blog: color coding filetypes

Post by **nikos** » 2007 Oct 14, 13:01

This thread was originally posted in the xplorer² Professional forum.
Moved here 19-May-2010 =fg=
=====================================================

here's the comment area for today's blog found at:
www.zabkat.com/blog/14Oct07.htm

Mr.Pleasant · Post by **Mr.Pleasant** » 2007 Oct 14, 14:07

Nice to read about color coding. I like the feature. I'd never thought I'd use it, until I read the tip in
http://forum.zabkat.com/viewtopic.php?t=5096.
Since then I've got all files modified within the last 24 hours set in bold script.
Another rule I like, is to color folders (leave the 'Named' field empty, 'Files' should be unchecked), with the additional rule 'Contents value from 0 to 0'. This shows you at once which subfolders are completely empty, without having to check this with ctrl+d, or going through the subfolders. Since 'Contents' is an 'S' category column, it is fast, too.

MikeN · Post by **MikeN** » 2007 Oct 14, 19:09

How do I exclude a file type?

I have a rule, which shows all files created within the last hour, to red. I have this all figured out.

But.. I want to exlude all exe files from the above rule. I add a "not", then choose "type [s]", then i type in "exe" in the editbox.

Created exe files within the last hour still get a red color.

Where did I screw up?

Thank you.

fgagnon · Post by **fgagnon** » 2007 Oct 14, 21:16

File types are not (necessarily) file extensions.
e.g.: files with extension .exe are of type Application
So what I think you want is a NOT rule based on:
Name {or, better: 8.3 Name [S]) containing ".exe"
& best to include the dot so the photo you just downloaded of your friend's vexed puppy which was named [vexed_puppy.jpg] or 8.3 name [vexed_~1.jpg] still gets highlighting.

Of course you can also use a rule for Type not containing Application, which will also catch Application exensions, such as .DLL files as well as other application-related files, such as .COM .HTA .MDB and .SCD files.

james_k · Post by **james_k** » 2007 Oct 15, 08:46

I love the date/time related color coding, but I see one little annoyance:

How to do a refresh?

A simple ctrl-r doesn't influence the color coding,
I have to go thru Customize->Color Coding and hit the Okay Button to refresh.
Intentionally? Or did I miss a hidden setting?

Post by **nikos** » 2007 Oct 15, 10:12

can you explain why you need the refresh in the first place? are you adding new rules or you need to see files "age" as it happens?

james_k · Post by **james_k** » 2007 Oct 15, 11:07

When adding new rules one goes thru the customize->color coding cycle anyway - so there's a refresh done.
The "age as it happens" - that's the interesting point.
I've no need for an automatic changing of the age coding color, but it would be nice to have it included in the refresh command.

Post by **nikos** » 2007 Oct 15, 11:17

i would have imagined that a ctrl+R would reassign file colors according to their age without further tricks. Can you explain exactly what happens in your case with a small reproducible example?

james_k · Post by **james_k** » 2007 Oct 15, 12:26

A simple example:
1) create a file, let's say foo.txt
2) create a color coding rule: file modified since last 2 min, give it a color and a name, move it to the top of color coding list
3) check enable and hit okay - the file is color coded as expected
4) wait the 2 min (or a bit longer to be sure...) and hit ctrl-r - the file remains color coded

If you now go to customize->color coding and hit okay again, the file's color is gone, which is correct

Post by **nikos** » 2007 Oct 15, 13:07

you got a point there! i'll look into it

jayfischer · Post by **jayfischer** » 2008 Jan 13, 20:19

I use this modified file color coding.

I've been having a problem with this "feature". Most of the time it works fine. , but when I activate another window/program the inactive pane loses its color coding when I go back to x2.

I was hoping the latest 1709 would fix this - but it still happens.

Thanks.

Post by **nikos** » 2008 Jan 14, 09:03

by "losing" you mean momentarily, till you activate it, right? that's by design

fgagnon · Post by **fgagnon** » 2008 Jan 14, 12:36

jayfischer,

I think you have stumbled upon an old issue re inactive pane color coding:

By design, the inactive pane pane does NOT have color coding applied.
ref: http://forum.zabkat.com/viewtopic.php?t=5074

Except that there is an anomalous case where the inactive pane color does not get refreshed from when it was active. (i.e.: it seems to keep its color coding temporarily.) This only occurs when its background color happens to match that of the active pane. ref: http://forum.zabkat.com/viewtopic.php?t=5075

HTH

-----------
nikos,

Do you have plans to fix this anomaly, or extend color coding to the inactive pane for real?

jayfischer · Post by **jayfischer** » 2008 Jan 14, 14:23

When I do go back to x2 and then activate the inactive pane the file highlighting does not return.

The highlighting only returns to the active pane if I manually refresh.

@fgagnon: yes both of my panes are set to the same color. I found it distracting to have two different background colors. The blue heading is sufficient for me.

Post by **nikos** » 2008 Jan 14, 16:06

so let me get this straight: color coding works, then you switch to another program then back to x2 and it doesn't unless you refresh?