How can I change the default shortcuts in the “save” box (Windows XP)

Question

Is there a way to change the default shortcuts in the Windows Save box? My machine shows "My recent documents", "Desktop", "My documents", "My computer", My network". I'd like to remove some and add others.

Many thanks,

JD

Answer 1

For non MSOffice applications (Office has its own dialogs):

Method #1:

Use Group Policy Editor to change things.

• Start | Run, type in gpedit.msc
• Navigate to User Configuration -> Administrative Templates -> Windows Components -> Windows Explorer -> Common Open File Dialog

Method #2:

Use TweakUI

Method #3:

(standard warning for editing the registry applies.... :P)

The following key holds registry values that control items in the Windows Common Dialog (the Save, Open, Print etc dialog box):

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\comdlg32

You can add folders to this by adding values to this subkey (note that this key does not exist by default):

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\comdlg32\PlacesBar

You add STRING values under the PlacesBar key named Place# where you replace # with a sequential integer. Then set the value of that to be the folder path you want to have shown.

For example:

• Place0 with a value of C:\MyNewFolder
• Place1 with a value of C:\Work

As an aside, to totally hide the Places bar add a DWORD value under the comdlg32 key called NoPlacesBar and set it to 1.

For Office Apps, follow these links for instructions:

• Office 2000
• Office XP (2002), 2003, 2007