Folder columns - Any way to save a new template?


  1. Posts : 7
    Win 10
       #1

    Folder columns - Any way to save a new template?


    I have customized my MP3 music collection's tags and Window's "Music" view to my preference.

    However I have some non-music MP3s that are podcasts and I'd like the column order to be different for them.

    As far as I can tell, individual folders can be customized and they will stay customized, of course. But any effort of mine to create a folder style for podcasts that can be duplicated, copied and used for a different set of podcasts does not copy properly to the new folder. The best luck I had was to copy a properly setup folder containing a podcast and a desktop.ini file and paste then rename it. Funny thing is, it would display correctly the first time, then the next time it would open in the format spec'd in the desktop.ini.

    Any suggestions?

    TIA
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 42,634
    Win 10 Pro (22H2) (2nd PC is 22H2)
       #2

    There isn't a way to create a new folder template, unfortunately, if that's what you're asking.

    These may be of interest, but may not meet your needs..
    Apply Folder View to All Folders of Same Type in Windows 10 | Tutorials
    Change Folder Template in Windows 10 | Tutorials
    Change New Folder Name Template in Windows | Tutorials
      My Computers


  3. Posts : 7
    Win 10
    Thread Starter
       #3

    Thanks dalchina, If I could only figure out where it saves a customized folder's columns. Desktop.ini is a dead end. I've done some searches through the registry after I created a folder with an odd name and there were no hits.
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 42,634
    Win 10 Pro (22H2) (2nd PC is 22H2)
       #4

    Well, and this is just for interest as I think it may not lead to a practical solution...

    Download and install a copy of Regshot (free).
    With your PC doing as little as possible (minimal registry activity)-
    - run Regshot
    - Click Shot 1, wait...2-3 mins?
    - make the changes you want to explorer
    - Click shot 2, wait...
    - Click Compare -> HTML page with grouped deletions/additions/changes.

    Inspect that to find the relevant info.
      My Computers


  5. Posts : 989
    Microsoft Windows 10 Home
       #5

    When you use 'Apply to folders' to modify one of the available templates, entries are created under the following registry key:
    Code:
    HKCR\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Streams\Defaults
    Folder columns - Any way to save a new template?-screenshot-324-.png
    In the above screenshot, 'Apply to folders' has only been used for the ;Document' template. Additional entries will be created for each type (Documents, Pictures, Music, Video, and Generic) when you use 'Apply to folders' on folders using those templates. But these only govern a folder's view the first time it is opened in Explorer.

    Individual saved folder views are found under:
    Code:
    HKCR\Local Settings\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Shell\Bags
    The index that associates a folder with a bag is the key:
    Code:
    HKCR\Local Settings\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Shell\BagMRU
    and all it's subkeys. The tree structure of the keys mirrors the computer's namespace hierarchy: If BagMRU contains a 'NodeSlot' value, that identifies the Bag associated with viewing the virtual Desktop. Its immediate subkeys represent items such as This PC, Network, Libraries, Control Panel, etc. as well as any folders on your Desktop and items not normally visible such as Search Results. Your registry search was unsuccessful because the folders are identified by their ITEMIDLIST, not their name. I've been playing with these keys since XP days, and just this weekend, had a breakthrough in decoding these entries, but it's not ready for prime-time yet.

    But still may be abel to help. Questions:
    • What is the contents of your desktop.ini file?
    • What folder template are you using for your Podcasts folders?
    • Are you just using different columns in a Music template or changing the template to Generic or something else?


    Keith
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 7
    Win 10
    Thread Starter
       #6

    Answers for KeithM


    KeithM - I'll start to check this thread more frequently. I'll cooperate as much as I can. I'd like to settle this and if it expands your knowledge to have a second test system, so much the better. If I "explain something twice" it's on me, no worries.

    • What is the contents of your desktop.ini file?

    For a plain `music` folder on this system, one that automatically displays columns and any other preferences (order, icon/details,) there is no desktop.ini (by default I do have "show hidden files, folders and drives;" and do not have "hide protected operating system files (rec...)" switches set.)
    For a completely tricked out `podcasts` folder I had Explorer create a desktop.ini for this post by going into Properties and clicking [Ok]:
    [ViewState]
    Mode=
    Vid=
    FolderType=Music

    Why there is usually no desktop.ini:
    I'm going to describe something that you will probably find to be normal behavior
    When I request Explorer to make a folder a "stock type" it creates a desktop.ini
    When I create a new folder and then > copy and paste an MP3 into it > request Details view: It shows ~4 columns
    When I then press F5 to the folder it refreshes into a Music folder of my own design but no desktop.ini is created
    When I shift-delete that newly copied MP3 and press F5 it continues to display the music columns I spec'd.
    Properties for the folder indicate "Music optimized"
    After rearranging the columns to make it a "podcast" folder the column order appears to be persistent for this one folder and there is NO desktop.ini. Past experience tells me it remains configured for podcasts after logout and reboot. For expediency I did not go that far right now, but I did back out of the folder, closed that Explorer and spawned another one, then drilled down to the newly minted and configured folder and as expected found it configured and ready for podcast service.
    -------
    Next: Copying and pasting that newly minted folder:
    Simple folder view (left pane) copy/paste, new folder named "_PODDY3 - Copy"
    That copy has the property of being type "General" with no customization.

