an F2 rename suggestion

fgagnon · Post by **fgagnon** » 2004 Jan 22, 15:11

I like the x2 feature of selecting just the filename (sans extension) in response to F2 for renaming. Here's a suggestion for next level of sophistication - when you don't want a complete rename but only to add a distinguishing character:
Following F2 keystroke, make it so rightarrow moves cursor to end of filename to prepare adding a version number. (Saves a keystroke for a common type of renamimg.)

{note that the complememtary direction [F2, leftarrow] isn't needed to prepend characters to filename, because [F2, Home] has this covered.}

Post by **nikos** » 2004 Jan 22, 17:22

as in... saving one the left arrow press?
i would have sworn this was narayan's idea

fgagnon · Post by **fgagnon** » 2004 Jan 22, 20:50

Guilty by association: It must rub off

adsnook · Post by **adsnook** » 2004 Jan 22, 22:39

Ok, while we are on the subject of F2, how about this for a keystroke-saving suggestion.

Having F2 excluding selection of the file extension is often useful, but not always what I want. My most common reason for using F2 is not to rename at all, but to copy an entire filename to the clipboard, to be pasted in somewhere else. ie. [F2, Shift-End, Ctrl-C]. This keystroke sequence requires some degree of digital dexterity!

So how about the first press of F2 behaves as it does currently, but then pressing F2 a second time (while still in rename mode) causes the entire filename to be selected. Then I could use [F2, F2, Ctrl-C], a much easier key sequence to execute

narayan · Post by **narayan** » 2004 Jan 23, 03:30

fred-

Following F2 keystroke, make it so rightarrow moves cursor to end of filename to prepare adding a version number. (Saves a keystroke for a common type of renamimg.)

My dear accomplice, that's what happens in x2 even now!

In other words, the "anchor point" is at the extreme right position, even now.

Reporting for NT4 and 2k.

What do you see?

***
adsnook-I like the idea of 2xF2, but your description of current practice puzzles me: just F2 and CTRL+C should do; because the entire filename is highlighted by default.

fgagnon · Post by **fgagnon** » 2004 Jan 23, 03:57

my dear keystroke-saving mentor,

What I see is the following
1. F2 selects filename (hi-lites it), excluding the ".extension"
2. rightarrow unselects filename & places cursor between "." & "extension"
3. I next have to go to the "great trouble" of pressing leftarrow once to place cursor to left of "." so I can append "-n" to filename.

(whew!)

This happens for both 2k & XP-pro.

Perhaps you have set "Hide extensions for known file types"?
{Control panel|Folder Options|View|...}

narayan · Post by **narayan** » 2004 Jan 23, 05:20

Yes, I have. Why don't you also? After all, we do have CTRL+F2 if you want to edit the extensions, which would be rarely required, anyway.

***
Some day, hopefully, there will be an application that works with just our eyebrows--no exhausting keystrokes!

***
I have always maintained that ALT+C needs to be enhanced to include other options like PathCopy. Right now it gives full path or just the 8.3 name. All other options should be made available (let it be user-settable if required).

I am going to rest now...

Morning Star · Post by **Morning Star** » 2004 Jan 27, 03:44

Just my 2cs worth (as an anti-virus researcher), but hiding extensions is a very dangerous thing to do/allow... for example, many viruses and worms will send themselves in files with a double extension, eg. filename.zip.pif. Windows will draw the default .zip icon, and you would never know the difference. Also, some worms are .exe files, but include a common zip icon (for example) in their resource section so they appear to be .zip files...

Basically, the point is that you cannot trust windows to determine the filetype for you; it is too easily fooled... you have to do it yourself.

narayan · Post by **narayan** » 2004 Jan 27, 05:15

Ok.

How about using the "extension" column side-by-side? So, while you "see" the required extension information, the extension does not hamper your editing operations.

I know Nikos will be very happy with this solution.

chp · Post by **chp** » 2004 Jan 27, 09:24

Back to subj again.
Has anyone unraveled, why Ctr+F2 has special "dialog" for it, instead of in-pane f-name (not extension?) selection of usual F2? Is there any special functionality in that window (w/ drop-down menu)?

narayan · Post by **narayan** » 2004 Jan 27, 09:36

Interesting question!

Nikos- is that because extension column is usually not displayed?

And why the drop down list? It does not show any other things.

Post by **nikos** » 2004 Jan 27, 12:46

you should know!
when extensions are hidden the name column doesn't show them and hence cannot be edited

JRz · Post by **JRz** » 2004 Jan 27, 16:14

narayan wrote:And why the drop down list? It does not show any other things.

And what about this Nikos? Why is the drop-down listbox in this dialog??

Post by **nikos** » 2004 Jan 28, 09:13

there's one dialog for "generic input" and it has a drop list. In this occasion it isn't used; filters etc use it!