I like all my XP folders and files to display in the "List" view.

I just had to do a fresh install on my hard drive, and apparently the default View mode for Word/Office is "Tiles", which are quite large and take up too much space for my preference.

Since I have hundreds of folders and sub-folders, and many more documents, I have to change each folder manually from Tiles to List. This is taking a lot of time.

Is there some way to change the default to "List"?

Thanks...

You can try this: go to "Tools" in explorer and click "Folder Options...". Once there check the box next to "Remeber each folder's view settings". Although I've seen the same thing where Windows doesn't really remember the View I chose.

Here's the official MS KB: How to modify your folder view settings or to customize a folder (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/812003)

Thanks NK. I checked it out. You are correct.

There are actually 2 options, both with drawbacks, however.

The one you suggest is the default setting, but it requires setting each folder view individually, one time.

The other which is faster, is a button called Set all folders to view the way this one does. That would be fast, but would not work well for all my photo folders which I have in Thumbnail view. I wonder if this button applies to photo folders as well??

I was hoping for a default change from Tiles to List.

Thanks again...

I think Vista kind of has a feature that addresses that:

In that drop-down you can specify Documents or photos or files

http://www.everyjoe.com/windowsvistaweblog/files/2007/09/windowsvistadoctypes.jpg

I wonder if this button applies to photo folders as well??


The "Set All Folders" button does change them for all folders -- photo folders included. However, after that you can change the photo folders to "Thumbnails". This is usually easier than going through all folders and changing them individually.

Now that I've mentioned that, I'm not sure Office uses the same defaults as Windows Explorer. My Office 2007 seems to keep a separate set of default folder options from Explorer. I set all my folders to default to "List", but Office (specifically Word) opens in the "Detailed" mode, which it was before I changed it for Explorer.

I believe that the best answer is simply to change it in Word (or whatever Office program you're using), and its should stay that way.

NK: Plus 1 for Vista. First good thing I've ever heard about it :-)

Perito: Thanks for the clarification. I probably have almost as many photo folders as Office folders, so I guess I'll just do what I always do, and that is to switch the folders individually as I open them over time.

For some reason, this setting does not carry over when I clone my HDD. Wish it would.

Thank you both...

Office 2007 decides to override the folder setting?

Leave it to MS to be arrogant enough to decide they know better than the person using their own computer. I hate those people.

I actually have Office 2003. 2007 is way more than I need.

Perito mentioned 2007.

I still have Office 2000 and it's still more than I need. :-) Especially considering I only use Excel. I am really just not happy with what they did to 2007.