Windows 7 Taskforce

ih8windows wrote on January 22, 2010, 7:06am

I don't understand why this was ever removed in the first place....

guitarsoul2009 wrote on January 22, 2010, 8:22am

Eloquently stated. This is a daily irritant, but, try as I may, I have yet to find a better program than Windows Explorer for working with folders and files. Please advise if there is a better program to use. I take 50-300 photos/day and the photo editors are not any better a manual arranging and renaming. I've learned a three step process to rename and rearrange my photos. I rename a group of photos, which give me a numerical sequence. If I want the #19 photo after the #2 photo, I change "(19)" to "(2)" and add a letter "a". Windows Explorer will auto-arrange the photo as (2) & (2a). I also use "b, c, aa, aaa, etc I repeat this process with other photos to be rearranged. The photos will then be in the preferred sequence, and the group can be renamed again to produce the group name along with the correct numerical sequence. Yes, it takes longer,

flash50 wrote on February 11, 2010, 10:34pm

Since all comments were losted, I'll re-comment on this.

I think this complaint has 2 main issues:
1) It constantly auto-sorts whenever you add or rename files/folders
2) The most convenient ordering may not always be a sorted order

Regarding the 1st issue, this can be a major annoyance when you're dealing with lots of camera images. You rename a file, explorer auto-sorts, and now you've lost your place since you are moved to where the renamed file is (which could be a few window pages away from the next file to be renamed).

The 2nd issue is the bigger annoyance for me (and probably many users). There are instances where it is much more meaningful to have files/folders arranged in an order that cannot be achieved by any type of sorting method. In these cases, being able to manually re-arrange the ordering is critical.

Examples would be folders with large numbers of files, such as work documents or multimedia files. For the multimedia files, it may be that it is most convenient to have a handful of files grouped together for whatever reason (maybe you like those the most or you make use of them together). For work documents, it can be most convenient to have certain files grouped together at the start or end of the folder. They may be important documents that you refer to often for the -current- project or it may just be the group of documents you need to get done before the day is over.

For whatever reason, there are many cases where having the freedom to manually arrange files/folders in a certain unique order increases productivity and convenience.

arthurlocker wrote on February 13, 2010, 8:59pm

Not being able to sequence pictures sucks.

chrisg580 wrote on February 16, 2010, 6:56am

This is a staggering omission and I am furious about it. A complete disaster for anyone who does photography. I despise Windows 7 because of the elimination of this feature. It is completely impossible for me to do my work with my photographs snapping into an automatic arrangement. I'm buying a Mac!

lifeisrosey wrote on February 26, 2010, 9:27pm

This MUST be corrected! I need to move my photos around, then rename. I've been tearing my hair out trying to figure out what's wrong and now I see... Why would Windows make such a huge step backwards? I wish I never upgraded. I always stood up to may many many MAC friends by saying that Windows gives me more flexibility and control over my setup and workflow but THIS is a deal breaker for me. Please don't tell me I'm going to eat my words and turn to Mac over this! Don't force me to do that! We need to be able to move things freely. And by the way, new "cutesy" features like tagging don't appeal to me because I'm a business person in need of straightforward organization. I do product photographs and catagorize them by date of shoot and customer. I need to organize the folders in the way I wish. Sincerely, Sarah Jane (www.lifeisrosey.com)

xombie wrote on February 28, 2010, 7:08pm

I've finally found a hack to enable the old Vista controls in explorer.

Run the disablefullrowselect.reg file in the zip below:
http://www.winhelponline.com/blog/wp-content/up...1-10/w7-fullrowsel.zip

Keep the undo.reg file handy in case Microsoft decides to add the auto-arrange option in a later update.

Explanation here (not my site, credit goes to the owner):
http://www.winhelponline.com/blog/disable-full-...ct-explorer-windows-7/

After that, you will be able to disable auto arrange in all icon views!

BobV365 wrote on March 15, 2010, 2:24pm

I hope that Microsoft brings back the option to disable the Auto Arrange feature in all Windows Explorer windows. It is frustrating that the user can't re-arrange files and folders any way they want to. I have been able to do this in all versions of Windows except Windows 7!

cretaceous wrote on March 25, 2010, 11:08am

Now I quite like Windows 7 but - some of MS decsions make me *MAD*
I'm a designer and web developer - I MUST BE ABLE TO SORT ITEMS IN FOLDERS HOW I WANT
I dont care if I lose it if I switch views - give us the option "I'm a grown up and want to control my computer. I promise not to complain if I break something"

I've beaten foreign language fonts into submission
I've beaten the W7 start bar into limbo
I've enabled a nice 'up' folder button

NOW LET ME SORT ICONS IN FOLDERS AS I WANT!!

I bet the Macintosh lets you do this - come on, we cannot use Auto arrange for *ALL* views - its beyond lunacy -

How can we get an internet campaign going?

wake up Miscrosoft -

xombie wrote on March 25, 2010, 11:58am

@cretaceous

Try the link I've posted until then.

BobV365 wrote on March 25, 2010, 1:06pm

Come on Microsoft, listen to your user base and allow us to disable Auto-Arrange in Windows 7.

dsw wrote on April 1, 2010, 6:39pm

xombie, do i just need to open regedit, and import the disable reg file? Do I need to 1st delete all the bag registries? just want to be sure i understand the complete process.

Thanks in advance,
Dave

xombie wrote on April 1, 2010, 9:41pm

dsw:

I'm not the one who made it, just so you know. All I did was run that reg file, allow changes to be made, and when I restarted, it was Vista's file sorter or whatever you call it back again.

