Total Commander Interface (GUI) Musings

[Balderstrom]

I've used many a different File Manager over the years, and periodically re-visit some that I've used previously as updates are released to see what they are like now.

I've noticed a common meme in some of the TC naysayers whom complain about it's archaic interface, of which some complaints are technically valid, while others are just useless rants.

Something I've noticed, the File Managers that rely soley on Windows GUI Elements feel insubstantial -- when you go back to TC... it just feels more solid. I wonder am I crazy, or is there some weight to my observation.

While I would be the first to wish for more customization in some areas:
ToolBars (Top AND/OR Bottom), Vertical ToolBars in a Pane (Left/OR Right side of either Pane).

Tabs location: Top or Bottom. Or enhanced appearance (hilighting) of Tabs.

Or the option to include a leading slash in folder display, which I realized looks pretty good.

It's easily understandable why users want more options to customize TC, they spend more time "inside" TC (and perhaps their 'Net Browser) than the rest of the Windows Environment itself.

While I wish some of the above will one day be allowed by the genius that is Ghisler. I can live without it. Yet sometimes Christian's reasons for doing what he does eludes us and seems unjust.

I believe the customization options that exist in TC far exceed almost every other program... the available options inspire one's own creativity which in turn eventually run headlong into areas of the box that TC has restricted for one reason or another.

So cheers to TC and Mr.Ghisler for giving the world something that has inspired many, and to the future of Total Commander in a less restricted solid box.

[ghisler(Author)]

The leading backslash for folders looks like a nice replacement for the square brackets, thanks for the suggestion!

[Henrie]

The backslashes are a Good idea. Thanks Balderstrom. And thanks Ghisler for considering it too. I hope it will be available as an option soon.
Sometimes the brackets are confusing because i use them also in filenames, but mostly it is okay because after 20 or so years i am used to them.
But the backslash will not be able to cause that confusion because it can not be used in file or foldernames.

Moveable toolbars would be great too, but i would like it even more to be able to have different/multiple toolbars open or closed (in an easy way). One for general work and others for specific tasks. The flyouts are an improvement but when you need to use specifics tasks several times it gets a bit annoying.
And switching toolbars i don't like either, because i loose my main toolbar that i want always available.

Highlighting of tabs is not necessary for me right now. The way they are displayed in my XP is fine. But in other windows versions it might be different, so as an option it is fine by me.

[ado]

The leading backslash for folders looks like a nice replacement for the square brackets, thanks for the suggestion!

could you please consider optionally leading slash instead of backslash?

thank you

ado

[fenix_productions]

could you please consider optionally leading slash instead of backslash?

Maybe little more advanced option could be the best?

Something like:

Code: Select all

[Configuration]
FolderNamePattern=[%f]

where %f would mean folder name.

That way users could get almost anything, i.e.:

FolderNamePattern=[%f]
FolderNamePattern=\%f
FolderNamePattern=XXX%fXXX

would give:

[Windows]
\Windows
XXXWindowsXXX

[Rocky]

The leading backslash for folders looks like a nice replacement for the square brackets

I agree with that

[Samuel]

Support for "fenix_productions" idea.
Perhaps also in combination with a

Code: Select all

FolderNamePatternUsage=0/1/2

like discussed in beta forum. (never / when ambiguity / always)

[wanderer]

could you please consider optionally leading slash instead of backslash?

Maybe little more advanced option could be the best?

Something like:

Code: Select all

[Configuration]
FolderNamePattern=[%f]

Wow. It's always nice to see a good idea being improved. I liked Balderstrom's idea but fenix's idea is even better, so i too support it.

[sidefx88]

support!

[Balderstrom]

Something Easy from the above Musings, would be just an option to set the Active Tab Font Colour (with optional Underline|Bold) ::
ActiveTabText=[B|U]#FFFFFF
InactiveTabText=[B|U]#00000

I've seen a deprecated PowerPro script that does Tab manipulation, but I'm not going to learn YASL (yet another scripting language). Though from cursory glance it does appear AHK could do it as well, but I'm definitely not familiar enough with WinForms|Controls (Yet).

Glad that the \Folder, or deriviative thereof is well received.

[shammat]

Maybe little more advanced option could be the best?
Something like:

Code: Select all

[Configuration]
FolderNamePattern=[%f]

Support ++

[ouzoWTF]

FolderNamePattern is a very good idea! support ++

[Balderstrom]

I'd just like to bump the option for setting the char for folders from the current [Folder]. Fenix's modified suggestion seemed to be the most useful for all:

FolderNamePattern=[$F]

Of which I'd change mine to:
FolderNamePattern=\$F

Thanks.

[ThurahT]

What about "\Folder\ " to indicate that "Folder" contains another folder in it and "\Folder" if it does not contain anymore folders.

\Folder1\ <-- Contains one or several folders
\Folder2 <-- Contains no folder
\Folder3 <-- You get the idea by now
\Folder4\ <-- Anyone concur?