FlashFolder
Rating: 5
Version tested: 1.7.76.0 beta
FlashFolder a small toolbar that docks onto the Windows’ “Open/Save” and “Browse for Folder” dialogs. It provides a number of functions including the ability to bookmark and quickly access favorites folders as well as quick access to recently used folders. It also offers a number of other related functions.
Another program for tweaking the Windows “Open/Save” dialog, but this one is my favorite yet. This is the kind of freeware find that I love: a tiny program that provides very useful and user friendly functions that make Windows easier to use. Here’s a list of function
- Quick access to recently used folders (through a drop down menu)
- Quick access to favorite folders: define your frequently used folders and you’re on your way. Note that this can use the directory menu from Total Commander.
- Easy access to all folders with currently open files; not sure why I would need these, exactly, especially when most of the folders in the dropdown are system folders that are being accessed by Windows and other background processes. It would have been great to be able to suppress system folders from this dropdown in the ’program options’.
- Adds a folder address bar to the “Open/Save” dialog. This offers the option to manually edit the folder path if you need to. At first I was inclined to think this was an entirely unnecessary but in fact it placed so efficiently in the FlashFolder dock that it quickly started to make sense to have it there.
- Centers the dialog on the screen; enlarges it and makes it resizeable.
- Provides a button to quickly set the *.* (All file types) filter.
- Works with MS Office’s “Open/Save” dialog (requires Windows XP)
See screenshots to get a feeling for this (recommeded) program. [Thanks go again to reader Risk for tipping me off about this program].
Compatibility: Windows 2000, XP.
Go to the Sourceforge download page to get the latest version (approx 410K). Also visit the program home page.
Thanks for mentioning FlashFolder on your site.
I just want to correct something: The program does NOT work under Windows Vista right now. Vista has some new kind of open/save dialog, which is not “understand” by FlashFolder.
I will need some time to fix this for Vista.
Regarding “all folders with currently open files”:
I have already added “suppress system folders” to the bug tracker.
I’m also a bit unsure about this feature. I’m wondering if it really is an essential feature that everyone needs by default. Otherwise it would best be made optional and be off by default.
Win9x is also not (and will never be) supported, so the compatibility list should be: Windows 2k/XP
Yes.. Sorry. I meant to check compatibility but somehow didn’t. I’ve got it fixed now.
You forgot to mention to big downsides of this program: (1) it has no un-installer (aside from of Control Panel >Add/remove programs, which is not nice); and (2) it RUNS AS A WINDOWS SERVICE, which is stupid for such a little utility, and suspicious to me.
I couldn’t wait to un-install it.
Menu with all “active” directories sounded not too useful… until I found out that this program auto-detects and moves to top current active directories of Total Commander. This feature is seriously great! It instantly eliminated my hate for open\save dialogs.
2Sam Jones
1. This program comes in msi package. So it uses built-in windows features to (un)install itself. So separate uninstaller is not needed (and may even be harmful).
2. Running as service has totally no means to make program more (or less) dangerous. Program is open source and considered totally safe and garbage-free by large download site softpedia:
http://www.softpedia.com/get/System/OS-Enhancements/FlashFolder.shtml
No downsides for me so far.
Thanks for the feedback.
I can understand complains about running the tool as a service since this seems like hooking too deep into the system.
There is excactly one reason for this behaviour:
To make the program work well under restricted user accounts.
Working mainly with a restricted account is recommended by security experts so that malicious software like viruses and spyware can do less harm.
But sometimes you need to start administrative programs via “Run As” from the restricted account. Without the system service, FlashFolder could not be used in such programs, because it would not have the required privileges.
If I find some time, I will make the system service an optional feature that can be choosen in the installer.
I have seen a number of tools that do the same thing but are pay. I have just started to use this and it seems great! Thanks for providing this zett42! I hope you continue to develop it!
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Looks good. I’ll test it. Thanks!
Just tried this tool (on XP) and love it! Thank you.
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