Feature Request: Merge Folders Capability

mjolnir · Post by **mjolnir** » 2010 Jun 13, 16:46

Hello,

I'd like submit a feature request to add merge folder capability. Often times I'd like to select multiple folders and then merge them into a single one. I know you can do it in Windows 7 by renaming each folder one at a time but I'm looking for support for merging multiple folders.

Thanks!

kunkel321 · Post by **kunkel321** » 2010 Jun 13, 19:41

This seems like a reasonable idea. There've been several times in the past that I've merged multiple folders. I just tried to do this as a 'test' and was unable. If I select multiple folders, then choose 'rename,' the Bulk Rename utility comes up (as expected), but if I try to rename them all with a common name, I get an error:
xplorer²
---------------------------
Your name template has no variability ($-token).

All the files will be renamed using the same target name; continue anyway?
---------------------------
Yes No
---------------------------

mjolnir · Post by **mjolnir** » 2010 Jun 13, 19:46

I've tried using the batch rename before like you did as well but it only renames the first folder when you click "Yes" to continue anyway.

I just double checked to verify that this still happens in the latest pro version.

kunkel321 · Post by **kunkel321** » 2010 Jun 13, 21:12

Same here. Renames the first folder (after the error message), then won't rename the others... I guess this is an important debug feature... Don't want to accidentally give them all the same name. Would be nice if you could do so on purpose (thus merging).

Post by **nikos** » 2010 Jun 14, 05:19

it's easy to merge folder contents.
1. put all the folders you need in a scrap window (e.g. File > browse flat)
2. select all and press ctrl+C
3. create a new folder and paste in there!

BRX · Post by **BRX** » 2010 Jun 14, 17:43

Better even paste with Ctrl-H (if you're on the same partition of course). Quicker and no additional space required.

kunkel321 · Post by **kunkel321** » 2010 Jun 14, 19:30

nikos wrote:it's easy to merge folder contents.
1. put all the folders you need in a scrap window (e.g. File > browse flat)
2. select all and press ctrl+C
3. create a new folder and paste in there!

I think 'Browse Flat' is the way to go (rather than Send To Scrap). If you use sticky mode to select all the folders, 'Browse Flat' will extract their contents in one shot.

BRX wrote:Better even paste with Ctrl-H (if you're on the same partition of course). Quicker and no additional space required.

On my system, Ctrl-H just brings up the visual filter dialog...

longfellow · Post by **longfellow** » 2010 Jun 15, 00:15

Also, if you want to preserve the folder structure of your selection, you can use Edit > Paste special > Structured scrap clips.

BRX · Post by **BRX** » 2010 Jun 15, 11:55

kunkel321 wrote:
BRX wrote:Better even paste with Ctrl-H (if you're on the same partition of course). Quicker and no additional space required.
On my system, Ctrl-H just brings up the visual filter dialog...

My bad. I meant Ctrl-Alt-H (pasting hardlinks).

Gary M. Mugford · Post by **Gary M. Mugford** » 2010 Jun 19, 22:28

Once again, I offer a bit of a kluge that's relatively handy. Suction from Dr. Nathan at http://drnathan.teamhackaday.com/software/suction/ merges vertically perfectly. In the horizontal case, I just drag the folders and plop them into one of the folders and then issue a suction command from there (I have it in the right-click menu). Four clicks and a drag and your done. Dr. Nathan is responsive (I tested it for him through some issues with logging ... I didn't want it and it kept insisting). And he's improved the app considerably since the last complaint I had. You can have duplicate files replaced OR renamed (a saver for accidents when I combined loads of bmp/icon file folders). All in all its worth a lot more than its free cost.

Hope it helps, GM