folder tree with FILES SHOWN on left, viewer on right?

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elpresi
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folder tree with FILES SHOWN on left, viewer on right?

Post by elpresi »

Hi, can xplorer2 be configured to show on the left pane the tree structure with files included while having a viewer on the right pane?
If it can´t be configured to do so, could such a viewing style be implemented?

This would allow to optimize the space available to the viewer while still showing the tree structure AND files in it. Tabs would also be very handy (double click on folder would set it as root for that tab maybe?)
This is the presentation style used by the outliner style I use (Keynote).

Anyway, if it cant be configured to work this way, I can´t figure out how to it in this file manager (or in any of the others I have tried). I just cannot be believe this feature is not implemented, I would find it very handy to browse through my documents (rtf, doc, pdf, html, jpegs...)

Thanks
:-)
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nikos
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Post by nikos »

the tree is nearly unworkable as it is for large folder hierarchies, i can't see how adding files to it would help!

with files separately you can control selection and sorting easier
what sort of  advantages do you envisage?
elpresi
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Post by elpresi »

Nikos,
thanks for your response and interest.

Yes, I understand that the tree is already nearly unworkable for large folder hierarchies and that including files would just make it worse.

In my mind, my suggestion would make sense if:
1- the tree is tabbed, each tab ROOTED at the desired folder. This would make BTW the tree more workable. Regardless of whether files are shown or not, this would be a very nice feature IMHO (I would prefer that to the current tabs)
2- file VIEWER on the right side
3- show files in tree can be toggled on/off per tab
4- you still can perform file operations as clicking on a folder could show the files on a left pane as traditionally done (could that be a horizontal one with viewer below?)
5- toggable dual tree could also be implemented. If files shown toggled on, then drag and drop of files from one tree to the other.
6- toggle on/off file format filter (documents,web,pics,media,custom..) not to show undesired files.

Well, that is what I had in my mind. Obviously since I have not used such an interface I don´t know wheter it would really workout.

I envisage using this for example to easily manage/browse a project´s documents. I could set a tree tab rooted at the project´s folder, toggle on show document-type files and in this way clearly see the outline and files of my project, while leaving lots of space to the viewer.
If I want to see a specific file, I click on it and it  is shown on the viewer. I could then click on a "Open" icon to open that file with the associated application.
If I want to move/copy a file to a different project, I could open a second tree tabbed at that project and drag/drop.

I would very interested in knowing whether you think this makes any sense or within the scope of a file manager. In a way I am conditionned by my use of Outliners which show the documents in the tree structure.

thanks again

:)
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nikos
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Post by nikos »

to root a tree (and the rest of the program) somewhere use a desktop shortcut and the /R:path command line argument (see the quickstart guide for explanation)

to place the quickview next to the tree as opposed to underneath it there's the registry setting nTreeQVTileVertical as explained in registry.txt

all your remaining issues will have to wait for a future version :)
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fgagnon
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Post by fgagnon »

Actually, elpresi's idea is related to what one gets with the [Pro] Browse flat capability -- except that Browse flat displays all the files at the same level, with their position in the heirarchy shown in a separate path column.  The tree-like outline view makes a lot of sense to me, as an optional view mode. There have been quite a few times when I found it difficult to quickly establish which file(s) were where in the tree when browsing flat. An indentured outline view, with the appropriate filters seems like it would be a useful feature. :)
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nikos
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Post by nikos »

that would be kind of hard but another possibility looks much more feasible: having groups like explorer (XP) does (e.g. one per folder) or secondary sorting modes (first by path then by name or whatever). I'll be working on these for the next release
elpresi
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Post by elpresi »

Thanks for all the replies :-)

Looking forward to future developments of xplorer2!