Changing Filename COLORS in (VISTA )Windows Explorer (explorer.exe

I need to change the display filename colors in Vista Windows Explorer
similar to the MAC O/S Feature.

This question does NOT deal with Encrypted Files or Compressed Files. I
simply want to change the display names of the files to colors such as BLUE,
GREY, etc., just like I can do on the MAC O/S for the past 5 years.

I do NOT want to use any third party software file managers. There must be a
way to do it in Windows since APPLE has been doing it for 60 months now.

I can't believe that Windows STILL Cannot perform this simple task !!!

If you have a working solution using Windows Explorer please email me and
let me know.

Many Thanks,
Eddie Miller

 

I have never been asked by one user, ever, for this feature. I do remember,
in my MAC days, and that was over 10 years ago, that I did have control over
file name color. It was cute but I didn't miss it when we converted
everyone over to PCs. May I ask what you would use the feature for? What
happens when you move files to a server. Does the color integrity remain in
tact? How about when you send the file as an attachment? Does it remain in
tact? I guess the seriousness for the need depends on how you use it.
Bob F.

 

Bobby Boy,

Did you happen to read the very last line in my post: "If you have a working
solution using Windows Explorer please email me and let me know." ???

The seriousness of my need, based on your good old day's experience, is
irrelevant and ridiculous. EVERY one of the 15 top file manager replacement
shells for Explorer.exe allow any filename to be changed to any color and
with any color background !!!

That is called PRODUCTIVITY and it is something that Microsoft knows, nor
cares, little about.

I fondly recall, from my good old CRAYOLA Days, how easy it was to
categorize papers using my 8, 16, 32, 64, and then the mother of all 128
color crayon set !!! Why do you think we as humans, can visually see over 16
million colors? Yet MS chooses ONE SINGLE COLOR as my only choice for the
past 20 years !!! DUH !!! What's up with that? Yet they add useless tag info
with over 100 useless classifications.

Your answer to my question was indeed asinine! Do they have an award column
for that? I would certainly nominate you and vote for your answer as being
"Numero Uno" in the classification of lame and dumbed down responses.

Being able to visually recognize filenames by COLOR is not just CUTE, it is
indeed a critical function when dealing with those who cannot read (children
and/or the illiterate) or those with visual handicaps.

If someone out there knows how to perform this action please do reply. It
was advertised as being part of Vista Features about 18 months ago in the
early spam BS that MS was generating concerning the product. However, it
seems the feature never made it into the Vista RTM.

Eddie Miller

 

Sure did, but you didn't say "If and only if..." You did not state what
your request was if I didn't have a solution.

Background is often helpful for context. If it didn't help you, just ignore
it.

EVERY one of the 15 top file manager replacement

Nice to know...I never used the feature and know of no one else that did.

One could argue that productivity comes about through simplicity. When
things are put in color needlessly then confusion creeps in and a person
slows down. Particulary when you didn't transfer the key to the recipient.
Also, it is known that about 20% of the population are color blind. Using
color will cause that segment to be discriminated against.

QUOTE: "The seriousness of my need, based on your good old day's experience,
is

Why do you think we as humans, can visually see over 16

Are you proposing when/if file font color become available, it does so in 10
million colors?

Yet MS chooses ONE SINGLE COLOR as my only choice for the

People use the tag info as they would use color info without discriminating
against color blind people.

There seems to be a model mis-match here. If you don't see the alignment,
please ignore the response.

Glad you agree.

it is

Finally...a real need! Just as I asked.

I don't understand why people have to respond to questions in this NG with
so much venom and personal attacks. Don't you understand that you represent
American society, everyone is watching and at the very least it is an
opportunity to hone one's social writing skills in order to grow. Eddie
will be the 4th one in this group in the kill file.
Bob F.

 

I like the fact that Windows has been able to run all my favorite programs
for around 150 months.

Apple STILL cannot perform this simple task !!

 

You, my man are in desperate need of a MAC. Of course if the MAC can't do
what your require in most other things than you have to keep your PC. Not a
big deal. Make a choice. MAC, PC, 3rd party stuff. Quit whining about
what you think is productivity.

 

Why you shouldn't ask for E-mail responses on Usenet
http://www.cs.tut.fi/~jkorpela/usenet/mail-responses.html

 

I can't believe you'd expect the presence of a "feature" that no one
has ever asked for, and for which there would be very little practical use.


--

Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:
http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx/kb/555375

They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary
safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. ~Benjamin Franklin

Many people would rather die than think; in fact, most do. ~Bertrand Russell

The philosopher has never killed any priests, whereas the priest has
killed a great many philosophers.
~ Denis Diderot

 

Actually I have a very real need for this as I am trying to write up my
family tree for my children and want to use standard family tree colours to
differentiate the diffrent lines of my and my wife's family.

To explain: the standard family line colours go blue for your father's line,
green for mother's line, red for your mother's father's line and yellow for
your mother's mother's line this colour map makes it visually easy to see,
once you've got the hand of it, where you are in your family tree - assuming
you are using genealogy software which supports Ancestor colours.

I am writing a narrative of my direct line family tree which has now reached
chapter 40 and want to be able to show which part of my family I am writing
about by displaying the file names in the relevant colour i.e. blue, green,
red and yellow.

I admit this is a fairly specific requirement and is probably not universal
but having Googled to try and find a solution it seems there are a lot of
further reasons from highlighting particular photos to differentiating
document versions.

I'm not particularly interested in getting involved in a slanging match but
just wanted to point out that there are, or perhaps in my case is, perfectly
reasonable reasons for an ability to change the colour of a file name.

To my mind Chapter 39 The Hurts, Lowes, Fownes, Gells, Rosells,
Shuttleworths, Arkwrights and Radcliffes - red, does not work as well as
Chapter 39 etc in a red font of my choice.

I don't know if Microsoft read these forums but for me this an important
issue - I'm sigened on using my daughters hotmail account so any help or
comment should be directed to because she never
checks email!

 

David

There's no way to do this by default in Vista. You will need to use a third
party application.

Take a look at the following software, it will do what you want.

XYplorer - A Windows File Manager and Explorer Replacement:
http://www.xyplorer.com/

 

Thanks Ronnie

I've downloaded the trial version and it works really well and does exactly
what I want BUT I object to having to pay for a "bolt on" piece of software
for a simple functionality that is lacking in Vista. The very fact that
XYplorer exists indicates that there is a demand for this kind of
functionality!

David

 

David

File/folder coloring isn't exactly an often requested feature. Yours is the
first time I have seen this request on the Vista groups in almost 16 months.


No operating system or software can do it all, that is why there are niche
products like Xyplorer. This developer focused on everything that Windows
Explorer did not have and created a product to fill that niche.