Win 11 - File Open Dialog (old style) - Locations at Left

ajaxStardust · Feb 23, 2023

Hi there. What add-on can I install in Windows 11 which would allow customizing the locations which appear at the left?

Windows apps do not always use the same dialog boxes. The one i'm referring to has the ~32px icons: Home, Desktop, Libraries, This PC, Network

There used to be a Microsoft Powertoy which allowed it, if i recall correctly "TweakUI" which helped w/ that.

Thank you!

Try3 · Feb 23, 2023

I can't find an ElevenForumTutorial on this particular old, seldom-used dialog box.
I didn't realise that anything still used it.

Perhaps the old method of customising it will work?
Make a new system image first.
Change Places Bar Items in Common Dialog Box - TenForumsTutorials

Best of luck,
Denis

Berton · Feb 23, 2023

What I do is right-click a folder in File Explorer and click Pin to Quick Access [same as Home], to remove an item I right-click it and Unpin from Quick Access [indicated by the map tack on the right of the item. But then I've been told I don't understand things properly, guess it's up to interpretation as to what is desired.

Try3 · Feb 23, 2023

The OP wants to customise a specific File open dialog box, the Common Dialog Box.
File explorer is not involved.

All the best,
Denis

ajaxStardust · Feb 24, 2023

Try3 said:
The OP wants to customise a specific File open dialog box, the Common Dialog Box.
File explorer is not involved.

All the best,
Denis

Yes. Thank you both. @Try3 understands what i'm trying to do. Indeed, a couple of apps I still use on Win11 have that particular dialog. It's terrible lol, but it is what it is.
Thanks for reading and for the suggestions!
:)

Edwin · Feb 24, 2023

Also, export the Placesbar reg key cuz I think it gets wiped out with a new update.

Try3 · Feb 24, 2023

Edwin,

Does your post confirm that the Places are saved in the same Registry entry that Windows 10 uses i.e. the TenForums tutorial still applies?

Denis

Edwin · Feb 24, 2023

Try3 said:
Does your post confirm that the Places are saved in the same Registry entry that Windows 10 uses i.e. the TenForums tutorial still applies?

Yup.

(As in the tutorial, the comdlg32 and Placesbar keys may not, probably don't, exist, you have to create them)

Edwin · Feb 24, 2023

I'm surprised the Registry still utilizes the old Save dialog!
I've got 2 or 3 programs that still have it, just can't remember what they are!

ajaxStardust · Feb 25, 2023

EDIT: the software which uses that old dialog is "UniversalViewer" (free version), as configured with "FreeCommander" (dual pane file manager).
Edit2: Why use that old thing? Check out the "plugins" [Google Translate Reqd] (what I was setting up in original post here). I can accomplish so much w/ a diverse array of file types, from a single interface. it boosts my productivity. sorry to derail my own thread, but i figure someone reading might find an interest.

Hey guys. Thank you so much for your attention to this thread! I find all of this quite interesting, and will return to try the info you've graciously provided soon as i catch up on non-fun work.

I digress, but i don't think there's anything critcal here, and it is a social forum, so...
Been a win user since... well, i never officially had Win 95. LOL. but, 3.x or whatever straight to Win 98. (i guess those aren't technically "operating systems", but shells on top of DOS. can't rem.

There remains a lot to be learned here. Stuff that people don't really talk about, but if you have a good handle on it, the idea of "the O/S working for you", instead of you working on it (or however you want to put it)... it gets much better with understanding of these things.

Not that these things should really ever even come into discussion (you'd think) at Windows 11 for a "regular user", but alas, here we are. lol. I don't hate it. i like Win 11 very much. Switched back to my Win 10 sys last weekend while i was resetting Win 11. Win 10 is really nice as well. At least those older software apps still run.

:sigh: as, Mick Jagger once penned, "What a drag it is: getting old..."

Try3 · Feb 25, 2023

ajaxStardust said:
the software which uses that old dialog is "UniversalViewer" (free version)

That explains it. Their free version was last updated in 2012.
The new FileOpen/SaveAs dialogs had been introduced in/by 2009 but take-up by third-party utilities can be slow. Even Windows has yet to complete its transition.

All the best,
Denis