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Shading/highlighting an "empty" folder or directory

Anonymous
2014-08-30T10:50:31+00:00

Hi.  I keep a standard folder directory for my work projects, and each project starts with an empty but ready-to-go directory with set main heading folders, sub folders, sub-sub folders etc (and by empty I mean with no files rather than no folders). I use the same structure for every project, and on some projects many folders will be empty for a long time or indeed forever....

Is there a way to shade or identify the empty (file-less) directories and folders so that I can still use and see the structure but don’t go down an empty path looking for something. I recall being able to do something like this in earlier windows (albeit for the final folder), but am now lost in 8.1. Thanks in advance.

Windows for home | Previous Windows versions | Files, folders, and storage

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  1. Anonymous
    2014-08-31T04:26:30+00:00

    You could use the view tab to select large icons and windows will display an empty folder fileless directories or a icon with documents in one that has files. Or, you could use the details view and include the size property so that you can see if the directory contains 0 bytes

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  2. Anonymous
    2014-09-01T11:08:42+00:00

    You could use the view tab to select large icons and windows will display an empty folder fileless directories or a icon with documents in one that has files. Or, you could use the details view and include the size property so that you can see if the directory contains 0 bytes

    Hi Danzl. This sounds logical so tried it but didn't get what i was expecting....

    As for the Icon view approach:

    A) a new totally empty folder looks like an empty folder icon.

    B) a new folder, with a new empty folder inside it shows a folder with contents icon.

    C) A new folder, with a new folder insider it, with files in the second folder, shows exactly the same as B - i.e. i in this approach cant seem to differentiate whether a directory has any files in it or just folders.

    turning to the details view approach (which I have as a default mode and much prefer), I've got the size column displayed but it doesn't show the size of a folder - only the size of individual files. i also inserted a new column  - "file count" - and again this just stays blank.

    Thanks for your tips- I'll keep playing around but if I've missed something do shout.

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  3. Anonymous
    2014-09-01T14:16:52+00:00

    You can hover over with the mouse and a directory with no files won't show a size it will only list the child directories. Let me know if you want to make a quick program or maybe a .bat to do it. The tool tip may work for you. Just need to find a way to show it faster

    BTW if you don't use it often the left navigation pain is faster to explorer a directory. Using the down, left and right arrow keys you can expand and minimize directories

    Good Luck

    _____________________________________

    More Windows tips and troubleshooting

    www.vindamedia.com/windows/helplist

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  4. Anonymous
    2014-08-31T04:21:17+00:00

    Hi,

    Thank you for posting in Microsoft Community.

    I would like to know – Is this computer connected to domain network?

    This query is better suited in TechNet Forums. They are experts in your field of inquiry and would be in a better position to address your concern. Please post your query in TechNet Windows 8.1 IT Pro from the given link below.

    http://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/home?category=w8itpro&filter=alltypes&sort=lastpostdesc

    Hope it helps. If it is not under domain network, get back to us. We will be glad to help you.

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  5. Anonymous
    2014-09-01T10:41:46+00:00

    Hi Anil - thanks for the tip. In this case, no, its just my computer on a local network - ie my pc + wifi router/printer/NAS. My pc files sync with cloud storage (in this case Dropbox but when i'm moving it all to OneDrive now I've got Office365). The NAS is only used for archive & overflow of massive files so its not important how that "looks", just what i store on my local drive.

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