How to make folders appears as menu in the quicklaunch and/or start Menu

[Matthieu Gaillet]

Hello All,

I would like to create folders in the quicklaunch toolbar containing
commands I often use sorted by categories.
I also would like to do that in the start menu, where the "pinned"
applications are placed (on top of the first column of the xp-style start
menu.

Is it possible ?

I managed to do that in Internet Explorer's "Links" toolbar... I simply
created subfolders in the "links" folder, and IE opens them simply as a menu
containing all my shortcuts.


Thanks for your help

Matt

 

[David Candy]

Here's two ways. One is WinME/XP specific and one is Win95/NT4 witrh IE4 Desktop Update or later.

Also with WinME a hidden feature was introduced that allows cascading by folder. Put a folder (not a shortcut to one) on the QL bar. Browse to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced
in the registry and add the following DWord value
CascadeFolderBands and set it to 1.

Win95/NT4 witrh IE4 Desktop Update (and all subsequent versions)
Overview
This tip tells you how to set this up cascading menu of any part of the system.
When the buttons of a shell toolbar are hidden in IE5/Win98 the hidden buttons act as a cascading menu, allowing quick access to everything on your computer. This includes drives, folders, files, the Control Panel, My Computer, My Documents, the Desktop, and Dial Up Networking to name a few.
The items on these cascading menus/toolbars can be clicked (doubled clicked if their a cascading item) or right clicked.
In both IE4 and IE5 Control + Click will also bring up a cascading menu from the icon if possible.

Step 1
Right click a blank part of the Taskbar, choose Toolbars, then New Toolbar... .


Choose the item that you want as the root item. The Desktop is the root item in Windows and allows access to everything else.
Repeat step 1 and 2 for as many cascading toolbars that you want


Step 3

Toolbars can be docked at any screen edge, with the Taskbar, or float on the desktop.
To move the toolbar place the mouse cursor over the toolbar name (My Documents in the above picture) and drag (press and hold the left mouse button} the toolbar to a screen edge, to where you want it on the Taskbar (keep trying, it's a bit fustrating), or into the middle of the desktop.
If you have dragged it to a screen edge different to the task bar you'll need to create another toolbar and drag that to the same screen edge and use it to cover up the icons on the cascading toolbar.
If you want it on the taskbar drag the right hand side untill all the icons are covered, leaving only the name showing.
If it is a floating toolbar drag the size until it's as small as possible.
Right click on the toolbar (but not on an icon) and set it's properties such as Icon Size, Icon Text Lables, Toolbar Title, Auto Hide (if docked), Always on Top (if docked or floating), or to delete it. Press the two double arrows to activate the cascading menu.
See Explorer Options on the Windows 98 Tips & Hacks page to lock your toolbars. Double clicking the toolbar label will auto size it

 

[Guest]

My question is very similar to Matthieu's and what you suggested got me
*most* of the way there... I did what you said, adding a reg key for
CascadeFolderBands = 1. Now I have folders in my quicklaunch toolbar that,
when I click next to them, a menu appears with the contents of the folder.
This is as I had hoped and I thank you very much . I was wondering
though... is there any way to make it so that I can click directly on the
icon and instead of the folder being opened, the menu will pop up? much
thanks in advance...

ps, I'm new to this newsgroup and wasn't sure if this was the correct place
to be asking this.

 

[David Candy]

It works as it works.

 

[Guest]

Why go through all that trouble? Windows already has something called an
Address bar...just type your command there once and they are kept there...in
alphabetical order.

Now try this...right click on the task bar and go to tool bars and place a
check on address. in the little window type cmd then hit the return
key...see what happens. now type regedit then return...see what
happens...try even gpedit.msc....

 

[Matthieu Gaillet]

Fantastic, David ! Thanks you very very very much !

Matt

 

[Matthieu Gaillet]

I guess it's a question of point of view... I prefer icons than command
lines ;-)

But indeed I didn't know that this address toolbar could launch anything
else than addresses
Thanks

Matt

 

[Guest]

It's just as good as icons there because you have a dropdown menu that keeps
your commands in alphabetical order too!