[suggestion] increase TCs attractivity for first time users

[StickyNomad]

As quite a long-time TC-user I don't see the need (only for me personally!) to make big changes in this great Program apart from the usual ongoing updates in functionality and features (an exception maybe lefteous' unified command system, which I find to be a great idea, see link at the bottom of this post).

IMHO TC has only one 'weakness': its presentation is far too modest! It is like a swiss army knife thats disguised as a toothpick. I mean TC reveals many of its great and unique features only after quite a time using it. But after some time, you discover more and more how useful and technically well-designed it is. TC can alway do more than you actually know! I can't count the number of Applications TC has made unnecessary for me (FTP Client, Image viewer, Rename-Tool,...)

I think TC deserves more acceptance and distribution than it actually gets, so I'd like to throw in some possibilities I see to let first-time users discover TCs advantages more easily. This is possible without tremendous changes in TCs code and design, some of them could be achieved just by slightly adjusting the default options after a clean install.

I think the following 'killerfeatures' should be pointed out more to first time users:

- Branch View
- Multi Rename Tool
- Folder Tabs
- Plugin options with brief examples (maybe one of Ghislers plugins is installed by default to demonstrate plugin-functionality)
- Qickview (esp. in combination w plugins)
- complete configurability of behaviour, menus and Icons (hint to cm_commands)
- Easy re-installing without reconfiguring - just keep everything in one edirectory and you're set
- Custom columns esp. with renaming options (think of renaming MP3 files)
- Flexible file selecting (all with same extension,...)
- Directory and file sync
- command line w examples
- the 'lifetime' license model
- ...

This could be acheived by one or more of the following:

1. 'Tip of the day' window.
2. a few more icons on the default toolbar (e.g. Multirename, Quickview,Branch view)
3. slightly restructure the menu (add an menu entry for cm_MkDir e.g. I don't use it, but the menu is one of the first things a new user checks out)
4. possibility for users to choose a 'configuration scheme' (mainly hotkeys and right mouse button) between 'classic' and 'explorer'-style
5. Optimize configuring of TC (unified command system, see link below)
6. Slightly update TCs appearance. Redesigned icons in a more up to date look. (I think many users may have the impression of an outdated Win 3.1 software on the very first glance, and the optical impression of a program is the very first thing a user gets after starting it or seeing the screenshot). Not necessary to emphasize the importance of the very first impression (in EVERY Situation in life).

With additions like the above it could IMHO be possible to increase TCs acceptance, and Mr. Ghisler should not be too angry about this, I think And he deserves every single license thats sold of this Masterpiece of a Tool.

maybe you'd like to take a look at these two threads, I think they're kind of related to this one:
Request: Unified command system
Anyone else think future work should focus on the interface?

[Peled]

Couldn't agree more to :
"It is like a swiss army knife thats disguised as a toothpick"

I like playing around with the prog definitions.
The Total Commander XP, is a good example for
laying out lots of plugIns, in an easy way.

It is like a game for me to explor that great Program.

[szlori]

"It is like a swiss army knife thats disguised as a toothpick"

Well, I think it could be a good idea from commercial point of view.
It could bring more new users...
However, I'm not sure how the good old "power-users" would react to this kind of change.

[Matjaz]

I think we're flexible enough

[StickyNomad]

2Peled

However, I'm not sure how the good old "power-users" would react to this kind of change.

well, as I said I don't see the need to completely twistover TCs structure and functionality, just a few little additions to make the first steps with TC a little more convenient for first-timers.
More experienced users will get along well even if these tiny additions were made, I think. If you're ambitious and interested, you'll adjust TC to your needs anyway, but if you usually use Software 'out of the box' without configuring it, you may miss some of TCs killerfeatures IMHO, and that's a bummer.

2Matjaz
I think that, too

[pdavit]

2StickyNomad

On 2 and 6 Christian is seriously considering a remake with the addition of new icons probably for v7.0.

I support point #3 but with the inclusion of three menu files with gradually increased complexity and an
option in configurations to select each level, i.e. minimal, standard, expert. Problems here though are
the increase in the translation complexity (at least initially) and the fact that the help file makes
extensive reference to the present menus being structured according to a single version.

[szlori]

2StickyNomad
I support point #3 but with the inclusion of three menu files with gradually increased complexity and an
option in configurations to select each level, i.e. minimal, standard, expert. Problems here though are
the increase in the translation complexity (at least initially) and the fact that the help file makes
extensive reference to the present menus being structured according to a single version.

For which Lefteous' Unified command system would be a very elegant solution.