customize the folder view

In windows 98 you could create a folder.htt file and customize how
folders appeared in explorer. How do you do that in XP?

Specifically I want to create a custom view similar to the default
MyComputer view when "show in groups" is turned on except I want
custom headings and to specify all files with one extention under the
first heading in alphabetical order, then a second heading for a
different file type followed by those files in alphabetical order etc.

The files have custom extentions for my own software program and the
folder is one created only for saving data from this program which
resides under the applicationData folder.

Ideally I am looking for a silution that works for Vista & XP and,
with a bit of luck, NT, 2000 and other Windows versions.l

On Oct 4, 9:16 pm, Lorne <Lorne_Ander....RemoveThis@hotmail.com> wrote:
> In windows 98 you could create a folder.htt file and customize how
> folders appeared in explorer. How do you do that in XP?
>
> Specifically I want to create a custom view similar to the default
> MyComputer view when "show in groups" is turned on except I want
> custom headings and to specify all files with one extention under the
> first heading in alphabetical order, then a second heading for a
> different file type followed by those files in alphabetical order etc.
>
> The files have custom extentions for my own software program and the
> folder is one created only for saving data from this program which
> resides under the applicationData folder.
>
> Ideally I am looking for a silution that works for Vista & XP and,
> with a bit of luck, NT, 2000 and other Windows versions.l

Just to add something - Its not as good as I would like but I could
get away with just changing the default folder view in explorer to
"show in groups", and "arrange icons by type" but I can find no
reference in the API as to how I can do this programatically. It
looks like the folder view data is held in HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software
\Microsoft\Windows\Shell but it is not clear how you can set it
without asking the user to do it manually. Anybody know how to do it?