Keep Native Multi-Folder Grouping for Libraries

[megamorphg]

Steps to Reproduce:

1. Create a library with two different folders
2. Configure WinSetView to show details and no groups by default in all folders

Expected Result: Have option to have Libraries still grouped by the directory location since they contain multiple folders

Actual Result: Library location's files are listed in all in one folder rather than separate folders

Attempted solution: Configure WinSetView to show details and group by Folder:

But this causes some negative side effects:

• all folders/libraries have a useless group, even if it doesn't have any folders.
• Libraries with multiple folders have groups but they are not sorted the same way that the Library's properties settings folders are listed (they are sorted alphabetically instead).

The native way that Windows works with multi-folder Libraries is better so it would be great to have some option to allow to keep that.

[LesFerch]

Coincidentally, I just posted about that on Reddit:

https://www.reddit.com/r/WindowsHelp/comments/1b968sl/comment/kvtib4c/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x&context=3

Two options:

Option 1: Uncheck Inherit for any library that you want to have a view that differs from your Global setting and set the view for that library to be grouped by Folder Path (File Location in Windows 11). Don't change your Global setting to grouped.

Option 2: Uncheck the library folder type so that it retains the Windows default view.

[megamorphg]

Option 1 causes the sort for the corresponding libraries to be not honored as is done natively. Option 2 causes the library columns to go back to their default width.

So I think Option 1 is the best for now.

In your reddit post you mention the following:

Someday I may try to add Arrange by defaults to WinSetView, but it's not a simple add-on. IIRC, Arrange by settings are a combination of Group by and Stack by settings and are only applicable to libraries.

This is what I was suggesting about having a special option for the library type to keep its default "Group by and Stack by" setting.

Anyway I'm more than happy with the minor sort issue for now!

[LesFerch]

I did some research on this today and determined that "Arrange by" is not the answer. That's essentially an entire saved view, including column headings, sort and grouping, etc.

What we're really looking for is the property ItemSearchLocation and it turns out it was there all along. It's English name is "By location". Just group your libraries on that property and you will get the default grouping for libraries with your preferred columns, etc.

[LesFerch]

I will update the documentation with a note about this.

[megamorphg]

Thank you, this works perfectly, just had to copy-paste to all the generic Library items. It even maintains the sort order of the locations in the Library.

[LesFerch]

Excellent! And nice to hear that the copy-paste feature came in handy. 🙂

[LesFerch]

Version 2.94 sets the "By Location" grouping for Libraries automatically. The Options menu provides an override.