3 +1 Best Windows Explorer Add-ons For Windows 7

Enhancing Windows Explorer with Add-ons

Previously, in a series of articles focusing on Windows Explorer, we detailed advanced configuration options and provided practical advice for optimizing your file management experience.

This final installment of the trilogy will demonstrate how to extend the functionality of Windows Explorer through the utilization of add-ons.

Adding Missing Features

Windows Explorer add-ons allow users to incorporate features that are not natively included in the file manager.

These enhancements can significantly improve workflow and address common user needs.

Examples of Useful Add-ons

Several add-ons are available to address specific limitations within Windows Explorer.

• Tabs: Add tabbed browsing to Windows Explorer, similar to web browsers.
• Enhanced Copy Process: Implement a more robust and feature-rich file copying mechanism.
• Desktop Icon Restoration: Utilize a tool designed to reliably restore missing or corrupted desktop icons.

These are just a few examples of the many add-ons available to customize and improve your Windows Explorer experience.

By leveraging these tools, users can tailor Windows Explorer to their specific requirements and preferences.

Enhancing Windows Explorer with QTTabBar

Tabbed browsing has become a standard feature in web browsers for nearly ten years. While Microsoft integrated tabs into Internet Explorer 7 in 2006, this functionality was not initially extended to Windows Explorer, the file manager. Thankfully, a resourceful developer, Paul, created a solution to address this limitation.

QTTabBar introduces a supplementary menu bar to the Windows Explorer interface. This addition provides access to features like advanced folder opening and closing, a duplication tool, an extra search bar, and a history of recently accessed folders. Each of these options is also directly accessible via the [TAB] key.

The folder tabs themselves are positioned above this newly added menu bar. Users can easily customize the tab arrangement by simply dragging and dropping them into their preferred order.

Key Features of QTTabBar

• Advanced Folder Management: Quickly open and close folders with dedicated buttons.
• Copy Tool: A convenient tool for duplicating files and folders.
• Enhanced Search: An additional search field for faster file location.
• Recent Folders List: Effortlessly revisit previously closed folders.
• Tab Reordering: Customize the tab layout with drag-and-drop functionality.

QTTabBar is compatible with operating systems ranging from Windows XP to Windows 7. It provides a significant usability improvement for those who frequently work with multiple folders simultaneously.

This add-on effectively brings the convenience of tabbed browsing to file management, streamlining workflow and enhancing productivity. It’s a simple yet powerful tool for any Windows user.

TeraCopy

The standard Windows Explorer often proves to be an unstable solution when handling the copying of substantial file quantities. Transfers can be sluggish, the process prone to errors, and a single problematic file can halt the entire operation.

Employing alternatives, like command-line interfaces or dedicated backup software, can be complex and lack intuitive usability.

Enhanced File Transfer Capabilities

TeraCopy was specifically engineered to significantly enhance the file transfer experience. It seamlessly integrates into the Windows Explorer context menu, allowing it to be designated as the default file copying utility.

This tool facilitates the copying and moving of large datasets at optimal speeds, and supports the pausing and resumption of transfers. Furthermore, encountering corrupted files will not terminate the entire process; these files are bypassed and reported upon completion.

A previous evaluation of TeraCopy was published on MakeUseOf: Move or Copy PC Files Lightning-Fast with TeraCopy.

Alternative File Copying Solutions

Consider these articles for exploring potential alternatives:

• UltraCopier – A multi-platform batch file copier offering a different approach.
• RichCopy – Another option for efficiently copying multiple files on your computer.

These alternatives provide different features and functionalities for managing file transfers.

TeraCopy remains a strong contender for users seeking a reliable and efficient file copying solution.

Desktop Restore: Maintaining Icon Order

Have you ever experienced the frustration of having your desktop icons become disorganized after a change in screen resolution, such as when connecting to an external display or projector? This was a significant annoyance for me in the past.

While I personally no longer utilize desktop icons, for those who prefer accessing files and folders directly from the desktop, Desktop Restore is an invaluable utility.

How Desktop Restore Works

This tool meticulously records the precise locations of all icons on your desktop. It then enables you to revert to the original arrangement if they become scattered or misplaced.

The application seamlessly integrates into the desktop's right-click context menu, providing convenient access to save and restore icon layouts.

Through the Custom Layout Save/Restore function, users can effortlessly switch between layouts optimized for different desktop resolutions.

Furthermore, the layout data can be saved to a file for backup or transferred to another system, and restored from a file as needed.