"My Stationary" folder

[Neutrino]

Windows Explorer displays a "%userprofile%/Documents/My Stationery" directory. From the commandline this doesn't seem to map to anything at all. What on earth is this "My Stationary" directory, what is it for, and is there anything I can do to either get it to be treated in a manner that is consistant across the commandline and Windows Explorer or remove it altogether?

 

[Dzomlija]

Windows Explorer displays a "%userprofile%/Documents/My Stationery" directory. From the commandline this doesn't seem to map to anything at all. What on earth is this "My Stationary" directory, what is it for, and is there anything I can do to either get it to be treated in a manner that is consistant across the commandline and Windows Explorer or remove it altogether?

I think "My Stationery" is created and used by Windows Live Mail:

Microsoft Windows [Version 6.1.7600]
Copyright (c) 2009 Microsoft Corporation.  All rights reserved.

C:\Users\Peter Dzomlija>f:

F:\>cd documents

F:\Documents>dir /ad
 Volume in drive F is Files, Pictures
 Volume Serial Number is A0FB-C6E7

 Directory of F:\Documents

30/07/2010  11:54    <DIR>          .
30/07/2010  11:54    <DIR>          ..
11/07/2010  13:06    <DIR>          CV
03/07/2010  13:43    <DIR>          My Corel Shows
11/07/2010  13:13    <DIR>          My PSP Files
03/07/2010  13:43    <DIR>          My Received Files
11/07/2010  13:13    <DIR>          My Stationery
26/07/2010  14:53    <DIR>          My Web Sites
11/07/2010  13:13    <DIR>          My Weblog Posts
11/07/2010  13:13    <DIR>          RAD Studio
11/07/2010  13:13    <DIR>          SDExplorer Logs
11/07/2010  12:39    <DIR>          Templates
30/07/2010  11:33    <DIR>          Tutorials
11/07/2010  13:13    <DIR>          Web Resources
11/07/2010  13:11    <DIR>          Web Sites
               0 File(s)              0 bytes
              13 Dir(s)  37,846,290,432 bytes free

F:\Documents>

When I create a new message, and I choose to apply stationery (something I never do, btw), I get taken to the "My Stationery" folder from which I can choose a relevant style for my message.

I just tested for you. I deleted hte "My Stationery" folder and it contents, but it was re-create it when I opened Windows Live Mail again, albeit without any stationery files inside.

Generally what I do is just mark "My Stationery" as hidden, so that I don't see it when normally browsing Documents.

But it is safe to delete.

 

[Neutrino]

Thanks Dzomlija that's useful information. What I still don't understand though is just 'what is' this directory. It's listed in Explorer as a normal directory rather than one of these new file system links (which are displayed as shortcuts) but it doesn't appear at all when doing a 'dir' from the command line.

I suspect it may be some kind of virtual shell folder, but if that's the case then for me that really underlines the point of how completely useless Windows Explorer is now as an actual file explorer anymore if there's no way to differentiate between what are genuine file system entries and what are not.

 

[Dzomlija]

Thanks Dzomlija that's useful information. What I still don't understand though is just 'what is' this directory. It's listed in Explorer as a normal directory rather than one of these new file system links (which are displayed as shortcuts) but it doesn't appear at all when doing a 'dir' from the command line.

I suspect it may be some kind of virtual shell folder, but if that's the case then for me that really underlines the point of how completely useless Windows Explorer is now as an actual file explorer anymore if there's no way to differentiate between what are genuine file system entries and what are not.

Actually, it is a normal folder, but when I performed my tests, I noticed that Windows Live Mail re-created it with the HIDDEN and SYSTEM attributes set.

 

[Neutrino]

Ah, the penny drops. I didn't realize DIR did not display hidden folders by default. Thanks for that.

 

[Dzomlija]

Ah, the penny drops. I didn't realize DIR did not display hidden folders by default. Thanks for that.

To show hidden files or folders, use "dir /a". If you ONLY want to show folders, use "dir /ad".

You can get more info on available DIR options by using "dir /?"