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M-Z
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PostPosted: Thu Jul 23, 2026 1:20 pm    Post subject: Preview Pane Reply with quote
Is there a reason for CE 7.7 to "enforce" preview pane in open file dialog? Normally one can turn it off, but here this option is absent.

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Dark Byte
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PostPosted: Thu Jul 23, 2026 5:03 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
execute lua command
Code:

MainForm.OpenDialog1.Options='ofHideReadOnly,ofFileMustExist,ofEnableSizing'

and see if it still happens
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M-Z
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PostPosted: Fri Jul 24, 2026 1:58 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
Well, it works - enables option in "Organize" to disable preview pane. But after CE restart "preview pane" is enabled again and requires this LUA trick again.
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xxhehe
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PostPosted: Thu Aug 06, 2026 6:05 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
Script generated by an LLM

Open the Cheat Engine installation directory and go into the autorun folder.
Create a new Lua script file inside this folder, for example disable_preview.lua.
Paste the following‑listed code:

Code:

local function fixOpenDialog()
    local dlg = MainForm.OpenDialog1
    if dlg then
        dlg.Options = 'ofHideReadOnly,ofFileMustExist'
    end
end

if MainForm then
    fixOpenDialog()
else

    local timer = createTimer(100, function()
        if MainForm then
            fixOpenDialog()
            timer.Enabled = false
        end
    end)
end
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LeFiXER
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PostPosted: Thu Aug 06, 2026 7:49 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
xxhehe wrote:
Script generated by an LLM

Open the Cheat Engine installation directory and go into the autorun folder.
Create a new Lua script file inside this folder, for example disable_preview.lua.
Paste the following‑listed code:

Code:

local function fixOpenDialog()
    local dlg = MainForm.OpenDialog1
    if dlg then
        dlg.Options = 'ofHideReadOnly,ofFileMustExist'
    end
end

if MainForm then
    fixOpenDialog()
else

    local timer = createTimer(100, function()
        if MainForm then
            fixOpenDialog()
            timer.Enabled = false
        end
    end)
end


No need for the timer. OpenDialog1 is created when the main form is created so no need to check if it exists (it's unlikely that someone will execute code that removes it).

Code:

local function setDlgOptions(Dlg, Opts)
    Dlg.Options = Opts
end

Opts = 'ofHideReadOnly,ofFileMustExist,ofEnableSizing'
Dlg  = MainForm.OpenDialog1

-- This is unnecessary for autorun scripts also, but nice to note what the default options are
if Opts == '' then Opts = '[ofHideReadOnly,ofFileMustExist,ofEnableSizing,ofAutoPreview]' end

setDlgOptions(Dlg, Opts)


Edit: fix typo, thanks for catching that Csimbi!

Last edited by LeFiXER on Fri Aug 07, 2026 9:25 am; edited 1 time in total
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Dark Byte
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PostPosted: Thu Aug 06, 2026 1:23 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
or instead of over designing code and making it difficult to read/obtuse, a single line might work better

Code:

MainForm.OpenDialog1.Options='ofHideReadOnly,ofFileMustExist,ofEnableSizing' --removes ofAutoPreview


nopreview.lua
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 Filename:  nopreview.lua
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Csimbi
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PostPosted: Thu Aug 06, 2026 2:13 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
So, I put each of these in to a LUA file and dropped into autorun.
xxhehe - no effect, preview is still there in OpenDialog.
LeFiXER- no effect, preview is still there in OpenDialog (and yes, I fixed the typo in setDlgOptipns(...).
Dark Byte - no effect, preview is still there in OpenDialog.
Conclusion: not possible via LUA?
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Dark Byte
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PostPosted: Thu Aug 06, 2026 2:22 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
the option to hide the preview panel will be available with this code, otherwise there's no option to show/hide it

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LeFiXER
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PostPosted: Fri Aug 07, 2026 9:29 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
Csimbi wrote:
So, I put each of these in to a LUA file and dropped into autorun.
xxhehe - no effect, preview is still there in OpenDialog.
LeFiXER- no effect, preview is still there in OpenDialog (and yes, I fixed the typo in setDlgOptipns(...).
Dark Byte - no effect, preview is still there in OpenDialog.
Conclusion: not possible via LUA?


