Editing File Explorer (section)

===Windows XP and Windows Server 2003===
[[File:Windows Explorer XP.png|thumb|Windows Explorer in [[Windows XP]], showing All Users folder contents|alt=]]
There were significant changes made to Windows Explorer in [[Windows XP]], both visually and functionally. Microsoft focused especially on making Explorer more discoverable and task-based, as well as adding several new features to reflect the growing use of a computer as a [[Technological convergence|digital hub]].

Windows Explorer in [[Windows Server 2003]] contains all the same features as Windows XP, but the task panes and search companion are disabled by default.

====Task pane====
The task pane is displayed on the left-hand side of the window instead of the traditional folder [[tree view]]. It presents the user with a list of common actions and destinations that are relevant to the current directory or file(s) selected. For instance, when in a directory containing mostly pictures, a set of "Picture tasks" is shown, offering the options to display these pictures as a slide show, to print them out, or to go online to order prints. Conversely, a folder containing music files would offer options to play those files in a media player or to go online to purchase music. Windows XP had a Media bar but it was removed with SP1. The Media Bar was only available with Windows XP RTM.

Every folder also has "File and Folder Tasks", offering options to create new folders, share a folder on the local network, publish files or folders to a website, and other common tasks like copying, renaming, moving, and deleting files or folders. File types that have identified themselves as being printable also have an option listed to print the file.

Underneath "Other Places" is a "Details" pane which gives additional information – typically file size and date, but depending on the file type, a thumbnail preview, author, image dimensions, or other details.

The "Folders" button on the Windows Explorer toolbar toggles between the traditional tree view of folders, and the task pane. Users can get rid of the task pane or restore it using the sequence: Tools – Folder Options – General – Show Common Tasks/Use Windows Classic Folders.

====Search companion====
[[File:Windows Explorer search puppy.png|thumb|Windows Explorer's default Search Companion, Rover, in [[Windows XP]]|alt=]]
Microsoft introduced animated "Search Companions" in an attempt to make searching more engaging and friendly; the default character is a puppy named Rover (previously used in [[Microsoft Bob]]), with three other characters (Merlin the magician, Earl the surfer, and Courtney) also available. These search companions use the same technology as [[Microsoft Office]]'s [[Office Assistant]]s, even incorporating "tricks" and sound effects, and they can be used as Office Assistants if their files are copied into the C:\Windows\msagent\chars folder.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows_10-update/is-microsoft-office-2003-still-decent-for-general/74b58c58-93e9-4865-b598-2ad22fe497e6?auth=1|title=Is Microsoft Office 2003 still decent for general use on Windows 7, 8.1 and 10|website=answers.microsoft.com|access-date=June 19, 2018|archive-date=February 7, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160207003706/http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows_10-update/is-microsoft-office-2003-still-decent-for-general/74b58c58-93e9-4865-b598-2ad22fe497e6?auth=1|url-status=live}}</ref>

The search capability itself is fairly similar to Windows ME and Windows 2000, with one major addition: Search can also be instructed to search only files that are categorical "Documents" or "Pictures, music and video"; this feature is noteworthy largely because of how Windows determines what types of files can be classified under these categories. In order to maintain a relevant list of file types, Windows Explorer connects to Microsoft and downloads a set of XML files that define what these file types are. The Search Companion can be disabled in favor of the classic search pane used in Windows 2000 by using the [[Tweak UI]] applet from [[Microsoft PowerToys#PowerToys for Windows XP|Microsoft's PowerToys for Windows XP]], or by manually editing the registry.

====Image handling====
[[Image:Thumbnailviewxp.png|thumb|Folder thumbnail preview icon on [[Windows XP]]|alt=]]
Windows XP improves image preview in Explorer by offering a Filmstrip view. "Back" and "Previous" buttons facilitate navigation through the pictures, and a pair of "Rotate" buttons offer 90-degree clockwise and counter-clockwise ([[Lossy data compression|lossy]])<ref>{{Cite web |title=What is Windows XP? |url=https://www.computerhope.com/jargon/w/winxp.htm |access-date=2022-08-12 |website=www.computerhope.com |language=en}}</ref> rotation of images. Aside from the Filmstrip view mode, there is a 'Thumbnails' mode, which displays [[thumbnail]]-sized images in the folder. A Folder containing images will also show thumbnails of four of the images from that folder overlaid on top of a large folder icon.

