How do I Un-Customize an Un-Customizable folder?

Vista HP.

Some of my program folders now include columns such as "tags" and "rating" -
like a picture folder, yet I cannot "customize" them back... how did Vista
customize itself - and how to I undo it?

Thanks!

Sorry, I really mean un-customize rather than merely change the columns
available - changing columns doesn't seem to be heritable - whereas customize
can flow down to sub-folders.

"Julian" wrote:

> Vista HP.
>
> Some of my program folders now include columns such as "tags" and "rating" -
> like a picture folder, yet I cannot "customize" them back... how did Vista
> customize itself - and how to I undo it?
>
> Thanks!

Open the folder, right click/Customize This Folder/Customize Tab/choose an
appropriate template as you see fit ('All Items' is the generic)/Check "Also
apply this template to all subfolders" if you wish.

--
Maxwell Bluemeanie
----
"Julian" <Julian@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:3E85898E-2A26-475C-AB36-385821BBA10A@microsoft.com...
> Sorry, I really mean un-customize rather than merely change the columns
> available - changing columns doesn't seem to be heritable - whereas
> customize
> can flow down to sub-folders.
>
> "Julian" wrote:
>
>> Vista HP.
>>
>> Some of my program folders now include columns such as "tags" and
>> "rating" -
>> like a picture folder, yet I cannot "customize" them back... how did
>> Vista
>> customize itself - and how to I undo it?
>>
>> Thanks!

Content-sniffing gone awry -- Explorer thought it spotted a picture file :-)

I've written a script that will fix a folder that doesn't allow
customization. Right-click on the link below and select 'Save Target As...'
and save the
zip to your computer. Then unzip & run the script.

http://mysite.verizon.net/res18hr7/...neFix-Vista.zip


--
Good Luck,

Keith
Microsoft MVP [Windows XP Shell/User]

"Julian" <Julian@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:B3071A7E-0B48-454C-9F14-12F4C01823E0@microsoft.com...
> Vista HP.
>
> Some of my program folders now include columns such as "tags" and
> "rating" -
> like a picture folder, yet I cannot "customize" them back... how did Vista
> customize itself - and how to I undo it?
>
> Thanks!

Very many thanks Keith,

"Keith Miller MVP" wrote:

> Content-sniffing gone awry -- Explorer thought it spotted a picture file :-)

LOL!

> I've written a script that will fix a folder that doesn't allow
> customization.

Great - more than I could have asked for! The script fixed the designated
folder... unfortunately "Programs" is quite a deep hierarchy and the next
level down was not affected.

I hesitate to ask you to make it recurse (if dir in scripting works like dir
in VBA it's a pig) but I had a good peek at the script before I ran it
(general paranoia:-) but I can't do it myself.

BTW - if MS listens to MVP's more than mere users, could you possibly (if
you agree!) tell them that preventing things such as customising the
*presentation* of information in certain folders, only causes problems like
this. How Vista got twisted I don't know - but neither you nor I should be
scripting to correct something that ought to be the job of a few clicks in
the UI.

There's a principle here: if you have a feature in one place, it should only
be unavailable elsewhere if it doesn't make sense (in which case you probably
couldn't do it) or it will break something. I can't see what allowing
customisation of the Program folder view could possibly break.

Julian

[BTW I'd really like the default view of Programs to be Details - can't see
how to achieve that either, but it ain't actually broke so I'm not asking]

"Julian" <Julian@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:AEBBDB75-2357-4E13-866F-4EF75E1B261B@microsoft.com...
> Very many thanks Keith,

You're welcome.

> "Keith Miller MVP" wrote:
>
>> I've written a script that will fix a folder that doesn't allow
>> customization.
>
> Great - more than I could have asked for! The script fixed the designated
> folder... unfortunately "Programs" is quite a deep hierarchy and the next
> level down was not affected.
>
> I hesitate to ask you to make it recurse (if dir in scripting works like
> dir
> in VBA it's a pig) but I had a good peek at the script before I ran it
> (general paranoia:-) but I can't do it myself.

I didn't think of making this script affect subfolders. I was thinking more
of System Drive & My Computer when I wrote it. On my install, the
subfolders of the 'Program Files' folder do allow customization, so if they
accidently pick up a picture template, you can change it -- & use the 'Apply
this template to all subfolders' option.

> BTW - if MS listens to MVP's more than mere users, could you possibly (if
> you agree!) tell them that preventing things such as customising the
> *presentation* of information in certain folders, only causes problems
> like
> this. How Vista got twisted I don't know - but neither you nor I should
> be
> scripting to correct something that ought to be the job of a few clicks in
> the UI.

I do agree. And I think I've suggested this -- I will again to make sure.

> There's a principle here: if you have a feature in one place, it should
> only
> be unavailable elsewhere if it doesn't make sense (in which case you
> probably
> couldn't do it) or it will break something. I can't see what allowing
> customisation of the Program folder view could possibly break.

Wouldn't break anything. The view from explorer doesn't affect
functionality at all.

> [BTW I'd really like the default view of Programs to be Details - can't
> see
> how to achieve that either, but it ain't actually broke so I'm not asking]

Well, if the folders haven't decided they're picture folders, they're
probably using the 'All Items' template. That defaults to details, unless
it's been modified by the 'Apply to Folders' option.


--
Good Luck,

Keith
Microsoft MVP [Windows XP Shell/User]

"Keith Miller MVP" wrote:
> I didn't think of making this script affect subfolders. I was thinking more
> of System Drive & My Computer when I wrote it. On my install, the
> subfolders of the 'Program Files' folder do allow customization,

Oops - so do mine! Just another consequence of inconsistency... I *assumed*
that if Programs didn't...

Interestingly, the Template types seem random All Items, Documents,
Pictures, Music... all seem to be represented. I find this all very
worrying...

All fixed now... though after working though them all, checking Program Data
and Windows as well, when I clicked to close that Windows Explorer window...
explorer stopped working (again) - and what REALLY annoys me is that not
every app is sufficiently smart yet to restore it's System Tray
functionality...

<sigh>

> > I can't see what allowing
> > customisation of the Program folder view could possibly break.
>
> Wouldn't break anything. The view from explorer doesn't affect
> functionality at all.

Thanks for the confirmation!

Your help was MUCH appreciated! Keep up the excellent work!

Julian