you shape the future

[nikos]

like plugins for what? TC has a lot of them but it is only because the basic application is rather limited in terms of shell integration, no?

[snakebyte]

Even though I don't see plug-in support coming, I'm all in for it. The idea here is to automate anything that can be done from Xplorer2 UI using code.

Here are some of the internal APIs, that xplorer2 could expose
- Get list of all open tabs in left/right pane
- Switch to a tab given its index/name/path
- Rename a Tab, specified by its index/path
- Close a tab by index/name/path
- Given a path, browse to a folder in current tab
- Given a path, browse to a folder in a new tab
- Get list of selected items in active/inactive pane
- Given a list of filenames, select those items in active/inactive pane
- Switch between active inactive panes
- Support for events like new tab created, current path changed, current tab switched, Onload, OnExit, etc...
- If an external change is made to xplorer2 registry keys while xplorer2 is running, Xplorer2 should be able to read it without the need of a restart. An API could tell Xplorer2 that registry is dirty and ask it to re-read it.

Some of the commands I mentioned here can be achieved by sending keystrokes to xplorer2. Nikos, may be you can leave those ones out in the beginning and focus on the ones which can't be done directly from xplorer2 UI.

With all these APIs in place, I can see lot of cool add-ons written around these for xplorer2. I have lot of ideas and I've implemented some of the simple ones which rely on user commands, sending key strokes and WIN32 APIs, but I can't proceed with some of the advanced ones due to lack of API support.

Well, If wishes were horses....

[snakebyte]

I would like to see you support having an optional custom column to read information out of a descript.ion file, or add a hook for a user-written plug-in to supply custom column information.

My specific problem is I would like to have description tags for AVI files, but the file specification does not support a description. Somehow, Tigo Tago and ABC AVI Tag editor are about to support these tags.

jcrane, what you need is already supported by xplorer2 and thats support for custom columns. What you don't have is a column handler for descript.ion files.  Column handler is a shell extenstion that adds  new custom columns in Windows explorer or Xplorer2. You can either search for this on net or write your own. Here is an example that adds column handler for mp3 files in windows explorer
http://www.codeproject.com/shell/shellextguide8.asp

[FrizzleFry]

jcrane2, I found this program: Description explorer which includes a column handler for description files.  I installed it and played with it some but I do not really know anything about it... I just found it by googling for "descript.ion column handler".  It displays the descriptions fine (dc:title column) but it does not update descript.ion files if you move files around in x2.

[wasker]

I would like to see you support having an optional custom column to read information out of a descript.ion file, or add a hook for a user-written plug-in to supply custom column information.

You can do this today: just write your column handler shell extension for Explorer. This is the way how, say, TortoiseSVN's columns are visible in x2.

BTW, Nikos, I heard that column handlers are deprecated in Vista Explorer. But are they still accessible through x2? For instance, does TortoiseSVN work under Vista the same way as under XP in columns aspect?

[wasker]

I think introducing plug-in system in x2 will be a waste of Nikos' time. I don't know the size of x2's user base, but number of people who are willing to explore and develop something will be very very small in any case.

Besides, lots of things could be customized by creating Windows Explorer extensions.

[nikos]

that's what i think too, x2 is already "plugin enabled" through shell extensions. It's a bit tricky to write shell extensions but most of the code is vanilla and you can get a basic skeleton from sites like codeproject. Not to mention that whatever you may be thinking of writing may already exist so google first!

column handlers are well and strong in vista too, i don't know what m$ are on about. I have yet to test tortoiseSVN on vista though

[Defcon]

My vote is for Other, but its related to Search as well.

Its a 2 parter -

1. UI - have an instant search box like Vista that filters as you type. By far the most useful thing in Vista

2. As data provider for this search, xplorer2 could use -

a) database of an existing indexed search program, such as Vista, X1, copernic etc. Depending on how open their API is of course.

b) or implement its own indexed search, perhaps limited to file names/locations, which is good enough for 99% of the time. Much like Locate32.

Being able to quickly search from the given path downwards would be a godsend!

[nikos]

ok that's the easy part out of the way

let's hope i don't run out of time!
btw is it me or vista's fonts are totally lame?

[narayan]

Better to let the user reset only selected shortcuts. (and an option to reset all).

[RobertH]

Hi Nikos,

Looks good!  I agree with Narayan it would be good to be able to reset the current shortcut (or at least display what it was).

Thanks!

[MacGyver]

one feature, that I'm still missing: undo last file operation

[am511]

Here are my picks:
1- Robust transfer always
2- Stream search - Why nobody picked it yet?
3- All options available in GUI instead of registry
4- A customizable hot key to jump to a selectable folder similar to CTRL+k which jumps to "My Documents" folder.
5- Nicer icons and new GUI.

BTW, tabed windows is one of the best feature.  I have used Xplore2 and 2xexplorer for past 5+ years and have not seen a better file manager yet.

[vserghi]

4- A customizable hot key to jump to a selectable folder similar to CTRL+k which jumps to "My Documents" folder.

This is already available. Use Ctrl+Shift+F1 to set it to any folder of your choice. Then use Ctrl+F1 to use it. It is asscosiated to a star icon, so you can place it on the toolbar also, look in the "Go to" menu under "Quick bookmark".

[chp]

I'm a big fan of keyboard shortcuts and I would like to see custom menus as well (huge amount of commands are missing or not used because of that), but there are more important things that need some attentnion:

- improved address bar / console usage (not so intuitive, frustrating and sometimes even painful - adjectives that come to mind );
- plug-in system (working with archives and lots of other useful things)