Will Virtual Folders make a comeback in W7

By Suren
in The Fast Ring (Insider Previews)

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Grand Master

Ci7

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Windows

Saved Search, which is Windows Vista's implementation of virtual folder, is physically just an XML file, which contains the search query, in a .search-ms file.

Saved Search, which is Windows Vista's implementation of virtual folder, is physically just an XML file, which contains the search query, in a .search-ms file.

In November 2006, Microsoft released Windows Vista which allows saving any search query as a Search Folder, which is a type of virtual folder. Whenever it is accessed the search is run and the results are presented as if a folder is being shown, with its contents being aliases to the actual files. The exception is that, in certain scenarios, the search is not run and a cached version of the folder is shown.

The same Saved Search approach exists in Windows XP with results generated quickly from an index when Windows Indexing Service is enabled and presented in a similar virtual folder. The search parameters can be saved as a .fnd file for Windows XP searches.

A virtual folder (saved search) is recognizable in Windows Vista by its distinctive icon and blue color. Saved searches can occur anywhere in the filesystem; however, for them to appear in the left hand navigation pane, they must be in a fixed location.

A virtual folder (saved search) is recognizable in Windows Vista by its distinctive icon and blue color. Saved searches can occur anywhere in the filesystem; however, for them to appear in the left hand navigation pane, they must be in a fixed location.

A Search Folder is just an XML file, which stores the query in a form that can be used by the Windows search subsystem. As such, it can be created anywhere in the filesystem wherever a normal file can be created, by saving a search from the Windows Search system. Whenever such files are accessed, the search is executed on the entire hard drive and the matches are aggregated and presented as a virtual folder.

In the early development builds of Windows Vista, there were some pre-configured Virtual Folders, for Music, Pictures, Documents and the like, which were used as replacement of their special folder counterpart. Windows Vista also supported manual creation of custom virtual folders. However, Microsoft felt that Virtual Folders will be too confusing to the general public and hence they are not being used as the replacement of physical folders, as was the original goal. Unlike in previous versions, where Start Menu icons led to Virtual Folders for Music, Pictures and Documents, build 5308 onwards lead to physical folders of same name, which are exactly like My Documents and other similar folders in Windows XP.

180px-Folders_Vista.png

A virtual folder (saved search) is recognizable in Windows Vista by its distinctive icon and blue color. Saved searches can occur anywhere in the filesystem; however, for them to appear in the left hand navigation pane, they must be in a fixed location.

from waki

hope that help

Grand Master

Hurmoth

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I think it might, they might integrate Mesh into Win7, we'll see. That would be great if they did.

I would absolutely love to see that happen. Live Mesh is an awesome platform. There's a few things that I think could use a tweak (so I actually started using Folder Share), but for the most part Mesh is great. Can't wait for the Mac version so all my boxes are synced.

Community Regular

Kristian

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I would absolutely love to see that happen. Live Mesh is an awesome platform. There's a few things that I think could use a tweak (so I actually started using Folder Share), but for the most part Mesh is great. Can't wait for the Mac version so all my boxes are synced.

And I cant wait for it to go international so that I can have it in Norway :crazy:

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