Add a "Print Directory" Feature for Folders in Windows

This article describes how to add the Print Directory feature for folders in Microsoft Windows XP. After you follow the steps that are listed in this article, you can right-click a folder, and then click Print Directory Listing to print a directory listing of the contents of a folder.

Create the Printdir.bat file

To create the Printdir.bat file, follow these steps:

	Click Start, click Run, type the following command, and then click OK: notepad
2.	Paste the following text into Notepad: @echo off dir %1 /-p /o:gn /a/s > "%temp%\Listing" start /w notepad "%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

Create a new action for file folders

1.	Click Start, click Control Panel (or, point to Settings, and then 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, click OK, and then click Close.

Edit the registry

Warning Serious problems might occur if you modify the registry incorrectly by using Registry Editor or by using another method. These problems might require that you reinstall your operating system. Microsoft cannot guarantee that these problems can be solved. Modify the registry at your own risk.

After you follow the steps in the previous sections, 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 key in the registry: HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Directory\shell
3.	Click Modify on the Edit menu.
4.	In the Value data box, type: none
5.	Click OK.
6.	Quit Registry Editor.