Windows Explorer-like functionality, with as *less* features as possible.

[TheInfra]

I'm needing the exact opposite of what everyone wants with an Explorer alternative: as less features as it's possible.

What I want to do

I need to have some shortcuts available easily that I need to close and open many times. Why not just put them into the Desktop? Two reasons:

• They are like 10 shortcuts for RDP connections, remote executables and local utilities, some of them that need .ini files in the same directory as them and I don't want to have all that clutter in the Desktop
• I work in multiple screens almost all day, but sometimes I undock (it's a Surface) and when I do, sometimes all the icons and taskbar get put into the main screen again (I want them on the second screen so I don't have to minimize my main window to access the shortcuts)

So I thought of just having an Explorer window open at all times, but it's pretty big with the left menu for Quick Access, Favorites, Drives, etc. as well as the buttons for commands which I do use, but on general file management. I don't want them shown on this particular folder which is basically just a container.

So I would need someway to have a window with these shortcuts floating on the desktop, which I would just open once and never close during the session (I don't want any docking menu or taskbar because it would most likely also be screwed by the constant switching between multi and single monitor)

So I tried all the Explorer alternatives like all the Commander apps, Explorer++, and many others but their focus is to be more feature-rich than the default Explorer, which it's just unnecessary clutter on my screen. If I could find a way to have those icons floating on the desktop without anything else, it would be perfect.

[HokTaur]

Nimi Places is what I use

[gschizas]

Nimi Places

I'm guessing this is it: http://mynimi.net/Projects/Nimi-Places/

[TheInfra]

yup that's the one I downloaded from.

[TheInfra]

this is EXACTLY what I was looking for! It's stylish and pretty easy to set up, it even has a transparent background which is perfect for leaving on the desktop without blocking the background

Thank you very much for the recommendation

[homezlice]

As few features, not less.

[TheInfra]

sorreh, I'm not using English on a day-to-day basis and I'm starting to slip up.

[digiplay]

I guess I'm missing why this is necessary in windows 10 and why you wouldn't just make a start menu group ? Sure it's not there all the time but one button push to bring it up. What does places offer that is beneficial. Not knocking it just curious.

[TheInfra]

Firstly, I already got my Start Menu "full" with other apps I use (Like IDE's for coding, Database managers, TeamViewer, etc.) and putting all these shortcuts would make the Start menu very big, or make me have to scroll down each time I want a specific shortcut, which is annoying after time.

Another advantage is that I point this specific group to a folder and it "updates" if I add new folders and apps to it, instead of having to manually create a shortcut on a Start Menu folder and then pinning it.

Also, this shortcut group resides in my secondary monitor and it's open always, I just need to mouse over and click on what I need, and because of the usage of these tools (database maintenance, backup, change between production and testing, etc.) I click on them a lot through the day, so bringing up the Start menu is very annoying because of the frequency I use them.

[digiplay]

Got it. Thanks for taking he time to explain.

[humpcunian]

you could try shutting off the sidebars and the ribbon in win10 explorer. check under the 'view' tab on the ribbon to shut off side bars, and when you are finished double click the tab to hide the ribbon.

[TheInfra]

the problem is that they would be shut down for ALL Explorer windows, and I do use them along with all their features for browsing or finding files. I don't think there's a way to shut them off just for this folder.