Does anybody 'Hide extensions for known file types'?
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There are few things as dull as installing Windows. I'm in the update stage and having downloaded the updates, it's installing them - 141 of them. That's just Windows, once I get Office on there and Visual Studio there'll be all the service packs as it morphs from 'Windows' to 'Microsoft' update. In my set-up routine I always go into file explorer and make all the file extensions show up as I'm simply lost without them. Also hidden files, but this time I'm going to leave system files hidden. So question - does anybody hide file extensions or does everybody turn them back on?
Regards, Rob Philpott.
That this setting still exists at all, much less being set by default to on, is one of my big pet peeves about new Windows installations. I always turn it off everywhere I go when I set up Windows for other people. It is a disaster waiting to happen. Why? Well, people have already mentioned confusion occurring with "duplicate" files in the same directory, but there's something much, much worse: users can't tell the difference between
CoolPictureIGotInAnEmailOrFromTheWeb.jpgandCoolPictureIGotInAnEmailOrFromTheWeb.exeand this makes for a nice big, fat security risk. We tell people "don't run programs that don't come from trusted places" and then we hide- by default- the easiest way of telling what files are programs. Foolish, and much more dangerous than someone doing a completely reversibleMyWordDocument.docxtoMyWordDocument.unrecognizableExtensionrename. -
How could more information add to the confusion? It is like giving someone the name of a street but hiding the house number. Sure you could find the house eventually by knocking on every door and seeing if the right person answers.
I think you misunderstood what I meant. I do like seeing file extensions. /ravi
My new year resolution: 2048 x 1536 Home | Articles | My .NET bits | Freeware ravib(at)ravib(dot)com
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There are few things as dull as installing Windows. I'm in the update stage and having downloaded the updates, it's installing them - 141 of them. That's just Windows, once I get Office on there and Visual Studio there'll be all the service packs as it morphs from 'Windows' to 'Microsoft' update. In my set-up routine I always go into file explorer and make all the file extensions show up as I'm simply lost without them. Also hidden files, but this time I'm going to leave system files hidden. So question - does anybody hide file extensions or does everybody turn them back on?
Regards, Rob Philpott.
I agree - it's one of the first things I do, show all extensions and hidden files. Next thing is get rid of as many icons in file manager as I can and show 'details'. I just went thro the pain of changing from XP to 7 after the XP box died and it seemed time to move on what with XP support coming to an end soon. But the 'hide extensions' business is just a minor irritation compared to the hassle of reinstalling all programs. I would prefer to be able to change an OS without touching the applications. And file manager in 7 has some unbelievable inconveniences compared with previous versions. philj
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Lloyd Atkinson wrote:
I don't know who in their right mind decided "Let's hide file extensions, that seems a great idea!".
Having been involved in supporting people who are not (to put it politely) PC-literate, for a number of years, I think it's an excellent idea. Extensions are just something else to confuse the lay-person, who really could not care less. They just want to know where their letter, leaflet, or bank statement can be found.
Use the best guess
Do YOU really know where your things are? This whole Library business is a mess! Try one to find out WHERE your scanner has put the picture. So - I need really to know, and I show also all files with extension (LNK PIF etc) also I want to see the "superhidden" files.
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There are few things as dull as installing Windows. I'm in the update stage and having downloaded the updates, it's installing them - 141 of them. That's just Windows, once I get Office on there and Visual Studio there'll be all the service packs as it morphs from 'Windows' to 'Microsoft' update. In my set-up routine I always go into file explorer and make all the file extensions show up as I'm simply lost without them. Also hidden files, but this time I'm going to leave system files hidden. So question - does anybody hide file extensions or does everybody turn them back on?
Regards, Rob Philpott.
I have them hidden until I need them and most of the time is faster to simply fire a Command Prompt and do whatever I wanted to do with the extension of the file.
CEO at: - Rafaga Systems - Para Facturas - Modern Components for the moment...
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Do YOU really know where your things are? This whole Library business is a mess! Try one to find out WHERE your scanner has put the picture. So - I need really to know, and I show also all files with extension (LNK PIF etc) also I want to see the "superhidden" files.
Merlin87 wrote:
Do YOU really know where your things are?
Of course I do. They are in the specific folders that I store them in.
Merlin87 wrote:
Try one to find out WHERE your scanner has put the picture.
At the end of scanning it tells me.
Merlin87 wrote:
I need really to know, and I show also all files with extension (LNK PIF etc) also I want to see the "superhidden" files.
Fine, your choice.
