How to set custom shortcuts in the Windows XP “Save As” dialog box

July 28th, 2007 by Ross McKillop | Print This Post Print This Post
Windows

This tutorial will guide you in setting custom “shortcuts” in the Windows XP “Save As” dialog box. note: this also works in Windows Vista Ultimate Edition - but I’m not sure about the other versions of Vista.

custom save as window

  1. Below you’ll find a screenshot of the default “Save As” dialog box in Windows XP. Make note of the shortcuts that you actually use, so you can make sure to keep them.

    2. custom save as window
    click to enlarge

  2. Click Start and select Run. In the Run window enter gpedit.msc and click OK.

    3. custom save as window

  3. The Group Policy editor will appear.

    4. custom save as window
    click to enlarge

  4. In the left window select the + (plus sign) next to User Configuration to expand the list. Next select the plus sign next to Administrative Templates and then Windows Explorer. Finally, select the Common Open File Dialog entry.

    5. custom save as window

  5. Double-click the Items displayed in Places Bar entry in the main Group Policy window.

    6. custom save as window
    click to enlarge

  6. The Items displayed in Places Bar Properties window will open.

    7. custom save as window

  7. Select Enabled and then enter in the locations you’d like to have displayed in the Save As dialog box. You need to enter the full path to the location for the shortcuts to work. For example, if you want to have a shortcut to your My Documents folder, enter in:

    C:\Documents and Settings\Your User Name\My Documents\

    Once you’ve entered in all the locations you’d like to appear in the Save As window, click Apply and then OK.

    8. custom save as window

  8. Back in the Group Policy editor, you should see that the Items displayed in Places Bar is now Enabled. Close the Group Policy editor.

    9. custom save as window
    click to enlarge

  9. Test it out by saving a file - you should now have the new shortcuts displayed.

    10. custom save as window
    click to enlarge

  10. The same shortcuts will be used in the Open dialog box - not just the Save As box.

    11. custom save as window
    click to enlarge

  11. This will also work in Windows Vista - though I’ve only confirmed that it works in Vista Ultimate edition.

    12. custom save as window
    click to enlarge

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  1. 25 Responses to “How to set custom shortcuts in the Windows XP “Save As” dialog box”

  2. By Dobby on Jul 28, 2007 | Reply

    In Windows XP home there’s no gpedit.msc. But you can configure the Places Bar with Tweak UI.

    Download it on this MS-Site:

    http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/downloads/powertoys/xppowertoys.mspx

  3. By Ross McKillop on Jul 29, 2007 | Reply

    Dobby -

    Excellent comment/tip, thanks!

  4. By Colin on Aug 3, 2007 | Reply

    Also, Office may not adhere to these rules, as Office is wont to do.

  5. By Lokesh Kalra on Aug 4, 2007 | Reply

    Very nice article. It helped me quickly to set right the save as Dialog Box. I have thinking of doing it for long. Thanks so much. Keep up the Good Work.

  6. By Erez on Aug 8, 2007 | Reply

    great information. Thanks! a clever tip in a few steps.

    I agree with Colin: what about OFFICE “save as” dialog box? can we change that too?

  7. By Jernej on Aug 15, 2007 | Reply

    thank you for this very useful information!

  8. By mr dman on Sep 7, 2007 | Reply

    thanks for this - very useful, didn’t know TweakUI could do it, otherwise, I would have done it years ago!

  9. By ben on Nov 16, 2007 | Reply

    under administrative templates i only have windows media player not any of the other things that are shown in the example.

  10. By ben on Nov 16, 2007 | Reply

    very nice i figured it out but i need it for solidworks

  11. By Karthik on Nov 27, 2007 | Reply

    Awsome tip…I curse myself for not stumbling upon this at all or why it never crossed my mind that these default things can be changed..Thanks a ton.

  12. By Keith Scott on Nov 27, 2007 | Reply

    Thanx 4 the tip. Used it straight away.

  13. By Joao Henriques on Nov 30, 2007 | Reply

    for office places check http://www.petri.co.il/customize_the_places_bar_in_office_xp_2003.htm

    or google office places

  14. By Ed Donlon on Dec 10, 2007 | Reply

    Ben, Did you ever get it figured out for Solidworks? Thx.

  15. By Jessica on Mar 18, 2008 | Reply

    I can’t thank you enough!

  16. By Olivian BREDA on May 5, 2008 | Reply

    Thank you for the wonderful tip. It works great. ;)

  17. By Jen on May 9, 2008 | Reply

    great work. Thanks you so much!!
    keep up with other good post~

  18. By El-Sabaa on May 29, 2008 | Reply

    SUPER solution… SIMPLE, Straight to the point and WORKS 100%.
    Thanks….

  19. By Tech Man on Jun 14, 2008 | Reply

    Thanks this is great. Excellent work.

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