Using the code that I posted, the preview pane is hidden, but the option to show it still exists. I'm on version 7.6.6.
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Csimbi
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PostPosted: Fri Aug 07, 2026 12:29 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
Dark Byte wrote:
the option to hide the preview panel will be available with this code, otherwise there's no option to show/hide it

I think what most people are trying to achieve is the third pic from the top - preview disabled by default, entirely. (having the button is fine, it is the actual preview section that should be off; the vertical "preview bar" on the right)

LeFiXER wrote:
Using the code that I posted, the preview pane is hidden, but the option to show it still exists. I'm on version 7.6.6.

Good to know.
For reverence, I am on the latest build I know to exist - 7.7.0.10621.
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LeFiXER
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PostPosted: Tue Aug 11, 2026 5:09 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
Csimbi wrote:

For reverence, I am on the latest build I know to exist - 7.7.0.10621.


I tested on the latest version also. It works the same for me. The pane is deactivated upon the open dialog displaying, but the option to hide/show it remains as expected.
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AylinCE
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PostPosted: Tue Aug 11, 2026 9:52 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
Please excuse my approach, as I've been treating every piece of code I write lately like a "Module."

I hope this technical approach helps you:

Code:
-- ============================================================================
-- OpenDialog Preview Pane Controller Module (ByAylinCE)
-- ============================================================================
local DialogPreviewManager = {}

local tempFile = os.getenv("TEMP") .. "\\ce_reg_cmd.txt"

-- Helper function to execute registry commands via cmd silencer
local function execRegCmd(cmdStr)
    local fullCmd = string.format('cmd.exe /c "reg.exe %s > "%s" 2>&1"', cmdStr, tempFile)
    runCommand(fullCmd)
    local f = io.open(tempFile, "r")
    if f then
        f:close()
        os.remove(tempFile)
    end
end

--- Configures the preview pane state for OpenDialog
-- @param state number: 0 = Force Disable Preview Pane, 1 = Force Enable Preview Pane
function DialogPreviewManager.setPreviewState(state)
    local advKey = [[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced]]
    local cidKey = [[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\CIDOpen]]
    local mruKey = [[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\ComDlg32\CIDSizeMRU]]

    if state == 1 then
        -- ENABLE PREVIEW PANE (1):
        -- Set registry flag to 1
        execRegCmd(string.format('add "%s" /v "ShowPreviewPane" /t REG_DWORD /d 1 /f', advKey))

        -- Send Alt+P key combination to toggle preview pane on if cached as hidden
        local t = createTimer(nil, false)
        t.Interval = 50
        local tries = 0
        t.OnTimer = function(sender)
            tries = tries + 1
            local hwnd = findWindow(nil, MainForm.OpenDialog1.Title)
            if hwnd and hwnd ~= 0 then
                executeCodeLocalEx('user32.SetForegroundWindow', hwnd)
                executeCodeLocalEx('user32.keybd_event', 0x12, 0, 0, 0) -- Alt Down
                executeCodeLocalEx('user32.keybd_event', 0x50, 0, 0, 0) -- P Down
                executeCodeLocalEx('user32.keybd_event', 0x50, 0, 2, 0) -- P Up
                executeCodeLocalEx('user32.keybd_event', 0x12, 0, 2, 0) -- Alt Up
                sender.destroy()
                return
            end
            if tries >= 10 then sender.destroy() end
        end
        t.Enabled = true
    else
        -- DISABLE PREVIEW PANE (0):
        -- Clear cache to reset dialog geometry and set registry flag to 0
        execRegCmd(string.format('delete "%s" /f', cidKey))
        execRegCmd(string.format('delete "%s" /f', mruKey))
        execRegCmd(string.format('add "%s" /v "ShowPreviewPane" /t REG_DWORD /d 0 /f', advKey))
    end
end


-- ============================================================================
-- USAGE EXAMPLE
-- ============================================================================

MainForm.OpenDialog1.Title = "Open File"
MainForm.OpenDialog1.Options = '[ofHideReadOnly, ofFileMustExist, ofEnableSizing]'

-- Test 0: Disabled (Close)
-- Test 1: Enabled  (Open)
DialogPreviewManager.setPreviewState(0)

if MainForm.OpenDialog1.execute() then
    print("Selected File: " .. MainForm.OpenDialog1.FileName)
end

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Csimbi
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PostPosted: Tue Aug 11, 2026 3:11 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
Cheater, hacking the registry!? Wink

I dropped it into autorun (commented out the last part with exexute(), and it works, no more preview pane by default.

Added as attachment for convenient download.

Thank you!