Use the best guess
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There are few things as dull as installing Windows. I'm in the update stage and having downloaded the updates, it's installing them - 141 of them. That's just Windows, once I get Office on there and Visual Studio there'll be all the service packs as it morphs from 'Windows' to 'Microsoft' update. In my set-up routine I always go into file explorer and make all the file extensions show up as I'm simply lost without them. Also hidden files, but this time I'm going to leave system files hidden. So question - does anybody hide file extensions or does everybody turn them back on?
Regards, Rob Philpott.
No. I like to see file extensions. It's far easier to see a file extension and recognise it than to remember what icons mean what. I also find it confusing to see 2 files with the same name in the same folder. The only possible reason I can think of why Microsoft hides file extensions by default is to make their folder content lists look more like Apple's. Can't Microsoft stand up for itself without trying to copy a competitor. Another example of MS copying Apple is its use of the term "Folder" which at one time was "Directory".
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There are few things as dull as installing Windows. I'm in the update stage and having downloaded the updates, it's installing them - 141 of them. That's just Windows, once I get Office on there and Visual Studio there'll be all the service packs as it morphs from 'Windows' to 'Microsoft' update. In my set-up routine I always go into file explorer and make all the file extensions show up as I'm simply lost without them. Also hidden files, but this time I'm going to leave system files hidden. So question - does anybody hide file extensions or does everybody turn them back on?
Regards, Rob Philpott.
I find that the biggest problem with hiding file extensions comes with reading email. If you hide the file extensions, you may see an attachment for somepicture.jpg, where the real file name is somepicture.jpg.exe. I've seen this before in spam and trojans in seemingly legitimate email from friends, which was actually sent by malware.
Fletcher Glenn
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There are few things as dull as installing Windows. I'm in the update stage and having downloaded the updates, it's installing them - 141 of them. That's just Windows, once I get Office on there and Visual Studio there'll be all the service packs as it morphs from 'Windows' to 'Microsoft' update. In my set-up routine I always go into file explorer and make all the file extensions show up as I'm simply lost without them. Also hidden files, but this time I'm going to leave system files hidden. So question - does anybody hide file extensions or does everybody turn them back on?
Regards, Rob Philpott.
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I don't see how that causes any confusion - it is just part of the file name. I would think the potential to have several files in the same location with (apparently) the same name would be more confusing...
Extensions are meant for the OS only. Average user doesn't need to bother with them. Its a rather stupid way of detecting the file type. While the geeks want to see it, average consumer doesn't. No need to guess who's the majority here, do we?
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Lloyd Atkinson wrote:
I don't know who in their right mind decided "Let's hide file extensions, that seems a great idea!".
Having been involved in supporting people who are not (to put it politely) PC-literate, for a number of years, I think it's an excellent idea. Extensions are just something else to confuse the lay-person, who really could not care less. They just want to know where their letter, leaflet, or bank statement can be found.
Use the best guess
Rather than treating users as if they were stupid, I think that the best policy would be to educate them. Hiding extensions might simplify some issues, but causes others when there are two or more files with the same name other than the extension, and they try to get what they want by clicking on the wrong one, or give up because they don't know what to do.
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Rather than treating users as if they were stupid, I think that the best policy would be to educate them. Hiding extensions might simplify some issues, but causes others when there are two or more files with the same name other than the extension, and they try to get what they want by clicking on the wrong one, or give up because they don't know what to do.
Bruce Patin wrote:
Rather than treating users as if they were stupid, I think that the best policy would be to educate them.
I agree, but I have met many users who are really not interested in the technicalities. As long as they can do what they want they are happy. A bit like all the people who drive automatic cars, and have no understanding of how gearing works.
Use the best guess
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Lloyd Atkinson wrote:
I don't know who in their right mind decided "Let's hide file extensions, that seems a great idea!".
Having been involved in supporting people who are not (to put it politely) PC-literate, for a number of years, I think it's an excellent idea. Extensions are just something else to confuse the lay-person, who really could not care less. They just want to know where their letter, leaflet, or bank statement can be found.
Use the best guess
Doesn't it make things more difficult for you in the long run? How do you start explaining to a layperson why their .docx file from work doesn't open with Word 2003 at home when they can't see the extension?
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Turning that "feature" off is one of the first things I do on any Windows install. I find it incredibly irritating having to rely in an icon in explorer to determine the file type. I don't know who in their right mind decided "Let's hide file extensions, that seems a great idea!".
.-. |o,o| ,| \_\\=/\_ .-""-. ||/\_/\_\\\_\\ /\[\] \_ \_\\ |\_/|(\_)|\\\\ \_|\_o\_LII|\_ \\.\_./// / | ==== | \\ |\\\_/|"\` |\_| ==== |\_| |\_|\_| ||" || || |-|-| ||LI o || |\_|\_| ||'----'|| /\_/ \\\_\\ /\_\_| |\_\_\\I always show the extensions. I think hiding them is the dumbest idea Microsoft has come up with since putting the command line in "Accessories."
