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Other Operating Systems => Windows 7 All => Windows 7 | Windows 9 => Fixes => Topic started by: javajolt on September 30, 2011, 03:22:48 AM

Title: How to Auto-Hide or Disable Command Bar (aka Folder Band) in Windows Vista and 7
Post by: javajolt on September 30, 2011, 03:22:48 AM

In this tutorial, we'll learn how to set the Command Bar auto-hidden in Explorer window. In this way, it'll only appear when you hover your mouse cursor over it as shown in following screenshot:
 
Auto-Hidden Command Bar aka Folder Band:

(http://i53.tinypic.com/i3yq00.jpg)

To make the Command Bar auto-hidden, you'll have to edit the "Shellstyle.dll" file which is present in Theme directory.
 
For example, if you are using default Window Aero theme, you'll get the "Shellstyle.dll" file in following directory:

Quote

%windir%\Resources\Themes\Aero\Shell\NormalColor

NOTE: If you are using Windows Classic theme, you'll need to edit "Shellstyle.dll" file present in "Windows\System32" folder.
 
You just need to follow these simple steps to make Command Bar auto-hidden:
 
1. Open "Shellstyle.dll" file in Resource Hacker (http://www.askvg.com/tutorial-all-about-resource-hacker-in-a-brief-tutorial/).
 
2. Now go to "UIFILE -> 1 -> 1033".
 
3. Press <Ctrl>+F or click on "View -> Find Text..." option and type following in "Find what" textbox:

Quote

<style resid="FolderBandStyle">

4. It'll go to following line of code:

Quote

<style resid="FolderBandStyle">
 <Element
 background="argb(0, 0, 0, 0)"
 />

5. Now add following code after <style resid="FolderBandStyle"> line:

Quote

<if mousefocused="false" mousewithin="false"><Element padding="rect(0rp,0rp,0rp,-28rp)"/></if>

So that it'll look as following:

Quote

<style resid="FolderBandStyle">
 <if mousefocused="false" mousewithin="false"><Element padding="rect(0rp,0rp,0rp,-28rp)"/></if>
 <Element
 background="argb(0, 0, 0, 0)"
 />

(http://i51.tinypic.com/foisfa.jpg)

PS: To permanently disable or hide Command Bar, add following code after <style resid="FolderBandStyle"> line:

Quote

<Element padding="rect(0rp,0rp,0rp,-28rp)"/>

6. Now click on "Compile Script" button and save the file.
 
7. Log off or restart to see the changes OR re-apply the theme.
 
PS: This method will work for all 3rd party themes as well. Simply modify the "Shellstyle.dll" file present in custom theme folder.
 
NOTE: If you want a ready-made modified "shellstyle.dll" file, you can download it using following link (http://www.multiupload.com/R2R1KB1IMI) and replace the default file in your system with it. You might need to take ownership (http://www.multiupload.com/S8ON3C0KBM) of default "shellstyle.dll" file before replacing it.

Download Link (http://www.multiupload.com/R2R1KB1IMI)