Searching for files with Windows 7 file explorer

techphets

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Hi,

I have been frustrated by the way the Windows 7 search results 'Folder' information is displayed.

I often sort search results by the Folder field but with the new way of displaying the information my sorts are not nearly as useful to me as they once were.

Previous versions of Windows displayed search results as follows:

C:\Path\More Path\Final Dir\

Windows 7 displays the results like this:

Final Dir (C:\Path\More Path)

Just looking at the results is annoying to me. The root drive labels do not all line up. For instance, results appear like this:

Folder 1 (C:\Users\blah\)
Another Folder (C:\Users\blah\)

Is there any way to switch back to the classic/legacy way of displaying this information? If not, has anyone else been frustrated with this? How have you coped?

I was thinking about running a File Explorer through Virtual XP as a standalone app (I forget the proper term for setting it up that to run from the start menu). I don't like the idea of doing that though because I would like my solution to work on every Windows 7 box that I use, not just the ones I have configured.

Thanks.

techphets
 

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Hello techphets,

Welcome to Seven Forums.

Do a search, then rt.click on the columns header row/select 'more'/select 'path'. If you wish to get rid of the other column then uncheck it in that menu.

Hope this helps.

Gary
 

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I assume you have the results displayed as "Detail" right-click on the columns bar > More... > scoll thought the list and check "Path".

Edit...too slow of me D:
 

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Awesome. Thanks guys!

While we're on the subject of paths...

Is there a way to show the path in the address bar as plain text? I often press ALT+D in order to see it but that doesn't work when the window isn't active.

techphets
 

My Computer My Computer

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Windows 7 Professional x64Intel Core i7 920 Bloomfield 2.66GHz6GB OCZ Obsidian DDR3 1600 PC3-12800 Triple C...nVidia GeForce 7950gt
Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
custom
OS
Windows 7 Professional x64
CPU
Intel Core i7 920 Bloomfield 2.66GHz
Motherboard
Asus P6T LGA 1366 X58
Memory
6GB OCZ Obsidian DDR3 1600 PC3-12800 Triple Channel
Graphics Card(s)
nVidia GeForce 7950gt
Sound Card
integrated
Monitor(s) Displays
Dell Ultrasharp 24" Widescreen
Screen Resolution
1920 x 1200
Hard Drives
Western Digital Caviar Black 1TB SATA 3Gb/s
PSU
Diablotek PHD Series 750
Case
Cooler Master Scout
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stock
Keyboard
generic
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Logitech Revolution MX
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10Mbit
Why do you need to see it as plain text? The information is the same despite being displayed in a different matter. Just a matter of adding backslashes "\". But no, there isn't a means to make it plain text all the time.
 

My Computer My Computer

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Windows 10 Pro (x64)Intel Core i7-3930K (3.2GHz - 4.5GHz)4x Samsung 4GB PC3-12800 DDR3 (16GB 1600MHz)Nvidia Geforce GTX 690
Computer type
PC/Desktop
Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
Alienware Aurora ALX R4
OS
Windows 10 Pro (x64)
CPU
Intel Core i7-3930K (3.2GHz - 4.5GHz)
Motherboard
Alienware Aurora-R4 x79
Memory
4x Samsung 4GB PC3-12800 DDR3 (16GB 1600MHz)
Graphics Card(s)
Nvidia Geforce GTX 690
Sound Card
SteelSeries Siberia Elite
Monitor(s) Displays
Dell UltraSharp U3011
Screen Resolution
2560x1600
Hard Drives
Samsung 850 Pro 256 GB, Seagate 1TB Desktop Hybrid HDD, 2x Western Digital 4TB Green HDD
PSU
875W Some Dell PSU <.<
Case
Alienware Aurora ALX
Cooling
Custom Liquid Cooling (EK CPU & GPU blocks) dual EK 480RAD
Keyboard
Logitech G710+ Mechanical
Mouse
Logitech G700s
Internet Speed
Verizon Fios (50 mbps average)
Other Info
Server: Intel NUC D54250WYK: i5-4250U, 16GB, 256 GB mSATA, Windows Server 2012 R2
Why I would like a text address bar...

Why do you need to see it as plain text? The information is the same despite being displayed in a different matter. Just a matter of adding backslashes "\". But no, there isn't a means to make it plain text all the time.

I'd like to see it as plain text because the the plain text takes up much less space.

See the attached .jpg.

The first is what 7 File Explorer shows by default. The second is a text path.

It wouldn't matter all that much but more often than not the default path does not fit and I end up path which is cut-off at the front, illustrated at the bottom of the .jpg.

When my path is cut-off like that I can not glance at the address bar and have a quick feel for "where" I am at.

techphets
 

Attachments

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My Computer My Computer

At a glance

Windows 7 Professional x64Intel Core i7 920 Bloomfield 2.66GHz6GB OCZ Obsidian DDR3 1600 PC3-12800 Triple C...nVidia GeForce 7950gt
Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
custom
OS
Windows 7 Professional x64
CPU
Intel Core i7 920 Bloomfield 2.66GHz
Motherboard
Asus P6T LGA 1366 X58
Memory
6GB OCZ Obsidian DDR3 1600 PC3-12800 Triple Channel
Graphics Card(s)
nVidia GeForce 7950gt
Sound Card
integrated
Monitor(s) Displays
Dell Ultrasharp 24" Widescreen
Screen Resolution
1920 x 1200
Hard Drives
Western Digital Caviar Black 1TB SATA 3Gb/s
PSU
Diablotek PHD Series 750
Case
Cooler Master Scout
Cooling
stock
Keyboard
generic
Mouse
Logitech Revolution MX
Internet Speed
10Mbit

My Computer My Computer

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Windows 7 Enterprise (x64); Windows Server 20...16GB
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Dell
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Dell Optical
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Also, you can click in the address bar and the breadcrumb will become highlighted text for copying. It will turn back into a breadcrumb trail when focus is removed though.
 

My Computer My Computer

At a glance

Vista Ult 64 bit Seven Ult RTM x64Intel Core2 Quad Q6600 2.40 gigahertzCrucial Ballistix 4x2GB PC2 6400NVIDIA GeForce 8600 GTS 256 MB
Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
Dell XPS420
OS
Vista Ult 64 bit Seven Ult RTM x64
CPU
Intel Core2 Quad Q6600 2.40 gigahertz
Memory
Crucial Ballistix 4x2GB PC2 6400
Graphics Card(s)
NVIDIA GeForce 8600 GTS 256 MB
Sound Card
Creative SB X-Fi audio
Monitor(s) Displays
HP w2207 + HPvs15
Screen Resolution
1680x1050 + 1024x768
Hard Drives
2-WD5000AAKS-500 GB
WD5000AAV-500 GB external
Keyboard
Microsoft Comfort Curve
Mouse
MX Revolution
Other Info
Wacom Intuos 2 Graphics Tablet
Experience Index=5.5
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