    • What folder template are you using for your Podcasts folders?
      Music - a template I have modified
      I explained above how I've found the Music `template format` can be auto-generated by dragging an MP3 (I haven't tried it with other music formats or other document types.)
      Whether or not a desktop.ini appears, once a folder is modified it seems to stay that way until something destroys the format.
      Shift-deleting a desktop.ini does not destroy the column order of a "music" folder that has been modified by hand to be a "podcast" folder.
      Anomaly: The first time I deleted a desktop.ini from a modded music folder, it was recreated the next time I opened the folder. I have not been able to reproduce the phenomenon (but that doesn't mean I have properly reproduced the experiment.)
    • Are you just using different columns in a Music template or changing the template to Generic or something
      else?

      My Music template is custom and has been in place for a few years. `Podcasts` uses exactly the same columns but in a different order.
      No matter how I arrive at a folder being Music, they always use the same column setup.


    These are the columns and column order my Music template auto-generates:
    Title
    Authors
    Album
    Year
    #
    Length
    Genre
    Comments
    Album Artist
    Composers
    Disc
    Size
    Name
    Type
    Date Modified
    Bit-Rate

    This is the order of columns after being rearranged for `podcasts`:
    #
    Title
    Authors
    Album
    Length
    Genre
    Comments
    Album Artist
    Size
    Date Modified
    Bit-Rate
    Year
    Disc
    Composers
    Name
    Type
      My Computer


  7. Posts : 989
    Microsoft Windows 10 Home
       #7

    OK. A few quick random thoughts first.
    • The time you deleted a desktop.ini file and it was recreated most likely happened because you deleted it from your designated Music folder (Music under This PC). I noticed this behavior when re-purposing the 3D Objects folder.
    • The behavior you've observed that copying an .mp3 file to an empty folder will switch its template to Music is known as "folder sniffing" --- which refers to Windows "guessing" the folder type based on contents.
    • The fact that a newly created folder assumes a Generic (or perhaps Document) template tells me you're creating the folder somewhere other than other your designated Music folder, as folders created under the various user folders seem to assume the template of the "root" folder (Documents, Pictures, Music, Videos).


    I just got side-tracked for a few hours and now have to go to bed. Will post more tomorrow. Quick summary of what I'm thinking. We can't create additional templates, but we could save different versions of the Music template, and swap them in and out (via a clickable shortcut that executes a script) depending on which type of folder you are working in. How does that sound?

    Keith
      My Computer


  8. Posts : 7
    Win 10
    Thread Starter
       #8

    How's this kludge I started to use this week:
    There's a folder arranged to be a "podcasts" folder, with a small podcast and an ini.
    Copy/paste/rename/delete everything out of the new copy/ready for content.
    Probably don't need the ini but "ctrl A/shift-delete" is probably what I would do even if there was just one file.
    `Folder sniffing` That's a good way to put it, guessing it's the agreed upon standard term.
    "Created somewhere other than designated Music folder..." They are definitely not under the profile folder for this login. When I went back and checked though, I was surprised to find all of the root directories I checked for my music are general-type. I'm not going to apply the `to subfolders` property at this late date, folder sniffing works so far.
    Thanks for your help. I'll keep checking this thread if you want a test subject.
    Daddy0
      My Computer


  9. Posts : 989
    Microsoft Windows 10 Home
       #9

    Folder Sniffing gets its name from the registry value named 'SniffedFolderType:
    Folder columns - Any way to save a new template?-screenshot-326-.png

    I wrote two basic scripts to accomplish what I described. A 'setup' script to save your existing customized template and views, then pauses while you create an alternate view, then resumes to save the alternate template and restore saved views. The second script is the 'toggle' you would run whenever you wanted to switch which template was applied to new Music folders. I'm going to post them while I can still find them

    To use the scripts you'll want to edit the path variable in both scripts to reflect the folder where you want to store the script and its data.
    Code:
    $MyDir     = "C:\Users\keith\Documents\Sandbox\Podcast Tests"
    *** .ps1 files open in Notepad for editing when double-clicked, to launch them you have to use right-click.

    Happy to provide more details on request.

    Keith
    Attached Thumbnails Attached Thumbnails Folder columns - Any way to save a new template?-screenshot-326-.png  
    Folder columns - Any way to save a new template? Attached Files
      My Computer


  10. Posts : 7
    Win 10
    Thread Starter
       #10

    Just checked in to post a SMH moment: I saved my first podcasts since the latest Tuesday MS Update and discovered all of the podcast folders reverted to adhere to the customized Music template. After all, the system labeled them `music.` It's not the first time a rollback has been applied like that. Just glad it didn't roll back to factory fresh.

    Once I work with your powershell scripts I'll report back. Sooner if I hit a snag.

    Daddy0 (Reed)
      My Computer


 

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