How to Customize Common Open File Dialog Box Places Bar in Windows

   Information

When you save or open a file in an application that uses Windows common dialog box, the Places bar on the left side of the dialog box can help you navigate quicker to a location.

This will show you how to customize the list of items displayed in the Places Bar in the Windows XP style common open file dialog box (ex: Save As, Open) for all users in Vista, Windows 7, and Windows 8.

You can specify from 1 to 5 items to be displayed in the Places Bar.

   Note

The valid items you may display in the Places Bar are:

1) Shortcuts (full path) to a local folder -- (ex. C:\Windows)
NOTE: Do not include full path in quotes.

2) Shortcuts (full path) to remote folders -- (\\server\share)

3) FTP folders

4) web folders

5) Shell Commands in Windows 7 or Windows 8 for locations

6) Common Shell folders -- (examples)

• MyComputerFolder
• MyDocuments
• MyFavorites
• MyMusic
• MyPictures
• MyNetworkPlaces
• MyFavorites
• CommonDocuments
• CommonMusic
• CommonPictures
• Desktop
• Printers
• ProgramFiles
• Recent
• shell:desktop
• shell:documentsLibrary
• shell:Libraries
• shell:MusicLibrary
• shell:PicturesLibrary
• shell:VideosLibrary
• shell:MyComputerFolder

EXAMPLE: Default and Custom Places Bar Items in Common Open File Dialog Box
NOTE: These will be the smaller Windows XP (ex: Browse type) common dialog box style windows that have shortcut icons (places) instead of the normal Navigation Pane that has a folder tree.

OPTION ONE

Customize Places Bar using the Local Group Policy Editor

1. Open the all users, specific users or groups, or all users except administrators Local Group Policy Editor for how you want this policy applied.

2. In the left pane, click/tap on to expand User Configuration, Administrative Templates, Windows Components, Windows Explorer (Vista and Windows 7) or File Explorer (Windows 8), and Common Open File Dialog. (see screenshot below)

3. In the right pane of Common Open File Dialog, double click/tap on Items displayed in Places Bar to edit it. (see screenshot above)

4. To Restore Default Items Displayed in the Places Bar

A) Select (dot) either Not Configured or Disabled. (see screenshot below step 6)

B) Go to step 6.

5. To Customize Items to be Displayed in the Places Bar

A) Select (dot) Enabled. (see screenshot below step 6)

B) Under Options, you can type in up to 5 separate items (locations) for Places to display. (see screenshot below step 6)
NOTE: See the NOTE box at the top of the tutorial for more on valid items you may display in the Places Bar.

6. Click/tap on OK. (see screenshot below)

7. Close the Local Group Policy Editor window.

OPTION TWO

To Customize Places Bar Manually in Registry Editor

1. Press the Windows + R keys to open the Run dialog, type regedit, and press enter.

2. If prompted by UAC, click/tap on Yes (Windows 7/8) or Continue (Vista).

3. In regedit, navigate to the location below. (see screenshot below)

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies

4. To Customize Items to be Displayed in the Places Bar

A) In the left pane, right click on Policies, and click/tap on New and Key. (see screenshot below)

B) Type comdlg32, and press enter. Right click on comdlg32, and click/tap on New and Key. (see screenshot below)
NOTE: If you already have the comdlg32 key, then you can skip on to step 4C below.

C) Type Placesbar, and press enter. (see screenshot below step 4D)

D) In the right pane of Placesbar, right click or press and hold on an empty space, and click/tap on New and String Value. (see screenshot below)

E) You can specify up to 5 places, so type Place0, Place1, Place2, Place3, or Place4 for each one you would like to customize, and press Enter. (see screenshot below)

F) Repeat steps 4D and 4E to add each Place# string value for how many custom places you wanted to be displayed as items in the Places Bar.

G) In the right pane, double click/tap on the Place# to modify it. Type in the item location that you want to have displayed in the Places Bar, and click/tap on OK. Repeat for each Place# that you have added in step 4E above. (see screenshot below)
NOTE: See the NOTE box at the top of the tutorial for more on valid items you may display in the Places Bar.

H) Go to step 6.

5. To Restore Default Items Displayed in the Places Bar

A) In the left pane, right click on Placesbar, and click/tap on Delete. (see screenshot below)

B) Click/tap on Yes to approve deletion. (see screenshot below)

6. Close regedit.

That's it,
Shawn

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