Explorer treeview +/-

[Bob Butler]

When the folders pane is displayed in Explorer under Vista the +/- icons are
only visible while the mouse is over that pane. If the mouse is moved to
the toolbar or the details pane or anywhere else all the visible cues as to
which folder has sub folders are lost. Is there any way to make those
remain visible at all times? Failing that, can anybody give any reason why
they'd want this information should be hidden most of the time?

 

[Michael Solomon]

When the folders pane is displayed in Explorer under Vista the +/- icons
are only visible while the mouse is over that pane. If the mouse is moved
to the toolbar or the details pane or anywhere else all the visible cues
as to which folder has sub folders are lost. Is there any way to make
those remain visible at all times? Failing that, can anybody give any
reason why they'd want this information should be hidden most of the time?

Actually, it is more of an arrow than a +/- sign and as you've surmised,
what you are seeing is by design. I'd only be guessing at why they did it
and it would likely take a registry hack to change it. It's possible some
theme package might make the change. Check out WindowBlinds,
http://www.stardock.com/products/windowblinds/
Or, do a Google search on Windows Themes or Vista Themes.

 

[Val]

When the folders pane is displayed in Explorer under Vista the +/- icons
are only visible while the mouse is over that pane. If the mouse is moved
to the toolbar or the details pane or anywhere else all the visible cues
as to which folder has sub folders are lost. Is there any way to make
those remain visible at all times? Failing that, can anybody give any
reason why they'd want this information should be hidden most of the time?

Actually, it is more of an arrow than a +/- sign and as you've surmised,
what you are seeing is by design. I'd only be guessing at why they did it
and it would likely take a registry hack to change it. It's possible some
theme package might make the change. Check out WindowBlinds,
http://www.stardock.com/products/windowblinds/
Or, do a Google search on Windows Themes or Vista Themes.

--
Michael Solomon
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Oh, great. Another change for the sake of change. Hadn't notice that
before, don't usually use the nav pane.

Is there anyone, ANYONE, out there that will claim to have asked for a valid
visual clue to be eliminated/hidden like this? Wouldn't you think it
further complicates the Explorer coding to have to decide if the arrow
should be shown or not? That means always tracking where the mouse pointer
is, when it enters or leaves the nav pane.

Add another point to the negative pile.

Val

 

[Bob Butler]

Actually, it is more of an arrow than a +/- sign and as you've surmised,
what you are seeing is by design. I'd only be guessing at why they did it
and it would likely take a registry hack to change it. It's possible some
theme package might make the change. Check out WindowBlinds,
http://www.stardock.com/products/windowblinds/
Or, do a Google search on Windows Themes or Vista Themes.

Thanks, I've actually got it set to Windows Classic so it is a +/- for me
and I forgot that they changed that as well. As you noted, the quetion
still holds. Somebody went out of their way to add this "feature" which as
far as I can see has no upside.

 

[Michael Solomon]

Thanks, I've actually got it set to Windows Classic so it is a +/- for me
and I forgot that they changed that as well. As you noted, the quetion
still holds. Somebody went out of their way to add this "feature" which
as far as I can see has no upside.

I agree, Bob, especially if that fade in/fade approach holds for classic
view. That said, as one who once lived in Explorer, I rarely use it now
that I have Vista. I have found far more convenient ways to navigate around
and I also find using Computer in a similar fashion to the way I once used
Explorer a better more efficient way to operate; that, in conjunction with
using the favorite links.

If you open the computer folder, you'll both a folder list and favorite
links. Plus, the down arrows in the address bar above the toolbar also
offer useful ways to navigate. Sometimes moving up in a folder, sub-folder
to say the next sub-folder above can be a bit awkward but I may not have
found a simple way to do that yet...maybe its in the help system
somewhere...I didn't get a manual so I have to um, er, Explore!

Still, I'm with you on this, the fact I rarely use it anymore does not
change the fact the plus and minus are useful at a glance navigation tools
which should not have been eliminated simply for cosmetic reasons. At the
very least, they should have left the arrow always visible.

