Similar to the CreateComputerPowerOptionsPreferences, these settings are created by setting up a GPP and then copying the update information from the XML into the script. Though a number of these items are likely deprecated with Windows 10, a number of these options still impact the look and feel of the UI. Additionally, this GPP is useful in creating Open With options for file extensions, and can come in handy if there is a persistently bad application or ensuring that an association acts a desired way.
The script contains a sample that sets the following Folder Options:
Folder Options GPP Example
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<FolderOptions clsid="{8AB5F5D7-F676-48ab-A94E-1186E120EFDC}"><GlobalFolderOptionsVista clsid="{DBF1E3CD-4CA2-407c-BE84-5F67D3BE754D}" name="Folder Options (At least Windows Vista)" userContext="1" removePolicy="0" changed="2017-03-17 16:22:21" uid="{76690A1F-FAE7-4379-BE7E-1E98A161315C}"><Filters><FilterCollection hidden="1" bool="AND" not="0"><FilterOs hidden="1" not="1" bool="AND" class="NT" version="XP" type="NE" edition="NE" sp="NE"/><FilterOs hidden="1" not="1" bool="AND" class="NT" version="2K3" type="NE" edition="NE" sp="NE"/><FilterOs hidden="1" not="1" bool="AND" class="NT" version="2K3R2" type="NE" edition="NE" sp="NE"/></FilterCollection></Filters><Properties alwaysShowIcons="0" alwaysShowMenus="0" displayIconThumb="1" displayFileSize="1" displaySimpleFolders="1" fullPath="1" hidden="SHOW" hideFileExt="0" showSuperHidden="0" separateProcess="1" classicViewState="0" persistBrowsers="0" showDriveLetter="0" showCompColor="1" showInfoTip="1" showPreviewHandlers="1" useCheckBoxes="0" useSharingWizard="1" listViewTyping="SELECT"/></GlobalFolderOptionsVista>
<OpenWith clsid="{100B9C09-906A-4f5a-9C41-1BD98B6CA022}" name="XML" userContext="1" image="0" changed="2017-03-30 19:20:35" uid="{F2156C28-3A1E-48A4-9DE2-127EF1B9F3A3}"><Properties action="C" fileExtension="XML" applicationPath="%windir%\notepad.exe" default="1"/></OpenWith>
</FolderOptions>
clsid is what identifies the type of task.
Folder Options - {8AB5F5D7-F676-48ab-A94E-1186E120EFDC}
Open With - {100B9C09-906A-4f5a-9C41-1BD98B6CA022}
Steps to create the XML file code for the script:
- Create a new GPO and identify the GUID and location on the SYSVOL.
- Edit the GPO and browse to User Configuration → Preferences → Control Panel Settings → Folder Options
- Create desired Folder Options or Open With file association.
- Browse to network location of GPO
- Open in in a text editor, such as Notepad, and edit the following:
- Find changed and replace the date and time with:
$DateUni - Find uid and replace the GUID with:
$GUID - Find and replace all quotes “ with backtick quote `”
- Update any other options, such as description or targeting
- If the the Apply once and do not reapply. is selected find id and replace with
$GUID2
- Select all text and copy to clipboard
- Paste into
Function CreateUserDefaultFolderPreferencesbetween the quotes on the Add-Content $EUFolderOptionsXMLFile line.
- Save and run script to confirm functionality