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Doesn't it make things more difficult for you in the long run? How do you start explaining to a layperson why their .docx file from work doesn't open with Word 2003 at home when they can't see the extension?
You don't need to; the average lay person uses Spreadsheets, Documents and email. They only ever have one file type that they are interested in so the issue never arises. Geeks and nerds like us are the only people who care about all these differences.
Use the best guess
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There are few things as dull as installing Windows. I'm in the update stage and having downloaded the updates, it's installing them - 141 of them. That's just Windows, once I get Office on there and Visual Studio there'll be all the service packs as it morphs from 'Windows' to 'Microsoft' update. In my set-up routine I always go into file explorer and make all the file extensions show up as I'm simply lost without them. Also hidden files, but this time I'm going to leave system files hidden. So question - does anybody hide file extensions or does everybody turn them back on?
Regards, Rob Philpott.
I used to show them so I could change extensions, first it was mostly RAR/CBR,ZIP/CBZ, lately I often see *.MPG instead of MP4. Grab this and this, if needed, and you're good to go without extensions. Installing Windows can be fun if you do it in a different way. When I bought new HD for my laptop, I put it in an external usb case, linked it to VirtualBox, sysprep-ed and installed/updated everything, finally transferred all my custom settings and registry tweaks. All that while listening to music and websurfing, less than 1.5 hour. Then I just swapped hard drives and waited for finale.
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Turning that "feature" off is one of the first things I do on any Windows install. I find it incredibly irritating having to rely in an icon in explorer to determine the file type. I don't know who in their right mind decided "Let's hide file extensions, that seems a great idea!".
.-. |o,o| ,| \_\\=/\_ .-""-. ||/\_/\_\\\_\\ /\[\] \_ \_\\ |\_/|(\_)|\\\\ \_|\_o\_LII|\_ \\.\_./// / | ==== | \\ |\\\_/|"\` |\_| ==== |\_| |\_|\_| ||" || || |-|-| ||LI o || |\_|\_| ||'----'|| /\_/ \\\_\\ /\_\_| |\_\_\\Yes, me too. It's a totally unnecessary feature, and making it the DEFAULT is insane. It's hardest on beginners that REALLY need the extensions to make sense of what's happening, and THESE are the people who don't have a clue how to change it (or even that it needs to be changed.) From the people who brought you COM and Vista and unmeasurable .NET text.
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There are few things as dull as installing Windows. I'm in the update stage and having downloaded the updates, it's installing them - 141 of them. That's just Windows, once I get Office on there and Visual Studio there'll be all the service packs as it morphs from 'Windows' to 'Microsoft' update. In my set-up routine I always go into file explorer and make all the file extensions show up as I'm simply lost without them. Also hidden files, but this time I'm going to leave system files hidden. So question - does anybody hide file extensions or does everybody turn them back on?
Regards, Rob Philpott.
Years back a former girlfriend came back from work mightily irritated with her boss and co-workers. She was annoyed that they had gotten angry with her. All she had done was to clean up the mess in their network folders. When I asked what happened, she told me all she had done was to go through all their folders and rename each file to get rid of the incomprehensible bit at the end of each file name. She had noticed that 'it' came up with a strange warning. But that was incomprehensible as well so she didn't pay any heed! She really thought it very unfair that everybody had gotten so upset with her. A little real story as an example where hidden file extensions would have been a good thing. (PS: She was very good looking!)
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There are few things as dull as installing Windows. I'm in the update stage and having downloaded the updates, it's installing them - 141 of them. That's just Windows, once I get Office on there and Visual Studio there'll be all the service packs as it morphs from 'Windows' to 'Microsoft' update. In my set-up routine I always go into file explorer and make all the file extensions show up as I'm simply lost without them. Also hidden files, but this time I'm going to leave system files hidden. So question - does anybody hide file extensions or does everybody turn them back on?
Regards, Rob Philpott.
I usually turn it on. As a developer, I sometimes need to know the exact extension of the file, e.g. windows display .xls and .xlsx exactly the same when this feature is turn off but it treats two types of file differently.
petersgyoung
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Extensions are meant for the OS only. Average user doesn't need to bother with them. Its a rather stupid way of detecting the file type. While the geeks want to see it, average consumer doesn't. No need to guess who's the majority here, do we?
If you receive a file named "playme.exe" and has a Windows Media Player icon, you do need to know the extension. Even if you are a lay person. Or else you cannot even be warned. There is no excuse for not knowing what you're doing.