the same time as it opens.
I want to do this with one click in the left-hand pane.

Are you saying this happens for you? If so, my system is not set up right or is malfunctioning.

 

[unifex]

I think I am with MacGyvr on this one. In Windows 7 there are three things I can do in the left pane:

1. I can single-click on the arrow. The tree expands to show which folders are present in the folder I am clicking at. Nothing happens in the right pane.

2. I can single-click on the folder icon (or name). The right pane shows the content of the folder. Nothing happens to the tree in the left pane.

3. I can - although I never do that - double-click on the folder in the left pane to achieve both of the previous results simultaneously, i.e. expand the tree in the left pane, as in 1. and at the same time show the folder content in the right pane, as in 2.

Just as MacGyvr said, I use arrows to navigate to the folder I want and then click on the folder to show its content. I am not sure why would anyone care whether Explorer shows the content of all intermediate folders in the process.

Yet, it seems that people want just that, and thus are asking to change the Windows Explorer behavior to have the above option 3. working with a single click. Those who are interested in that can look for the Microsoft answer to exactly this question here.

Hope this helps.

 

[cuyocksol]

Thanks Unifex, that's clear.

So what used to be possible with a single click (in the L-H pane) is now only possible with double-clicking.

The question seems less 'why would you want to see the contents of the intermediate folders?' than 'why wouldn't you want to?' - ie. what is better about *not* seeing that? (Presumably from XP to 7 it's meant to be an improvement of functions...?)

Your point that you simply navigate through the folders by clicking the arrows in the L-H pane presupposes that you remember the contents of these folders. If you are *looking for something* or just browsing, then you do not know the destination in advance.

I just mentioned this to my wife, and she would agree with you guys, ie. who cares? I think the point here is that unless you got used to the previous way of doing it (which was very easy and efficient), you won't miss it.

Hey ho, what can you do? I call it dumbing down.

PS - Unifex, the link you cite doesn't seem to address the issue exactly... but here is another discussion of the topic: http://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/en/w7itproui/thread/835707d7-cf87-4ee3-9521-5163dd2c370e

 

[troyec001]

I don't think most of the people understand here. You're all using your mouse for this, but a lot of people only use their keyboard. The option allows the left pane to reflect what the right does, but not the right pane to reflect the left, using only the keyboard. I don't disagree that this feature is nice for certain applications.

I think their should be an option for both, so the OS is more personal. There are times where I have to go through multiple folders to find something. I hate having to hit down enter down enter down enter. Or click, click, click, click. I completely agree with the orginal post. There should at least be the option.

 

[Frostmourne]

I don't think most of the people understand here. You're all using your mouse for this, but a lot of people only use their keyboard. The option allows the left pane to reflect what the right does, but not the right pane to reflect the left, using only the keyboard. I don't disagree that this feature is nice for certain applications.

I think their should be an option for both, so the OS is more personal. There are times where I have to go through multiple folders to find something. I hate having to hit down enter down enter down enter. Or click, click, click, click. I completely agree with the orginal post. There should at least be the option.

Why not just search for it? 7 is not useless old obsolete XP.

 

[Tepid]

There should be more options to vote on.

There are so many different ways to navigate it's not even funny.

I typically double click folders in the right pane, but I also use breadcrumbs as well.
I love breadcrumbs.

However,, i would love to see double navigation panes in a single window like FreeCommander
FreeCommander is nice,, but has stability issues.