How do I save my workspace in Windows Explorer (XP Home, SP1), so that the same folders always extend when I open WinExplorer, and the same folders stay retracted?
(Windows is sooo anti-individualistic and anti-customization , it’s hard to believe in an age where individualism is one of our society’s highest values. [I just had to say that. ])

Thanks for any help.

JungleWriter

Originally posted by JungleWriter:

"How do I save my workspace in Windows Explorer (XP Home, SP1), so that the same folders always extend when I open WinExplorer, and the same folders stay retracted?
(Windows is sooo anti-individualistic and anti-customization , it’s hard to believe in an age where individualism is one of our society’s highest values. [I just had to say that. ])

Thanks for any help.

JungleWriter"

I built in settings like that into my "APK System Tools for Windows 2002++ SR-6" (the ability to open Explorer.exe to certain folders in its code that you set as your FAVORITES).

To do this without an executable like my toolset provides, you need to know explorer.exe switches & to change the shortcut you use (.lnk on your desktop etc. & off of your say, start menus or toolbars on the startbar... not hard, bear with me because I will put up the commandlines for that next time I come in here on edit (have to find them for you, brb)).



* EDIT PART -> EXPLORER [/n,] [/e,] [options] [folder]

Examples:

/e, - Opens expanded folder

/root - Selects a folder as the root of the explorer tree

/Select - Displays a folder's parent directory

The default Explorer setting is EXPLORER.EXE /n, /e, C:\

APK

APK, you left me in awe, what shall I say. I have not much idea what you are talking about, but I am willing to learn.
OK, what I want to do is this.
1. I want to save all my files under C:\MyDocs (so that the amount of subdirectories and their name lengths are kept to a minimum) (MyDocs is NOT the My Documents.)
I do not want to save them (as XP is making me do) under C:\Documents and Settings\Jonathan & Mary-Lou Schneider\My Documents (with Jonathan & Mary-Lou being the names I entered when setting up/ registering XP).
2. I want this folder MyDocs to expand every time I open the Windows Explorer.
3. I want this folder MyDocs to be on top of the folders list, not the Desktop, not My Computer, etc.

So, where do I open Explorer for editing and messing with these switches you listed in your mail? How do I do it? Thanks for getting this for me.

JungleWriter

Originally posted by JungleWriter:

"APK, you left me in awe, what shall I say. I have not much idea what you are talking about, but I am willing to learn...So, where do I open Explorer for editing and messing with these switches you listed in your mail? How do I do it? Thanks for getting this for me. "

SOME BACKGROUND INFORMATION THEN:

When you use Explorer.exe from say, your START BUTTON menus, from inside the Accessories folder in there where it normally resides, when you start it? The icon you click on is called a "ShortCut" (a file that has a .lnk extension, in this case, explorer.lnk)... that can be 'right-mouse-button-clicked' to produce a popup menu, & from the items on that popup menu there is one you will use called PROPERTIES (select it). A screen will popup that allows you to alter the properties of explorer.lnk shortcut file to make it ALWAYS open to C:\MyDocs as you use it (any other shortcuts you have for explorer.exe filemanager on your desktop for instance, you will also do the same to if you want them to behave in this manner as well).

Originally posted by JungleWriter:

"OK, what I want to do is this. 1. I want to save all my files under C:\MyDocs (so that the amount of subdirectories and their name lengths are kept to a minimum) (MyDocs is NOT the My Documents.)
I do not want to save them (as XP is making me do) under C:\Documents and Settings\Jonathan & Mary-Lou Schneider\My Documents (with Jonathan & Mary-Lou being the names I entered when setting up/ registering XP)."

This you will have to search the forums for ShellFolders: Those are the defaults the system gives you for files locations. You can either hack the registry for those changing their default location using regedit.exe (but, you will have to lookup the paths for that here in the forums, as I don't have them handy right now to paste here & don't remember the path to follow thru the registry either to get to them for editing offhand @ the drop of a hat etc.).

Here they are (EDIT PART) just for your reference anyhow:

http://www.jsiinc.com/SUBE/tip2300/rh2365.htm

OR, you can use Microsoft's "TweakUI" PowerToy free download - It lets you edit the path to the MyDocuments folder in its GENERAL tab easily: Point-n-Click EASY mind you, rather than registry hive & folder spelunking & hand-typing editing.

Nice part about this for you as well? When you save documents outta say, MS-Word? The Save/Open dialogs SHOULD technically also conform to this new location as well... good deal, eh?

Originally posted by JungleWriter:

"2. I want this folder MyDocs to expand every time I open the Windows Explorer."

