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I have folders full of log files, and I'd like to display their final status in a column in the folder they are in. That is, in Details view I want to make a new column that shows a piece of text which is extracted from each file. I don't expect to find such a thing out there, and the searches I've tried haven't even yielded a hint about how I would go about writing a plugin to do any such thing. Is it possible?

Alex K.
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mARK
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  • Sure. Everything is possible. – user2120666 Feb 04 '22 at 09:49
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    Does this answer your question? [Display custom header or column in Windows Explorer](https://stackoverflow.com/questions/9648275/display-custom-header-or-column-in-windows-explorer) – Alex K. Feb 04 '22 at 12:51
  • Hi Alex K. I don't think that is for me. My files are just text, with a .log extension. Making a special type would only be confusing for other users. – mARK Feb 04 '22 at 15:54

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This sort of thing used to be possible with custom column handler shell extensions but Microsoft removed support for those in Vista (3rd-party Explorer replacements might still support them).

Microsofts inadequate replacement are property handlers. You cannot do this for .log files, you would have to invent a .myapp-log file extension.

Some people abuse the Windows 10 cloud API to create columns but that only works in specific folders.

If you are looking for a specific string in the last line, you could perhaps use a custom icon handler for .log files.

Anders
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  • Thanks Anders. I was hoping for a different answer, of course, but it is good to know how things stand. I am indeed looking for a specific string in the last line, but I would like to sort on my custom 'status' column, and I don't think I can sort by icon, only by name. – mARK Feb 04 '22 at 15:55
  • Note that some third-party file managers still support the old column handler system, even though Explorer doesn't. – Jonathan Potter Feb 04 '22 at 21:23