Folder Template - Default

Brink · Jun 5, 2010

Hello Noel, and thank you.

You should be able to set the width you like for a column in a folder, then close it. Whenever you open that specific folder from that specific location (ex: Start menu vs Windows Explorer) next, it should be set the same as it was when last closed.

Hope this helps,
Shawn

Noels · Jun 5, 2010

Brink,

Thanks. That sounds so simple!! I read you to say that I can set the column size (say after I open that folder in Explorer) and as long as I continue to use Explorer to open that folder afterwards, it will be the same size?

Could I also image that folder and have the same response after I recover it? Or does that that change the parameters? I think I must have changed something to lose the "settings."

Thanks again, Noel

Brink · Jun 5, 2010

Noel,

As an example, you can open your "My Music" user folder from the Start Menu location and set it how you like. It will remember that setting from that location as it was when last closed, but your setting will not be set at the "C:\User\(user-name)\My Music" location though. Only from the Start Menu location.

Setting folder view settings will not change the size of anything since it's just a setting and not a file.

A system image will create a complete clone of the Windows 7 system drive, so all your settings will be saved in the image as well.

Noels · Jun 6, 2010

Brink,

Thanks so much for your help. The answer is as I suspected, but glad to hear your confirmation.

I'll set my folders up from Explorer and use Explorer to open them in the future. And if I open them from Start, then I won't expect the settings to be there also.

Thanks again, Noel

Brink · Jun 6, 2010

You're most welcome Noel.

Raargh · Aug 24, 2011

Brink said:
Hello Berryman,

Correct, you can do only step 2 for the "General Items" template for what you want.

Hi Brink;

I'm at work on an XP box so I have not had a chance to try this tutorial - I'm hopeful it will fix what has been a major Win7 annoyance for me.

In XP, I first set the view for all folders to be the way I want it, essentially all possible details. But, in XP, if for example in a particular folder I choose Thumbnails, that folder will always show thumbnails (until I change it to something else). I'd like to make Win 7 behave this way.

From reading your tutorial, I plan to use the reg file to set the default view for all folders to General, then customize the General view to have all the columns I want (for example, NO "Date" but YES "Date Modified" ! - grrrr -

)

At that point, if I understand correctly, any folder I open in Explorer will look the same and Win 7 will not try to decide for me what view I want! (BTW I only use Explorer, never Start, to view a folder).

But, if I then go to a particular folder, set it to thumbnails, perhaps add some columns, will that "stick" with that (and only that!) folder?

I just want Win 7 to behave like XP when it come to Explorer folder views.

Thanks for all your patient work in this forum, could not deal with Win 7's annoyances without your help!

Steve

Brink · Aug 24, 2011

Hello Steve,

The thumbnail previews setting is separate from folder views, and will not be affected by the REG file in this tutorial.

If you want all folders to look the same, then you would want to do the tutorial below instead first.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/41198-folder-view-set-default-all-folders.html

Hope this helps,
Shawn

Raargh · Aug 24, 2011

Brink said:
Hello Steve,

The thumbnail previews setting is separate from folder views, and will not be affected by the REG file in this tutorial.

If you want all folders to look the same, then you would want to do the tutorial below instead first.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/41198-folder-view-set-default-all-folders.html

Hope this helps,
Shawn

Hi;

OK, I used the General_Items_Folder_Templates.reg to set the default to General, thinking it would be the closest to what I use with XP. Then following the tutorial, I navigated to /Users/Public. But, I don't see folder there that looks like General Items - I see Public Desktop, Public Documents, Public Downloads, Public Music, Public Pictures and Public Videos.

Sorry to be so needy! I can sense I am close.

Thanks,

Steve

Brink · Aug 24, 2011

General Items is a folder template and not a actual folder. The REG file set the folder template of all folders to be General Items.

Be sure that you are reading everything in the tutorial to help be clear and not make a mistake.

Raargh · Aug 24, 2011

Brink said:
General Items is a folder template and not a actual folder. The REG file set the folder template of all folders to be General Items.

Be sure that you are reading everything in the tutorial to help be clear and not make a mistake.

I guess I'm missing something.

I have been carefully reading and re-reading the various tutorials related to folder views and I'm just getting more and more confused.

I started with this Seven Forums Tutorial:
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/41198-folder-view-set-default-all-folders.html

I followed the instructions in Step 1 and used the .reg file to set General Items as the Default Folder Template:

1. Set a default folder template that you want to have all Windows Explorer folders to use.
NOTE: You can choose between having General Items, Documents, Pictures, Music, or Video as the default folder template for all folders.

Step was was easy, so I then I moved to Step 2.

2. Now that all folders have the same folder template set in step 1, apply the folder view to all folders.

I was not sure what was meant by "the folder view" - which view? Is there a view built into the template? But, I followed the link and tried to proceed.

The link led me to this step:

Here's How: 1. Navigate to the folder that you want to apply it's folder views to all folders with the same folder template as it. (see screenshots below)
NOTE: For example, C:\Users\Public\Public Pictures\Sample Pictures that has the Pictures folder template by default.

