Win 7 - Windows Explorer Explained: Changing the Layout-gctid43876

[Ajamu]

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Windows Explorer Explained: Changing the Layout

                  By Rick Broida, PCWorld                    Nov 29, 2010 7:31 AM

Windows Explorer (not to be confused with Internet Explorer,  the Web browser) is Microsoft's built-in file and folder manager. It's a  useful tool, but confusing in places and not very intuitive for novice  users. (Heck, even finding it isn't always obvious.)

For example, if you're a Windows 7 user, you may be wondering why  Explorer lacks the pull-down menus (File, Edit, View, etc.) found in  previous versions (and, indeed, in most other programs).

Answer: sometimes Microsoft makes changes merely for the sake of  making changes. Fortunately, not all of those changes are irreversible.  Let's take a look at some ways to change the layout of Windows  Explorer--including restoring those pull-down menus.

(Note: Today's how-to focuses solely on Windows 7.)

First, run Explorer (my preferred method: press Windows-E). Next, click the Organize button near the top-left corner of the Window. Mouse over Layout, then check out the four options that appear:



The first of these is Menu Bar, which, by default, is disabled. Click it and those familiar pull-down menus magically reappear.

As for the other three, here's what they do:

Details pane:  The Details pane appears at the bottom of the Explorer window. True to  its name, it provides details on whatever item(s) you've  selected--drives, files, folders, etc. However, you get very little info  on drives and folders, and a bunch of mostly unnecessary info on files,  so consider unchecking Details pane to free up some extra viewing area in Explorer.

Preview pane:  One of Explorer's hidden gems, the Preview pane (which appears to the  right) shows a preview of whatever file you click: Word document, Excel  spreadsheet, PDF, photo, etc. That's a great way to make sure you've  found the file you want before you actually open it. Even better, click a  music file or video and you can play it right in the Preview pane (as  long as it's compatible with Windows Media Player). I consider this an  essential part of Windows Explorer, so by all means enable it.

Navigation pane:  The Navigation pane is the one on the left side of Explorer. Without  it, you wouldn't be able to access Favorites, Libraries, Homegroup, and  everything else. Unless you have some specific reason for disabling it,  I'd leave it alone.

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