Searched for this as a previous tweak here, couldn't find it... sorry if it's old hat to anyone!

I had this crazy idea the other day... lots of people know the property sheet guid for Author, Title, etc. is {883373C3-BF89-11D1-BE35-080036B11A03}. These properties are stored as alternate data streams in the file. You can right-click just about any file, go to properties, and you'll see a 'Summary' tab where you can set these (and an advanced button to access a few more).

Knowing only the basics of ADS, I wondered if folders could have them. So I went to the following registry key:

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Folder\shellex\PropertySheetHandlers

... and added {883373C3-BF89-11D1-BE35-080036B11A03} as a sub-key. I figured I would either have the coolest tweak I'd seen in a long time, or my hard drive would melt. Lo 'n Behold, it worked! Now I can select a dozen folders, right-click, and set categories!!

What's the point? See picture:



Add the column 'categories' (mine is sized to be hidden), and pick 'show in groups'. Voilà!

Complete registry file follows... copy and paste into a file called categories.reg; right-click and 'merge'.

! To look at this, it seems obvious... once you actually see it.
But honestly I never would have thought of it.
AFAIK this is 100% original and all yours, and it's really nice.
General note: XP only

edit:
By the way here it is in INF format

HKCR,"Folder\shellex\PropertySheetHandlers\{883373C3-BF89-11D1-BE35-080036B11A03}",,,"Summary Properties Page"

This post has been edited by fdv: Sep 29 2008, 02:14 PM

Nice find

Hi SngBrdb,

Many many thanks! For a long time I have quietly cursed the lack of a Properties page for Explorer folders, as I use file Summary fields (Subject, Author, Title, Comments, etc) extensively. Now I can add these fields to my folders as well as files, giving me the ability to sort & group properly (I use Directory Opus, which allows mixing files and folders).

This was such a magical advance in my work process that I had to take time to register on this forum in order to thank you. Major kudos and thanks!

Bruce Clemence