Change the target currently in explorer.exe shortcut .lnk files above as I mention above, by right-clicking on the shortcuts you have for explorer.exe that you use to this:

EXPLORER.EXE /n, /e, C:\MyDocs

For kicks, so you can see what I mean - Try run that from the START button, RUN command... you'll see what I mean! It will open RIGHT to the C:\MyDocs folder/directory off the root of C:\ diskdrive. So, once you change the shortcut targets for Explorer.exe in your desktop shell & menus? You will have what you want!

Originally posted by JungleWriter:

"3. I want this folder MyDocs to be on top of the folders list, not the Desktop, not My Computer, etc."

(This I am not sure you can do or not... I have had it happen, but it was quite by accident believe it or not here. It happened once here unintentionally, but I do NOT know now! HOWEVER, by changing the SHELL FOLDERS using TweakUI above? That MAY just do it by default!)



APK

P.S.=> Believe me when I say this: The guys @ Microsoft? They're NOT lame fools, & know what they're doing - hence, probably why they rule the desktop & a LARGE portion of the server-oriented world as well! Their family of Operating Systems are JUST as customizable as Linux easily if not MORESO, but like in Linux, you have to do a few things yourself to play with it... When you come RIGHT down to it? NT based Os' from MS like NT/2000/XP/2003 are based off of Digital Equipment's VAX VMS/OpenVMS designs, which was designed by David Cutler (who now works @ MS since 1991 or so & designed NT)... & VMS? NOT THAT DIFF. FROM UNIX really, @ least @ the commandline terminals level (alot like how similar DOS & CPM before it are similar in commandline structures) & also in terms of how it operates as well (& only reboots like once every 10 years, it is THAT stable). I used to use VMS thru the 80's with UNIXES & it is AMAZING how similar the commandline terminal console sessions commands are to UNIX ones!


APKINDEX - ShellFolders ... apk

[Edited by Alec§taar on 2004-07-12 09:56:25]

APK,

thanks for all that good info. Sorry for replying so late, but work on my desk is about as high as my notebook screen when opened up..., so it'll be some more time before I'll try to make these changes.
Nice to know that people out there care, even if we never have/will meet. Thanks!
Have a crash- and virusfree day!
JungleWriter

Originally posted by JungleWriter:

"APK,
thanks for all that good info."

No problem, lol, I had to "rescue Microsoft" when I heard you say that essentially they 'lock you in, now in this enlightened 21st century, a time of individuality' etc.!

It'll all work too... & better than you expected, especially the alteration of the Shell Folders in addition to changing your existing Explorer.exe/Explorer.lnk shortcuts for that file mgt. tool included in NT4/2000/XP/2003 Server.

Originally posted by JungleWriter:

"Sorry for replying so late, but work on my desk is about as high as my notebook screen when opened up..., so it'll be some more time before I'll try to make these changes."

No problem, & again: They'll work, just as you want them to in fact with bonus in that apps will respond to it as well, especially in their File Open/Save etc. dialogs also! The whole OS & your programs (& not just Explorer.lnk shortcuts as a bonus)...

Originally posted by JungleWriter:

"Nice to know that people out there care, even if we never have/will meet. Thanks!"

I try to, & it's good practice for me to help others too, not totally 'altruistic', & good review of points in detail I may have forgotten over time & all that!

(I believe in former President Bill Clinton's view of being of service to others too... he's one of my personal 'heroes' out there today in the "real world" outside of 'The MaTrIx' here online because what goes around? Always comes around...)

Originally posted by JungleWriter:

"
Have a crash- and virusfree day!
JungleWriter"

Will do... I think I will, especially since I have not sucked in a virus for YEARS now, or been hacked in nearly a decade because of how my system is tweaked/setup from this article in my signature:

APK SYSTEM SECURITY TUNING GUIDE:
==============================================

http://www.avatar.demon.nl/APK.html

APK SYSTEM SPEEDUP TUNING GUIDE (evolution of article #1 here @ NTCompatible.com in fact... way improved!):
==============================================

http://www.avatar.demon.nl/APKTuneup.html

All of that in those 2 articles? REALLY Works, & speeds you up as well as securing you via what I call my "100,000++ MegaVolt ForceField Secure Setup" I outline there & how to do it... dual bonus! Takes around 1/2 hour to implement using tools like notepad.exe &/or regedit.exe... & way worth it!

(If you get into this stuff, the tweaking of your system? You'll love those articles BIGTIME large...)

* Enjoy!

APK