Autocomplete is bringing up Favorites subcategories and more

  • Thread starter Thread starter Maureen Goldman
  • Start date Start date
M

Maureen Goldman

When I type the first letter into the address bar, I'm getting a
Favorites subcategory if one exists. If there's also a drive, I'll see
that first. Example: The letter D brings up d:\ and Donations (a
Favorites folder with sites like http://thehuntersite.com).

Is there some way to return autocomplete to normal? I'm using XP.
 
Maureen Goldman said:
When I type the first letter into the address bar, I'm getting a
Favorites subcategory if one exists. If there's also a drive, I'll see
that first. Example: The letter D brings up d:\ and Donations (a
Favorites folder with sites like http://thehuntersite.com).

Is there some way to return autocomplete to normal? I'm using XP.
Click to expand...

I have always considered that normal!
In the past (with NT4) I always had both
Use Inline AutoComplete for Web Addresses
and
Use Inline AutoComplete for Windows Explorer
checked.

In XP the latter is not available via the UI.
See if its equivalent RegEdit value still works even though there is
no UI support for it.
Use AutoComplete
(It would go under the same subkey where you would see
Append Completion
which is the value name for the one remaining variety of Use Inline...)

Note: at one time it was suggested to keep both Use Inline... values
equal to avoid a bug. I don't know if the same bug will still be present
now that they have eliminated one of the options. It's possible that rather
than fixing whatever the bug was they just eliminated the problem,
e.g. forced the equivalent of having both Use Inline... values the same
by removing one of the options. If so you are now seeing what I am
used to because you have Use Inline AutoComplete... checked.
If you uncheck it you'll probably have a different symptom
which you may find more tolerable.

<title>KB230592 - Addresses Are Not Resolved When the AutoComplete Feature Is Enabled</title>


HTH

Robert Aldwinckle
---
 
I have always considered that normal!
In the past (with NT4) I always had both
Use Inline AutoComplete for Web Addresses
and
Use Inline AutoComplete for Windows Explorer
checked.

In XP the latter is not available via the UI.
See if its equivalent RegEdit value still works even though there is
no UI support for it.
Use AutoComplete
(It would go under the same subkey where you would see
Append Completion
which is the value name for the one remaining variety of Use Inline...)
Click to expand...

Unfortunately, by trial and error (and the discovery of a Restore from
before the change) I've realized that the problem is not in the
registry but in the Favorites folder. When I changed to my new XP
machine, I simply copied over my old win98 Favorites folder to a
floppy rather than using export - I'd never noticed Export. Slapped it
into the directory structure where it seemed to go in Documents and
Settings. Worked fine after I moved things so I wasn't seeing
Favorites as a subfolder of Favorites.

It looks to me as though the problem arose when I dragged in a
Favorites subfolder that wasn't visible, from the manufacturer of the
new computer, which was located in the Default Users Favorites. I made
it a subfolder in a computer hardware folder. Since then autocomplete
does a folder search within Favorites as soon as I enter the first
letter. Also finds drives. Can find websites.

So... does anybody know a way to rebuild the Favorites structure? Or
to start from scratch, that is, the way I received it.
 
[snip]....
It looks to me as though the problem arose when I dragged in a
Favorites subfolder that wasn't visible, from the manufacturer of the
new computer, which was located in the Default Users Favorites. I made
it a subfolder in a computer hardware folder. Since then autocomplete
does a folder search within Favorites as soon as I enter the first
letter. Also finds drives. Can find websites.

So... does anybody know a way to rebuild the Favorites structure? Or
to start from scratch, that is, the way I received it.
Click to expand...

Export/Import is nice and I always forget it too. When I moved my
internet shortcuts , I copied the contents of the old Favorites folder
to the new Favorites folder. After they were transferred, I tossed the
old Favorites folder. After two years of existing on my XP system,
they're still working.

Sharon F
MS MVP [Shell/User]
 
Maureen Goldman [snip]....
It looks to me as though the problem arose when I dragged in a
Favorites subfolder that wasn't visible, from the manufacturer of the
new computer, which was located in the Default Users Favorites. I made
it a subfolder in a computer hardware folder. Since then autocomplete
does a folder search within Favorites as soon as I enter the first
letter. Also finds drives. Can find websites.

So... does anybody know a way to rebuild the Favorites structure? Or
to start from scratch, that is, the way I received it.
Sharon F <[email protected]> wrote:
Click to expand...
Export/Import is nice and I always forget it too. When I moved my
internet shortcuts , I copied the contents of the old Favorites folder
to the new Favorites folder. After they were transferred, I tossed the
old Favorites folder. After two years of existing on my XP system,
they're still working.
Click to expand...

I'm not clear on how this will help me rebuild my Favorites directory
structure to eliminate the problem of getting subfolder names and
drives when using autocomplete. There are also Favorites directories
at Default User and Local user with at two Favorites folders that
came with the machine. (I'm the one and only user of this computer.)
 
