Set a "Windows Explorer" default pointer

[bobk544]

Hello, is there a systems setting where i can specify a default directory that "Windows Explorer" will always got to when i select the "Windows Explorer" icon?

It just seem like i'm continually having to find and select the "C:/" then find the directory i'm mainly working in for the day or week at least 5 times per day!

And so it would be nice to be able to select a key combination and a screen would pop up asking if "Use this current directory as your default directory?'

Thanks for any ideas or maybe i could write a python or powerscipt routine to do this?
BobK

 

[benjy206]

Hi bobk544 and welcome to Seven Forums.

So basically your looking for a shortcut to a certain directory?

 

[bobk544]

yes pretty much that's it and of course if the same "Windows Explorer" is active that i used before, it will be pointing to where i left off, but it seems like i'm continually having to refind the directory that i mainly am working in for that day and more often for the week!

and i just did some "testing" and it looks like i sometimes have to open 3 or 4 "Windows Explorer" sessions, but often to address files within a given parent directory with many children diriectories and each time i have to reset that parent directory for each newly opened WE.

thanks benjy!

 

[benjy206]

well for instance the way I'm think is like this. If you drag the icon to the desktop that will make a shortcut

 

[Ztruker]

Right click on the Windows Explorer icon and select Properties.
On the Shortcut tab, click in the Target field.
Change %windir%\explorer.exe to %windir%\explorer.exe /e,/n,x:\path

x:\path is wherever you want it to open to.

For instance, I have mine set to

%windir%\explorer.exe /e,/n,c:\

so Explorer opens to the root of C: rather then Libraries.

 

[Alejandro85]

Just edit the command line on the shortcut you want to use, and add a parameter containing the initially displayed directory you want.

For example, if it reads:
%windir%\explorer.exe
Modifiy it to:
%windir%\explorer.exe c:\windows\system32
For this shortcut to go directly to system upon opening. Enclose that path in quotes if it contains spaces.

 

[benjy206]

I don't think he always want's it to go to this path. I think

 

[bobk544]

Well all of these are worth a try and at least i'm finally trying to do something about it cos all totalled i'd bet i spend 2 weeks per year just reseting that Windows Explorer access setting, so let me try these out and see, but yes benjy you're right because i may change daily in addition to weekly, but let me ask you this, is there a Windows Explorer scripting language like there's a VBA tooling for Word, where if i select a key combination, i can run a script that may even pop up a window like Word VBA does? and that way i could select a key combo, a window would pop up and ask, do you want this directory as your default Windows Explorer directory, after i selected the keys, or actually i wouldn't even need a Y/N cos i would have selected the keys unless i wanted to make that directory my WE default, ok thanks all and let me play around with this, but i quess it makes me now wonder if there is a scripting language that could do this?

 

[benjy206]

I can't answer that. Not that I know of. You could make a .bat file on your desktop to open up a place. But it is easier to do as to what I showed you with the shortcut.

 

[bobk544]

Ok thanks again all, really appreciaite your time and consideration! have a nice wekk!

 

[benjy206]

You too hope it works out for you

 

[roboticarm]

Hi bobk554.

Although I haven't personaly tried doing this, but the following may achieve what you want as far as I understand:

:ar: Click Start orb rb:

:ar: Type in "folder options" and hit Enter.

:ar: Now click on the "View" tab at the top.

:ar: Now checkmark "Restore previous folder windows at logon" under Advanced settings.

As the name says, it should restore the last used folder location at every logon.

 

[Alejandro85]

Well all of these are worth a try and at least i'm finally trying to do something about it cos all totalled i'd bet i spend 2 weeks per year just reseting that Windows Explorer access setting, so let me try these out and see, but yes benjy you're right because i may change daily in addition to weekly, but let me ask you this, is there a Windows Explorer scripting language like there's a VBA tooling for Word, where if i select a key combination, i can run a script that may even pop up a window like Word VBA does? and that way i could select a key combo, a window would pop up and ask, do you want this directory as your default Windows Explorer directory, after i selected the keys, or actually i wouldn't even need a Y/N cos i would have selected the keys unless i wanted to make that directory my WE default, ok thanks all and let me play around with this, but i quess it makes me now wonder if there is a scripting language that could do this?

As far as I know, Explorer hasn't any kind of scripting capabilities or other public API.
The best I can think of, and not completely it meets your idea, is a program like AutoHotKey (AutoHotkey), which allows for some key combinations to create macro-like shortcuts for many other programs, by simulating keystrokes into them. Maybe it's worth a try, I have only a (very) little experience with it.

 

[bobk544]

Ok thanks again all, i will definitely give these various approaches a try, great!