Set system wide folder display

[paulkruger]

I cannot seem to do a good search for what I want to do. I find the usual about setting folder options then saving but that only applies to existing or newly added folders etc.


Is there a hack that can be used to define EXACTLY the type of folder view I want that will apply system wide and to any new folder I may create. I still want the ability to modify any specific folder later.


I don't want "list" with details. I use that on occasion but tired of that becoming the default all the time. Even when I change to clean "list" and open again it often reverts back to detail list.


In other words I want my DEFAULT folder view to ALWAYS be list, no details unless I manually change a specific folder. Would also be nice to set SORT by type as default as well.


Any help here?


Thanks in advance for your kind replies.

 

[Brink]

Hello Paul,

You could use the method below to set a default folder view and apply it to all folders, and still be able to change for specific folders.

:ar: Folder View - Set a Default for All Folders - Windows 7 Help Forums

 

[paulkruger]

That does not seem to work. Yes I can change but the options are two general. I can select, using that method, only pre-set options such as "Documents" "Music" "photos" and so on but the "documents" option still displays details for each file.


Can someone clarify making a custom template to use for default with NO DETAILS of each file and apply that to ALL folders system wide? I can then modify specific folders for images but all the rest will leave as LIST no Details.


Thanks.

 

[paulkruger]

Another question. I looked in the bat file and it deletes BagMRU ! Won't that remove the changes I made to remember more folder settings?

 

[Brink]

It'll remove what you currently have set for folder views, but it won't prevent you from making new changes. The new changes will be recorded in BagMRU.

 

[paulkruger]

It'll remove what you currently have set for folder views, but it won't prevent you from making new changes. The new changes will be recorded in BagMRU.

How can it DELETE BagMRU without also deleting the setting for number of folders to remember?

 

[Brink]

You can add it back afterwards.

 

[lehnerus2000]

Another question. I looked in the bat file and it deletes BagMRU ! Won't that remove the changes I made to remember more folder settings?

You need to:

1. Purge all of the old folder settings
2. Set up your new settings
3. Apply them

You could try to use the Folder Templates to do this.

Tutorial
Folder View - Apply to Folders

For example, you could set all of your folders to "General Items" Folder Template.
Then choose the folder you want to have the Thumbnail View (make sure it is set to a different Folder Template) and apply it.


I have my folders all set to "Details View", except for my Picture folders.

I used the "Details View" to set up what details (column headings) I want.
I have 5 columns that are common to all my Folder Template (including Pictures).
After I have set up my default columns, I apply them to all of my folders.

Then I pick a picture folder:

• Set the Folder Template to Pictures
• Set the the view to Thumbnails (it still remembers the Details I chose, so that I can use "Sort by" & "Group by")
• Apply it to all of my picture folders

​

 

[paulkruger]

Im still not getting to where I want to go. If I select any of the default templates such as "document" view new folders still show details such as date modified, type, size etc.

I want every folder new and old to show ONLY the files sorted by type alphabetically. Anything else I can modify as needed.
Since I simply cannot seem to get Win7 to remember anything, the idea of simply having all folders set like above even when newly created solves that.

I don't have to worry about increasing BagsMRU limits to remember a default and if that default is a simple sorted list of files without details Im a happy camper.


So is there just a way to permanently edit the template for DOCUMENTS view to omit details and add sort?


All the registry codes that set all to 'documents' put all those details back so that's not a solution.



///

 

[Brink]

Just to verify, did you do this:

1) Used step 1 below to set the default folder template to "Documents".

2) Set "Sort by" to "Type", and "Apply to Folders" using step 2 below.

:ar: Folder View - Set a Default for All Folders - Windows 7 Help Forums

 

[paulkruger]

Still lost. I want to change the TEMPLATE itself!

This is all well and good but this is all that seems to appear in a search to edit the template.

I know how to apply a template view to folders. But so far I can only select those Microsoft decided I am permitted to have.

How can I actually edit the actual TEMPLATE that win7 uses to display folders so I can have the default folders OMIT details always, every time, unless I manually change a specific folder?


The offered registry hacks are useless on this. Those simply specify a template that is not what I want. If I can change the actual TEMPLATE and save it with the original name I'm thinking I can get the default for all including all new folders to just list the files without any details regardless of the file type.

Anyone...please this has bugged me to distraction for several years

 

[paulkruger]

Did that. But those are not set as default for all prior and future folders. I'm not certain that actually permanently alters that template so it will always look that way for all present and future folders. ( unless changed on individual basis )

 

[lehnerus2000]

Weird

Setting the appropriate views/details for a given Template and then using the "Apply to Folders" button should change the default Template of that type (e.g. Documents, General, etc.).

Remember that you have to click the "Reset Folders" button before trying to apply your new Template(s).

Also some folders can't be directly adjusted (no "Customize this folder" option in the Properties window).

You may need to disable "Auto-Folder Discovery".
I had to do that on my original W7 install or Templates didn't seem to stick.

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\Local Settings\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Shell\Bags\AllFolders\Shell]
"FolderType"="NotSpecified"

There may be a corrupt file or Registry setting in your OS.
Have you tried running sfc?

Open the Command Prompt (Use the "Run as administrator" option in the context menu).
Type:

sfc /scannow
​

Tutorial
SFC /SCANNOW Command - System File Checker

 

[paulkruger]

Ok but still not getting what I am looking for.



Where is the ACTUAL template file stored and can I edit that file NOT how to customize existing template in a folder view? I know all that but Win7 is brain dead in regards to template customization the "traditional" way.

 

[Brink]

Just to note, does any of this below apply to what you're trying to change?

   Note

This will not affect the folder view settings in libraries and library folders, the small File -> "Save as", "Open" common dialog type windows, or a window's default size and position.

In addition, folder views for removable drives are not remembered.