====Web publishing====
Web sites that offer image hosting services can be plugged into Windows Explorer, which the user can use to select images on their computer, and have them uploaded correctly without dealing with comparatively complex solutions involving FTP or web interfaces.{{Citation needed|date=June 2009}}

====Other changes====
* Explorer gained the ability to understand the metadata of a number of types of files. For example, with images from a digital camera, the [[Exif]] information can be viewed, both in the Properties pages for the photo itself, as well as via optional additional Details View columns.
* A Tile view mode was added, which displays the file's icon in a larger size (48 × 48), and places the file name, descriptive type, and additional information (typically the file size for data files, and the publisher name for applications) to the right.
* The Details view also presented an additional option called "Show in Groups" which allows the Explorer to separate its contents by headings based on the field which is used to sort the items.
* The taskbar can be locked to prevent it from accidentally being moved.
* Windows Explorer also gained the ability to burn CDs and [[DVD-RAM]] discs in Windows XP.
* Ability to create and open [[ZIP (file format)|ZIP files]], called "compressed folders", which is a file containing other files.<ref name="what_s_new_with_files_and_folders">{{cite web|url=https://www.microsoft.com/resources/documentation/windows/xp/all/proddocs/en-us/whatsnew_overview.mspx?mfr=true|title=Windows XP – What's new with files and folders|website=Windows|publisher=[[Microsoft]]|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070523022826/http://www.microsoft.com/resources/documentation/windows/xp/all/proddocs/en-us/whatsnew_overview.mspx?mfr=true|archive-date=May 23, 2007}}</ref><ref>[https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/tutorials/extract-zip-files-in-windows-me-xp-2003/ How to create and extract a Zip File in Windows ME/XP/2003]</ref>
* Ability to open [[Cabinet (file format)|Cabinet (.cab) files]], another type of file that contains other files.<ref>[http://www.tech-pro.net/howto-open-cab-file.html How To: Open a Cab file] – Quote: "If you're using Windows XP or Windows Vista, then your operating system has built-in support for opening Cab files."</ref>
* If a <code>.HTM</code> or <code>.[[HTML]]</code> file is copied or moved, the accompanying <code>_files</code> suffix folder is copied or moved among it automatically.<ref>{{cite web |title=Moving web pages saved by IE (HTM file & _FILES folder) |url=https://resource.dopus.com/t/moving-web-pages-saved-by-ie-htm-file--files-folder/7826 |website=Directory Opus Resource Centre |date=4 May 2009 |quote=When Windows Explorer […] move a Web page both the HTML file and the directory are automatically moved together. […] Moreover, the user only has to drag EITHER part--the file or the directory and the other part will follow automatically. This way the page is kept intact irrespective of where Windows stores it. |access-date=16 December 2020 |archive-date=16 December 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201216103635/https://resource.dopus.com/t/moving-web-pages-saved-by-ie-htm-file--files-folder/7826 |url-status=live }}</ref>

ZIP and CAB files are integrated into the user interface so they can be browsed as if they were ordinary folders. Given that files contained inside ZIP files can not be opened directly, they are automatically extracted to a temporary location and launched with the associated program from the temporary location when opened, to make the appearance that the ZIP file is a real directory.<ref name=what_s_new_with_files_and_folders />

====Removed and changed features====
{{See also|List of features removed in Windows XP#Windows Explorer}}
{{expand section|date=December 2012}}
* The sort order has changed compared to the one in Windows 2000. For file names containing numbers Windows Explorer now tries to sort based on numerical value rather than just comparing each number digit by digit.<ref name="sortOrder">{{citation
| title = The sort order for files and folders whose names contain numerals is different in Windows Vista, Windows XP, and Windows Server 2003 than it is in Windows 2000
| publisher = support.microsoft.com
| date = August 28, 2007
| url = http://support.microsoft.com/kb/319827/
| access-date = July 6, 2009
| archive-date = September 27, 2010
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100927131730/http://support.microsoft.com/kb/319827
| url-status = live
}}</ref>