The first sentence did not make much sense, but I proceeded. The example made me think I needed to find a folder that used the General Items Template in C:\Users\Public. I was not certain why the tutorial directed me to the C:\Users\Public branch of the Win 7 file system - the name of that folder made me think it was some Win 7 system-folder, the contents of which had special, mysterious significance and control over Win 7. Further down the page, I read this:

3. When done, open Folder Options from within this same folder (step 1) window and not through the Control Panel or from another folder.

The "or from another folder" reinforced my conclusion that the C:\Users\Public folders had some special significance... perhaps not?

So:

Question (1) - do I just open any folder, anywhere in the file system, make sure it is set to "Optimize this folder for:" "General Items" and then fully customize it the way I want all folders to look? Does it mater if I choose "apply to subfolders?"

Question (2) - assuming the answer to Q1 is yes, then, if at a later time, I open up a folder (which will be optimized for General Items, because all folders have the General Items template) and change it to a thumbnail view, will that view then affect all folders? (Please keep in mind I am trying to get Win 7 to mimic the way XP remembers folder settings; a default Details view for all folders, unless I change a specific folder)

Thanks again ...

Steve

Brink · Aug 24, 2011

Steve,

The Public folder was just an example I used for the tutorial. After you applied the REG download for the template, you would just need to open any folder (not a library folder though), make any changes to it's folder view (links in step 2) for how you would like all folders to look like, then do the rest of the tutorial to Apply to Folders to make all folders look like that one.

Afterwards, all folders will look like this one. You will still be able to make individual folder view changes to a folder as well if you should want another folder to have a different folder view later. You just wouldn't use Apply to Folders in that case.

Thumbnail previews is a universal setting that is not part of these folder views. When you turn thumbnail previews on or off, it is turned on or off in all folders.

leoknot · Sep 12, 2011

template to apply to all folders

morning Shawn, am using windows7 32 bit sp1. followed your detailed template tutorial but cant get it right. my music, documents etc. are not stored in windows7 library C:\ but in separate folders in D:\ When opening my music I see: a) name # title contributing artists and album. I want: b) bit rate size length and album. First amended all, adjusted 'apply to all folders' and 'customize this folder'. First all ok, dozens of subfolders all the way I like. After restart however there is a mixture, some as a) and some as b), most of them wrong. Have only applied the music template software in the hope that once I get this right I will know how to apply these for 'my pictures', 'my documents' and 'my videos'. thanks for your help = Leo

Brink · Sep 12, 2011

Hello Leoknot, and welcome to Seven Forums.

Is your D: drive an external or portable drive?

If so, then that would be why. Windows will not remember the folder view setting of a external or portable drive after a restart, log off, or the drive is disconnected or turned off.

leoknot · Sep 12, 2011

my C\ drive is an internal one OCZ Vertex2 SSD 60 gB to be precise. The music, documents folders are on D\ Seagate 250 gB. thanks = Leo

Brink · Sep 12, 2011

I'm assuming that the Seagate 250 GB is an internal drive as well then?

Double check through the tutorial below instead to see if it may help with setting a default folder view for folders with a "Music" folder template.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/11356-folder-view-apply-all-folders.html

0pTicaL · Mar 19, 2013

I just noticed the .bat file for 1. To Restore Default Folder Templates for All Folders
NOTE: This will also reset all folder views back to default as well.A) Click on the Download button below to download the file below.Restore_Default_Folder_Templates.bat

is the same as the one here. It does not restore the defaults for All folder templates. I had my pictures view set to Extra Large and Sort by Name. After running the above .bat file my pictures view was still Extra Large and Sorted by Name.

Brink · Mar 19, 2013

Hello OpTicaL,

Yes, both .bat files are the same since resetting the folder views back to default will also reset folder templates.

Try again in case the .bat file may have been interrupted by something while running. Be sure that you do not have anything else running that may block it from running properly since the .bat file will restart explorer to apply.

0pTicaL · Mar 19, 2013

Ok, I just tried it two more times and the same result. I have nothing running in the background, no anti-virus, anti-malware running, nothing that will interfere with the .bat file from running properly. All my folder templates remain the same.

Just to be sure I ran this on my laptop which has a clean install of Windows 7 Professional and Office 2007 and nothing else, same result, my folder templates still remember the View setting and Sort by setting.

*edit* Just to be sure, is Restore Default Folder Templates for All Folders the same as this?

I'm under the impression that using the .bat file would be the same as How to Reset the Folder View Settings for All Folders with the Same Folder Template in Windows 7. The .bat file would save a lot of time versus having to hunt down a template and resetting each one individually.

Brink · Mar 19, 2013

No. They do not do the same thing. The tutorial at your "this" link only resets specific folder templates.

Some people may only wish to reset folder views that use a specific folder template, and is why they are separate tutorials.

Try this below instead to reset all folder templates and folder views back to default.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/15692-folder-view-settings-reset-all-default.html

0pTicaL · Mar 19, 2013

Hi Blink, thanks for the reply

The .bat file for Folder Template - Default (Restore_Default_Folder_Templates.bat) is the same as Folder View Settings - Reset All to Default (Windows_7_Reset_All_Folders_To_Default_Folder_Views.bat) and will not reset all folder templates back to default.

What I would like to know is, is there a .bat file that performs the same functions as Folder View - Reset All Folders? It seems that Folder View - Reset All Folders is the only method of resetting folder templates.

Sorry for the confusion.

Folder Template - Default

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