Suggestion: Toggle Folders On/Off

flexigon · Post by **flexigon** » 2003 Oct 29, 07:34

Maybe it's already possible (please tell me if it is) but it would be very nice to be able to toggle the visibility of sub-folders in a directory (in the directory panels) on/off using a single shortcut key just as is the case with the normal visual filter.

When I apply a normal visual filter I'm often not at all interested in all sub-folders, I just want to see the files that match the filter. Toggling the folders on/off would be perfect for this.

Post by **nikos** » 2003 Oct 29, 08:03

there's no way to do this
the rationale being that you may need folders to navigate while filtering
it is not hard to add but i can't see an easy way to manage this option, unless it is permanently on/off from registry

flexigon · Post by **flexigon** » 2003 Oct 29, 09:13

Well, you can always use the tree to navigate or toggle the folders back on. It should be a quick toggle like the visual filter anyhow, I see no use for a permanent setting that does this for that would only be confusing.

I would really like the ability to hide the folders on request for (much) easier file management in directories that contain many sub-directories.

Hmm, maybe just an extension to the existing visual filter (e.g. adding an option "Files only") would do the trick too.

vserghi · Post by **vserghi** » 2003 Oct 29, 09:40

Nikos, there is a DOS command that will you look at files only;

"dir /a:-d"

/a = attrubutes and d = directories, thus -d is files only.

This works on W98 and WinNT. I tried this in your console output and got the result I wanted. This got me thinking if it was posible to use a DOS command as a visual filter, for situations like this.

Post by **nikos** » 2003 Oct 29, 10:07

how about an extra folder-only shortcut?
Alt+J can toggle folders on/off (all of them)
This is all about usability, there are no technical issues to tackle

flexigon · Post by **flexigon** » 2003 Oct 29, 11:06

This is exactly what I tried to say in my initial post, a shortcut to toggle folders on/off

Alt+J to toggle folders/no-folders in the current panel would be indeed be perfect.

Post by **nikos** » 2003 Oct 29, 11:22

your wish is granted

flexigon · Post by **flexigon** » 2003 Oct 29, 11:38

great!

vserghi · Post by **vserghi** » 2003 Nov 05, 11:41

I like this new feature Nikos, but it got me thinking that it would be great if it was possible to be able to cycle through the different views available such as;

"folders only" -> "files only" -> "folder and files",

instead of just the "folders and files" -> "files only", toggle. And perhaps a warning message or icon to say that this is activated.

What do you think?

Post by **nikos** » 2003 Nov 05, 12:25

isn't the tree acting as the "folders only" filter?
i didn't add an indicator in the interest of UI "brevity", since when you can't see any folders, the filter must be on!

vserghi · Post by **vserghi** » 2003 Nov 05, 12:29

True, true, but I don't like using the tree, I find that it clutters the view too much for me. I only use two panes in detailed mode.

flexigon · Post by **flexigon** » 2003 Nov 05, 14:34

I like it just the way it is.

An indicator would be nice, but is not really necessary. I don't think I would like the cycle functionality as mentioned by vserghi as I see little point in showing only folders.

Thanks again Nikos for implementing this feature.

vserghi · Post by **vserghi** » 2003 Nov 05, 14:55

Steady on, it was just a suggestion. I too like the feature.

I don't think I would like the cycle functionality as mentioned by vserghi as I see little point in showing only folders.

You may not see the point in seeing just folders, but others may. I can see some uses for it even if you can't. True I could use the tree, but as I mentioned in the previous post, I don't.

I'm not fussed if it is implemented or not, it is just a feature that would have complemented the folder only view.

flexigon · Post by **flexigon** » 2003 Nov 05, 23:00

I should rephrase my previous comment partially...

I personally see no use for a folder-only view.

If it will be implemented anyhow (undoubtfully there are people who do see a use for it) then I would not like to see it implemented as a "cycle" function for the current Hide Folders command but rather as a separate command.