ShellFolderFix - Manage folder window positions/size

[menace97]

No, there's no change in Windows 10. And I've never found a good answer for why MS hasn't fixed the BUG in their software. (No, I can't bring myself to call it a needed "feature" since it worked just fine in Windows before!)

And since you don't know it wasn't fixed in Win10, I'm guessing you never upgraded. Unless you've got some custom program that won't run on Wni10, I sure would go see if you can still get the free upgrade!

Thanks Pete!

That's what I feared, but it doesn't surprise me at all. I actually do have Windows 10 - I just haven't had any desire to transition yet, as my computer has been configured and customized just the way I like it on Windows 8.1 - and when I'm ready to move to 10 I'll do it on my schedule thank you very much Microsoft!

I have been using Steve Gibson's nifty utility Never10 to keep it at bay until I'm ready to go to that OS. I'm getting a new computer fairly soon, and then I will install Windows 10 on one of my machines to give it a try. I'm not really dreading going to Windows 10... I just didn't want to do so when everything was running so smoothly. I really didn't appreciate Microsoft's aggressive tactics of pushing it out the way it did. I get it MS... you want us all on one operating system, yikes! So I upgraded, then immediately re-imaged my computer back to 8.1.

It does look pretty interesting though!

 

[tube]

Thanks! I just recently upgraded from Windows Vista to this OS a few days ago and I found myself amiss with this feature. So glad I stumbled upon this from a cnet article here. I haven't gotten too deep into it as I simply need it for the regular folder like Documents, Video, Music and misc folders for my projects and whatnot but it feels like I never left Vista. Why would MS even take this thing off in the first place or at least leave it in place I just can't grasp it.

Thanks again man.

 

[Vector]

Why would MS even take this thing off in the first place or at least leave it in place I just can't grasp it.

Thanks again man.

It almost feels as though they don't fully test their systems before releasing them.

 

[Anixx]

Same here! I am running Windows 8.1 x64 and I still use it. As soon as I disable it, things revert back to the annoying way it was.

So has this really been fixed in Windows 10?

No. Newer Windows versions even do not have the registry keys where Win95-XP stored the window positions.

 

[iweristDFF]

shellfolderfix and creators update

I just updated Windows 10 with the Creators Update and now ShellFolderFix is not working correctly.

The program still saves the last size you made your folder, however the ability to move icon into a desired position is not working.

 

[PeteMc]

As it did with the Anniversary issue, I found that Windows changed a few things when Creator was installed.

Try right clicking on your desktop, go to View and just make sure Windows didn't turn on "Auto arrange icons"

 

[iweristDFF]

No, Creators Update did not change the Desktop auto-arrange settings.

And, of course, I'm referring to folders not on the desktop.

 

[PhineasBoggs]

W7 refuses to open windows to the size I want. I've never, since Windows began (W95), had such a problem until I installed the same W7 program on a new HDD. I am nonplussed.
When I discovered about:support-> delete xulstore, I thought it was resolved. Not. I have to do it several times a day.
Then, when I found ShellFolderFix, I hoped this would fix it. It didn't.
I really don't want to switch to a Mac, but I can't find the solution.
Any help or advice appreciated.

 

[PeteMc]

ShellFolderFix (SFF) has worked for myself an countless others with W7 and W10. Is the issue with folders or programs?

SFF works flawlessly with Windows 7/10 folders and 99% of my programs. The one outlier is QuickBooks, for whatever reason I can only assume that they've coded their program's basic opening window slightly off-standard.

A couple of thing may not be laid out in the instructions. Try creating a ShellFolderFix folder in your Programs folder and then run/install the ShellFolderFixUI.exe from there. Also, confirm that it is set to start when Windows starts. I've had mine on occasion not start, but rechecking (or unchecking and rechecking) that option puts everything back to normal.

Hope you get it working, you will love getting your windows to open properly. (And sure which someone could figure out why MS has not fixed this OBVIOUS BUG in W10 - which should have been fixed in W7!!)

 

[nevesswodniw]

When I first started using SFF years ago, I remember it working like I wanted it to, but for about the last 6-12mnths it doesn't seem to be working I remember it working....

