Shift+F4->End->Backspace: bug or feature?

[March1723]

Consider next situation: I need to create a file from existing with same name, but different extension. So, with a needed file in focus, I do Shift+F4->End->Backspace trying to remove last characters from extension. Expected action - removed last character. Real action - selected last character and drop-down list been shown. I can get this list with Alt-Down, though. Don't know if this bug or feature, but it's pretty confusing reaction from TC to pure backspace on the string.

[petermad]

I agree. When I am going to enter the name of the new file I don't want suggestions of already existing files except the one under the cursor as template - if I wanted to edit another existing file from the drop-down list I would have placed the cursor on that file and pressed F4 in the first place.

[Hacker]

Umm, does it take away from any functionality? IOW, why does it bother you?

Roman

[petermad]

2Hacker
It bothers me, because after pressing End->Backspace I also have to press Delete (or Backspace once again to get the last character deleted - to me that is not intuitive - when I press backspace I expect the previous character to be deleted immediately.

It is not like for example F7, Shift+F7 or Shift+F5 behaves and is new since TC 9.10

Even if I disable "Auto-complete paths" in the configuration, I still have to press either End->Backspace->Delete or End->Backspace->Backspace in order to delete the last character.

I is not so much the "Auto-complete paths" drop-down list I am opposed to, as it is to the fact that pressing Backspace selects the last character in stead of deleting it.

[Hacker]

petermad
I see, true.

Roman

[ghisler(Author)]

This function is called "Auto-Append", and is part of "Auto-Complete". You can turn it off in Configuration - Options - Operation.

[petermad]

2ghisler(Author)
But is it part of the "Auto-Append" function that backspace does not delete immediately? - This is not how I experience "Auto-Append" when used in the command-line.

[March1723]

2ghisler(Author)
Thanks for pointing that out. It make sense, since this dialog box was changed since version 9.10 and now support auto-complete/append. Still, it feel counterintuitive when first backspace press do select symbol instead of deleting it. And, as petermad mention it, Shift-F7, having same auto-complete/append feature, do not behave same way, i.e. first backspace at the end of string do delete last symbol, not selecting it.

[ghisler(Author)]

Yes, auto-append works like this: I give Windows a list of strings used for auto-append. When it encounters text in the input box which is the start of one of these strings, it auto-appends the rest of the string.

There are two possible solutions:
1. Do not pass the name of the file which is already in the edit box to auto-append. This way it will only suggest other file names than the one suggested.
or
2. Disable auto-append in Shift+F4 even if the user has enabled it in TC.

I have implemented option 1 for the next beta.
What do you think?

[petermad]

What do you think?

If it solves the backspace problem, it seems like a good solution.

[MVV]

What if user has file.bat and file.bak and tries this Shift+F4+End+Backspace on one of them? Even if focused file won't be passed to auto-append function, another one will, so user will still get described behaviour.

It is a real problem of auto-complete/append feature - they always add some text, even if user don't expect it this time.

[ghisler(Author)]

Yes, you are right - therefore I have now implemented my suggestion Nr. 2 (disable auto-append just in that dialog, only use auto-complete, if the user has enabled it).

[Hacker]

Hmm, nothing seems to have changed for me in 9.20b6, neither in x64 nor x32. I have both auto-complete and auto-append turned on.

Roman

[ghisler(Author)]

Sorry, it only works when the user has checked "Auto-append" but not "Auto-complete" - then Shift+F4 will use Auto-complete instead. It doesn't work when the user has checked both. I will change that in the next beta.

[petermad]

I will change that in the next beta

Great