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[Sugg] Create folder with name suggested from target panel

Posted: 2007-04-29, 18:24 UTC
by Sombra
By default, when you make a new directory, TC suggest the name under cursor in current panel.
Could be interesting add SHIFTt+F7 for make a new folder with the name suggested from selected file in target panel.

Posted: 2007-04-30, 01:41 UTC
by sas2000
 
Interesting idea, support ++ .
 

Posted: 2007-04-30, 08:15 UTC
by m^2
I also support suggesting name, but I think that current date is a better shot. And this definitely should be configurable.

Posted: 2007-04-30, 21:53 UTC
by jb
Very often I also need to create a directory in the OTHER panel using the name of a file or directory of the current panel. I guess the probability of this case is about 30% when creating a new directory. So I find it a good idea to add support for this case. But how exactly? I see the following variants:

VARIANT 1:
Add command cm_MkDirInOtherPanel as companion to the existing cm_MkDir command.
F7 shall remain the default hotkey for cm_MkDir.
Shift+F7 shall be the default hotkey for cm_MkDirInOtherPanel (as suggested by Sombra).

VARIANT 2: (my favorite)
Add command switch -InOtherPanel to command cm_MkDir and a checkbox "in other panel" to the dialog of cm_MkDir.
When cm_MkDir -InOtherPanel is called the checkbox is initially checked, otherwise unchecked. In either case the user can toggle the checkbox before pressing OK.
F7 shall remain the default hotkey for cm_MkDir.
Shift+F7 shall be the default hotkey for cm_MkDir -InOtherPanel (as suggested by Sombra).

Variant 2 has the advantage that it makes the new feature visible directly where it can be applied, not only somewhere buried in the online help. This is specially important for mouse-oriented users.
EXAMPLE:
Since years I hide TC's function keys and use a button for cm_MkDir (which comes now with a nice icon since TC 7.0 public beta). If TC supported the new feature then I would like to overload my existing button for cm_MkDir instead of adding a separate, space-wasting button for cm_MkDirInOtherPanel or cm_MkDir -InOtherPanel. That is:
Clicking the MkDir button should call cm_MkDir and shift-clicking the MkDir button should call cm_MkDirInOtherPanel or cm_MkDir -InOtherPanel.
Unfortunately button overloading is NOT possible as far as I know, but with variant 2 it is less serious because I can still use the checkbox "in other panel".

Posted: 2007-05-05, 13:17 UTC
by Stance
Sombra wrote:Could be interesting add SHIFTt+F7 for make a new folder with the name suggested from selected file in target panel.
A good idea! :)

Posted: 2007-05-05, 13:29 UTC
by StatusQuo
jb wrote:VARIANT 2: (my favorite)
[...] and a checkbox "in other panel" to the dialog of cm_MkDir.
Support+.
To get this I usually started to copy the whole dir, immediately aborted after the first files and then deleted already copied files.
A checkbox "in other panel" would be a clean solution for this.

Posted: 2007-05-05, 14:08 UTC
by roentgen
To get this I usually started to copy the whole dir, immediately aborted after the first files and then deleted already copied files.
The weirdest solution I've seen lately :P
I usually do it with cm_CopyNamesToClip > tab > F7 > paste >enter

Posted: 2007-05-05, 14:14 UTC
by StatusQuo
roentgen wrote:The weirdest solution I've seen lately :P
Well, indeed - but quite useable when you subsequently have to go into the created directory anyway... :)

Posted: 2007-05-05, 14:28 UTC
by Sombra
I usually do it with cm_CopyNamesToClip > tab > F7 > paste >enter
As me ;)

cm_CopyNamesToClip (F11 in my case) > tab > F7 > CTRL+V > Enter
A time ago: Shift+F6 > CTRL+C > tab, tab > F7 > CTRL + V > (I remove extension if it is necessary) > ENTER

Posted: 2007-05-05, 18:17 UTC
by petermad
Could be interesting add SHIFTt+F7 for make a new folder with the name suggested from selected file in target panel.
Spport++

Posted: 2007-05-05, 23:05 UTC
by jb
Stance wrote:
Sombra wrote:Could be interesting add SHIFTt+F7 for make a new folder with the name suggested from selected file in target panel.
A good idea! :)
petermad wrote:
Could be interesting add SHIFTt+F7 for make a new folder with the name suggested from selected file in target panel.
Spport++
As already posted above I support the basic idea of Sombra's suggestion, but the suggestion has a flaw if you take it literally. The term "target panel" (= inactive panel = other panel) opposed to "source panel" (= active panel = current panel) is key to recognize the flaw.

