Any reason why Files>Compare by contents has no hot key shortcut?

[Gerdd]

Just another of those cases where I have to leave the keyboard and reach for the mouse for a quick little action ...

typical use case:

on left: up/down, space bar to mark,
tab to right,
up/down, space bar to mark,
now ??? key to compare - - - or reach for the mouse instead.

[white]

I use the menu access keys for that, Alt+F,Y if you use English. You can of course define your own hotkey.

[JOUBE]

[Shortcuts]
C+Y=cm_CompareFilesByContent

[petermad]

You can just assign your own shortcut for the cm_CompareFilesByContent command via "Configuration" -> "Options..." -> "Misc." -> "Redefine hotkeys (keyboard remapping)".

"Synchronize directories", "Change attributes" and "Choose command" also don't have hotkeys, just to mention a few.

The reason probably is that there are not many two-key hotkeys left. - You can see all assigned hotkeys via the menu: "Help" -> "Keyboard".

Simple two-key shortcuts as Ctrl+G, Ctrl+H and Ctrl+J (same as Ctrl+Enter) are still available by default.


2JOUBE
Ctrl+Y clears the command line by default

[Gerdd]

Hi ... wow - thanks for all the suggestions. I was trying to configure a hot key, but didn't manage. I'll try all your suggestions now.

[Gerdd]

Okay, tried things.
Managed to configure both C-Y and A-Y - just playing around. Interesting: The menu doesn't show either of my configured hotkeys (okay.)

Boy, what a long list of cmXxxXxxXxx options! Don't know what most of them are used for (and that probably means I won't miss them

I had noticed that the compare command was not the only one left without a preconfigured hotkey combo, but it is the only one I use a lot.

And I won't miss the original use of C-Y, I think, especially since the escape key also clears the command line (but it doesn't stay on it.)

(I thought I had found a good ways to disarm the caps lock key here but no such luck, TC isn't interested in it. It becomes a curse when you accidentally use it in remote console mode ...)

As for the keyboard shortcut to the compare function - problem solved, thank you all!

[JOUBE]

Ctrl+Y clears the command line by default

And I won't miss the original use of C-Y

I think the same way. Mainly because I appreciate the one-hand operation of this key combination C+Y for this comparation purpose on a german (qwertz) keyboard.

[petermad]

Mainly because I appreciate the one-hand operation of this key combination C+Y

C+G is actually a little bit easier to do one-hand (left) on a qwerty keyboard. And Ctrl+G is not used by TC by default.

[Gerdd]

@petermad Thanks for the hint about Ctrl-G, but as it is I am on a qwertz KEYBOARD (as I suspect Mr. Ghisler is as well) and my "y" is actually to the left of the "x", also quite handy.

[Dalai]

I've been using Ctrl+F2 to call cm_CompareFilesByContent for many years now. The reasoning is that, by default, Shift+F2 compares directories, so a similar hotkey should compare files (and Ctrl+Alt+F2 calls cm_FileSync).

Regards
Dalai

[petermad]

I've been using Ctrl+F2 to call cm_CompareFilesByContent for many years now

How do you switch to Full View with the keyboard then?

[Dalai]

I never switch views, always use Full view. That is, unless I need custom columns, but to switch to any of them I use the mouse anyway (and switching back to Full is also done via mouse).

Regards
Dalai

[Gerdd]

@petermad

Funny, I just wanted to add my 2c's worth and put in a response that would have been almost verbatim what @Dalai has submitted.

I tend to run everything in full screen if possible. When I switch I use the mouse (not part of a regular workflow, really.) My greatest fear is modal windows popping up stealing my focus ... (that is also true about the task bar when it won't go away because something on it wants my attention.)

[petermad]

I tend to run everything in full screen if possible

Full View is not the same as Full screen - Full view is the default view that you get by clicking View -> Full in the menu or by pressing Ctrl+F2 (if not remapped )

[Gerdd]

@petermad

Goodness me! Full View!

Much as I see full screen as "without an alternative" I see full view in the same way (when you mentioned Ctrl+F2 it vaguely rang a bell, so I looked it up.)

I had forgotten about "brief" and have an idea what "comments" is supposed to do, and have never even remotely considered any of the other options (Configuration of columns or what not) - maybe for the "obviously good" reason that they probably didn't exist in the Norton Commander (I got my first DOS based computer in 1984 and the Norton Commander was on it.)

But then, that is why one needs either linear documentation or a forum with the Gurus in attendance - how else is one supposed to find out about all these features when the day finally comes when one needs exactly "that" feature ...