 

[Bob Butler]

I agree, Bob, especially if that fade in/fade approach holds for classic
view. That said, as one who once lived in Explorer, I rarely use it now
that I have Vista. I have found far more convenient ways to navigate
around and I also find using Computer in a similar fashion to the way I
once used Explorer a better more efficient way to operate; that, in
conjunction with using the favorite links.

If you open the computer folder, you'll both a folder list and favorite
links.

Not sure I understand you here... opening "Computer" *is* Explorer, just a
slightly different way to start it.

Plus, the down arrows in the address bar above the toolbar also offer
useful ways to navigate. Sometimes moving up in a folder, sub-folder to
say the next sub-folder above can be a bit awkward but I may not have
found a simple way to do that yet...maybe its in the help system
somewhere...I didn't get a manual so I have to um, er, Explore!

Still, I'm with you on this, the fact I rarely use it anymore does not
change the fact the plus and minus are useful at a glance navigation tools
which should not have been eliminated simply for cosmetic reasons. At the
very least, they should have left the arrow always visible.

I can understand making it an option, but like removing the underscores from
the accelerator keys, all this does is make the interface provide less
information and that makes it harder to use.

 

[Michael Solomon]

Not sure I understand you here... opening "Computer" *is* Explorer, just a
slightly different way to start it.

If you open Windows Explorer, in the left pane you get your with the folder
list below in the left pane with the sub-folders of the folder which is
selected in Explorer when it opens. If you wish to see your other drives,
you have to scroll to computer and open it or expand it.

If you open computer, you open with your drives in the right pane and
Favorite Links and Folder list in the left pane. It does open on the
computer folder but I find this quicker and easier to navigate around than I
do in Explorer.

In Explorer, you start with folders but in Computer, the drives visible on
open and your folder list is there as well, readily available.

 

[Bob Butler]

If you open Windows Explorer, in the left pane you get your with the
folder list below in the left pane with the sub-folders of the folder
which is selected in Explorer when it opens. If you wish to see your
other drives, you have to scroll to computer and open it or expand it.

Ah, I see what you are saying. I start Explorer via a shortcut that has:
C:\Windows\explorer.exe c:\
so it starts with the C drive open, all the rest of the drives visible in
the folder tree on the left and the top-level folders on the right.

If you open computer, you open with your drives in the right pane and
Favorite Links and Folder list in the left pane.

Actually, folder list only for me... "Favorites" is just in the way as far
as I'm concerned so I always shrink that down to nothing. YMMV

 

[Michael Solomon]

Ah, I see what you are saying. I start Explorer via a shortcut that has:
C:\Windows\explorer.exe c:\
so it starts with the C drive open, all the rest of the drives visible in
the folder tree on the left and the top-level folders on the right.


Actually, folder list only for me... "Favorites" is just in the way as far
as I'm concerned so I always shrink that down to nothing. YMMV

Since I left "Documents" on the C drive, virtually all my documents and data
are freely and easily accessible from favorite links and I've created some
additional sub-folders that show up as well right along with the shell
folders of Documents, Photos, etc. hence, I find Favorite Links quite useful
and really don't have much use anymore for the full drive C folder list I
once used.

For me, anyway, it just seems to make my drives more accessible especially
when I'm moving files around or copying files from one drive to another.

 

[Bob Butler]

Since I left "Documents" on the C drive, virtually all my documents and
data are freely and easily accessible from favorite links and I've created
some additional sub-folders that show up as well right along with the
shell folders of Documents, Photos, etc. hence, I find Favorite Links
quite useful and really don't have much use anymore for the full drive C
folder list I once used.

In my case I can't stand "documents" and "pictures" and "music" and all
those artificial divisions. Any given folder is likely to contain several
different types of files that are all related to each other and they're all
in folders under the desktop folder. Much easier to organize IMO. Also,
since many of them are work-related and not necessarily things I want to
deal with calling them "favorites" always grates! <g>

 

[Val]

Hmmm, have you noticed that the nav pane for a network shared drive/folder
maintains the arrows - they don't fade!

So, share your drive, access it through Network rather than through
Computer, and you'll see all the expand symbols.

