QTTabBar Native Enhanced

An enhanced native/managed QTTabBar fork for the classic Windows Explorer interface. This project consolidates work from several QTTabBar code lines and adds a stability-focused native integration for Windows 10.

Stable release

Current version: 1.5.62.0 Stable

Download the installer from GitHub Releases.

Highlights

• Native/managed hybrid Explorer integration on .NET Framework 4.8
• Fluent Glass rendering for the tab bar and vertical command bar
• Custom tab skin and custom new-tab button images
• Restored and stabilized QT Command Bar (vertical) / Versatile Bar
• Fixed-width vertical bar with application shortcuts and separators
• Per-tab taskbar thumbnails and full-size DWM live previews
• Taskbar thumbnail activation and close-button support
• Explorer background images configured through C:\ProgramData\QTTabBar\config.ini
• Isolated background renderer that leaves legacy Shell hooks disabled by default
• Stable options dialog lifecycle and runtime settings refresh
• Explorer registration, toolbar persistence, focus and Win+E capture fixes

Supported environment

• Windows 10 x64 with the classic Explorer command-bar interface
• .NET Framework 4.8

Windows 11 may require a classic Explorer restoration solution. Test changes in a VM before installing them on a primary workstation.

Installation

1. Download QTTabBar Setup - 1.5.62.0 Stable.exe from the latest release.
2. Run the installer as an administrator.
3. Restart Windows when requested.
4. In Explorer, enable QTTabBar under View > Toolbars.
5. Optionally enable QT Command Bar (vertical) under View > Explorer Bar.

Error logs are written to %APPDATA%\QTTabBar\QTTabBarException.log.

Explorer background

The installer creates C:\ProgramData\QTTabBar\config.ini and a default libai.png image. The background renderer is independent from the disabled legacy Shell hooks.

[hook]
enabled=false

[image]
enabled=true
random=false
posType=3
imgAlpha=255
imgPath=%ProgramData%\QTTabBar\libai.png

posType values: 0 top-left, 1 top-right, 2 bottom-left, 3 bottom-right, 4 centered, 5 stretch, 6 zoom-fill.

Building

Requirements:

• Visual Studio 2022 Build Tools
• MSVC/ATL and a Windows SDK
• .NET Framework 4.8 SDK and targeting pack
• WiX Toolset 3.14

The repository includes build_with_clean_env.ps1, which initializes the requested Visual Studio environment before invoking MSBuild.

# Background hook libraries
.\build_with_clean_env.ps1 -Project 'QTHookLib\QTHookLib.vcxproj' -Configuration Release -Platform Win32 -Arch x86
.\build_with_clean_env.ps1 -Project 'QTHookLib\QTHookLib.vcxproj' -Configuration Release -Platform x64 -Arch x64

# Native bridge and managed shell extension
.\build_with_clean_env.ps1 -Project 'native\QTTabBarNative\QTTabBarNative.vcxproj' -Configuration Release -Platform x64 -Arch x64 -ExtraMSBuildArgs @('/p:SolutionDir=' + $PWD + '\')
.\build_with_clean_env.ps1 -Project 'QTTabBar\QTTabBar.csproj' -Configuration Release -Platform AnyCPU -Arch x86

# MSI and bootstrapper
.\build_with_clean_env.ps1 -Project 'Installer\Installer.wixproj' -Configuration Release -Platform x86 -Arch x86 -ExtraMSBuildArgs @('/p:SuppressValidation=True')
.\build_with_clean_env.ps1 -Project 'Installer\Bundle.wixproj' -Configuration Release -Platform x86 -Arch x86

Project lineage and credits

QTTabBar Native Enhanced exists because of the work of QTTabBar's original creator and later open-source maintainers. See CREDITS.md for the current attribution list and upstream links.

Major integration, debugging and implementation assistance for this enhanced edition was provided by OpenAI Codex, directed and extensively tested by Akay Devel Coder.

License

This project is distributed under the GNU General Public License v3.0. Existing copyright and attribution notices in inherited source files remain in effect.