How to Set Columns in Folders to Use a Minimal Amount of Space

ID: Q169867

The information in this article applies to:
  • Microsoft Windows 95
  • Microsoft Windows 98
IMPORTANT: This article contains information about editing the registry. Before you edit the registry, make sure you understand how to restore it if a problem occurs. For information about how to do this, view the "Restoring the Registry" Help topic in Regedit.exe or the "Restoring a Registry Key" Help topic in Regedt32.exe.

SUMMARY

This article describes how to set columns in folders to use a minimal amount of space.


MORE INFORMATION

When you select Details view for a folder, a header bar appears with these columns: Name, Type, Size, and Modified. You can change the width of the columns by dragging the vertical bars located between the column names. To see as much information as possible, you can set these columns to use a minimal amount of space. To do so, follow these steps:

  1. Open a folder, and then click Details on the View menu.


  2. If you are using Windows Explorer, click in the pane (on the right) that displays the folder contents.


  3. Press CTRL+PLUS SIGN (make sure to use the PLUS SIGN key on the numeric keypad).


Alternate Method

WARNING: Using Registry Editor incorrectly can cause serious problems that may require you to reinstall your operating system. Microsoft cannot guarantee that problems resulting from the incorrect use of Registry Editor can be solved. Use Registry Editor at your own risk.

For information about how to edit the registry, view the "Changing Keys and Values" Help topic in Registry Editor (Regedit.exe) or the "Add and Delete Information in the Registry" and "Edit Registry Data" Help topics in Regedt32.exe. Note that you should back up the registry before you edit it. If you are running Windows NT, you should also update your Emergency Repair Disk (ERD).

If the steps listed above do not work, try the following steps:
  1. Start Registry Editor (Regedit.exe).


  2. Locate the following registry key:


    3. HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer
  3. Delete the DirectoryColsX binary value.


  4. Quit Registry Editor.


This resets the column widths when you next start Windows Explorer. The DirectoryColsX entry is re-created the next time you specify custom column sizes in Windows Explorer.

Additional query words:

Keywords : win95 win98
Version : WINDOWS:95
Platform : WINDOWS
Issue type : kbhowto


Last Reviewed: October 29, 1999
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