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How to add a description/ author to "folders" in file explorer?

Question

Monday, October 22, 2018 7:45 PM

Currently folders in file explorer display name, date, type, and size. I would like to add description and author information to the folder. I've looked into it multiple times and always get the same answer you can do this to files, not folders. I have seen it done before, no longer have access to it, but I know there has to be a way to accomplish this just not sure how. if anyone has some insight that would be great!

All replies (2)

Tuesday, October 23, 2018 5:49 AM

Folders only have these basic properties associated with the NTFS filesystem, as they are directories. Additional properties of various file types are metadat, stored within the file.

That being said, you can achieve some degree of customization of a folder with a desktop.ini file this is how user folders squire their special icons and language-specific display names. The desktop.ini file also supports an entry called 'InfoTip', which is text displayed with the tooltip. So while not a searchable  property, it can display additional information when you hove toe cursor over it. Here's a sample:

[.ShellClassInfo]
IconResource=C:\Windows\system32\shell32.dll,176
InfoTip=Hello AgigiMendez

And here's the result:

For a folder to process the desktop.ini file, it has to have it's read-only attribute set. I think the easiest way to create the file & set the attribute is to assign a custom icon -- the edit the file crated (it will have hidden & system attributes set, so set Explorer view accordingly)

Keith

Keith


Tuesday, October 23, 2018 8:12 AM

If you create a Shortcut to the folder, the properties/ shortcut tab will include a Comments item that can be used for that.

Otherwise, you need to use third-party software, there is software called Stylefolder that will allow comments to be attached to a folder.

https://www.thewindowsclub.com/customize-windows-folders-easily-with-stylefolder

Please Note: The third-party product discussed here is manufactured by a company that is independent of Microsoft. We make no warranty, implied or otherwise, regarding this product's performance or reliability.

Regards

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