{"id":3453,"date":"2010-04-18T20:27:45","date_gmt":"2010-04-19T03:27:45","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/lee.org\/blog\/?p=3453"},"modified":"2011-11-05T10:04:42","modified_gmt":"2011-11-05T17:04:42","slug":"how-to-start-windows-explorer-with-different-options","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.lee.org\/blog\/2010\/04\/18\/how-to-start-windows-explorer-with-different-options\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Start Windows Explorer with Different Options"},"content":{"rendered":"

This is old info but I needed to refer to it after my Windows reinstall so I’ll just put it here for easy reference.<\/p>\n

Windows Explorer Command-Line Options<\/a><\/p>\n

————————————<\/p>\n

\r\nExplorer [\/n] [\/e] [(,)\/root,<object>] [\/select,<object>]<\/code>\r\n\r\n\/n                Opens a new single-pane window for the default\r\nselection. This is usually the root of the drive Windows\r\nis installed on. If the window is already open, a\r\nduplicate opens.\r\n\r\n\/e                Opens Windows Explorer in its default view.\r\n\r\n\/root,<object>    Opens a window view of the specified object.\r\n\r\n\/select,<object>  Opens a window view with the specified folder, file or\r\napplication selected.\r\n\r\nExamples:\r\n\r\nExample 1:     Explorer \/select,C:\\TestDir\\TestApp.exe\r\n\r\nOpens a window view with TestApp selected.\r\n\r\nExample 2:  Explorer \/e,\/root,C:\\TestDir\\TestApp.exe\r\n\r\nThis opens Explorer with C: expanded and TestApp selected.\r\n\r\nExample 3:  Explorer \/root,\\\\TestSvr\\TestShare\r\n\r\nOpens a window view of the specified share.\r\n\r\nExample 4:  Explorer \/root,\\\\TestSvr\\TestShare,select,TestApp.exe\r\n\r\n<\/pre>\n
.<\/p>\n
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Here it is explained in a slightly different way:<\/p>\n
This page was lifted from http:\/\/cpcug.org\/user\/clemenzi\/technical\/WinExplorer\/CommandLineOptions.htm<\/a>. <\/p>\n
Parameters are <\/p>\n
separated by commas. Many combinations are allowed, but only a few examples are <\/p>\n
given. 
Explorer.exe c:\\                Open directory as a single pain of icons<\/p>\n
Explorer.exe \/e,c:\\             Explore drive as 2 lists – <\/p>\n
                                  directories on left & files on right<\/p>\n
Explorer.exe \/e,\/root,c:\\       Explore drive without showing other drives<\/p>\n
Explorer.exe \/n,\/e,\/select      Opens showing only drives<\/p>\n
Explorer.exe \/e,\/idlist,%I,%L   From Folder\\..\\Explore in the registry<\/p>\n
                                  %I – ID number<\/p>\n
                                  %L – Long filename<\/p>\n
Explorer.exe  \/e,DriveOrDirectory<\/p>\n
Explorer.exe  \/e,\/root,directory,sub-directory<\/p>\n
Explorer.exe  \/e,\/root,directory,\/select,sub-directory<\/p>\n
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\/e <\/p>\n
    
List (explorer) view, Show large icons if missing (Open view) <\/p>\n
  
\/root <\/p>\n
    
Sets the top level folder. <\/p>\n
  
\/select <\/p>\n
    
Specifies that the directory should be selected without displaying its <\/p>\n
      contents. <\/p>\n
  
\/s <\/p>\n
    
???? <\/p>\n
  
\/n <\/p>\n
    
Do not open the selected directory, no effect on NT <\/p>\n
  
\/idlist,%I <\/p>\n
    
Expects an ID\/handle. May help with cacheing. By itself, opens the <\/p>\n
      desktop as icons. <\/p>\n
  
\/inproc <\/p>\n
    
Stops display of window (I don’t know why this is useful) <\/p>\n
  
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<\/TR><\/TBODY><\/TABLE><\/p>\n
Windows Explorer contains 7 icons. In 95 and NT, the 3rd and 4th are <\/p>\n
different. Use <\/p>\n