Thanks for your lengthy reply. I appreciate the time you're taking.
Moving Default User's Favorites folder should not have caused any
problems with existing accounts. Since it was present when the machine
left the factory, it should only have duplicated links in your Favorites
when you moved it. (Have you tried dragging that Default Users'
Favorites folder back to where it came from yet?)
Click to expand...

Well... I returned the factory-provided folder from whence it came.
Might have copied it over, although I likely dragged it in initially.
Deleted it from the primary Favorites list.
For the AutoComplete concerns:

There are several AutoComplete settings in XP:
-- Internet Options> Content> AutoComplete.
-- Internet Options> Advanced> Use inline AutoComplete
-- Search Preferences (Start> Search> Preferences)
I may have missed some but those are the most obvious ones.

Windows Explorer tracks "history" as you browse local files and it will
join in on the browser's AutoComplete settings. Using the Clear button
in Taskbar Properties> Start Menu and clearing History in Internet
Options> General> History will clear the autocomplete references the
local file tool, Search and the drop down list for the Run box develop
over time.
Click to expand...

Should recently accessed webpages be showing up in the RUN box?
While similar to History, "Typed URLs" that you enter in an address bar
fall into the MRU category and is used by Internet Explorer and Windows
Explorer. The shell handles MRU (Most Recently Used) items a little
differently but they are blended into the AutoComplete results.
Click to expand...
It is normal to see drive and folder items as well as websites as you
work with the various text dialogs that utilize the AutoComplete lists
and current history so I'm not really understanding the problem you
perceive with AutoComplete.
Click to expand...

I've never had my Favorites categories show up in the IE address box.
Some aren't categories I've even accessed while I've had the computer;
they're just the first under that letter of the alphabet. If I hit b,
autocomplete writes BloodyComputer, h is Hardware, l is Law. F will
bring up something like f:\\\. D is d:\ None of this stuff showed up
before, just websites.

I don't have have the dropdown list option, incidentally.
There are several areas of the registry that can be tweaked to tame
AutoComplete more to your liking. MVP Kelly Theriot has these documented
extensively at her website. Suggest that you explore the "AutoComplete"
and "History" topics at her site (the Typed URLs category is addressed
within these topics too):
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_abc.htm
Click to expand...

I've read Kelly's autocomplete area. It's more complex than most.
Unfortunately, I can't use the instruction on halting autocomplete
altogether because it removes Ctrl-Enter inline autocomplete as well.
 
Thanks for your lengthy reply. I appreciate the time you're taking.
Click to expand...

Welcome, Maureen.
Should recently accessed webpages be showing up in the RUN box?
Yes.

I've never had my Favorites categories show up in the IE address box.
Click to expand...

Normally only appears if you've typed the address manually into the
address box. Sometimes gets tangled with history though and previous
sites can be seen if using back/forward a lot.
Some aren't categories I've even accessed while I've had the computer;
they're just the first under that letter of the alphabet. If I hit b,
autocomplete writes BloodyComputer, h is Hardware, l is Law. F will
bring up something like f:\\\. D is d:\ None of this stuff showed up
before, just websites.
Click to expand...

Internet Explorer and Windows Explorer are very tightly integrated when
it comes to autocomplete; local and remote addresses will appear.
I don't have have the dropdown list option, incidentally.
Click to expand...

Cool. :)
I've read Kelly's autocomplete area. It's more complex than most.
Unfortunately, I can't use the instruction on halting autocomplete
altogether because it removes Ctrl-Enter inline autocomplete as well.
Click to expand...

If you add this part back, does it work the way you want it to?
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\AutoCo
mplete]
"Append Completion"="yes"

Sorry I don't have anything more for you. Hope that you eventually find
a tweak or tool to get this customized the way you want it to be. May
want to check out Sandi Hardmeier's site as well. Lots of IE info,
tweaks and adjustments can be found here:
http://www.mvps.org/inetexplorer/

Sharon F
MS MVP [Shell/User]
 
I've read Kelly's autocomplete area. It's more complex than most.
Unfortunately, I can't use the instruction on halting autocomplete
altogether because it removes Ctrl-Enter inline autocomplete as well.
Sharon F <[email protected]> wrote:
Click to expand...
If you add this part back, does it work the way you want it to?
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\AutoCo
mplete]
"Append Completion"="yes"
Click to expand...

Never removed Append Completion, but I've changed it back and forth
between yes and no a number of times. Yes will allow inline
autocomplete while also bringing up Favorites subfolder names, drives,
and so on. Opt for no, and I only see what I type.

Perhaps I should try going without inline autocomplete for a while, it
can't be all that onerous.
Sorry I don't have anything more for you. Hope that you eventually find
a tweak or tool to get this customized the way you want it to be. May
want to check out Sandi Hardmeier's site as well. Lots of IE info,
tweaks and adjustments can be found here:
http://www.mvps.org/inetexplorer/
Click to expand...

Will certainly go to Sandi's site, thanks for the pointer, and for the
advice.
 
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