Folder Template - Default

Hello Noel, and thank you.

You should be able to set the width you like for a column in a folder, then close it. Whenever you open that specific folder from that specific location (ex: Start menu vs Windows Explorer) next, it should be set the same as it was when last closed.

Hope this helps,
Shawn

Noel,

As an example, you can open your "My Music" user folder from the Start Menu location and set it how you like. It will remember that setting from that location as it was when last closed, but your setting will not be set at the "C:\User\(user-name)\My Music" location though. Only from the Start Menu location.

Setting folder view settings will not change the size of anything since it's just a setting and not a file.

A system image will create a complete clone of the Windows 7 system drive, so all your settings will be saved in the image as well.

You're most welcome Noel. :)

Brink said:

Hello Berryman,

Correct, you can do only step 2 for the "General Items" template for what you want. :)

Hi Brink;

I'm at work on an XP box so I have not had a chance to try this tutorial - I'm hopeful it will fix what has been a major Win7 annoyance for me.

In XP, I first set the view for all folders to be the way I want it, essentially all possible details. But, in XP, if for example in a particular folder I choose Thumbnails, that folder will always show thumbnails (until I change it to something else). I'd like to make Win 7 behave this way.

From reading your tutorial, I plan to use the reg file to set the default view for all folders to General, then customize the General view to have all the columns I want (for example, NO "Date" but YES "Date Modified" ! - grrrr - )

At that point, if I understand correctly, any folder I open in Explorer will look the same and Win 7 will not try to decide for me what view I want! (BTW I only use Explorer, never Start, to view a folder).

But, if I then go to a particular folder, set it to thumbnails, perhaps add some columns, will that "stick" with that (and only that!) folder?

I just want Win 7 to behave like XP when it come to Explorer folder views.

Thanks for all your patient work in this forum, could not deal with Win 7's annoyances without your help!

Steve

Hello Steve,

The thumbnail previews setting is separate from folder views, and will not be affected by the REG file in this tutorial.

If you want all folders to look the same, then you would want to do the tutorial below instead first.

Folder View - Set a Default for All Folders

Hope this helps,
Shawn

Brink said:

Hello Steve,

The thumbnail previews setting is separate from folder views, and will not be affected by the REG file in this tutorial.

If you want all folders to look the same, then you would want to do the tutorial below instead first.

Folder View - Set a Default for All Folders

Hope this helps,
Shawn

Hi;

OK, I used the General_Items_Folder_Templates.reg to set the default to General, thinking it would be the closest to what I use with XP. Then following the tutorial, I navigated to /Users/Public. But, I don't see folder there that looks like General Items - I see Public Desktop, Public Documents, Public Downloads, Public Music, Public Pictures and Public Videos.

Sorry to be so needy! I can sense I am close.

Thanks,

Steve

General Items is a folder template and not a actual folder. The REG file set the folder template of all folders to be General Items.

Be sure that you are reading everything in the tutorial to help be clear and not make a mistake.

Brink said:

General Items is a folder template and not a actual folder. The REG file set the folder template of all folders to be General Items.

Be sure that you are reading everything in the tutorial to help be clear and not make a mistake.

I guess I'm missing something.

I have been carefully reading and re-reading the various tutorials related to folder views and I'm just getting more and more confused.

I started with this Seven Forums Tutorial:
Folder View - Set a Default for All Folders

I followed the instructions in Step 1 and used the .reg file to set General Items as the Default Folder Template:

1. Set a default folder template that you want to have all Windows Explorer folders to use.
NOTE: You can choose between having General Items, Documents, Pictures, Music, or Video as the default folder template for all folders.

Step was was easy, so I then I moved to Step 2.

2. Now that all folders have the same folder template set in step 1, apply the folder view to all folders.

I was not sure what was meant by "the folder view" - which view? Is there a view built into the template? But, I followed the link and tried to proceed.

The link led me to this step:

Here's How: 1. Navigate to the folder that you want to apply it's folder views to all folders with the same folder template as it. (see screenshots below)
NOTE: For example, C:\Users\Public\Public Pictures\Sample Pictures that has the Pictures folder template by default.

The first sentence did not make much sense, but I proceeded. The example made me think I needed to find a folder that used the General Items Template in C:\Users\Public. I was not certain why the tutorial directed me to the C:\Users\Public branch of the Win 7 file system - the name of that folder made me think it was some Win 7 system-folder, the contents of which had special, mysterious significance and control over Win 7. Further down the page, I read this:

3. When done, open Folder Options from within this same folder (step 1) window and not through the Control Panel or from another folder.

The "or from another folder" reinforced my conclusion that the C:\Users\Public folders had some special significance... perhaps not?

So:

Question (1) - do I just open any folder, anywhere in the file system, make sure it is set to "Optimize this folder for:" "General Items" and then fully customize it the way I want all folders to look? Does it mater if I choose "apply to subfolders?"

Question (2) - assuming the answer to Q1 is yes, then, if at a later time, I open up a folder (which will be optimized for General Items, because all folders have the General Items template) and change it to a thumbnail view, will that view then affect all folders? (Please keep in mind I am trying to get Win 7 to mimic the way XP remembers folder settings; a default Details view for all folders, unless I change a specific folder)

Thanks again ...

Steve