[wish] Next Gen file manager - how it should look like?

[Kevlar]

@your 1.2a: i think you waste to much space here. when the filename is longer its more important to show this than the big buttons or a second "total %" bar. would be better to have more info inside the bar.

First I drew buttons tiny (like yours), and then changed'em to more conservative view. I think, if prog focuses on users of all ages, conservatism should be.. a little))
but both total/file bars should be. There're cases, when it is very useful.

Actually, these do not change the concept. So, it is no need to discuss such "macro" changes.. we've got "mega" changes concept, it's enough for now.. moreover, the TC author is silent.. (maybe he's too busy with his beta?!)

yes, you can (edit your 1st post).

oh, thanks! ...but I won't)

[Kevlar]

I just used win7 explorer style to the same idea. So, here is next gen file manager concept v2.0. Notice: there are two toggles in that window now (copy/move table and tree area, they hide with a single click). Search and tree areas are active for currently selected panel.

I know that the modern style takes a lot of space on the screen, but it is better than the interface inconvenience since the DOS age. IMHO.

PS
sorry, if my English is to rough

[fenix_productions]

I know that the modern style takes a lot of space on the screen, but it is better than the interface inconvenient since the DOS age. IMHO.

I understand your idea but I can't agree with wasting space.

How does it come?

We can see resolutions growing each day but icons sizes too. What is the purpose of having big screen if icons / toolbars / etc. still occupy 1/4 - 1/2 of it? Despite of progress should I really have the same amount of space used? It is not the purpose of better resolution for me. If I am changing from 1024x768 to 1280x1024 this is not just because I have no other places to throw my money into but because I want more space for the things I am actually working on

Year ago my LCD to something described above but I would gain nothing if I follow "wasting assumption" and change icons from 16x16 to 24x24 and fonts from 8pt to 10pt.

If you're using your PC mainly for work, you appreciate slim look and work area distinguished. You don't need to overload your desktop with 512x512 glyphs (MacOSX?) or overgrown buttons. TC looks non-modern but this is one of its advantages IMHO. It is not trying to draw my attention me with some kind of fanciness. It gives me powerful functionality instead.

[JohnFredC]

I don't think the relatively large size of the control icons in the demonstration bitmap is directly relevant to Kevlar's design proposal... he has just scaled those items so that all the proposed features fit in a politely small bitmap. I think the idea is more about promoting the docked process queue, etc.

If one imagines Kevlar's interface scaled to a 1920x1200 (or larger) desktop, then the data content panels would increase in size, but the icons would not...

Lately I have begun to see myself (as: "in the future") probably migrating to a multi-touch control surface... whether a tablet or something like the HP multi-touch all-in-one computer. I'm hoping that the TC interaction metaphor evolves into that environment, but I'm not holding my breath.

One idea would be controls that scale up in size as you approach them with your mouse or finger... a la iPhone. A relative size similar to the controls shown in Kevlar's demo bitmap would be appropriate in that circumstance...

IMO, the forum needs everyone to promote new ideas in the clear manner that Kevlar has. "A picture is worth a thousand words."

[fenix_productions]

IMO, the forum needs everyone to promote new ideas in the clear manner that Kevlar has. "A picture is worth a thousand words."

You're right but there is one step which is "must have" to make it comfortable:
- unlocking images posting feature.

Without that, it is troublesome to get everything right, sometimes.

Maybe separate CMS with ideas only and some kind of scoring (and comments of course) could be nice too but this needs more work.

And, definitely, less people like me who hunt ideas down

Back to the topic: embedding progress controls for common procedures (like copy, delete, etc.) is good idea which can be seen even now in Unreal Commander or in Firefox using DownloadStatusbar extension.

IMHO TC 8.0 should finally focus more on GUI related issues (and bugs fixing, of course). It could kill some of the complaints about "terrible look".

[Samuel]

IMHO TC 8.0 should finally focus more on GUI related issues (and bugs fixing, of course). It could kill some of the complaints about "terrible look".

Support++

[Postkutscher]

Not that I would not satisfied with TC`s look, but so far I can see if the program wants to be popular, it must contain some bells and whistles. So far I wish to TC and to his author to make a lot of money, I support also

[MVV]

Not that I would not satisfied with TC`s look, but so far I can see if the program wants to be popular, it must contain some bells and whistles. So far I wish to TC and to his author to make a lot of money, I support also

But with hidden super-secret switch for advanced users which will return normal style of TC.

[Herr Mann]

IMHO TC 8.0 should finally focus more on GUI related issues (and bugs fixing, of course). It could kill some of the complaints about "terrible look".

Version 8 in two Years? I hope not!
Actually I'm quite happy except ...
But from my perspective the most important things in terms of the GUI are

- Icons greater than 32*32px, specially for the Thumbsview, if not preview available. The small (32*32) Icons looks silly and stupid between the large Preview.

- Use the "Windowssystem Icons" for all Filetypes. I will not use the same internal Icon (the yellow Box) for all Archvie-Files, how zip, 7z, iso, etc...

- A better and "smoother" integration in the Vista/Seven GUI, specially the space around the Menu and Buttonbar.
Whether the "XP themes background" is on or off.
It just does not look good, but it sort of weird and "old".

- The grouping of files should also be possible, like the Explorer

- Labels for the Buttonbar Icons, right from the Icon, optional of course
[Icon] Name [Icon] Name ...

- A new better Cursor.
I use inverted selection. This has the disadvantage, the normal Cursor ist not color filled and it is only a frame.

[Herr Mann]

But with hidden super-secret switch for advanced users which will return normal style of TC.

Nobody wants that the TC from looks like the "teletubby land"

A long time ago I posted this screenhots ...

> http://www.extensoft.com/media/p2/images/EExplorer.png
Like this, it would be a would be an extreme GUI change.
But the design looks very good.

> http://s11b.directupload.net/file/d/1674/p2cqvauj_png.htm
Here more like the VistaExplorer - look at Buttonbar and Directory tree
(This fake screenshot is not very good, I'm a bad visual preparer)

> http://s10b.directupload.net/file/d/1676/4qipxtml_png.htm
And here look at the right and the middle, it looks be smoother.
The color is a little adjust and I remove the lines.

[Balderstrom]

Less Words Now.

[JohnFredC]

2Herr Mann

Well, I really like the EExplorer version (the "extreme" GUI change) and have long requested similar changes to the TC interface, especially the panel specific toolbars and layout manager stuff.

The keyboard guys will point out that all those mouseable control strips occupy too much screen real estate on small monitors, not to mention making the keyboard interface incredibly difficult to design.

I'd add a center toolbar (between the file panels) with context sensitive icons à la Salamander or FreeCommander.

Reducing mouse movement on large displays should have a high priority IMO.

[Kevlar]

Too many words, ladies and gents! This topic is about RADICAL GUI changes, and you write words `bout hotkey changes.

And remember:

"A picture is worth a thousand words."

PS: I've replaced v2,0 with animated gif

[Kevlar]

I ask moderators to move this topic to "Total Commander Forum Index -> Total Commander (English)"

[Hacker]

[mod]Moved to the English forum.

Hacker (Moderator)[/mod]