Windows 7 Explorer Navigation Pane
Windows 7 has incorporated several new features when compared to its predecessors, vista and XP. However, a few may find the explorer in Windows 7, very annoying to use. This is because most windows users prefer the tree like navigation pane in windows explorer of Windows XP. In windows 7 explorer, they may find navigating through the hierarchical organization of windows folders and files, unproductive. Here is a quick tip to make the navigation pane in windows 7 explorer, more manageable and easier to use.
In Windows 7 explorer, the navigation pane shows 5 folders, by default. They are Favorites, Libraries, Computer, Network, and Home group. One can click on any of them to directly go to the respective folder location. But it can be quite tough and annoying, when one finds the need to navigate to a folder or file lying deep inside the hierarchy.
Windows XP users would be used to traversing to the desired folder or file through the tree structure of the explorer’s navigation pane. They may find it boring to navigate through the hierarchy of folders in windows 7, to reach the desired folder or file.
However, there is a simple trick to make the navigation in windows 7 easier and similar to what was there in windows xp.
1. On the windows 7 explorer menu, click on Organize => Folder and Search options
2. Under the General tab and the Navigation pane, check Show all folders and Automatically expand to current folder, and click Apply and Ok.
3. The above selection makes it easier to navigate to the folders and files through a tree like navigation pane in windows explorer, that is similar to what was available in windows XP.
Automatically expanding the current folder makes navigation faster and easier.These settings for the navigation pane in windows explorer would be saved and retained, every time you turn on the system. You can revert back to hierarchical organization of the navigation pane in windows 7 explorer.
Be more productive in windows 7 by having a navigation pane in windows explorer, similar to what you were used to in windows xp!!!
