ShellFolderFix - Manage folder window positions/size

[tweaker]

I've made a copy of ShellFolderFix.db... Is this the file you would need to see to determine what's being written in there?

Yes that's the one. Did you do a "Save Database Now" or exit before copying it?

 

[epressman617]

Thanks!!!

This issue was driving me crazy, and the thought of having to pay for a fix after just shelling out for new components really hurt, especially since it should be included by MS anyway. I can't even say how much I appreciate this fix! I look forward to any further features like remembering view settings within folders, but even if you don't do anything like that, you still rock!

 

[NoelC]

Yes that's the one. Did you do a "Save Database Now" or exit before copying it?

Unfortunately no, I wasn't aware that I needed to do so. I'll do that next time.

-Noel

 

[NoelC]

File with corrupted data captured

Okay, it's happened again. Here's the file (let me know when you've got it and I'll take it back offline).

-Noel

 

[tweaker]

ok downloaded it (will have a look a bit later)

 

[NoelC]

Just for reference with that file it happened when opening C:\

Also remember that I am opening these windows minimized, to avoid the jumping from one place to another on the screen that I see if I open them normally.

I've had it happen 3 times today. I can only guess that your software is picking up the size/shape/whatever when the window is minimized. I am going to change the shortcuts to open them normally again and see what happens.

-Noel

 

[NoelC]

As a follow-up, it hasn't happened again since I changed the shortcuts not to start Explorer minimized. A brief flash of the window in a different position is easily ignored.

-Noel

 

[tweaker]

aha, maybe some kind of "collision", if the timing is unlucky, when the window is getting set up and minimized while at the same time someone else tries to set pos/size. I'll try opening a minimized shortcut now and then, maybe it'll happen for me too so I can debug.

 

[NoelC]

As a workaround, can you avoid writing values to the database if the size/shape is impossible under normal conditions? That way at least the last valid position would be used.

I know it's hard to tell if the position is off-screen, but these windows are getting sized to an impossibly small value as well. When I do reveal them, they're only big enough to show just the upper-left corner of the Navigation pane. Drag the lower-right corner of an Explorer window up-left until you can make the window no smaller - that's what I see. I'm sure you're seeing the small size values in the database.

Oh, and for what it's worth, on TechNet I'm hearing people not using your tool reporting the occasional opening of Explorer windows off-screen. It may not be something your tool is doing at all, but rather a Windows bug that you are then propagating to subsequent window positioning. Food for thought.

-Noel

 

[chuck1]

Great app!

Thanks so much for ShellFolderFix - I am a new Windows 7 user and have recently found this - it has been a great help. I was wondering if there is any way to regain the ability (as in Windows XP) to have the navigation pane present in some folders but not all? This is an additional Windows 7 frustration. I would like to be able to see the navigation pane for certain folder applications, but have it hidden for others. In other words, I would like to be able to customize each folder's settings and not affect other folders. For some applications I would like to only see icons and no toolbars. In other cases, I'd like to see the navigation pane as well as toolbars. This was all very easy and intuitive to accomplish with Windows XP - it seems as thought there should be some way to accomplish this in Windows 7. Any suggestions would be appreciated - would there be any way to add this to ShellFolderFix? 'Cause it really is UnFixed the way it is!

Thanks again.

 

[tweaker]

As a workaround, can you avoid writing values to the database if the size/shape is impossible under normal conditions? That way at least the last valid position would be used.

I looked at the db, interestingly enough windows reports that window as being minimized. So it ends up in some limbo state where it's minimized but isn't.

I'll try to add some filtering to avoid db updates of degenerate window positions. In your db that window has a pos of -32000,-32000. I'll have to double check with windows documentation to make sure there is no valid situation where a window gets that position first though. (If that works you'd have to close the offscreen window and open it again to have to be shown correctly.)

Interesting that offscreen windows is happening to other people, that gives a little hope that it might be something that MS could fix in an update.

I was wondering if there is any way to regain the ability (as in Windows XP) to have the navigation pane present in some folders but not all?

Currently it has no effect on the view mode or pane layout, it only affects the position and size of the windows. I'd like to add that functionality though, but don't know if it's going to be possible.

 

[chuck1]

I was wondering if there is any way to regain the ability (as in Windows XP) to have the navigation pane present in some folders but not all?

Currently it has no effect on the view mode or pane layout, it only affects the position and size of the windows. I'd like to add that functionality though, but don't know if it's going to be possible.

If anyone can do it you can! This would really be a great complement to your already fantastic work on restoring sanity to working with folders in Windows 7. Any progress to this end would truly be appreciated.

 

[RDA1959]

Dear Tweaker,
A friend brought your app to my attention. Perhaps I missed something, but will your program allow me to auto-arrange the content within an Explorer window? For some of my windows, I would prefer to arrange things chronologically, rather than the alphabetical default. Keeping my fingers crossed...

 

[tweaker]

I'm sorry it won't, at least not currently. I don't know if it's going to be possible, but if it is I'd want that myself.

 

[fan7]

I'm new and in formations I found here is excellent.
This is one of them.

 

[MrDeviance]

Hey, major stuff happening here Why has the ability to deactivate Auto Arrange been removed in Windows 7?
Somebody has found a fix on how to remove auto arrange icons in folders!
Tweaker maybe you can check that fix out, it's near the last comments on that page and maybe you can take part in that or add something new to your app?
Hope this post is going to help with something!

 

[tweaker]

Thanks. Just from quickly looking I got the impression that it was the same as this, but I'll have a closer look later.

 

[RDA1959]

Hi Tweaker,
I just re-read my post from yesterday. Although I wrote "will your program allow me to auto-arrange the content within an Explorer window...", I actually meant manually arrange. Just thought I'd clarify...

 

[tweaker]

yeah I understood what you meant

 

[PR1ME]

Current release 1.1.1:

Yo Tweaker, Just DLed your little app and it seems to be working. I almost feel like I'm on a civilized computer again.

Any chance of making a Portable version to run off flashdrives? Cos you know those USB sticks never save their window settings.

Thanks.