JSI Tip 6800. How can I adjust the column width that Windows Explorer remembers in Details view?

To cause Windows Explorer to adjust the column width in Details view, and to remember that width between sessions:

1. Open Windows Explorer or My Computer.

2. Navigate to a folder path.

3. In the right-hand pane, move the cursor to the demarcation at the end of a column heading, so that the cursor changes to a horizontal double-headed arrow, and double click the demarcation. The column width automatically adjusts to fit the largest test. This setting will be remembered at your next restart.

If you are having trouble getting Windows XP to remember that you set Details as your view:

01. Copy /Paste the following to a Details.reg file:

REGEDIT4[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREClassesFoldershellCmd Here][HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREClassesFoldershellCmd Herecommand]@="cmd.exe /k pushd %L"[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREClassesFoldershellexplore]"BrowserFlags"=dword:00000022"ExplorerFlags"=dword:00000021[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREClassesFoldershellexplorecommand]@=hex(2):25,53,79,73,74,65,6d,52,6f,6f,74,25,5c,45,78,70,6c,6f,72,65,72,2e,65,  78,65,20,2f,65,2c,2f,69,64,6c,69,73,74,2c,25,49,2c,25,4c,00[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREClassesFoldershellexploreddeexec]@="[ExploreFolder("%l", %I, %S)]""NoActivateHandler"=""[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREClassesFoldershellexploreddeexecapplication]@="Folders"[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREClassesFoldershellexploreddeexecifexec]@="[]"[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREClassesFoldershellexploreddeexectopic]@="AppProperties"[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREClassesFoldershellopen]"BrowserFlags"=dword:00000010"ExplorerFlags"=dword:00000012[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREClassesFoldershellopencommand]@=hex(2):25,53,79,73,74,65,6d,52,6f,6f,74,25,5c,45,78,70,6c,6f,72,65,72,2e,65,  78,65,20,2f,69,64,6c,69,73,74,2c,25,49,2c,25,4c,00[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREClassesFoldershellopenddeexec]@="[ViewFolder("%l", %I, %S)]""NoActivateHandler"=""[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREClassesFoldershellopenddeexecapplication]@="Folders"[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREClassesFoldershellopenddeexecifexec]@="[]"[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREClassesFoldershellopenddeexectopic]@="AppProperties"

02. Merge the Details.reg file with your registry, or run regedit /s Details.reg.

03. Restart your computer.

04. Open Windows Explorer or My Computer.

05. On the View menu, select Details.

06. On the Tools menu, select Folder Options.

07. On the File Types tab, select Folder.

08. Press the Advanced button.

09. Select Open and press Set Default.

10. Press OK.

11. Press Close.

12. Customize the columns that you want displayed.

13. On the Tools menu, select Folder Options.

14. On the View tab, press Apply to All Folders.

15. Press Yes.

16. Press OK.

NOTE: See How can I increase the number of folders that Windows XP remembers settings for?