Customizing windows XP?
March 16, 2004 11:05 AM Subscribe
Basic question about the windows interface, specifically the "browse" dialog box. -->
Is there a way to customize this -- a registry hack, a tweak app -- so that it stays sorted the way I like it sorted? (By details/date modified). Also, it would be nice to have custom shortcuts in that lefthand pane, and it would be even nicer if the whole thing was bigger. (I'm on XP, and the shareware "Let Me See It" doesn't seem to work right for XP.)
Is there a way to customize this -- a registry hack, a tweak app -- so that it stays sorted the way I like it sorted? (By details/date modified). Also, it would be nice to have custom shortcuts in that lefthand pane, and it would be even nicer if the whole thing was bigger. (I'm on XP, and the shareware "Let Me See It" doesn't seem to work right for XP.)
Back when I was first learning about DLLs (Windows 3.1?) the example someone used was the Open File dialog. "Why, you'll be able to replace it with whatever you want!"
posted by lbergstr at 11:25 AM on March 16, 2004
posted by lbergstr at 11:25 AM on March 16, 2004
To save the current sort order, close the windows with the top "x" while holding down "Ctrl".
I guess this is so obvious that MS felt no need to document it, right?
posted by signal at 12:05 PM on March 16, 2004
I guess this is so obvious that MS felt no need to document it, right?
posted by signal at 12:05 PM on March 16, 2004
signal, you fucking rule. I'd been wondering how to do that for years.
posted by vraxoin at 12:42 PM on March 16, 2004
posted by vraxoin at 12:42 PM on March 16, 2004
Response by poster: Signal, that does force it to retain the size of the box, but for me anyway, it doesn't retain the view. It always goes to List and I was hoping to have it always go to Details.
Maybe I could find out more if I knew the "official" name of these 'browse' dialog boxes. Anybody know?
posted by stupidsexyFlanders at 1:19 PM on March 16, 2004
Maybe I could find out more if I knew the "official" name of these 'browse' dialog boxes. Anybody know?
posted by stupidsexyFlanders at 1:19 PM on March 16, 2004
The Open File dialog is in the Common Dialog dll (comdlg32.dll). It contains Save File, Font Picker, Color Picker, and some others I don't remember. I do remember from my programming days that the Common Dialogs were easy to customize for appearance and behavior when used in programs. I'd imagine that the registry contains the default settings but haven't been able to track down where they are. If you want to try here's
some info for Win2k.
posted by TimeFactor at 4:02 PM on March 16, 2004
some info for Win2k.
posted by TimeFactor at 4:02 PM on March 16, 2004
From my link:
As best as I can tell, there is NO way to force an application to use a particular 'default' view in the CDB, particularly the details view
Bummer.
posted by TimeFactor at 4:06 PM on March 16, 2004
As best as I can tell, there is NO way to force an application to use a particular 'default' view in the CDB, particularly the details view
Bummer.
posted by TimeFactor at 4:06 PM on March 16, 2004
I recommend hunting down pddlghlp.exe. It places a handy "go to folder" utility into the browse dialog.
posted by five fresh fish at 5:39 PM on March 16, 2004
posted by five fresh fish at 5:39 PM on March 16, 2004
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by zztzed at 11:15 AM on March 16, 2004