Changing the size of dialog boxes

Hi

I like a big dialog box so that I can see an extensive list of folders on the left. Instead of changing the shape of it manually any time I save, export, open, place, etc, I would like it to remain a certain size.

I discovered that if I close all my windows, open a new file, (change my dialog box in the process), save and close, the size of the dialog box remains the same.

However I have not figured out a way to do this for export and place. So I still have a small box for those tasks.

Can anyone suggest a way to define the size of the boxes??

thanks

Pete