Explorer Comment Column in Vista 64bit

Tony Vista · Jan 16, 2011

I've been searching the net and here for info on how I can annotate or place a comment (meta data) on my folders or documents. I've read a lot about XP having such capability, but nothing pointing directly to Vista 64 bit. People seem to reply about vista in terms of not being able to annotate PDF files. I am not looking for a way to do that.

What I would like to know is, if anyone knows of some way or third party program which I can create either a comment column in Explorer or have some way to mouse-over any folder or document to see my comments.

Again, this is for Vista 64 bit, not XP.

Thanks for your help.

richc46 · Jan 16, 2011

With most files, and pics (not sure about folders). Go to the listing of documents, put cursor on one, right click properties, in properties go to details. Then scrool down to comments. Then put cursor next to comments (you may have to move left and right) but it should give the opportunity to make a comment.

Lorien · Jan 17, 2011

Hi Tony Vista,

Welcome to Vista Forums!

While I do not have 64-bit Vista, as far as I know the ability to add columns and the availability of column headers is the same (though I could be wrong but I'm fairly certain).

If it's the same, to add a Comments column to Windows Explorer, right click on the column header bar and click on More. It should bring up a huge listing of options. Scroll until you find Comments (I have one precisely named as that) and add it to the columns in the order you want to see the columns presented.

In Windows Explorer, click on Organize and then click on Layout and check the Details Pane which will probably appear at the bottom. For some but not all filetypes (it does not seem to apply to folders and excludes quite a few filetypes - but still includes quite a few), it will show a Comments item. Click to the right of the name (if none exist, it will say Add Comments), and a box will open where you can add comments to that file. If it does not show up in the Details Pane or in the details tab of the file's properties (as Richard described above), I do not know how to add the ability to include comments to a filetype where it doesn't already exist.

As far as changing what appears in infotips in mouseovers in Windows Explorer, that too can be changed to a slight degree (not as complete as you might want) but does appear to include "Doccomments" (not sure if that's the same as Comments) if you want to add them. The procedure is in: Customize Windows Explorer Tooltips. Since it involves working with the registry, I recommend before you begin, you first create a system restore point and then backup the registry to be on the safe side.

I hope this helps.

Good luck!

Tony Vista · Jan 17, 2011

Lorien, Thanks for your help.

I did find the "Comment" addition of a column, but not any way to populate that column. Also, I did check out the way to make changes in the registry for tool tips, but even though I've worked with registry before, I'm not too comfortable with the information they provided. It almost seems unrelated to what I need.

I do appreciate your taking time to explain in detail and to try to help me.

Tony

Lorien · Jan 17, 2011

Hi Tony,

You can't populate the column from within Windows Explorer except at the bottom if you enable the Details Pane (it can't be done in the column itself next to the file - that's just for viewing). The two ways to add are explained above by Richard in terms of using the file properties or by me in terms of using the detail pane (IF the filetype supports entering data for that field - check .doc or .xls or .jpg files for examples where it appears to work). Remember you need to move a bit away from the name and click a few times to find the spot where it opens the box for you to enter the comments - it's not right there and in some cases doesn't even show a spot to click to get it to open - you just have to try and trust that it is there if the Comments field is there and try till you find it.

Let me try to explain the process for the mouseover perhaps a bit simpler. After you've created the restore point and backed up the registry, go to Start / Search box and type regedit.exe and enter and then double-click on the program icon that appears. In the registry, go to HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\* (it's probably the first folder after you open the main heading) and to the right you will see a listing of various items including infotips which is what creates what already exists when you mouseover. You can click on the Infotip entry and that will open a box for you to modify the contents. You can then add "DocComments" to the listing (just adding to and using the same method as the others are listed with the semi-colon) and then save it and exit out of Registry Editor. If DocComments is the same as Comments, then when you mouseover a file in Windows Explorer that supports Comments, it should show the comment. If that doesn't work, then either DocComments only applies in even more special cases (maybe only .doc files or something like that) or is something entirely different that I don't know how to access or modify. If that's the case and the infotips are now showing DocComments but nothing even when you know a comment exists (make sure it has a comment before you test the mouseover), then go back to regedit and remove DocComments to make it like it was before and again save it and exit. Things will now be back to normal and I'll have to admit I don't otherwise know how to do what you have requested.

I hope this helps.

Good luck!

Explorer Comment Column in Vista 64bit

Tony Vista

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Tony Vista

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Lorien

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