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  3. It's a lot today: File Explorer rant

It's a lot today: File Explorer rant

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  • L Lost User

    What would you suggest then? A DOS Console?

    Bastard Programmer from Hell :suss: "If you just follow the bacon Eddy, wherever it leads you, then you won't have to think about politics." -- Some Bell.

    R Offline
    R Offline
    Rage
    wrote on last edited by
    #13

    While maybe not the most handy, I could do with a DOS console. And batch files :-D . As for replacement, I have been a user of Total commander as long as I can think about, but any clone of it would do - I still fail to see how a file explorer can have a one pane-view only, so clumsy a copy function that can still result in corrupting file (in 2022), no way to rename multiple file or file extensions properly, etc... The windows file explorer is apparently doing its job, but a close look make it easy to see that it lacks about everything, unless your typical use case is "navigate - click to open a file".

    Do not escape reality : improve reality !

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    • R Rage

      While maybe not the most handy, I could do with a DOS console. And batch files :-D . As for replacement, I have been a user of Total commander as long as I can think about, but any clone of it would do - I still fail to see how a file explorer can have a one pane-view only, so clumsy a copy function that can still result in corrupting file (in 2022), no way to rename multiple file or file extensions properly, etc... The windows file explorer is apparently doing its job, but a close look make it easy to see that it lacks about everything, unless your typical use case is "navigate - click to open a file".

      Do not escape reality : improve reality !

      L Offline
      L Offline
      Lost User
      wrote on last edited by
      #14

      Rage wrote:

      As for replacement, I have been a user of Total commander

      HAHAHA :D

      Rage wrote:

      no way to rename multiple file or file extensions properly

      It does; a quick extension in C# does that for me. No, I don't share, write your own.

      Rage wrote:

      The windows file explorer is apparently doing its job, but a close look make it easy to see that it lacks about everything, unless your typical use case is "navigate - click to open a file".

      Ignoring rightlick and all extentions. I used DOpus on the Amiga. Total Comander? No, I'd prefer DOS over it. Easier, more powerful, simply better.

      Bastard Programmer from Hell :suss: "If you just follow the bacon Eddy, wherever it leads you, then you won't have to think about politics." -- Some Bell.

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      • L Lost User

        Rage wrote:

        As for replacement, I have been a user of Total commander

        HAHAHA :D

        Rage wrote:

        no way to rename multiple file or file extensions properly

        It does; a quick extension in C# does that for me. No, I don't share, write your own.

        Rage wrote:

        The windows file explorer is apparently doing its job, but a close look make it easy to see that it lacks about everything, unless your typical use case is "navigate - click to open a file".

        Ignoring rightlick and all extentions. I used DOpus on the Amiga. Total Comander? No, I'd prefer DOS over it. Easier, more powerful, simply better.

        Bastard Programmer from Hell :suss: "If you just follow the bacon Eddy, wherever it leads you, then you won't have to think about politics." -- Some Bell.

        R Offline
        R Offline
        Rage
        wrote on last edited by
        #15

        Eddy Vluggen wrote:

        It does; a quick extension in C# does that for me.

        :laugh: Okay, if customizing kicks in, then I am with you, File Explorer can do anything :-D

        Do not escape reality : improve reality !

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        • R Rage

          Eddy Vluggen wrote:

          It does; a quick extension in C# does that for me.

          :laugh: Okay, if customizing kicks in, then I am with you, File Explorer can do anything :-D

          Do not escape reality : improve reality !

          L Offline
          L Offline
          Lost User
          wrote on last edited by
          #16

          Just running batch files as if they a command. Cheap, easy, effective. And better yet, I can trust what I write. I dislike the new menu's, but that's it. Never understood why people need two directory lists in a single window. Never learned to ALT TAB or what?

          Bastard Programmer from Hell :suss: "If you just follow the bacon Eddy, wherever it leads you, then you won't have to think about politics." -- Some Bell.

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          • L Lost User

            Just running batch files as if they a command. Cheap, easy, effective. And better yet, I can trust what I write. I dislike the new menu's, but that's it. Never understood why people need two directory lists in a single window. Never learned to ALT TAB or what?