Actually Sombra suggests that SHIFTt+F7 should create a new directory in the current panel with the name suggested from the current file/directory in the other panel. The suggested behavior assumes that you focus the file/directory with the desired name and switch the panel just before you press SHIFT+F7. Furthermore you need to rely on your memory because unfortunately TC does NOT tell you which file/directory is the current one in the inactive panel! See also topic "show cursor when tcmd not focus".

I think it makes more sense that SHIFTt+F7 should create a new directory in the other panel with the name suggested from the current file/directory in the current panel. With this behavior you can still switch the panel and do something with the new directory, but you are not required. Alternatively you may just drag&drop some files/directories into the new directory. In my previous post I specified two variants of this counter suggestion in detail.

In general I would like to mention that it is better to discuss new functionality in terms of commands instead of default keyboard shortcuts (hotkeys). Hotkeys can be redefined by the user at any time, but commands stay. Furthermore commands are interesting for different kinds of users, but default hotkeys are mainly interesting for keyboard-oriented users.

Posted: 2007-05-06, 07:29 UTC
by petermad
2jb
I think it makes more sense that SHIFTt+F7 should create a new directory in the other panel with the name suggested from the current file/directory in the current panel.
That's the behaviour I expected anyway, and that's how I read Sombra's suggestion (I just thought he was missing a comma before "in target panel")

In general I would like to mention that it is better to discuss new functionality in terms of commands
Of course there should be a corresponding command like cm_MkDirInOtherPanel, but I don't like the Idea of a -InOtherPanel switch.

Except for cm_list NO cm_ commands accepts switches or parameters - and the .mnu file doesn't support parameters, not even for em_list, so I can't imagine that Ghisler is going to change all that for the idea of making -InOtherPanel work.

But I fully support a cm_MkDirInOtherPanel command.

Posted: 2007-05-06, 10:28 UTC
by jb
petermad wrote:Of course there should be a corresponding command like cm_MkDirInOtherPanel, but I don't like the Idea of a -InOtherPanel switch.

Except for cm_list NO cm_ commands accepts switches or parameters - and the .mnu file doesn't support parameters, not even for em_list, so I can't imagine that Ghisler is going to change all that for the idea of making -InOtherPanel work.
Actually I find the switch idea the best part of my suggestion because it is general and scalable. See also topic "Checkbox "in same panel" for cm_PackFiles/cm_Unpac".
Furthermore cm_MkDirInOtherPanel would not offer a checkbox "in other panel" which I would find user-friendly.

Posted: 2007-05-06, 15:08 UTC
by Stance
jb wrote:VARIANT 2: (my favorite)
[...] and a checkbox "in other panel" to the dialog of cm_MkDir.
That's a good idea, too. :)
Edit: The Checkbox must not be drawn when SHIFTt+F7, right? ;)

The disadvantage of the TC MakeDirectory dialog [F7 NewFolder] is, that it "steals" the focus.
The simpliest solution would be, to add the possibility for to change the focus of the (background) panels when [F7 NewFolder] dialog is in foreground! (By Mouseclick or tabbing).

Posted: 2007-05-06, 19:41 UTC
by jb
Stance wrote:Edit: The Checkbox must not be drawn when SHIFTt+F7, right? ;)
Maybe I expressed myself not clearly enough. My point was that I prefer one command cm_MkDir with an optional switch -InOtherPanel which changes the initial value of a corresponding checkbox in the dialog. So the closely related usages are always visible (no training needed) and the user can always change his mind just before pressing OK no matter whether he called cm_MkDir or cm_MkDir -InOtherPanel and no matter how he called the command (via hotkey, button, ...).

Alone because of the increased user-friendliness I would prefer the described approach instead of two separate commands cm_MkDir and cm_MkDirInOtherPanel. But there is another general advantage: The switch approach is applicable to other commands and extendable, that is, more switches could be added to any command if necessary instead of introducing a new command each time. For example see also "Checkbox "in same panel" for cm_PackFiles/cm_Unpac".
Stance wrote:The disadvantage of the TC MakeDirectory dialog [F7 NewFolder] is, that it "steals" the focus.
The simpliest solution would be, to add the possibility for to change the focus of the (background) panels when [F7 NewFolder] dialog is in foreground! (By Mouseclick or tabbing).
Making the dialog of cm_MkDir so-called "non-modal" (as you suggest) would be another solution indeed, but I clearly prefer my solution because it is more explicit and self-explaining.