Windows explorer moves the selected folder to bottom of folders list. How do I stop this?

Anonymous
2009-12-27T19:25:21+00:00

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Open a windows explorer

show folders on left

Double Click Computer

Double Click C disk

Scroll to windows   Double Click 

Double Click diagnostics  (example)

The folder is now moved to the bottom of the folder list.

This also happens when any folder is clicked once and the the open gadget is clicked once.

This is increadably annoying.  How do I stop it?

Windows for home | Previous Windows versions | Files, folders, and storage

Locked Question. This question was migrated from the Microsoft Support Community. You can vote on whether it's helpful, but you can't add comments or replies or follow the question.

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Anonymous
2010-03-22T08:24:10+00:00

Hi j1234567890j - and everyone else that repsonded to this post. 

I also expierence this problem and like with everyone that replied on this post an many others that this is driving me insane. To make matters worse, this problem presents itself also on the Open or Save file dialogs in any application that relies on the Windows File Dialog.

In my case I also found that the behaviour is inconsistent. Sometimes the problem presents itself and sometimes it does not. - This is why it is difficult to zero in on the behavior and some folks cannot replicate the problem. So, I believe other replies on various posts where this problem cannot be replicated. As a developer I understand this, since we often have the response: "...but it works in my computer..." - And yes it does, because typically a dev/support machine is set up for ideal circumstances. I am digressing...

Trying to understand the Problem

I have noticed a pattern, however. I have found that if I collapse the folder in question and expand (double click) again, that the navigator moves again, this time exposing all sub-folders that are direct descendants of the folder in question. I have also noticed that if the sub-folders are too many to display in the navigation panel, that the selected folder is scrolled to the top of the panel, exposing as many folders that can be viewed. 

I think the intention of the navigation behavior is that when the user expands the folder, it will show as many as possible sub-folders in view - but I also think that this is where there is a bug - or at least where some other setting has an impact on the behavior. - For some reason, when a folder is expanded the navigation pane only finds the first sub-folder and exposes that one - hence the anoying movement of the selected folder away from the current mouse pointer position.

Finding an answer

And yes - even though I think I understand the problem - I agree with everyone elses user experience - This must be fixed!

I am not sure that a moderator will pick this up as this post is marked as awnsered - even though in my opnion it is not.

But if someone does: I think providing an option on the General tab of the Folder Options dialog for a user to turn off this behavior and just expand the folder without attempting to present all viewable folders in the navigation pane.

Regards

Andre Coetzee

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  1. Anonymous
    2011-07-24T07:28:19+00:00

    Try this:

    1. Open Windows Explorer
    2. Click on Organize drop down
    3. Select Folder and Search Options
    4. Under General Tab click Select Single-click to open an item (point to select)
    5. Click the View tab. Click "Apply to Folders"
    6. Click Apply.

    Now the menu opens where you click it or if there are a  lot of folders, the folder jumps to the top of the page so the cursor remains in the middle. It would be nice if the cursor followed the opened folder, but at least you don't have to scroll to the bottom to view the contents.

    Hope this helps!!

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  2. Anonymous
    2011-06-06T19:26:09+00:00

    I think I found the solution... that is, if I understand the problem correctly...

    1. Open Windows Explorer
    2. Click on Organize drop down
    3. Select Folder and Search Options
    4. Under General Tab select Automatically expand to current folder under Navigation pane

    Hopefully that'll do it!!

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  3. Anonymous
    2011-06-04T22:46:00+00:00

    Why Has this NOT been fixed.   Going on 2 YEARS.

    Have ti wait another year for w8 to learn it still is not fixed????

    What is wrong with the Balmer, et al???????

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  4. Anonymous
    2011-05-18T21:42:19+00:00

    There is an easy workaround.  The "moving to the bottom" only happens when you double click the folder, causing the folder contents to be displayed in the right pane.  Instead, single-click the tree expansion arrow to expand the folder tree in the left pane.

    Au contraire, my little crepe.  Single clicking the arrows CAN cause the bug, but only when given a certain set of inscrutable circumstances.  Curse my tiny human brain!

    Current theory: after reviewing billions of hours of involuntarily submitted* usage patterns, MS noticed that "when a user expands a folder with a double-click, they clearly most often prefer that folder to appear at the bottom of the tree pane when the product of the pointer's pixel coordinates divided by the time in Seattle is less than twice their annual income."  I'm still working out the more subtle factors at play which trigger the "partial jump" feature.  Social security numbers seem to be somehow involved. . .

    Sigh.  Even mockery isn't completely numbing the pain.  Back to work.

    *strictly as a safe-guard against the Observer-Expectancy effect.

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