            Bastard Programmer from Hell :suss: "If you just follow the bacon Eddy, wherever it leads you, then you won't have to think about politics." -- Some Bell.

            R Offline
            R Offline
            Rage
            wrote on last edited by
            #17

            Eddy Vluggen wrote:

            Never learned to ALT TAB or what?

            To me, it is far more easier to use F5 or F6 to copy or move, plus you have tabs that you can switch to in the two panes, etc... In fact, once you are used to the key combinations, it is really efficient, and it makes a better use of screen space - though less important now that everybody uses at least 2 monitors. But then, tooling is a subjective matter - Alt-tabing is perfectly good as well if it fits you :-) I still use easy features from the command line - Today, when you need to send a list of files in a directory, everybody attaches a screenshot. I still do a Dir > Filelist.txt :)

            Do not escape reality : improve reality !

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            • R Rage

              Eddy Vluggen wrote:

              Never learned to ALT TAB or what?

              To me, it is far more easier to use F5 or F6 to copy or move, plus you have tabs that you can switch to in the two panes, etc... In fact, once you are used to the key combinations, it is really efficient, and it makes a better use of screen space - though less important now that everybody uses at least 2 monitors. But then, tooling is a subjective matter - Alt-tabing is perfectly good as well if it fits you :-) I still use easy features from the command line - Today, when you need to send a list of files in a directory, everybody attaches a screenshot. I still do a Dir > Filelist.txt :)

              Do not escape reality : improve reality !

              L Offline
              L Offline
              Lost User
              wrote on last edited by
              #18

              I do that too. Using File Explorer. Why pay for something inferior?

              Bastard Programmer from Hell :suss: "If you just follow the bacon Eddy, wherever it leads you, then you won't have to think about politics." -- Some Bell.

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              • L Lost User

                What would you suggest then? A DOS Console?

                Bastard Programmer from Hell :suss: "If you just follow the bacon Eddy, wherever it leads you, then you won't have to think about politics." -- Some Bell.

                T Offline
                T Offline
                theoldfool
                wrote on last edited by
                #19

                On the lighter side, I have used midnight commander via WSL. ;)

                >64 Some days the dragon wins. Suck it up.

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                • T theoldfool

                  On the lighter side, I have used midnight commander via WSL. ;)

                  >64 Some days the dragon wins. Suck it up.

                  R Offline
                  R Offline
                  Rage
                  wrote on last edited by
                  #20

                  This smells like Linux, doesn't it ?

                  Do not escape reality : improve reality !

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                  • R Rage

                    This smells like Linux, doesn't it ?

                    Do not escape reality : improve reality !

                    T Offline
                    T Offline
                    theoldfool
                    wrote on last edited by
                    #21

                    sniff, sniff. Yup, guilty as charged. But it is running on Winders and accessing my C and E drives. WSL/Ubuntu/mc (I didn't say it was smart) :)

                    >64 Some days the dragon wins. Suck it up.

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                    • R Rage

                      While maybe not the most handy, I could do with a DOS console. And batch files :-D . As for replacement, I have been a user of Total commander as long as I can think about, but any clone of it would do - I still fail to see how a file explorer can have a one pane-view only, so clumsy a copy function that can still result in corrupting file (in 2022), no way to rename multiple file or file extensions properly, etc... The windows file explorer is apparently doing its job, but a close look make it easy to see that it lacks about everything, unless your typical use case is "navigate - click to open a file".

                      Do not escape reality : improve reality !

                      J Offline
                      J Offline
                      jsc42
                      wrote on last edited by
                      #22

                      Rage wrote:

                      I still fail to see how a file explorer can have a one pane-view only

                      Apparently, a tabbed view is in preview for W11. Whether it will make the light of day remains to be seen.

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                      • J jsc42

                        Rage wrote:

                        I still fail to see how a file explorer can have a one pane-view only

                        Apparently, a tabbed view is in preview for W11. Whether it will make the light of day remains to be seen.

                        R Offline
                        R Offline
                        Rage
                        wrote on last edited by
                        #23

                        They waited long enough for dual monitors to make it not interesting anymore, but nah...

                        Do not escape reality : improve reality !

