Many thanks for creating a useful time-saving tool like Direct Folders. After purchasing the Pro version I’ve got a few remarks. I’m using Windows Vista Ultimate 64-bit edition and a number of Direct Folders functions don’t seem to work:

1: The general Set View options don’t work in Windows-compliant windows such as Windows Explorer. I still regularly get a thumbnail view in one folder and a list view in another folder, although I’ve specified the Details view. What does work is the file window resize function (quite a welcome function).

2: The application-specific functions also don’t seem to work. I added Winword.exe and specified a folder, but when I want to open a file from Word, it starts in a different folder than I specified.

3: The Custom Places function also doesn’t work in Vista. When I open the file dialog from Word, I get the usual Pictures, Music etc. at the left side. In Vista this sidebar is called Favorite Links, so I guess support for customization of this is not yet implemented.

4: I noticed that the (seemingly Windows-compliant) save dialog of Firefox 3 doesn’t like Direct Folders. No matter what folder I try to go to using DF, the Firefox 3 save file dialog doesn’t want to go there.

I’ve also got a couple of suggestions for a future update of Direct Folders:

1: I’d appreciate an extra tab in the Configuration dialog that shows some quick info about keyboard shortcuts and useful hidden functions, such as right-clicking a close icon to make the window always on top and right-clicking the maximize button to minimize a window to its title bar. Useful for chaotic people like me, who have to remember a heap of functions and shortcuts from many different programs, and useful for people who don’t care to read the manual.

2: When you pick an item from the Recent list, it would be great if the list would auto-update, placing the item you picked at the top of the list again, so the list will function as a ‘Most used’ list as well.

Thanks again for a great tool. I used to use Folder Express by Huang He, but that seems to be discontinued and I think Direct Folders is definitely better. I love the fact that you can also use DF to start programs.

Keep up the great work.

I have a problem with Direct Folder 3.32 under Windows XP 64-bit. I had to upgrade my old computer that used Windows xp, and with the new computer i had two options to choose from: xp 64-bit or Vista 64-bit DSP. I choosed the first one. Well everything worked so far, except, that DirectFolders don’t show up at double click with the left mouse button on the desktop. I have to activate it with Win+Q or Win+W.

The funny is, that the double click does work in save dialogs (except MS Office Viewer applications) and also in Windows Explorer windows. What is the problem?

Thanks for your response,
Peter from Slovenia

Since I don’t use Vista but prefer to stay with XP, and since there seems to be a confirmed Desktop bug (see above) which I don’t notice in the 3.21 freeware version, I think I’ll stay with my version for the time being!

Good work Jeff with this app. I hated Direct Folders at first because (a) it would not display the full path in Recent Files so I could not be sure I was clicking on the proper link, and (b) I had no idea where the user config files were kept, so I couldn’t back up my settings in case of a crash. Now I know that (a) Configure > Options > Recent Items Length and increasing this value to say 200 chars will fix the first problem, and (b) looking in C:\Documents and Settings\[User]\Application Data\Direct Folders will locate the (plain text, editable) menu items, I’m much happier.

Suggest you give these 2 points more prominence in your userguide/faq pages.

Looking forward to the next, bugfree version.

Please help.