The Libraries are a new addition in Microsoft’s latest operating system Windows 7. They have basically evolved from the MyDocuments folders which were limited by the fact that they lined to one absolute location on the computer system. Libraries on the other hand can combine and display the contents of multiple locations which is very helpful if photos, videos, music or documents are stored in different folders or even on different hard drives.
Libraries are by default however limited. It is for instance not possible to add a network location to a library. Trying to do so will result in the error message “This network location can’t be included because it is not indexed” or “This folder cannot be included because it is on a share that is not indexed”.
Microsoft has made available a command line utility that they appropriately named slutil.exe (no joke) which can be used to add network shares or locations to Windows 7 libraries.
A command line tool is usually not the most comfortable option as most users prefer to use graphical user interfaces.
That’s why the Win7 Library Tool was created by Zorn Software.
The software program that is compatible with Windows 7 provides the following functionality:
- Add network (UNC or mapped drive) and any other un-indexed folders to libraries.
- Backup library configuration, such that a saved set of libraries can be instantly restored at any point (like after a re-install of the OS or for transfer between multiple computers).
- Create a mirror of all libraries (using symbolic links) in [SystemDrive]:\libraries. This means you can reference all your files using a much shorter path, and also provides another entry-point to your files in many places in the Operating System (e.g. file open/save dialogs).
- Change a library’s icon.
The program is controlled by the icons in the status bar. The leftmost icon loads the existing libraries of the operating system. Other controls can be used to import or export libraries, create and delete libraries as well as to edit existing libraries.
Win7 Library Tool can be downloaded from the developer’s website.
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There is no slutil.exe on the MS web site… Could you provide a link where is it located?
Here you go
http://windowsteamblog.com/blogs/developers/archive/2009/04/06/windows-7-libraries-net-sample-library-an-overview.aspx
doc: http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&ct=res&cd=5&ved=0CBEQFjAE&url=http%3A%2F%2Fecn.channel9.msdn.com%2Fo9%2Flearn%2FWindows7%2FLabs%2FShell%2520Libraries%2520-%2520Native%2FLab.docx&rct=j&q=SLUtil.exe&ei=um1wS9mVJISKnQPcjen4BA&usg=AFQjCNHU3ZBmxcwyNDdSF_S5Otc83Hy_hQ
I’ve upped some binaries at http://www.grimadmin.com/article.php/creating-modifying-windows-7-libraries
This has stopped working for me since the update with the podcasts library. Fantastic tool while it worked though. Crashes everytime I detect libraries now.
Working fine on my Win7 Pro system.
hey there. after setting up some smb shares now i have the following error, when i want to access the library:
“some libraries features are unavailable due to unsupported librairies location”
any tipps?