                        1 Reply Last reply
                        0
                        • T theoldfool

                          sniff, sniff. Yup, guilty as charged. But it is running on Winders and accessing my C and E drives. WSL/Ubuntu/mc (I didn't say it was smart) :)

                          >64 Some days the dragon wins. Suck it up.

                          R Offline
                          R Offline
                          Rage
                          wrote on last edited by
                          #24

                          *ouch*

                          Do not escape reality : improve reality !

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                          • L Lost User

                            What would you suggest then? A DOS Console?

                            Bastard Programmer from Hell :suss: "If you just follow the bacon Eddy, wherever it leads you, then you won't have to think about politics." -- Some Bell.

                            B Offline
                            B Offline
                            BryanFazekas
                            wrote on last edited by
                            #25

                            Q-Dir History Q-Dir - The Quad Explorer for MS OS[^] I used PowerDesk for ~15 years, but the last owner (company was acquired 3 or 4 times, I lost count) stopped paying attention to it, so I hunted around. Q-Dir isn't perfect, but the developer (one-man shop, AFAIK) maintains it well, and produces dozens of other small applications.

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                            • R raddevus

                              From next room, herself asked, "Where's my mapped drive?" I asked, "are you in File Explorer?" "Yes" "Do you see _This PC_?...Do you see the little greater-than sign so you can click to expand the item?" "No. I don't see any greater-than signs..." I'm forced to get up. "Oh, for Fox sake! 🦊🦊 You have to float into that region now because they disappear!!" UI elements that disappear are so stupid. :mad::mad: Please change the world and make all the disappearing UI elements disappear permanently!! :mad: This is definitely me today[^].

                              W Offline
                              W Offline
                              Wilbur 2021
                              wrote on last edited by
                              #26

                              UX On phone making commenting difficult. Kudos to whom said "who uses File Explorer" and that "Files Preview" with tabs on is just too damn slow. Total Commander is the answer, worth it for over 10 years nag screen included.

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                              • L Lost User

                                Rage wrote:

                                As for replacement, I have been a user of Total commander

                                HAHAHA :D

                                Rage wrote:

                                no way to rename multiple file or file extensions properly

                                It does; a quick extension in C# does that for me. No, I don't share, write your own.

                                Rage wrote:

                                The windows file explorer is apparently doing its job, but a close look make it easy to see that it lacks about everything, unless your typical use case is "navigate - click to open a file".

                                Ignoring rightlick and all extentions. I used DOpus on the Amiga. Total Comander? No, I'd prefer DOS over it. Easier, more powerful, simply better.

                                Bastard Programmer from Hell :suss: "If you just follow the bacon Eddy, wherever it leads you, then you won't have to think about politics." -- Some Bell.

                                N Offline
                                N Offline
                                Nelviticus
                                wrote on last edited by
                                #27

                                Eddy Vluggen wrote:

                                I used DOpus on the Amiga. Total Comander? No, I'd prefer DOS over it. Easier, more powerful, simply better.

                                DOpus is available on Windows and it's awesome. Directory Opus[^]

                                Regards Nelviticus

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                                • W Wilbur 2021

                                  UX On phone making commenting difficult. Kudos to whom said "who uses File Explorer" and that "Files Preview" with tabs on is just too damn slow. Total Commander is the answer, worth it for over 10 years nag screen included.

                                  D Offline
                                  D Offline
                                  darktrick544
                                  wrote on last edited by
                                  #28

                                  Takes me back to Norton Commander, which my fingers knew at the cellular level

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                                  • R raddevus

                                    Thank you for sharing that you hadn't noticed that before either. This continuous update thing is just absolutely mind-boggling at times. If normal physics worked like Windows updates, farm animals would regularly appear on your desk & disappear, I guess. :rolleyes:

                                    C Offline
                                    C Offline
                                    charlieg
                                    wrote on last edited by
                                    #29

                                    that's funny! points to you sir!

                                    Charlie Gilley β€œThey who can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety.” BF, 1759 Has never been more appropriate.

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                                    • L Lost User

                                      What would you suggest then? A DOS Console?

