Should F2 become the default for renaming?

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Should F2 become the default for renaming?

Yes
367
63%
No
146
25%
I don't care
70
12%
 
Total votes: 583

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KC_
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Post by *KC_ »

After several months of using TC, I finally need to unlearn doing a Shift+F6 on Excel :lol:
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jphendriks
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Post by *jphendriks »

Shift-F6 should become the default in Explorer instead.
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m^2
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Post by *m^2 »

I find it amusing for how long can such discussion last. It's nearly 10 years already. :)
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Post by *Vankog »

Oh yes, after 10 years F2 would be great.
It is so much faster and easier to reach than hitting Shift+F6.

I use F2 everywhere...
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Post by *Stefan2 »

Since this old thread is dusted-off again,
here again a how-to to enable the F2 key to start renaming:


Edit your wincmd.ini and add this under [Shortcuts]

F2=cm_RenameOnly ;Enable 'F2'-key to start inline-rename mode, additional to origin 'Shift+F6'



.
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j7n
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Post by *j7n »

Among the first things I change in a new install of TC, when copying over the old configuration is inconvienent, is to set the keyboard to "Windows"-style. F2 for renaming. F3 for search. F5 for refresh. Then also Ins for make directory (from Power Desk Explorer), Windows surprisingly doesn't have an analogue for this very common action, at least in NT5.

So, could there perhaps be two or three key presets as a listbox or set of radio buttons in Configuration/Misc: "Windows keyboard", "DOS keyboard" and "Manager X style keyboard", to quickly set the style with one command without redefining each key separately?

The missing functions in "Windows" could be brought from Windows-native file managers or typical classic Windows software.

P.S. I have used DOS software, but relied on mouse.com and dynamic Function status toolbars to suggest the unintuitive keys.
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Implement only for new users?

Post by *bramreem »

Although I am now used to Shift-F6, I think F2 would be a good choice for renaming. If I recall correctly, F2 was already in use for renaming or editing in some DOS programs.

Personally, I seldomly use Refresh, since TotalCommander refreshes automatically when the program is activated or the file system changes. Perhaps, the people who use Refresh often, have unchecked some of the Auto-Refresh options?

It seems, the discussion has become much broader than originally intended. Proposals about a larger overhaul of the hotkey settings would better have their own thread, IMHO.

Wondering why this change was not yet implemented, 10 years after the start of the poll, I found the following by Christian, posted Mon 27 Mar 2006 on 5:33 pm: "I'm still worried that I will get a lot of e-mails when i change this. I did already for changing Ctrl+T from Multi-Rename-Tool to creation of a new TAB, and I fear that the F2 change would cause even more problems..."

A solution for this fear would be to have the change only for new users, not for people upgrading to a newer version. Maybe the upgrade installation program could read the INI file, see if the user has changed the setting for Shift-F2, and if not, ask the user if s/he is OK with the change.
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clifford_cooley
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Re: Should F2 become the default for renaming?

Post by *clifford_cooley »

Actually the only function key I use is F7 for creating a new Folder. I'm so used to clicking the file I want to rename. A second click opens the name for renaming. For multi-rename, I've setup an icon on the button bar.
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Galiza
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Re: Should F2 become the default for renaming?

Post by *Galiza »

As you can reassign F2 easily on options menu, there no need F2 become default for renaming
he
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Re: Should F2 become the default for renaming?

Post by *he »

It's ok with F2 for renaming, but keep Shift+F6 because that's what I'm used to.
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j7n
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Re: Should F2 become the default for renaming?

Post by *j7n »

It is definitely easier and more productive to configure the key than to try to convince other people to change something over 11 pages of discussion. (lol) But until that is done, TC feels inaccessible on a new PC.

Renaming (and search) is among the most frequent actions performed in a file manager, and therefore it makes sense that it only takes 1 key to activate. Other programs with lists, not limited to files or directories, or a grid of cells universally allow F2 to be used to enter the item or field and start typing in it (or bring up a tiny dialog for the purpose).

Yes, keep Shift+F6 as it is; it is an awkward combination anyway and requires to reach across the keyboard. I use refresh (reread source) mainly to follow progress of a large file written by another program (conversion, download), or to see changes in an FTP directory when it is being currently written to.

For the first time today I tried to rename multiple selected files. Doesn't seem very useful, neither in Explorer nor TC (compared to MRT): tries to overwrite all files to a single one, only the extension can be reliably changed. Bringing up the Multi-Rename Tool instead when multiple files are selected might be more useful and maybe less puzzling to a new user, compared to the small dialog with conflates renaming with moving and shows the *.* mask that is typically seen in "match" contexts, not as the name format pattern to be used.
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clifford_cooley
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Re: Should F2 become the default for renaming?

Post by *clifford_cooley »

Do you want file naming suggestions with that order? lol

Just as soon as anyone learns to bring up the right-click context menu, this is a non issue.

For the majority that uses a mouse, all they need to do is learn to use it. Instead of clicking or tapping F2, try clicking or tapping the selected file a second time. There is absolutely no need for programming the F2 for renaming. There is already three ways to rename a file. And if that is not enough, there is a facility to program your own buttons.

I honestly don't see how anyone would think renaming a file is a cumbersome event. If you want cumbersome try going back to the 80's early 90's.
Ren fileone.txt filetwo.txt - And hope you typed the source name correctly.


I vote for tutorial links to teach people about the facilities available to them. They will then know how to rename a single file or why they are getting errors while using MRT. I understand that when I get errors using these features, it is always my fault.
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Re: Should F2 become the default for renaming?

Post by *j7n »

I mostly agree, that is better to stay with known old defaults than accept experimental changes in other software, and to customize it yourself rather than to ask developers without an answer, and likely upset some people. Sorry about that. Which is why use TC, Irfan, Foobar, Reaper, and similar programs.

But the customizability has another side. If for normal use we must configure lots of settings away from the defaults (and add plugins and expanded menus), then how one person chooses to configure away is different from another, and the author's choice. And their TC feels like a different program.

The multi-rename tool is well designed, visual, discoverable, I have no problems with it and use it often. I was surprised to see the effect that regular rename had on multiple files.
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Laszlo
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Re: Should F2 become the default for renaming?

Post by *Laszlo »

Please no. F2 should be right panel instead of CTRL+F2, and F1 should be left panel.
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Re: Should F2 become the default for renaming?

Post by *Stefan2 »

Laszlo wrote: 2020-07-16, 15:20 UTC Please no. F2 should be right panel instead of CTRL+F2, and F1 should be left panel.
CTRL+F2?
Me think you mean Alt+F2 ?      
CTRL+F1 >>> File display 'brief' (only file names)
CTRL+F2 >>> File display 'full' (all file details))
ALT+F1 >>> Change left drive (cm_LeftOpenDrives)
ALT+F2 >>> Change right drive (cm_RightOpenDrives)


You can set that shortcuts yourself,
Got to settings > misc. and set
F1 to cm_LeftOpenDrives
F2 to cm_RightOpenDrives




 
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