Need to customize a folder and apply setto the entire OS.

Compumind · 06 Jun 2019

Hi -

What I would like to do, if possible, is to modify one folder's properties and use those settings for each of the folders in the OS.
So if I open a folder in a directory and want apply the following settings for the entire OS. which is the best way?

Example -

Under View ribbon in a newly created folder, select:

Tiles -> Sort by - Type Ascending -> Group by Type Ascending.

Apply settings to the entire filesystem.

Thanks.

Compumind · 07 Jun 2019

Anyone?

KeithM · 07 Jun 2019

Do you want to force the Generic folder template on all folders or do you want them to retain their default types (Generic, Documents, Music, Pictures, etc)?

Compumind · 07 Jun 2019

KeithM said:

Do you want to force the Generic folder template on all folders or do you want them to retain their default types (Generic, Documents, Music, Pictures, etc)?

Hi!

Thanks for the reply.

Yes, I would like all folders to retain their defaults, with the exception of the view modifications mentioned in my first post.

KeithM · 07 Jun 2019

You can merge the attached .reg file. It creates keys that don't exist by default but will apply the change system-wide.

HKLM-AllFolders-Tiles-GroupByTpe.reg

Compumind · 07 Jun 2019

KeithM said:

You can merge the attached .reg file. It creates keys that don't exist by default but will apply the change system-wide.

Interesting. Might I ask about the source of this .regfile?
Don't quite understand what it does - it is not commented.

Please understand that I need to understand the functionality, first.

Compumind · 07 Jun 2019

I'm going this route first and see if the settings hold:

Apply Folder View to All Folders of Same Type in Windows 10

FWIW.

KeithM · 07 Jun 2019

That works on a per-user basis. I'm writing amore detailed reply to your question.

KeithM · 07 Jun 2019

I'm the source.

Look at how folder views are saved under:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\Local Settings\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Shell\Bags
The numbered subkeys correspond to individual folders. Those have subkeys named ComDlg, ComDlgLegacy, or Shell. These have GUID subkeys that hold the settings of the saved view. The GUID corresponds to the ID of the view defined under:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\FolderTypes

HKLM\...\AllFolders I discovered back in XP days (former MVP here) using ProcMon. If you run PtocMon filtering on that path you will see Explorer looking for that key. (Side Note: Filtering for result=NAME NOT FOUND is a great way to find registry keys/values that do fun things). If this key & its subkeys exist, they override the defaults defined by HKLM\...\FolderTypes.

Keith

Need to customize a folder and apply setto the entire OS.

Need to customize a folder and apply it to the entire OS.