Explorer "Edit File Type" dialog Edit/Remove buttons grayed out

[Guest]

I am using WinXP SP2 with all the latest updates installed.

When I go to Windows Explorer "Folder Options/Edit File Type/File
Folder/Advanced" dialog, the Edit and Remove buttons are grayed out. But the
New and Set Default buttons are not grayed out.

If I then add a new entry to that specific dialog, the new entry will appear
in the context menu when I right click on a folder in Explorer. The problem
is I did that but I mistyped the command. So I couldn't edit it or even
remove it from Edit File Type because the Edit and Remove buttons are
unavailable.

Ok, so I went into the Registry and found the offending command in a subkey
of HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Directory\shell and I modified it to what I wanted it to
be. All is still well and good to this point. But...

Then I discovered that this change effected Explorer behaviors in a way
unexpected--I wonder how many others have discovered this. I found that
the change works as expected when I click a folder in the left pane--the
folder window. But it does not work the same when I click a folder in the
right pane--the file list window.

So as a result, I really I have two questions:

1) How can I get the "Folder Options/Edit File Type/File Folder/Advanced"
dialog Edit and Remove buttons to be not grayed out and thus available?
(Would have saved me from having to search and edit the Registry.)

2) How can I get the same right click context menu behaviors in both panes
of Explorer?

I think in both cases, it will involve some illusive entries in the
Registry. And I am suspicious that there are two sets of similar keysets and
entries in the Registry--one for the left pane context menu and a nearly
identical one for the right pane. But as of yet I have not found such.

Any thoughts appreciated!
Bill

PS: And one more little frustrating discovery about Edit File Type was that
once you have set one of the options as the default, you cannot undo that to
where there is no default. You can only change it so that one of the entries
is the default. At least it can't be done without editing it in the Registry.

 

[Guest]

Some additional discoveries since first post...
The following Registry Key sets are probably involved somehow:

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Directory\shell
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Folder\shell
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\Folder\shell

But I am not sure yet which one does what. But I am aware that some changes
made in on set of keys is automatically changed in the other set. In one of
the key sets, I changed the default back and forth between open and explore
and it was automatically changed in another set of keys as well.

I need someone who is more methodical than me to deduce which set of keys
controls what actions.

 

[Ramesh, MS-MVP]

Bill,

Altering the "File Folder" via Folder Options dialog always cause this. To
set to default state, goto this key:

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Directory\shell

In the right-pane, double-click default and type "none" without quotes.

To fix this automatically, type this command in Start/Run (courtesy of David
Candy)

regsvr32 /i shell32

What happens when you double-click a folder?

Side-effect after modifying "File Folder" via Folder Options dialog:
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=321186

 

[Guest]

Hi Ramesh,

Thanks for your quick response!

I had already changed HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Directory\shell to "none" (no quotes).

I had seen that suggestion in several previous Google and Microsoft.com
searches. It did not clear up the problem behavior.

I have Explorer set so that single clicks do the same as double clicks. Both
when I single- or double-click a folder in the right side panel, it "Opens" a
new window with that folder. And I specifically mean Open as opposed to
Explore. The new window that opens does not have a folder pane on the left.
And yes, I do have "Browse Folders" set to "Open each folder in the same
window". But that is not what is happening.

HOWEVER, since beginning this reply, I came up with the solution
accidentally. I went back into the Edit File Type dialog and modified the
"Folder" entry (as opposed to the "File Folder" entry) and marked "Explore"
as the default. The previous default was "Open".

When I exited, suddenly all behaviors are as I expected and desired. When I
click/double click on a folder in the right pane, a new window does not open
and the folder I clicked becomes active and opens to the list of files in
that folder.

I am sure glad that is fixed as it was very frustrating! I am also sure that
part of the reason I ran into this problem initially is because the
programmers were not very clear about the difference between "Folder" vs,
"File Folder" in that list. I assume that "File Folders" references the left
pane and "Folders" references the right pane. Somehow that needs to be
clarified as to which does what.

And I still don't have an answer as to why the "Folder Options/Edit File
Type/File Folder/Advanced" dialog Edit and Remove buttons are grayed out and
thus not available? That would have saved me from having to search and edit
the Registry.

Again MUCH thanks for your response.
Bill

 

[Keith Miller]

To allow editing and deletion of verbs for folder, go to:

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Folder

and modify the 'EditFlags' value from 0x000003d2 to 0x00000312

if it looks like: d2 03 00 00, change it to 12 03 00 00

If it's a different value, the important thing is to subtract 0x00000c0 or c0 00 00 00 depending on whether the editflags value is stored a binary or a dword.

google 'editflags' for more info on this value.

Good Luck,
Keith

 

[Guest]

Hi Keith,

Thanks for that info! That worked perfectly for the "Folder" item. The Edit
and Remove buttons are no longer grayed out and were now available.

Now what about the "File Folder" item. It still has those buttons grayed out
and not available. I could not find a similar "File Folder" entry in that
section of the Registry.

Bill

 

[Keith Miller]

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Directory = "File Folder"

 

[Guest]

Thanks again Keith ! However, the value is different this time.

In your previous reply, you said: "modify the 'EditFlags' value from
0x000003d2 to 0x00000312". When I went there I found a value of 3d2 and I
changed it to 312 which worked.

Now my value for Directory/EditFlags is 101d2. What should I change it to?
312 ???

Bill

 

[Keith Miller]

10112

 

[Ramesh, MS-MVP]

Bill,

Follow Keith's advice. The EditFlags value determines the setting (Edit &
Remove buttons).

FILETYPEATTRIBUTEFLAGS:
http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/d...ll/reference/enums/filetypeattributeflags.asp

 

[Guest]

Ramesh and Keith,

Thanks so much guys! That fixes my problems.

Another case where the original programmers were attempting to protect the
user from himself--not always a bad idea But in this case it actually
backfired and caused more problems than it prevented.

Be well,
Bill

 

[Ramesh, MS-MVP]

You're welcome Bill.