[Solved] Can I change the standard file opening procedure?

[LFCred]

When I want to open a file, I'd like the 'open' dialog box to appear showing file details rather than just an alphabetic list of file names and for it to be sorted in date order, with most recent first.
I haven't been able to find a parameter to change this in any of the menus, or any relevant discussion on this board, but I'd think it would be a fairly common thing.
Thanks in advance

[Caracalla]

That's something you should be able to set in the dialog box itself. What Operating System are you using?

[LFCred]

Thanks for commenting - I'm using Windows XP.
I can do it in the dialog box, but don't want to have to do it each time I open a file. It's only a couple of clicks, but its irritating
Steve

[Caracalla]

There is no setting in OOo to change that permanently as far as i know. There might be in WinXP.

[huw]

I suspect it's a registry setting in Windows.

You might be able to get it to work the way you want by opening Windows Explorer, getting the view set how you want it, then holding Ctrl down while you close Windows Explorer with the cross at the top right (not File > Exit). You might have to do that for each directory individually! You might also have to restart either or both of Windows and OpenOffice.

Additionally, this could be affected by the Windows Explorer setting Tools > Folder Options > View > Remember each folder's view settings.

I know this has annoyed many Windows users across many applications for years, and the only suggestion I've seen is that the view is taken from Windows Explorer's current settings when an application is installed. So crazy it might just be true. But I doubt it.

Good luck, and please post back here if you ever solve it.

Edit: typo

[acknak]

You get the file details if you use the OOo file dialogs instead of the standard Windows dialogs. Tools > Options > OO.org > General > Load/Save dialogs > Use OpenOffice.org dialogs = YES (checked).

The down side is that they're different from the Windows dialog, but they work well once you get used to them.

[LFCred]

Huw
Thanks for the comments. I tried the first suggestions, but not the reinstallation ones. Sadly, they did not work.

Acknak
I've followed your suggestion: its great thanks.

Regards
Steve