Options for folder file count in Explorer

temscom · 29 Jun 2022

From what I can tell Explorer will not natively display in the details view file count per folder (although it is a column option). I'd be grateful to hear that this has changed, if not, a recommendation as to a third-party app would be greatly appreciated. I'm just looking for something that would allow the simplicity of Explorer's details view but with a column that displays file count in each folder so that comparison is made quick and easy.

I see TreeSize Free and FreeCommander are options but neither provide screenshots offering visual confirmation as to how they display the count. In addition, they both look a bit feature-rich for my intended purpose.

dalchina · 29 Jun 2022

but neither provide screenshots offering visual confirmation as to how they display the count.

Hi, unsure what you mean here... they are not screenshot tools... what confirmation are you expecting? Thanks.

temscom · 29 Jun 2022

Appreciate your interest dalchina.

Mentioning "screenshot" was just my poorly worded explanation that neither of those websites offered a visual example of their app displaying what it is I'm needing -- A column in Windows Explorer that displays the number of files in each folder.

The following shows a screenshot offered at Folder Size Explorer's website. It looks to provide just what I'm looking for without all the extra bells and whistles. Really was hoping to find a Window Explorer fix but in the end will just give this 3rd party app a try.

Options for folder file count in Explorer-folder-size-explorer.png

- - - Updated - - -

Just now installed and used Folder Size Explorer and, although its last update was 2018, it worked a charm.

Cheers!

dalchina · 29 Jun 2022

Good find- other than Treesize I've not seen a way to view that easily. (Windirstat did, but that's out of date and way slower).
Also many people have asked why f.explorer can't/doesn't evaluate folder sizes... whilst XYplorer can, fairly quickly, but no add-on for f.explorer has been found. Some have offered fundamental arguments as to why f. explorer doesn't support this.

x509 · 30 Jun 2022

dalchina said:

Good find- other than Treesize I've not seen a way to view that easily. (Windirstat did, but that's out of date and way slower).
Also many people have asked why f.explorer can't/doesn't evaluate folder sizes... whilst XYplorer can, fairly quickly, but no add-on for f.explorer has been found. Some have offered fundamental arguments as to why f. explorer doesn't support this.

+1 to the OP.

IMHO, the lack of folder sizes and folder counts is one of, if not the biggest lack in Explorer. I also use Treesize Free, so there is a workaround, but that's no excuse for Microsoft. They already control the OS source code and certainly have large development teams.

Of course, if MS did implement that functionality, I would expect it to appear only in Windows 11, and not in 10.

LMiller7 · 30 Jun 2022

I don't think you are likely to see this in Explorer. This isn't difficult to implement and Microsoft developers are well aware of how to do it. But there are some potentially serious issues, particularly on network drives. You are unlikely to see these issues on small home networks but on large corporate networks they can be serious. If such a feature were proposed corporate IT managers would strongly object. They know what it could do. I don't claim to understand these issues well but I do know they can be serious.

The count of files and sub folders or folder size is not a property of the folder. It can only be determined by by accessing the folder and counting the contents. That can take a lot of time, particularly with very large folders on slow network connections. There are other potential issues as well.

This all seems simple if you don't concern yourself with the details. But when you do things are not simple at all.

Programs like XYPlorer and others do not solve these issues. They generally ignore them. Microsoft can't afford to do that with a program that is distributed with Windows.

temscom · 30 Jun 2022

I may be looking at it all too simply. What I envision is it being available but, by default, not active. Just like displaying extensions or system files which can all be enabled as required. It could also be enabled only with admin privilege and associated warnings. Like I eluded to though, there may be a lot more in the way of negative ramification that are way beyond my knowledge therefore making it a hot potato.

Still curious as to what the "file count" column option is that's available in Windows File Explorer? I've enabled it at can see no benefit, column is always null.

dalchina · 01 Jul 2022

This might cause a chuckle/.smirk/smile:

Here's an example of the utterly ignorant and inappropriate responses some have had when asking about it:

https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/...f-1310f1eaec7c

This suggests it was put in but never implemented- leaving it as the hangover of an idea:
https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/...c-3c4161f5ea8a

Well, the O/S has a long history- and sometimes that is very evident.