How in the Tech

Gain control over your Windows 7 Libraries

By Adam Myers ⋅ February 22, 2010 ⋅ Tags: Windows 7

I’ve written a few times about the new Libraries feature in Windows 7 – simply it’s highly useful once you’ve got your head wrapped around the notion. However, once you’ve fully embraced the concept and begun to rely on it in your day to day activities it’s not long before you find out how restrictive it can be. You can’t add network locations or any other location that isn’t already being indexed by Windows search. Seems like a pretty vital and common procedure does it not?

Interestingly enough, Libraries do have some hidden features that are only accessible and configurable through a command line utility called slutil.exe. I can only surmise that Microsoft wished to keep the interface clean and simple to encourage widespread adoption of the library concept before expanding upon in later releases. Nevertheless, going to a command line for increased functionality isn’t at all user friendly and is the main reason for the existence of the Win7 Library Tool.

Win7 Library Tool is a free light-weight application that ties into Microsoft’s Library API and takes over much of the role that slutil.exe does above. Once installed, you may

• add any network or un-indexed location to a library
• backup your existing library configuration should you have to reinstall Windows
• customize the icon used for each library
• create a mirror of all the libraries, perhaps in c:\libraries, that aids in accessibility through other applications

If you feel hamstrung by Windows 7′s Library features and the command line doesn’t sound like a load of fun, download Win7 Library Tool.