How to Print Windows Explorer Directory List

A long time since we've done a How-To at Javalot Jive. This one is sure to please the frustrated and those who like to go places on their computer they really shouldn't.... Ooooo.

Ever wanted to print out of your directories in windows explorer? Yeah, well here's how you can now print from explorer in Windows XP.

Step 1: You're going to create the Printdir.bat file To do this, follow these steps:

1. Click Start, click Run, type notepad, and then click OK.
2. Paste the following text into Notepad:

   @echo off
   dir %1 /-p /o:gn > "%temp%\Listing"
   start /w notepad /p "%temp%\Listing"
   del "%temp%\Listing"
   exit

3. On the File menu, click Exit, and then click Yes to save the changes.
4. In the Save As dialog box, type the following text, and then click Save:
   %windir%\Printdir.bat

Step 2: Create a new action for file folders

1. Click Start, click Control Panel, and then click Folder Options.
   Or, click Start, point to Settings, click Control Panel, and then click Folder Options.
2. On the File Types tab, click File Folder.
3. Click Advanced, and then click New.
4. In the Action box, type Print Directory Listing.
5. In the Application used to perform action box, type printdir.bat.
6. Click OK.
7. Click OK two times, and then click Close.

   

Steps 4 through 6







Search Companion may start when you double-click a folder instead of the folder being opened. Or, if you have associated other actions with file folders, those actions may be performed instead.
To resolve this issue, follow these steps:

1. Start Registry Editor.
2. Locate the Default value under the following registry subkey:
   HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Directory\shell
3. On the Edit menu, click Modify.
4. In the Value data box, type none.
5. Click OK.
6. Exit Registry Editor

Here's how to back up your registry - which you should really do before you jack around in there.

Windows XP

1. Click Start, click Run, type %SystemRoot%\system32\restore\rstrui.exe, and then click OK.
2. On the Welcome to System Restore page, click Create a restore point, and then click Next .
3. On the Create a Restore Point page, type a name for the restore point and then click Create
4. After the restore point has been created, click Close.

Note If System Restore is turned off, you receive a message that asks whether you want to turn on System Restore now. Click Yes. Then, in the System Properties dialog box, click to clear the Turn off System Restore check box, click OK, and then repeat this step.