OpenFileDialog_NoPreviewPane.lua
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 Filename:  OpenFileDialog_NoPreviewPane.lua
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AylinCE
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PostPosted: Tue Aug 11, 2026 5:20 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
I tried many variations, but since they all involved editing the registry contexts of "explorer.exe," I chose this as the best way.

Also, this editing:

1) Never affects Windows defaults. Even if the module runs, it doesn't affect the default folders you manually open on the desktop. It only affects folders opened by CE.

2) This option anticipates that DarkByte might add useful information to "OpenDialog" defaults in the future.

Perhaps this option could become a built-in feature in the future.

3) If the module is loaded by default with "autorun," simply using the following lines in the Lua Script code should yield the desired results;

DialogPreviewManager.setPreviewState(0) -- (Close)

or

DialogPreviewManager.setPreviewState(1) -- (Open)

4) With an additional update, you can assign sizes to optionally opened folders.
Current module:

Code:
-- ============================================================================
-- OpenDialog Preview Pane & Size Controller Module v2.0 (ByAylinCE)
-- ============================================================================
local DialogPreviewManager = {}

local tempFile = os.getenv("TEMP") .. "\\ce_reg_cmd.txt"

local function execRegCmd(cmdStr)
    local fullCmd = string.format('cmd.exe /c "reg.exe %s > "%s" 2>&1"', cmdStr, tempFile)
    runCommand(fullCmd)
    local f = io.open(tempFile, "r")
    if f then
        f:close()
        os.remove(tempFile)
    end
end

--- Configures the preview pane state and optionally forces a dialog size
-- @param state number: 0 = Disable Preview, 1 = Enable Preview
-- @param width number (optional): Custom window width (e.g., 900)
-- @param height number (optional): Custom window height (e.g., 600)
function DialogPreviewManager.setPreviewState(state, width, height)
    local advKey = [[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced]]
    local cidKey = [[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\CIDOpen]]
    local mruKey = [[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\ComDlg32\CIDSizeMRU]]

    -- Desired default window sizes
    local targetWidth = width or 950
    local targetHeight = height or 600

    if state == 1 then
        execRegCmd(string.format('add "%s" /v "ShowPreviewPane" /t REG_DWORD /d 1 /f', advKey))
    else
        execRegCmd(string.format('delete "%s" /f', cidKey))
        execRegCmd(string.format('delete "%s" /f', mruKey))
        execRegCmd(string.format('add "%s" /v "ShowPreviewPane" /t REG_DWORD /d 0 /f', advKey))
    end

    -- Timer for size adjust & Alt+P trigger
    local t = createTimer(nil, false)
    t.Interval = 40
    local tries = 0

    t.OnTimer = function(sender)
        tries = tries + 1
        local hwnd = findWindow(nil, MainForm.OpenDialog1.Title)

        if hwnd and hwnd ~= 0 then
            -- Set custom window size (HWND, hWndInsertAfter, X, Y, cx, cy, uFlags)
            -- SWP_NOMOVE (0x0002) keeps the center position, only resizes width/height
            executeCodeLocalEx('user32.SetWindowPos', hwnd, 0, 0, 0, targetWidth, targetHeight, 0x0002)

            if state == 1 then
                executeCodeLocalEx('user32.SetForegroundWindow', hwnd)
                executeCodeLocalEx('user32.keybd_event', 0x12, 0, 0, 0)
                executeCodeLocalEx('user32.keybd_event', 0x50, 0, 0, 0)
                executeCodeLocalEx('user32.keybd_event', 0x50, 0, 2, 0)
                executeCodeLocalEx('user32.keybd_event', 0x12, 0, 2, 0)
            end

            sender.destroy()
            return
        end

        if tries >= 12 then sender.destroy() end
    end

    t.Enabled = true
end

-- ============================================================================
-- USAGE EXAMPLE
-- ============================================================================

MainForm.OpenDialog1.Title = "Open File"
MainForm.OpenDialog1.Options = '[ofHideReadOnly, ofFileMustExist, ofEnableSizing]'

-- Test 0: Disabled (Close)
-- Test 1: Enabled  (Open)
-- Params: (state [0 or 1], width [pixels], height [pixels])
-- 0 = Preview OFF, 1000px width, 650px height
DialogPreviewManager.setPreviewState(0, 1000, 650)

-- or
-- DialogPreviewManager.setPreviewState(0)

--if MainForm.OpenDialog1.execute() then
--    print("Selected File: " .. MainForm.OpenDialog1.FileName)
--end

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