How can I manipulate Windows 7 Libraries via Group Policy?

The Windows 7 libraries are actually just XML files with some clever shell extensions managing them. They're all called [Library_Name].library-ms (E.g. Pictures.library-ms) and can be opened in any text editor such as notepad by dragging and dropping.

The files can then be published using any normal mechanism - scripts, Group Policy Preferences etc.

There are a couple of things that I discovered, which you should be aware of:

• The XML stores information about the user who is using the library file

• Windows will automatically update / overwrite the XML when you double click on it / manipulate it. This is especially problematic as an administrator where double clicking will make your file unusable for users

• If you make the file read only, this will have the effect of making the library appear read only, therefore preventing users from saving.

After some trial and error, I developed some 'blank' templates using the default Libraries which I'l post below.

You can use the following known folders guide to customise new default locations:

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb882665.aspx

And I have found the following to be useful references regarding the library architecture:

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windows/desktop/dd798389(v=vs.85).aspx http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/magazine/dd861346.aspx

Essentially, though, the way I found best to experiment was to simply make changes using the GUI and examine what is changed.

Documents

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<libraryDescription xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/windows/2009/library">
  <name>@shell32.dll,-34575</name>
  <version>20</version>
  <isLibraryPinned>true</isLibraryPinned>
  <iconReference>imageres.dll,-1002</iconReference>
  <templateInfo>
    <folderType>{7d49d726-3c21-4f05-99aa-fdc2c9474656}</folderType>
  </templateInfo>
  <propertyStore>
    <property name="HasModifiedLocations" type="boolean"><![CDATA[false]]></property>
  </propertyStore>
  <searchConnectorDescriptionList>
    <searchConnectorDescription publisher="Microsoft" product="Windows">
      <description>@shell32.dll,-34577</description>
      <isDefaultSaveLocation>true</isDefaultSaveLocation>
      <isDefaultNonOwnerSaveLocation>true</isDefaultNonOwnerSaveLocation>
      <isSupported>true</isSupported>
      <simpleLocation>
        <url>knownfolder:{FDD39AD0-238F-46AF-ADB4-6C85480369C7}</url>
      </simpleLocation>
    </searchConnectorDescription>
  </searchConnectorDescriptionList>
</libraryDescription>

Music

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<libraryDescription xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/windows/2009/library">
  <name>@shell32.dll,-34584</name>
  <version>12</version>
  <isLibraryPinned>true</isLibraryPinned>
  <iconReference>imageres.dll,-1004</iconReference>
  <templateInfo>
    <folderType>{94d6ddcc-4a68-4175-a374-bd584a510b78}</folderType>
  </templateInfo>
  <propertyStore>
    <property name="HasModifiedLocations" type="boolean"><![CDATA[false]]></property>
  </propertyStore>
  <searchConnectorDescriptionList>
    <searchConnectorDescription publisher="Microsoft" product="Windows">
      <description>@shell32.dll,-34577</description>
      <isDefaultSaveLocation>true</isDefaultSaveLocation>
      <isDefaultNonOwnerSaveLocation>true</isDefaultNonOwnerSaveLocation>
      <isSupported>true</isSupported>
      <simpleLocation>
        <url>knownfolder:{4BD8D571-6D19-48D3-BE97-422220080E43}</url>
        </simpleLocation>
    </searchConnectorDescription>
  </searchConnectorDescriptionList>
</libraryDescription>

Pictures

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<libraryDescription xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/windows/2009/library">
  <name>@shell32.dll,-34595</name>
  <ownerSID></ownerSID>
  <version>6</version>
  <isLibraryPinned>true</isLibraryPinned>
  <iconReference>imageres.dll,-1003</iconReference>
  <templateInfo>
    <folderType>{b3690e58-e961-423b-b687-386ebfd83239}</folderType>
  </templateInfo>
  <propertyStore>
    <property name="HasModifiedLocations" type="boolean"><![CDATA[false]]></property>
  </propertyStore>
  <searchConnectorDescriptionList>
    <searchConnectorDescription publisher="Microsoft" product="Windows">
      <description>@shell32.dll,-34577</description>
      <isDefaultSaveLocation>true</isDefaultSaveLocation>
      <isDefaultNonOwnerSaveLocation>true</isDefaultNonOwnerSaveLocation>
      <isSupported>false</isSupported>
      <simpleLocation>
        <url>knownfolder:{33E28130-4E1E-4676-835A-98395C3BC3BB}</url>
      </simpleLocation>
    </searchConnectorDescription>
  </searchConnectorDescriptionList>
</libraryDescription>

Videos

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<libraryDescription xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/windows/2009/library">
  <name>@shell32.dll,-34620</name>
  <ownerSID></ownerSID>
  <version>4</version>
  <isLibraryPinned>true</isLibraryPinned>
  <iconReference>imageres.dll,-1005</iconReference>
  <templateInfo>
    <folderType>{5fa96407-7e77-483c-ac93-691d05850de8}</folderType>
  </templateInfo>
  <propertyStore>
    <property name="HasModifiedLocations" type="boolean"><![CDATA[false]]></property>
  </propertyStore>
  <searchConnectorDescriptionList>
    <searchConnectorDescription publisher="Microsoft" product="Windows">
      <description>@shell32.dll,-34577</description>
      <isDefaultSaveLocation>true</isDefaultSaveLocation>
      <isDefaultNonOwnerSaveLocation>true</isDefaultNonOwnerSaveLocation>
      <isSupported>false</isSupported>
      <simpleLocation>
        <url>knownfolder:{18989B1D-99B5-455B-841C-AB7C74E4DDFC}</url>
       </simpleLocation>
    </searchConnectorDescription>
  </searchConnectorDescriptionList>
</libraryDescription>

The only method I've found is to use the Windows 7 Powershell extentions for Libraries, available from codeplex here.

This can be used in a login script (it needs to run for each user, in their context), and it includes methods for adding and removing library locations.

Sample code

Import-Module "\\myserver\location\Windows7Library\Windows7Library.psm1"
# Before we can use the new commands from this module, it needs to be imported.

add-LibraryFolder -LibraryPath (Get-KnownFolder "VideosLibrary").path -FolderPath "\\borehamwood\dvds"
# add location to video library
#
Remove-LibraryFolder -LibraryPath (Get-KnownFolder "DocumentsLibrary").path -FolderPath "C:\users\Public\Documents"
Remove-LibraryFolder -LibraryPath (Get-KnownFolder "MusicLibrary").path -FolderPath "C:\users\Public\Music"
# remove locations from both the documents, and then the music library.