                                      Bastard Programmer from Hell :suss: "If you just follow the bacon Eddy, wherever it leads you, then you won't have to think about politics." -- Some Bell.

                                      F Offline
                                      F Offline
                                      FiresChild
                                      wrote on last edited by
                                      #30

                                      Nah, I'd use Midnight Commander in a command prompt. ( Window-Key with R, type cmd, enter to get the dos(command) prompt then mc and enter to get an nice text based way to use your machine. Of couese you have to find it, download it, and install it in a directory that's on the path :wtf: :laugh:

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                                      • R raddevus

                                        From next room, herself asked, "Where's my mapped drive?" I asked, "are you in File Explorer?" "Yes" "Do you see _This PC_?...Do you see the little greater-than sign so you can click to expand the item?" "No. I don't see any greater-than signs..." I'm forced to get up. "Oh, for Fox sake! 🦊🦊 You have to float into that region now because they disappear!!" UI elements that disappear are so stupid. :mad::mad: Please change the world and make all the disappearing UI elements disappear permanently!! :mad: This is definitely me today[^].

                                        M Offline
                                        M Offline
                                        milo xml
                                        wrote on last edited by
                                        #31

                                        Don't feel bad. I had a disappearing wifi card in my Windows 11 HP laptop. Finally came back on its own without any interaction from me. :omg:

                                        1 Reply Last reply
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                                        • R raddevus

                                          From next room, herself asked, "Where's my mapped drive?" I asked, "are you in File Explorer?" "Yes" "Do you see _This PC_?...Do you see the little greater-than sign so you can click to expand the item?" "No. I don't see any greater-than signs..." I'm forced to get up. "Oh, for Fox sake! 🦊🦊 You have to float into that region now because they disappear!!" UI elements that disappear are so stupid. :mad::mad: Please change the world and make all the disappearing UI elements disappear permanently!! :mad: This is definitely me today[^].

                                          K Offline
                                          K Offline
                                          Kirk 10389821
                                          wrote on last edited by
                                          #32

                                          I have a psychological answer for you... It's a phenomena I noticed decades ago... All People uses core senses (Visual (think geeks), Kinesthetic (think jocks), Auditory (think rockers)) Now, everyone possesses ALL 3 of these, but USUALLY 1 is primary. In Synesthesia, these are actually mixed (specific numbers associate with specific colors, etc). In MUSICIANS, these are STRONGLY Blended. So, the challenge is this. Visual (and Hyper Visual) people can process and IGNORE visual input quickly/easily. But Kinesthetic and Auditory people are not as good as this (Although, Auditory people can hear a piece of music, and ISOLATE just the FLUTE, incredibly easily... I have a friend, he can focus on, and literally only hear that instrument. Crazy. It's a BLUR to my ears. LOL) Therefore, complex screens with too many items OVERWHELM about 2/3rds of the people looking at them! Even Visual People, the first time, have to learn to "CHUNK" the screens of information, and apply "selective attention". which they readily and easily do. So, envisioning a world, where the number of items you can interact with is MINIMIZED Helps to NOT Overwhelm the majority of users. At the expense of those of us (usually programmers, LOL), that prefer to see it all... Again, I ended up learning about this, because I found a GROUP of people who HATED some "Great" software I had written. Now, all the users who were like me (visual), LOVED the software. The strong love/hate confused the heck out of me. But that's when I noticed the Haters were a mashup of people who spoke a bit slower, some where really physical (gym rats, or skate boarders)... My research led me to understand these groups better. I made some MODEST changes to the software to reduce the Visual Intensity/Complexity of the screen... And the HATERS slowly converted... And I became better at writing software for ALL types of users... That said. At no POINT in my WILDEST Imagination, did I think "use Time/Space in such a way that the mouse position, or the angle to their eyeballs should be used in what I display on screen"... I TRULY HATE these things going away. The HIDING SCROLLBAR... yeah, I get it, it just takes up space, but I simply cannot see it unless my mouse hits it, and it's really hard to tell a user to click on something they cannot see! [In many new programs, I will hit the ALT key, just to see if the Menu Activates, so I can more easily direct users] I think that was the first example of "Hiding Things until needing them"

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