File Open Dialog box

[Sitara Lal]

From most applications, when one uses the File | Open command, a dialog box
pops us with a list of files. The left column of this dialog box lists icons
for Recent / Desktop / My Documents / My Computer folders.

How can I edit this list of preset folders? For instance, I would like to
remove 'Recent' and add a directory that I access frequently. How do I do
this?

Thanks

 

[Wesley Vogel]

Use TweakUI, Edit the registry or use System Policy Editor. Or if Office
XP, scroll down.

Edit the Places bar locations in Open Save As common dialog boxes
http://www.mvps.org/sramesh2k/PlacesBar.htm

This works for 2002 also.
How to Customize the Places Bar Word 2000
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;205041

Microsoft Office XP
HOW TO Customize the My Places Bar in the Open and Save As Dialog Boxes
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;282087

Customize the Places Bar in Office XP
http://www.petri.co.il/customize_the_places_bar_in_office_xp.htm

+++

TweakUI
[+] Common Dialogs
Places bar

Places bar
Custom places bar

Places bar
[[This enables changing the location when a common dialog is opened. You can
use the default values or you can choose a custom location to open when a
common dialog box is opened.]]

Common Dialog Boxes
[[The common dialog boxes, such as the Save As dialog box, display the
places bar on the left side. These are shortcuts to common folders, which
make getting around much easier. By default, you see the History, Documents,
Desktop, Favorites, and My Network Places folders there. You can customize
the folders that appear in the places bar by using the Common Dialogs
category in Tweak UI.]]

Download TweakUI here >>>

Microsoft PowerToys for Windows XP
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/pro/downloads/powertoys.asp

Tweak UI
TweakUI.exe
===

Tweak UI for Windows XP Guide
http://www.winxpsolution.com/Tweakuixppro.aspx

+++

[[First you add to
HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\comdlg32\
the PlacesBar subkey. In PlacesBar, create the REG_DWORD values Place0,
Place1, Place2, Place3, and Place4. These correspond to the five available
buttons from top to bottom. The common dialog boxes will display only the
buttons specified by these values; if there is a PlacesBar subkey with no
values, an empty places bar will be displayed. Then set PlacesN to one of
the settings in shown in Table]]

Folders for the Places Bar
Folder Value
Desktop 0x00
Favorites 0x06
My Documents 0x05
My Music 0x0D
My Computer 0x11
Network Neighborhood 0x12
History 0x22
My Pictures 0x27
Recent Documents 0x08

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\comdlg3
2\PlacesBar
Place0
Place1
Place2
Place3
Place4

System Policy Editor and Templates
http://www.microsoft.com/office/ork/xp/appndx/appa18.htm


--
Hope this helps. Let us know.

Wes
MS-MVP Windows Shell/User

In

 

[Sitara Lal]

Wes,

Thanks very much - TweakUI seems to be an awesome tool!

Could you perhaps also advise how I could let a folder's contents to be
displayed (when I use the File | Open command from an application) in the
Details View, rather than the Folders View which it seems to default to?

Thanks again

 

[Wesley Vogel]

You got me on that one. I have no idea.

--
Hope this helps. Let us know.

Wes
MS-MVP Windows Shell/User

In

 

[T. Waters]

Maybe the question is too easy for Wes?
From what you are asking, I would click File, Open
In the toolbar of the new window, to the left of "Tools," is a grid-like
icon called "Views."
Click the triangular down-arrow and select Details.
Was that what you meant?

 

[Sitara Lal]

Umm, er ... yes, I know that of course. However, being the lazy bum that I
am, I was trying to save a few mouseclicks (postpone CTS as long as
possible) and have the window open with the detail view as a default, rather
than having to manually change from Folder view to Details view.

Any ideas?

PS. CTS = Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

 

[Wesley Vogel]

Well after I went to all the work of doing this I see that T. Waters had
already posted an answer. I'm gonna post this anyway.

Open and Save As dialog have a View Menu to the right of the Save in or Look
in box.
They have these choices...
Thumbnails
Tiles
Icons
List
Details

MS Office Open and Save As dialog have a Views icon also to the right of the
Save in or Look in box.
They have these views...

Large Icons
Small Icons
List
Details
Properties
Preview
Thumbnails
WebView

--
Hope this helps. Let us know.

Wes
MS-MVP Windows Shell/User

In

 

[David Candy]

You can't do it.