Solved [File Explorer]how to keep multiple windows open ?

[MilesAhead]

I can't ever use a set of predefined folders, cos I use all different ones all the time.

If the utility is not suited to you I suggest not using it.

I know marketing types say stuff like "this acne crap was created by a dermatologist for his own children" yadda yadda. But in my case it's a fact that my utilities were, for the most part, created for my use. I share them because some people may get use out of them. The ones I didn't create for myself were written by request. Usually on Coding Snacks forum.

Edit: Also you can open more than one folder without predefining them, if they can be selected. For example, several subfolders of the current folder. Add a shortcut to Fold to the SendTo Menu. Select several folders and right click to get the SendTo Menu, then left click on Fold.

 

[XweAponX]

I would in fact use something like that if I always went into the same folders all the time, maybe there there is a way to set it so it gets me into the drives where my folders are. My Data is scrambled all over my network on 4 Mounted Drives, 2 USB drives, and about 5 other networked locations.

Starting in Windows 7 or maybe even Vista, you could not open more than one "My Computer" at a time and I think that related to the OP, its not just in Windows 8. In XP you could open My Computer more than once and then arrange them side by side and then get the folders you wante4d set up.

From Vista up, you could no longer do that, cos clicking on My Computer a second time would no longer open a 2nd My Computer Window- The OS thinks "It's Already Opened' so it would not open a new one.

So solutions using the program you mention, are valid for Vista on up, but unfortunately not for me, which is too bad.

Maybe I can use it, and have it open each drive on my main system. But a lot of my file manipulation is across the network, I regularly open files that are located on networked drives and even my Mobile Device.

 

[MilesAhead]

As noted the main strength of Fold is opening sets. It worked well for me programming, testing, zipping and uploading my utilities. Since several of the folders were common I'd just copy and paste then add the different folder. I don't understand why they took out XP functionality. Just Shift Enter to open in a new window was a nice touch.

I wrote a small tool called Half Shell because my 32 bit shell extensions didn't work in 64 bit. Microsoft posted a work-around to use the Explorer in SysWow64 folder, since it was 32 bit. All Half Shell did was open selected folders using the 32 bit shell when you pressed Shift Enter. I got a nice little write-up for a simple solution to a problem. Of course since it worked well and easily, the functionality was removed. For some bizarre reason not given, the hard link in SysWow64 was redirected to a 64 bit Explorer.exe!!! Talk about weird!! So now I just use Half Shell to get the Shift Enter functionality back as it was in XP.

I've written a bunch of little toys that use Explorer. I can get better functionality using a file explorer that's more sophisticated, like FreeCommander. The fly in the ointment is Explorer.exe is always in ram(unless you substitute another shell system wide.) For that reason it has a big speed advantage. It just clones itself.

When SSD becomes the norm then it will be more practical to write for other file managers. The big Explorer speed advantage will evaporate.

Edit: btw, one of mine that you may find useful is PastePath. Someone mentioned a feature in a program where you clicked an Explorer folder window to paste the path in. I turned it around the other way. Whatever was the last active Explorer folder window is pasted in when you hotkey. It's a macro using clipboard so Display Full Path in Title Bar has to be enabled. But I find it very useful. You can even paste into a command prompt. On W8 though to paste into an Admin prompt you have to run it as administrator. Seems in W8 I have to run just about everything as Admin. Oh well.

 

[XweAponX]

I have breadcrumbs disabled, so I can copy my path straight from the address bar... Maybe PastePath will work for me.

 

[MilesAhead]

I have breadcrumbs disabled, so I can copy my path straight from the address bar... Maybe PastePath will work for me.

It just does it for you when you paste. When you use the hotkey it saves any clipboard text, does a copy from the last active Explorer Window, pastes that in, then restores the clipboard text. As with all my Explorer macro things it needs Show Full Path in Title Bar to work. I find it mainly useful in file open dialogs. You have the Explorer folder already open often times. When you hotkey you are ihn the tag=rget folder and just select the file(s). Small and simple. But often those are the ones I use the most.

 

[MilesAhead]

btw, a cmd batch file like this will give you 2 copies of Explorer showing Computer

C:\Windows\explorer.exe /n,  ::{20D04FE0-3AEA-1069-A2D8-08002B30309D}
C:\Windows\explorer.exe /n,  ::{20D04FE0-3AEA-1069-A2D8-08002B30309D}

I tried doing an ahk script opening these windows and snapping one left, the other right. But since they are the same, moving them without a long delay in between is problematic. It's likely just as well to manually snap them.

 

[XweAponX]

Hm, that actually worked but I had to hit Enter twice. Ive never been able to open This Computer twice, But I have been able to show This Computer in two windows. You cant open This Computer twice by clicking on the icon twice, but this method works.

Great, thanx.

 

[MilesAhead]

Hm, that actually worked but I had to hit Enter twice. Ive never been able to open This Computer twice, But I have been able to show This Computer in two windows. You cant open This Computer twice by clicking on the icon twice, but this method works.

Great, thanx.

You are welcome. I guess I should finally get around to trying to get the folder if it's a shell namespace thing, like Computer or one of the libraries. It's a pain to have to use clipboard and "show full path" etc... but that seems the most reliable so far. I'll see if I can get around it.

 

[davehc]

Opening several instances of the file manager would not be if use to you?