For example if I open 10 folders, split screen, 5 on the left, 5 on the right. Then I save database, save workspace, and close all folders and exit SFF.

If I then restore the saved workspace, all 10 folders open up, but in the wrong order and in the wrong position, mostly just open up off centre.

What I really want is for it to open all 10 folder in order and correct size and position, so Folder1 on left, F2 right, F3 left etc...


Is it supposed to work like that? I really cant remember if it ever did at the beginning to be honest

If it cannot, is there something that will do exactly that?

Thanks.

 

[PeteMc]

What if you actually position the windows vs. using Windows split screen to position them? I don't know that the split screen is seen as a window position vs. a temporary Windows screen function.

Even with the old Windows that "correctly" remembered windows positions, I don't think they'd be remembered if you shut down from a split screen mode. They'd open up again in their last individually remembered position. (Possibly reset to the default because it was in a split screen mode when shut down.)

 

[nevesswodniw]

Hmm, not sure if split screen is a feature of windows 7, but what I meant was I just open up new windows and then just flick it to the left and right, and it just auto snaps into place taking up half the screen.

I think i tried just moving them into place too, but same results, but I'll try again.

 

[herthh]

Says cannot read variable APPDATA

On my system says "Cannot read environment variable APPDATA" and stops. I tried both ShellFolderFixUI.exe and the 64bit named version. I have W7 Pro.

 

[PeteMc]

Hi herthh,

You're describing a Windows issue, not a SFF issue. Take a look at the Microsoft link below or just search for something like "Cannot read environment variable APPDATA" to find other solutions.


https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/329308/environment-variable-may-not-expand-appdata-to-the-application-folder

 

[herthh]

Hi herthh,

You're describing a Windows issue, not a SFF issue. Take a look at the Microsoft link below or just search for something like "Cannot read environment variable APPDATA" to find other solutions.


https://support.microsoft.com/en-us...-not-expand-appdata-to-the-application-folder

Indeed, I looked up than setting on another system and set APPDATA manually, what led to a successful installation. However, the application did not fixed my issue, what is that a selected column (e.g. by Date) is being forgotten. However every directory can have its own setting of layout (e.g. Tiles or Details) and they will be individually preserved.

I suspect something got damaged in the registry. Windows rely too much on thousands of registry settings, instead of simply having the functionality directly coded. The antipodal to the KISS principle: keep it simple, stupid. It will not be easy to identify the issue.

 

[hub2000]

Does not work reliable on two monitors with different scaling Win 1709

Hello,

does anybody know if an update is foreseen?

On my windows 10 it does not work reliable on two monitors with different user scaling due to dpi levels (Win 1709).
The first time i call it, it works, but after some interactions with the windows or other windows the window-workspace stored in Shellfolderfix suddenly do open in different sizes as saved.

I disabled aero snap as potential root cause but it was not the cause.

On a single monitor it works as expected.

I wonder why tehre is really NO application out there which can save pre-definded workspaces (after a two day recherche) including explorer windows and program windows. There are only 80% solutions...

Is there any programmer out there? I will make the marketing and the sales and we could be partners

brg
hub2000

 

[Layback Bear]

You will probable have more help here. Our sister site for W-10.

Windows 10 Forums

Jack

 

[RSMilward]

SFF used to work fine (mostly) on my Win10Pro machine, but as of a week or so ago, it doesn't work for Excel. Any ideas?

 

[kazink]

SFF used to work fine (mostly) on my Win10Pro machine, but as of a week or so ago, it doesn't work for Excel. Any ideas?

As far as I understand, SFF was never supposed to work with programs other than Explorer (folder windows). If it worked for Excel, then it looks like it was something else, not SFF.

 

[Kivlov]

Hello. I've found a small bug in ShellFolderFix 1.1.5 (x64, version with installer). The program was installed in "Program Files" folder (that is right), but when I checked the option "Start automatically on logon", the program added itself in autostart with a wrong path - "Program Files (x86)" folder. So, I have to edit the path to its executable in autostart manually to get it launched automatically.

P.S.: Sorry, if this issue was reported already.