Folder Window Features

In Windows Explorer, every folder window displays two consistent elements: the title bar and the toolbar; you can't hide either of these elements.

The title bar always contains the following tools for moving around and for locating information:

• Navigation buttons The Back and Forward buttons move between previously visited window content, rather than up and down in the storage folder hierarchy. The Recent Pages button (the arrow to the right of the Forward button) displays a list of folders you have viewed; you can return to any folder by clicking it in the list.
• Address bar Beginning on the left with the icon representing the item type, the Address bar displays the path from one of the primary navigation groups (Computer, Control Panel, Homegroup, Libraries, Network, Recycle Bin, or your user account folder) to the folder whose contents are currently displayed in the folder window.
  • If the entire path doesn't fit in the Address bar, a left-pointing chevron appears next to the folder icon.
  • Clicking the arrow or chevron next to the folder icon displays a menu of common storage locations and any path locations that don't fit in the Address bar.
  • Clicking the folder icon displays the path to the folder from the root of the storage drive (sometimes referred to as the absolute path) or, for system folders, to the primary navigation group.
  • Clicking the arrow that appears after a folder name displays a list of its subfolders and certain high-level folders; you can switch to another location by clicking it in the list.
• Search box From the Search box of any folder window, you can quickly search for letters, words, or phrases occurring in the name or content of any file in that folder.
  • Type a search term in the Search box to immediately filter the folder contents. The Search Results list displays the names of files containing the search term and, for most file types, a content snippet and the absolute path to the file. Within the file name and the visible content snippet, the search term is highlighted.
  • Click the Clear button (the X) at the right end of the Search box to clear the search results and return to the folder window contents.

Unlike the title bar, the toolbar can vary based on the contents of the folder displayed in the folder window. The buttons on the toolbar represent context-specific commands for working with the folder and its content. For example, the buttons change for compressed folders (.zip files) or if you select one or more files. When more buttons are available than can be shown, chevrons (>>) appear at the right end of the toolbar; clicking the chevrons displays a list of other commands.

In addition to the title bar and the toolbar, the layout of a folder window includes other standard and optional components. You can display and hide many folder window components.

In addition to the title bar and toolbar, these components are available for every folder window:

• Menu bar If you prefer to manage the display of content by clicking commands on menus rather than using the toolbar buttons and column headers, you can display a traditional menu bar at the top of the window, between the title bar and the toolbar. (The menu bar is not open by default.)
• Navigation pane This vertical pane is open by default on the left side of the window. It displays a hierarchical view of the computer's storage structure, as well as the storage structure of any available network, organized in five groups: Favorites, Libraries, Homegroup, Computer, and Network. You can browse to folders on your computer or network by clicking locations in this pane.
  • To display the contents of a folder, click the folder name.
  • To expand a folder in the Navigation pane, point to the pane, and then click the white arrow that appears to the left of the folder.
  • To collapse an expanded folder, click the black arrow that appears to its left. You can resize or close the Navigation pane to provide additional working space in the folder window.
• Content pane This primary pane displays the contents of the selected folder as a textual or iconic list. You can't close the Content pane.
• Details pane This pane is open by default at the bottom of the window. It displays information about the selected folder or file. You can resize or close it.
• Preview pane This vertical pane is closed by default, but when open, it appears on the right side of the window. It displays a preview of the file selected in the Content pane. The Preview pane can display the contents of image files, Microsoft Word documents, Microsoft Excel workbooks, Microsoft PowerPoint presentations, PDF files, and other common file types. When the Preview pane is open, it is resizable.

Tip When you display the contents of a library, the folder window also includes a horizontal Library pane above the Content pane. The Library pane details the arrangement of the contents and the number of folders included in the library.