Toolbars and buttons

annezwaan · Post by **annezwaan** » 2004 Jan 21, 10:16

I do not like those programs that give me an overload of buttons and menus which I do not need. And in fact that is the only shortcoming in 2xExplorer for me. Whith the help of resourcehacker I was able to cut those menus to size, but I am still stuck with all the buttons in the toolbar. Which I can not change. Would not it be nice to make those toolbars adjustable? Or am I missing something?

annezwaan

vserghi · Post by **vserghi** » 2004 Jan 21, 10:59

Work on 2xExplorer has been finished for a while now.

The author, Nikos, has started work on a replacement file manager called x2. It dosen't have customisable menu's, but will have in the future. x2 also has a minimalist approach to the interface. You may want to try this, but beware, although it is fairly stable it is still in alpha stage. It also has a lot of features that 2x hasn't nor will have.

The latest version of x2 is 0.0.0.54 and is avilable on his website. I do strongly suggest that you read the alpha.txt file that comes with it, for a list of features.

zippit · Post by **zippit** » 2004 Jan 24, 02:42

annezwaan wrote:I do not like those programs that give me an overload of buttons and menus which I do not need. And in fact that is the only shortcoming in 2xExplorer for me. Whith the help of resourcehacker I was able to cut those menus to size, but I am still stuck with all the buttons in the toolbar. Which I can not change. Would not it be nice to make those toolbars adjustable? Or am I missing something?

annezwaan

Once you make your choices in toolbar do you really need toolbar removed ? I'm glad to have options like this,the more the merrier.

kev · Post by **kev** » 2004 Jan 25, 11:09

yeh this is something that has always amazed me... people have completely opposite preferences in what features they like. it must be a nightmare for the developer trying to keep everyone happy...

personally one of the things i like about 2xexplorer is that it has so many buttons... i equate this to increased functionality and power, which are the very reasons i searched for an explorer replacement in the first place. plus the fact that 2x is so damn fast...

i am really praying for customizability to become a feature of x2 as i know nikos wants to keep it simple for those who like it thay way... but i am in the camp that wants as many features and as much power at their fingertips as possible...

JRz · Post by **JRz** » 2004 Jan 25, 19:20

kev wrote:i am really praying for customizability to become a feature of x2 as i know nikos wants to keep it simple for those who like it thay way... but i am in the camp that wants as many features and as much power at their fingertips as possible...

Yes, it is nice to have many features and so called power. But you could wonder if an inexperienced user should be exposed to that much power, even if it is conveniently available under a button (with a nice icon on it I'm sure

)
Because such a user can create chaos in just a few minutes and be lost after that, needing the help of a professional to sort things out again!!

So, I my opinion the day to day usage should be accessible through those pretty icons (in a failsafe manner if possible), but the more powerful operations may be kept somewhat obscure from the casual user. This way, he/she won't get hurt

I support Nikos in his plans to make two versions of the tool available. One for the normal users with less extravagant functionality and a second one which unleashes all the power of X2, which is aimed at the experienced computer users.

Thsi way, we can all be happy (as much as possible at least).

zippit · Post by **zippit** » 2004 Jan 26, 02:17

Haveing choices is the backbone of useing a computer.Its up to new users to learn how to use them and study as i did since 1990.Windows has many to suit all users,so does 2x.
I learned many years ago to go slow,make just 1 change at a time and write it down.This is advice from Computer Mags etc.
Changeing options should not be that harmfull or they wouldn't be there.

As for 2x isn't that why nikos was nice enough to have this forum ?

JRz · Post by **JRz** » 2004 Jan 26, 07:31

zippit wrote:Haveing choices is the backbone of useing a computer....

That's also my point! But it is often for convenience of a novice user that many of the advanced features are hidden from them, not to confuse them! If you have too many choices to make as a novice user, you might weel end up making the choice of not choosing

That's not what we want is it?

zippit wrote:Changeing options should not be that harmful or they wouldn't be there.

I disagree. The format command (from the old DOS days) is also an 'option'. But not many users should use that just for fun. They would end up disappointed by the result if it wasn't their goal to erase everything on the disk

It is for that reason that you won't find a button in Windows Explorer to format disks, but have to use the menu or context menu to get at it (and no shortcut key either!!)

So IMHO it is best to make this kind of tool at least a bit hard to get at for the novice users among us. Compare it to the copy and move commands in 2X; isn't it nice to get a confirmation dialog if you just hit F6? That way you will never unconsciously move an item without having thought about it...

zippit · Post by **zippit** » 2004 Jan 27, 04:04

I said changeing options not useing them.I guess you might want to format a partition etc. that doesn't include Windows.What happens when format.com gets deleted if its C drive ? oops

AciD · Post by **AciD** » 2004 Feb 21, 14:12

In the other hand, everybody would be happy with the configuration if there were a combobox to choose between 'simple' and 'l33t' mode :)

zippit · Post by **zippit** » 2004 Mar 22, 04:38

But "on"the other hand,what are you saying ?
So find another,better.

zabkat support forum

Toolbars and buttons

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Really