Right, like that's really a suitable workaround.

Oh well, back the the drawing board.

Val


When the folders pane is displayed in Explorer under Vista the +/- icons are
only visible while the mouse is over that pane. If the mouse is moved to
the toolbar or the details pane or anywhere else all the visible cues as to
which folder has sub folders are lost. Is there any way to make those
remain visible at all times? Failing that, can anybody give any reason why
they'd want this information should be hidden most of the time?

 

[Bob Butler]

Hmmm, have you noticed that the nav pane for a network shared drive/folder
maintains the arrows - they don't fade!

No difference for me; if the folder pane has focus then they don't disappear
(nothing fades on my system because one of the first things I do is find and
turn off all those pointless "effects") but if I click on the toolbar or the
details pane or anywhere else then the treeview icons are there only when
the mouse is over the treeview. It's incredibly annoying.

 

[Ian Betts]

No difference for me; if the folder pane has focus then they don't
disappear (nothing fades on my system because one of the first things I do
is find and turn off all those pointless "effects") but if I click on the
toolbar or the details pane or anywhere else then the treeview icons are
there only when the mouse is over the treeview. It's incredibly annoying.

First off hit your Alt key and then you can see the menus.

Next put your mouse pointer in the column header area and right click, go to
the bottom of the drop menu and select More. Check the list for what you
want you folders and columns to show.



--
Ian

With patience there is always a way.

Please Reply to Newsgroup so all can read.
Requests for assistance by email can not and will be deleted.

 

[Bob Butler]

First off hit your Alt key and then you can see the menus.

Nobody's talking about menus and I've already set the options to always show
the menus and to always underline the accelerator keys.

Next put your mouse pointer in the column header area and right click, go
to the bottom of the drop menu and select More. Check the list for what
you want you folders and columns to show.

I'm seeing all the columns I want to see... what I'm not seeing is the +/-
icons on the folder treeview when it doesn't have focus and the mouse is
over any other area of the screen.

 

[Ian Betts]

Nobody's talking about menus and I've already set the options to always
show the menus and to always underline the accelerator keys.


I'm seeing all the columns I want to see... what I'm not seeing is the +/-
icons on the folder treeview when it doesn't have focus and the mouse is
over any other area of the screen.

They are not +/- , they are little > arrows, click one and see. Why did
you not just say that first instead of going on about effects???



--
Ian

With patience there is always a way.

Please Reply to Newsgroup so all can read.
Requests for assistance by email can not and will be deleted.

 

[Bob Butler]

They are not +/- , they are little > arrows, click one and see.

Had you actually read the thread you'd see that I have set things up as
"windows classic" so they ARE +/- for me and the point is still the same
since even with the arrows they still disappear whenever you work in the
details pane.

Why did you not just say that first instead of going on about effects???

I don't see that I was "going on about effects" anywhere. The problem is
quite simple: when you have the folder view displayed in Explorer in Vista
and you work in another area of the window the icons that indicate whether a
folder has subfolders or not are erased which eliminates valuable visual
information for no reason I can figure.

 

[Bob Butler]

Hi Bob,

Here is a solution I found. It doesn't affect the +/-, but changes the
icon of the open folder in the folder tree when it is open to make it
easier to see which one is open. Well, at least it makes it easier for
me (haha). Give it a try and see. If you don't like it, do the undo in
step 7.

http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/81668-open-folder-icon.html

Thanks, that's at least a small step in the right direction. It still
doesn't identify which other folders actually have subfolders that aren't
expanded in the tree yet but it does give an additional visual clue and that
pane needs all the help it can get.

 

[Ian Betts]

Thanks, that's at least a small step in the right direction. It still
doesn't identify which other folders actually have subfolders that aren't
expanded in the tree yet but it does give an additional visual clue and
that pane needs all the help it can get.

OK one more try.

Vista has a different system

When I click on a folder or file, the tree is shown in the address box at
the top. I can easily see where I am.



--
Ian

With patience there is always a way.

Please Reply to Newsgroup so all can read.
Requests for assistance by email can not and will be deleted.