I know how you can adjust all folders of a type,
but I don't know if there's software available.
I've never used any of the templates, as I like all
folders to show small icons. So I'm not sure whether
what you're seeing is typical or not. I do know that
the whole folder customizing functionality is buggy
and malfunctioning in XP. And the option to make all
folders display like the current folder only applies to
the view type.
The way it all works is that when you open a folder
it gets recorded here:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\ShellNoRoam\Bags\
The key
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\ShellNoRoam\BagMRU\
is an index to the Bags keys. When a folder is opened the path is
recorded in a binary value under the BagMRU key, with a NodeSlot
value that points to a subkey of Bags. The subkeys of Bags are
numbered, with each having a Shell subkey. The Shell key records
folder settings for that specific folder. But there's a giant bug that
Microsoft never bothered to fix: Explorer can read the settings
from the Shell key, but it doesn't because it didn't record them
properly in the first place!
You would need to write software or a script to do this job.
If you're interested, see here:
http://www.jsware.net/jsware/xpfix.php5#folfix
It's a script utility that I wrote to fix all folder windows
and make Explorer remember. It doesn't do exactly what
you want, but it could be adapted -- and there's enough
explanation in the download to work it out. First you'd need
to use something like Regmon to watch the Registry while
you set up a music folder the way you like it. You'd need to
identify the number of the key under Bags that corresponds
to that folder. Then open the Registry and look at the Shell
subkey for that key:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\ShellNoRoam\Bags\#\Shell\
where # is the number of the key for the folder you've
just adjusted.
Under the Shell key you need to get (at least) the
values for:
FolderType
ColInfo
Mode
Vid
FFlags
WFlags
WinPos*
You would then need to copy those values to all other
Shell subkeys with the same FolderType value. If you use
the same settings for other keys you should get the same
columns. Some settings determine the folder view details
(like ColInfo) while others are required for Explorer to pay
attention in the first place.
I'm sorry this is so complex. It might not be a realistic
undertaking. But I don't know of any other way, and since
no one has offered an easier solution, this may be the only
option.
--
|I cannot get the Folder Option Templates to work in XP. I have reset all
| folders which reverts all folders to "document template". I then right
| click on a folder, select properties, select customize then select
| music. I then select and arrange the columns the way I want them for
| this template. When I change another folder to the music template the
| columns do not change. No matter what template I chooose the columns
| never change. Am I missing something? Isn't this what the templates are
| suppose to be for? I am using XP Pro. Is there a free utility I can use
| to setup the folder columns instead of having to manually change them in
| every music folder I have (which are hundreds).
|
| Thanx