Keep the other file in case something goes wrong. It's to remove the changes the first one makes.

jchris wrote on April 13, 2010, 9:36pm

Who has actually tried this? Does it work in all views (icon view, etc.)?
Thanks!

pandassmile wrote on April 24, 2010, 6:25am

I am here to second what xombie suggested. I was just about to post the website but he beat me too it...I just got done doing what the website told me to and IT WORKED!!!! I can now arrange folder files, including my pictures, anyway I want! I am soooo happy now!

http://www.winhelponline.com/blog/disable-full-...-page-4/#comment-10864

jchris wrote on April 24, 2010, 5:17pm

So, just to clarify, there was nothing else you had to do? When i ran the reg file I didn't notice any difference after restarting. I then did a system restore just to make sure everything was back to normal. Am I missing something? I have Windows 7 Home Premium...does that make any difference? Thanks for any suggestions.

xombie wrote on April 24, 2010, 5:30pm

Well, I could manually re-order files, and turn off autoarrange by right clicking in a folder > View > Untick Auto Arrange.

Also, you can freely place files and icons around without having to follow a grid alignment. (You already can do that on the desktop, but they had disabled it in explorer)

Comment edited on April 24, 2010, 7:30pm

pandassmile wrote on April 24, 2010, 8:27pm

Here is what you have to do....This is exactly what you have to do (I got this to work from the website above)

Download “nofullrowselect.zip” by going to the website called http://www.winhelponline.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/nofullrowselect.zip and save to desktop

Unzip the file to extract contents to a folder

Double click “disablefullrowselect.reg” to merge contents to the registry

“Log Off” system

“Log On” for changes to take effect

“Start”

“Run”

Type in “regedit.exe”

Click down the folders until you get to the following location:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\Local Settings\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Shell\Bags

Create a subkey named AllFolders in the Bags folder

Under All Folders, create a key named Shell

Under Shell, create a key named “{5C4F28B5-F869-4E84-8E60-F11DB97C5CC7}”

Select that “{5C4F28B5-F869-4E84-8E60-F11DB97C5CC7}” and then create a DWORD value named “Fflags”

Double click that Fflags and set its value data to 43000001 (hex)

Create another DWORD value named Mode and set 4 as its data

Go back to the Bags key then click export and save it somewhere as a REG file.

Go back to the Bags# folder and delete all them EXCEPT “AllFolders” folder, DO NOT DELETE AllFolders folder

Open “My Computer” and customize the window how you want it and then close it.

Exit the Regedit window

Log off

Log back in.

You should be able to arrange files the way you want them to go in folders now.

Kirbychwan wrote on April 24, 2010, 8:30pm

Hey guys. Glad to see there's finally a workaround, albeit an unofficial one. Thanks for the tip.

sebastian___ wrote on April 28, 2010, 9:01pm

xombie : Does it work in List View mode ? I have all my explorer windows in List Mode and as soon I rename a file - the auto arrange kicks in. The same is true when I copy/paste files.

saadali15 wrote on July 17, 2010, 9:38pm

If nothing else

align everything to a grid so thing can be in a random personal order

4moonshield4 wrote on August 27, 2010, 6:27am

@ Pandassmile (or anyone else)
I'm confused on the part where it asks to go to 'My Computer' and customize the window.

I don't have a 'My Computer' Tab, but is 'Computer' in the start menu the equivalent of that? and even so, what do you mean when you say 'customize the window'??
Oh, gosh....I'm desperate here. With 800+ pictures in my Pictures file, manual arrangement is vital to keep them organized in a way that I can find them.

xpclient wrote on August 27, 2010, 9:30pm

O my goodness! This is the most horrible development since Windows Vista. Auto arrange and auto sort should be optional not forced. I know people that won't touch Windows 7 because of this abominable decision. +1 billion but do they listen or care? About 50 different threads are there complaining about auto arrange and auto sort on Microsoft;s Technet and Answers forums but they can't issue a simple hotfix. Want a version of Windows without FORCED auto arrange? Stay with Windows XP.

Comment edited on August 27, 2010, 11:32pm

hjwessels wrote on December 4, 2010, 4:00pm

Hi guys...help appreciated here please...

I've done the registry fix as explained above (although like 4moonshield4 I don't know where to find the "my computer" tab but I don't think that really matters)

However, even if I've turned off the newly visible "auto-arrange" option, when I'm in icon view (large) and rename a file (photo - I've done it for the registry add for group of files too) the file renames and moves to elsewhere in the list...so it appears disabling auto-arrange makes no difference...or am I missing something?

Any guidance much appreciated, thank you...

nicky jay wrote on January 4, 2011, 6:58am

It works! It works! Someone on a different board provided a really easy registry solution and now I can arrange files in my folders however I want just like back in XP and Vista.

Here are the link with instructions: http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/92758-wind...o-arrange-disable.html

Thanks a lot to whoever figured this out. Too bad I had to read a million posts to find the solution...microsoft should just make the correct fix common knowledge.

nicky jay wrote on January 4, 2011, 7:00am

...And this is different than the registry fix detailed previously in this thread.

xpclient wrote on September 21, 2011, 6:40pm

You can show your support for disabling auto sort/refresh and auto arrange in Explorer for Windows 8 by posting here: http://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/en-U...f6f-bf7e-e9101ea89405/

Comment edited on April 28, 2012, 1:53pm