Explorer Shortcuts and Address Bar

Whenever I navigate to a folder using a shortcut, the path displayed in the
address bar does not show the full physical path of the folder. The path of
the folder shows as relative to the location of the shortcut itself. For
example:

Suppose the real path is: c:\rootfolder\subfolder\targetfolder\ and I create
a shortcut named "Fred" on my desktop that points to this folder. If I
double-click the shortcut, an Explorer window opens up with the address bar
folder displayed as:

c:\Users\<username>\Desktop\Fred\

WTF? Is there a way to have it display the full physical path of the folder?
This is another one of the major annoyances of Vista for me. Often times I
need navigate up to the parent folder from "targetfolder", and instead of
going to "subfolder" it goes to the desktop folder.

I don't know if there's a way to have it happen automatically. But you can
always click the little icon at the left side of the Address bar to change
to the full path.

For me, it seems the name to the left of the shortcut name in the Address
bar is the real parent folder. For example, if I click WebDev (a folder
shorcut on my desktop), the folder opens and I see Computer > Vdocs (E >
indexed > WebDev in the Address bar, which is the actual path to the folder.
So I just click Indexed to get to its actual parent folder. I don't think I
chose anything special to make it work that way.

"Fred Taylor" <freddyt@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:ivydnURo07_ebgXbnZ2dnUVZ_tKjnZ2d@comcast.com...
> Whenever I navigate to a folder using a shortcut, the path displayed in
> the address bar does not show the full physical path of the folder. The
> path of the folder shows as relative to the location of the shortcut
> itself. For example:
>
> Suppose the real path is: c:\rootfolder\subfolder\targetfolder\ and I
> create a shortcut named "Fred" on my desktop that points to this folder.
> If I double-click the shortcut, an Explorer window opens up with the
> address bar folder displayed as:
>
> c:\Users\<username>\Desktop\Fred\
>
> WTF? Is there a way to have it display the full physical path of the
> folder? This is another one of the major annoyances of Vista for me. Often
> times I need navigate up to the parent folder from "targetfolder", and
> instead of going to "subfolder" it goes to the desktop folder.

It is so annoying that I cannot navigate to the real parent folder. I am
on Vista Home Premium.
Hey Microsoft, please, please, please, give us a workaround.


--
vizualbod
Posted via http://www.vistaheads.com

This is not Microsoft. It's a public newsgroup.

What's stopping you?
What do you mean "the real parent folder"?

[When responding to posts, please include the post(s) you are replying to so
that others may learn and benefit from the issue]
-------
[How to ask a question]
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/555375


"vizualbod" <vizualbod.36rq0a@xxxxxx-mx.forums.vistaheads.com> wrote in message
news:vizualbod.36rq0a@xxxxxx-mx.forums.vistaheads.com...

vizualbod

You can press ALT+UP ARROW to get to the parent folder.

I actually felt the same way, old habits die hard.

Once the initial shock was over, I found that bread crumbs work very well. I
like the idea of being able to return to a previous folder that may be
several steps back from whatever folder I'm current in, with a single click.
Also, there is a small arrow wedged in between the Forward button and the
Path bar that gives you a way to go back to any previous place, in the
current session. You can also get the full path in the address bar by simply
clicking an empty spot there and return to the bread crumb view by hitting
escape or clicking anywhere in the current folder.



--

Ronnie Vernon
Microsoft MVP
Windows Desktop Experience


"vizualbod" <vizualbod.36rq0a@xxxxxx-mx.forums.vistaheads.com> wrote in message
news:vizualbod.36rq0a@xxxxxx-mx.forums.vistaheads.com...

Fred Taylor explained the issue above already, but I'll try again.

E.g.:
I have on my desktop a shortcut to the folder. Its target is
"C:\wamp\apache2\htdocs".

When I double-click the shortcut, the explorer window opens.

Under the breadcrumb trails there is a path
"C:\Users\<myusername>\Desktop\htdocs" instead of
"C:\wamp\apache2\htdocs". For this reason ALT+UP ARROW will take me to
"C:\Users\<myusername>\Desktop" instead of the real parent folder which
is "C:\wamp\apache2".

This is not really expected behaviour. It didn't worked this way in XP.

On Vista, when I need to get to the parent folder of my desktop
shortcut "C:\wamp\apache2", I need 5 clicks or type the real path.

1. Start
2. My computer
3. C:\
4. C:\wamp\
5. C:\wamp\apache2

On XP it was only 1 click on the green arrow up.

Bob: Understood, thanks for the link


--
vizualbod
Posted via http://www.vistaheads.com

Create a desktop shortcut(s) to wherever you want explorer to open.

What did Fred Taylor say?
When posting, please quote relevant information so that others know what you’re
talking about.

"vizualbod" <vizualbod.36sq44@xxxxxx-mx.forums.vistaheads.com> wrote in message
news:vizualbod.36sq44@xxxxxx-mx.forums.vistaheads.com...

Hey Bob,
Don't teach me how to use forums and lurk around before posting dumb
questions. "Fred Taylor" is the guy who started this thread.


--
vizualbod
Posted via http://www.vistaheads.com

Fine, I won't teach you. That doesn't negate the fact that you're clueless
and need to learn.

"vizualbod" <vizualbod.36su8j@xxxxxx-mx.forums.vistaheads.com> wrote in message
news:vizualbod.36su8j@xxxxxx-mx.forums.vistaheads.com...

You've got a Folder Shortcut rather than a Shortcut to a folder.

Folder Shortcuts are the OS equivalent of NTFS junction points, they create
a second path in the namespace to the folder. The advantage is that they
behave more like real folders -- they sort with folders & will cascade on a
toolbar.

Right-click on the Desktop & select New -> Shortcut, then browse to your
desired target. This will create a Shortcut to a folder (.lnk file) that
will open your target folder and will show it's original path in the
breadcrumb bar & allow you to easily navigate to its parent folder.

--
Good Luck,

Keith
Microsoft MVP [Windows Shell/User]



"vizualbod" <vizualbod.36sq44@xxxxxx-mx.forums.vistaheads.com> wrote in message
news:vizualbod.36sq44@xxxxxx-mx.forums.vistaheads.com...