Is It Time For All The Parents To Leave?

[PeterTBCarp2]

I'm thinking that TC is starting to show its age. (Have you seen the 'Check out how Total Commander looks! - 34K Picture' link on the home page?) (34k in these days of broadband..?!?!)

One element in the GUI that exemplifies this ageing is the 'parent' indicator above the top-right corner of each of the TC panels.

..
means what, to the modern user?

Yes, we all know it means Up a directory level but how many new users do?

How long ago did you see it in a Microsoft GUI element; or a Mac one? Eons, I suggest.

It's arcane.

Could we have a 'Up-Back' icon in the new TC version?


'\' ?

[Vansumsen]

PeterTBCarp2

I evaluate a software with his performances, not with his presentation.

Paul

[PeterTBCarp2]

It's not just about you, Paul.

I'm here working for the entire population of the planet, trying to help make the product more usable for all.
TC's old-fashionedness is losing potential customers, I suggest, and we miss out on greater and greater contribution to the product's development.

Think big.

[PeterTBCarp2]

PeterTBCarp2

I evaluate software by way of its performance, not through its presentation.

Paul

Fixed.

[Hacker]

PeterTBCarp2,

I'm here working for the entire population of the planet

Which planet is that?

Roman

[petermad]

Which planet is that?

[karlchen]

Hi, Peter.

One element in the GUI that exemplifies this ageing is the 'parent' indicator above the top-right corner of each of the TC panels.
..
means what, to the modern user?

I am afraid that the term modern user actually translates to ignorant user.
Inside each file panel, right next to the .. there is an up-arrow icon indicating what .. means: one folder level up.

Could we have a 'Up-Back' icon in the new TC version?

As explained above, such an icon can been seen right next to ... And it has been there for ages now.

About the root folder symbol, \: what would be a better symbol/icon, I wonder.
The root folder is the root folder. If this term does not mean anything to a user, a different icon will not enlighten him. - Maybe a tooltip stating "root folder" would help, at least in those cases where the user knows the meaning of that term.

Regards,
Karl

[PeterTBCarp2]

Hi Karl,

Well, yes, 'ignorant user' may be accurate, but that means that for every moment in time across the centuries a 'modern user' of the instant is ignorant. ? Even if it's so it doesn't matter as much as the need to embrace all the potential users for a commercial product.

I'm arguing from a management, planning perspective.

And don't forget the old aphorism - 'The customer is always right'. Please the customer; make more sales.

Yes, there's a double-click up-back icon in the panel itself - so why put an arcane '..' on the single-click button?

As for the '\' root symbol - thinking of the ordinary user: what does the computer jargon term 'root' mean? You know, and I know, but we're using a 'consumer' product here. What would my Aunt Phyllis make of .. and \ ?

How about an icon like the 'Next chapter' symbol on our living room video players, but one pointing upwards? An arrow pointing to a line. 'Up to the top, as far as possible'.

This is a lot of talk for a simple thing.. no?

Regards,
Perter

[ts4242]

2PeterTBCarp2
If you dislike .. and \, you can hide them, just add the following setting to your wincmd.ini under [Configuration] section

Code: Select all

DriveBarHide=.

[karlchen]

Hi, PeterTBCarp2.

First of all, I will not object to a redesign of the T.C. user interface. It is old-fashioned and may need a fundamental refresh.

Yet, a term like modern user is pretty meaningless. What is a modern user? What is the opposite of a modern user? - From my point of view the adjective modern can be dropped without loosing any meaning. This is why I started picking on the term modern user.

Anyway, back to the substance of your request:

Personally I would definitely not object if the two icons \ and .. in the upper right hand corner of each file panel were replaced by icons which are more easily understood by non-experts as well. (None of us was born a computer expert. )
The up-arrow used inside the file list would be a good replacement for .. (1 folder level up).
Yet, I still have not made up my mind what might be a good replacement for the \ (root folder).

Regards,
Karl

[dott]

Perhaps he want a red folder icon a la KDE or even better, a red folder icon with a backslash in the middle.

[HolgerK]

.. How about an icon like the 'Next chapter' symbol on our living room video players, but one pointing upwards? An arrow pointing to a line. 'Up to the top, as far as possible'.

It all depends on your POV.
I personal don't think about a vertical, but a horizontal jump to the first \
Take a look at the path field one line below of the the button [\][..]
C:\folder\folder\folder

The default (English) hotkey for this action is <Ctrl+\>
Because of different keyboard layout for most other European keyboards, the alternate key is <Ctrl+<>
Perfect reminder for jump to "first backslash" / "the left start" of the path.

This is a lot of talk for a simple thing.. no?

I agree.

Regards,
Holger

[karlchen]

This is a lot of talk for a simple thing.. no?

Well, yes, it is.
However, the simple fact that such a small thing as the design of the icons for root folder and one folder level upwards can spawn such a long controverse discussion demonstrates that different people have different expectations and that Christian will never be able to please everybody.
Yet, we all knew this before I guess.

Karl

[PeterTBCarp2]

I think we'd have to stick with the vertical orientation, Karl. It began, most publicly, with Windows 3.0 (earlier?) File Manager.

Even if you build horizontally, sub-folders go down. The direction is out -> and down v. Our middle-eastern friends excluded...

The way Christian does it already in the Tree panels.

[Clo]

2karlchen

Hello Karl !

…Yet, I still have not made up my mind what might be a good replacement for the \ (root folder).

     >> • <<    

 VG
Claude
Clo