What is "date taken" in Vista?

[MaryL]

I recently got a new computer with Vista. I had a number of programs that I
downloaded and saved to separate folders in XP, and I copied these to a
download folder in Vista. Some of them look just as they looked under XP --
that is, I can check the filename, and I can see the date modified by
selecting view>details. However, there are a number that do not have date
modified. Instead, there is a column for "date taken" (which is always
blank -- no date at all), a column for tags (also blank), and a column for
rating (with five stars, none filled in). Programs that have been saved
with "date taken" do not install correctly -- either there is an error
message, or an empty window is opened.

Can anyone explain what is going on here? Is this a discrepancy between XP
and Vista, or do I have a serious problem?

Thanks,
MaryL

 

[PaulB]

Date taken relates to photos. Right on a column and you can change to date
modified.

 

[cheen]

"date taken" is for photographs, when the "photograph was taken"...

this information is embeded inside the photo itself in the form of meta
information...

this is usefull to know when a photo was taken (that may be different from
the file modification or creation date)

now why your programs have date taking I dont know..

they should not since a program is not a photo.. lol

 

[Keith Miller \(MVP\)]

You're seeing the default details for a Photo folder.

Right-click in the background of the folder & select 'Customize this
folder', then select 'All Items' as the type of folder. You will then see
the details you're familiar with.

However, the type of template used for viewing the folder shouldn't have any
effect on whether or not an executable can install that I know of.

 

[R. C. White]

Hi, Mary.

Vista's Windows Explorer has a feature that "sniffs" a few files in a folder
and tries to guess whether that folder is full of document files, music
files, photo files or whatever. Then it selects the template that fits that
type of file.

In my experience, on my computer, it does NOT always do a very accurate job!
:>(

Like you, I often see an Explorer window with column headings that just
don't match the actual files in that folder. When that happens, I have to
click Organize (on the Command Bar), then Properties | Customize. On this
page I can click the menu under "Use this folder type as a template" and
change it from "Pictures and Videos" to "Documents" (for example) and then
Apply or OK. The Documents template is the one that we are most accustomed
to seeing; "All Items" is quite similar.

I've not yet discovered (even though I've read about it in the Help file and
other places) how to make my template choice "stick" across all the folders
on my drives. I often find myself changing the setting again when I change
to a different folder. :>(

But when you look at a folder full of your photos, you might want to see
Date Taken. You might also want to change Views from Details to Tiles or
Large Icons for that folder. And then you might want to right-click on a
column heading and select from the several dozens of possible column
headings available to be displayed: Size, Subject, Album...and many more.

Windows Explorer is highly customizable. The problem with being given
choices is that we must then make those choices. If we don't then Vista has
to make them for us - and sometimes makes the wrong choices. :>(

RC
--
R. C. White, CPA
San Marcos, TX
(e-mail address removed)
Microsoft Windows MVP
(Running Windows Live Mail 2008 in Vista Ultimate x64)

 

[MaryL]

Thanks, everyone. You solved my problem (and it was a big relief to learn
that I didn't have a virus that caused this transformation). I'm new to
Vista, and I quickly found the location to change view, etc. -- but I did
not know to right-click and customize. I don't see any difference between
"all files" and "documents," but both give me the information I want. Once
I customized and could see "application," I was also able to install the
program I wanted. However, I think that is still another result of not
being familiar with Vista. Most programs have installed just as I expected
from using XP, but this little program ("Cleaner," used to clean up extra
characters from newsgroup messages) was a zip file, and it kept opening in
nested folders before I finally got to an "application" location and could
install it.

MaryL

 

[Keith Miller \(MVP\)]

Glad you got it sorted, Mary. The only difference between 'All Items' &
'Documents' is that 'Documents' adds the 'Tags' column & has the preview
pane displayed.


--
Good Luck,

Keith
Microsoft MVP [Windows Shell/User]