Windows 7 Libraries

[M0RPH]

Well, I hate this Libraries feature. To me it's useless and just requires extra clicks.

Worst of all, the file listing in a library does not update properly. For example, if I'm in the Pictures library and delete some pictures, the listing does not update and remove those icons. I have to click refresh to see that the files have been deleted. Same thing goes for moving or renaming files.

Now, if I go directly to the My Pictures folder without going through the library, deleting/moving/renaming files works as it should, with the file listing updating right after the operation.

I don't know if this is a bug with libraries or what but to me it's a complete pain in the ass and makes them unusable.

What I'd like to do is replace the Libraries listing in the left-hand Explorer column with the normal personal folders, My Pictures/Music/Videos etc. I don't want to see or deal with libraries at all. Can anyone help me here?

 

[GrumpyMan]

Originally posted by: M0RPH
Well, I hate this Libraries feature. To me it's useless and just requires extra clicks.

Worst of all, the file listing in a library does not update properly. For example, if I'm in the Pictures library and delete some pictures, the listing does not update and remove those icons. I have to click refresh to see that the files have been deleted. Same thing goes for moving or renaming files.

Now, if I go directly to the My Pictures folder without going through the library, deleting/moving/renaming files works as it should, with the file listing updating right after the operation.

I don't know if this is a bug with libraries or what but to me it's a complete pain in the ass and makes them unusable.

What I'd like to do is replace the Libraries listing in the left-hand Explorer column with the normal personal folders, My Pictures/Music/Videos etc. I don't want to see or deal with libraries at all. Can anyone help me here?

Try this, great site by the way if you want to tweak Windows 7. I've tried all the tweaks on an RC version to make sure they worked, never had a problem yet. This guy does his homework.

Tweaking with W7 with Vishal

 

[vtfanmv5]

Wow, I love the libraries. When I'm manipulating files in the folders that the library holds, I only work from the library, and it of course automatically makes the changes I make in the native folders. I don't ever have the native folders open though, so I could care less if they live update or not.

 

[M0RPH]

Originally posted by: GrumpyMan


Tweaking with W7 with Vishal

Thanks for that.

 

[M0RPH]

Originally posted by: vtfanmv5
Wow, I love the libraries. When I'm manipulating files in the folders that the library holds, I only work from the library, and it of course automatically makes the changes I make in the native folders. I don't ever have the native folders open though, so I could care less if they live update or not.

I'm not sure what you're saying here. If you're in a library and delete some files does it auto -update the file listing?

Can anyone else confirm or deny the behavior I'm seeing with libraries? If I delete some files they are in fact deleted but not removed from the file listing until I click refresh.

 

[corkyg]

I'm not going to debate the goodness or badness of libraries, but I removed them from my Win 7 Ultimate desktop; - also "Homegroup." I don't work that way - all my files are on external drives organized the way I work and use them, and I don't allow any "folder" icons on my desktop. Here's the fix:

Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFWARE\Microsoft\Wind ows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Desktop\NameSpace

In the NameSpace folder, there will be a folder (key) with the name {031E4825-7B94-4dc3-B131-E946B44C8DD5} . The value of the default item should be "Libraries". This is the registry entry This is the Libraries icon. Delete the folder from the registry.

Go to your desktop and hit F5, the icons should disappear. Libraries and Homegroup have retained their full functionality as far as I can tell, so it hasn't appeared to have affected the programs at all.

Homegroup is removed the same way.

In the NameSpace folder, there will be a folder (key) with the name {B4FB3F98-C1EA-428d-A78A-D1F5659CBA93} . The value of the default item should be "Other users". This is the registry entry Homegroup icon. Delete the folder from the registry.

Repeate the F5 routine on the desktop. Windows 7 works beautifully the way I want it to.

 

[vtfanmv5]

Originally posted by: M0RPH

Originally posted by: vtfanmv5
Wow, I love the libraries. When I'm manipulating files in the folders that the library holds, I only work from the library, and it of course automatically makes the changes I make in the native folders. I don't ever have the native folders open though, so I could care less if they live update or not.

I'm not sure what you're saying here. If you're in a library and delete some files does it auto -update the file listing?

Can anyone else confirm or deny the behavior I'm seeing with libraries? If I delete some files they are in fact deleted but not removed from the file listing until I click refresh.

It doesn't live update, but I see now reason to work in the native folders when you can just continue to work in the library.

 

[M0RPH]

Well now I'm confused. I can't even seem to reproduce the problem now. I guess it only happens sometimes and I'm not sure when.

Also, why is it that all my libraries have subheadings for the actual folders contained inside, except for my pictures library? My pictures library just shows all the pictures together and no indication of the folders it contains. I can't find the setting to change this... I'd just like all the libraries to look consistent. Trying to give this a chance before I remove Libraries altogether.

 

[Rhonda the Sly]

Your Pictures library is organized by Folder and most likely nothing else is. It's likely your Music library is organized by artist or album, which creates nice pretty thumbnails, if you switch to Folder it turns to details. It's probably not ideal to have the libraries consistent because the content isn't consistent.

...And, just so you people know, the Library pane can be turned off using Organize > Layout > Library Pane. The pane is useless it adds nothing but the Arrange by button but you can access that by RMBing in a blank area of the window. The thing is a waste of space.

Have fun experimenting.

 

[corkyg]

You are touching on why I removed Libraries. I have over 12 years of digital imagery stored in hundreds of folders on an externalk drive and backed up by two others. Same with music. Iview my photo files with programs, not libraries - I don't need added layers. Same with music folders - hundreds of them by artist and genre - all catalogued and stored before Vista or Win 7 were invented. Like I said, I limit my desktop to apps only - I like it that way.

My Desktop

 

[Modelworks]

I also turned off libraries and home groups, along with replacing explorer. If I had to pick what MS should have changed it would be explorer and the networking.
I use directory opus instead, I can catalog , sort, launch programs, ftp, etc all from one app.
http://www.gpsoft.com.au/

Yeah it cost if you use it past 60 days, but going back to explorer now is like using win 3.1 .