All Programs folders

[SC Tom]

Does anyone know of a setting that will automatically close the previous
folder when a new folder is selected in Start . . . All Programs? I'm
looking for the same behavior as the Favorites folders in IE using the
"Close unused folders in History and Favorites."

TIA!

 

[Iceman]

Does anyone know of a setting that will automatically close the previous
folder when a new folder is selected in Start . . . All Programs? I'm
looking for the same behavior as the Favorites folders in IE using the
"Close unused folders in History and Favorites."

I can't find any tweak or utility that can completely mime the IE function,
but there is a utility called Close All Windows that can forcibly shut down
all running programs.

http://www.ntwind.com/software/utilities/close-all.html

Then there is always the Task Manager.

Sorry for late reply.

 

[SC Tom]

I can't find any tweak or utility that can completely mime the IE
function,
but there is a utility called Close All Windows that can forcibly shut
down
all running programs.

http://www.ntwind.com/software/utilities/close-all.html

Then there is always the Task Manager.

Sorry for late reply.

Thanks for the reply, but I'm not trying to shut down *any* running
programs; I just want a folder in All Programs to close if I go to a
different folder.

 

[Iceman]

In this group SC Tom wrote in message

in message news:[email protected]

Thanks for the reply, but I'm not trying to shut down *any* running
programs; I just want a folder in All Programs to close if I go to a
different folder.

Like I mentioned above you can use the Task Manager, which shows all open
folders as well as running programs. Also, when navigating through folders
and subfolders the 'Run' dialog is often more practical.

 

[SC Tom]

In this group SC Tom wrote in message

Like I mentioned above you can use the Task Manager, which shows all open
folders as well as running programs. Also, when navigating through folders
and subfolders the 'Run' dialog is often more practical.

You're missing entirely what I'm saying, I think. Start menu folders do NOT
show up in Task Manager, and that's not what I'm trying to do. I know how to
use TM to close programs, but it doesn't apply in this situation.

 

[Gene E. Bloch]

You're missing entirely what I'm saying, I think. Start menu folders do NOT
show up in Task Manager, and that's not what I'm trying to do. I know how to
use TM to close programs, but it doesn't apply in this situation.

Well, *someone* knows what you mean

I looked the other day, and sure enough, a Start Menu folder *does* stay
open when you go to another.

I say this with some surprise, because I never noticed that before

It's a YMMV situation - you care, and I don't, apparently. Fact is, I
hardly ever even use the All Programs section any more. I've grown
accustomed to your face...no, wait, I mean I've grown accustomed to just
typing a few letters in the search bar, and rarely use the All Programs
dialog.

I'm wasting your time, since I have no idea how to fix that, but I
figured knowing that your explanation was clear enough for at least one
person would give you some moral support.

 

[SC Tom]

Well, *someone* knows what you mean

I looked the other day, and sure enough, a Start Menu folder *does* stay
open when you go to another.

I say this with some surprise, because I never noticed that before

It's a YMMV situation - you care, and I don't, apparently. Fact is, I
hardly ever even use the All Programs section any more. I've grown
accustomed to your face...no, wait, I mean I've grown accustomed to just
typing a few letters in the search bar, and rarely use the All Programs
dialog.

I'm wasting your time, since I have no idea how to fix that, but I
figured knowing that your explanation was clear enough for at least one
person would give you some moral support.

Thanks, Gene. I figured if anyone understood it, it would be you (I mean
that honestly, really I do.)

It's not that I care so much as I would like it to act like IE, and thought
there might be a "hidden" setting somewhere. Even Classic Shell doesn't have
an option for it.
I have taken most of my folders and moved them into group-style folders,
just so I don't have a new folder for every program I install. For example,
I have my Office products in the default Office folder, but I've also put my
Avery-Dennison label software, PDF X-change, Notepad++, and a few more there
also. I have a Maintenance folder and a Utility folder, and I sometimes
forget which one I put a particular app in. So I open one, and it's not
there, so I open the other one, but now I have to scroll up and down to see
if the app is in it. It would be much simpler if the first folder closed
when I clicked on the second, but alas, it doesn't :-(

I probably should use the Search bar more, but I sometimes find it to be
somewhat frustrating in its returns.
Thanks for your understanding

 

[Char Jackson]

Thanks, Gene. I figured if anyone understood it, it would be you (I mean
that honestly, really I do.)

Your original post was stated clearly, so I'm guessing almost everyone
reading it understand your question. Unfortunately, without a solution
to offer, I/we/they all sat back and waited to see what would happen.
All except Gene, of course. He's good that way.

Speaking of Gene, I'm in his camp on this. The behavior that you
mention bothers me, too, but like Gene, I don't go there very often
anymore. I've gotten lazy and just use the search bar most of the
time. That's saying a lot for me, as that method of accessing programs
was initially my least favorite feature. Now I use it frequently.

I probably should use the Search bar more, but I sometimes find it to be
somewhat frustrating in its returns.

The item I want is usually within the first 3 results, and usually at
the very top of the list. That's primarily how it won me over. Do you
have a different experience?

 

[SC Tom]

Your original post was stated clearly, so I'm guessing almost everyone
reading it understand your question. Unfortunately, without a solution
to offer, I/we/they all sat back and waited to see what would happen.
All except Gene, of course. He's good that way.

Speaking of Gene, I'm in his camp on this. The behavior that you
mention bothers me, too, but like Gene, I don't go there very often
anymore. I've gotten lazy and just use the search bar most of the
time. That's saying a lot for me, as that method of accessing programs
was initially my least favorite feature. Now I use it frequently.


The item I want is usually within the first 3 results, and usually at
the very top of the list. That's primarily how it won me over. Do you
have a different experience?

I have a few programs that just run, no installation necessary. Most (if not
all) of those don't show up in the Search bar. But I got around that by
pining the ones I use the most to my start menu. Other than that type of
program, I don't really have a problem with Search, other than getting over
NOT using it

 

[SC Tom]

I have a few programs that just run, no installation necessary. Most (if
not all) of those don't show up in the Search bar. But I got around that
by **pining** the ones I use the most to my start menu. Other than that
type of program, I don't really have a problem with Search, other than
getting over NOT using it

I should have typed "pinning", not "pining", although it could be said I was
"pining" over the good ol' days (highly over-rated)

 

[Gene E. Bloch]

I should have typed "pinning", not "pining", although it could be said I was
"pining" over the good ol' days (highly over-rated)

I got a good laugh from that. But to tell the truth, I didn't even
notice the typo, and I'm pretty picky - or do I mean piky?

What I do when I want something to appear in All Programs is to put it
there. Here's how:

Right click on the All Programs button and choose either Open or Open
All Users. The first is for your account only, the second is for all
users

In the Explorer window that opens, open the Programs folder.

If you want a top-level shortcut, make a shortcut to your program and
place it in that folder at the top level.

If you want it in a folder, choose an existing folder or make a new
folder there. Go to that folder. Place your desired shortcuts there.

This can be done instead of, or as a supplement to, "pining" a program
to the start menu.

Incidentally, there's a pre-existing folder in the Programs folder
called Startup. Anything you put there will be run at startup.

Before I go, I'd also like to give a +1 to Char's post quoted above. But
of course, everybody's mileage does vary