Windows Explorer Style Comment Column

[MrMcGoo]

In Windows XP, you can add a "comments" column that shows the comments you write in the "Summary" tab of the file properties.

If you move, copy or rename the file, the comments are moved or duplicated in the copy or stay with the file if renamed.

In TC, I see there is a custom "comment" type of field. But it seems to rely on a static description file that is generated in the folder and the comment does not stay with the file when moved, copied or renamed.

Is there some way to make TC duplicate this must have feature of Windows explorer?

Thanks!

[karlchen]

In TC, I see there is a custom "comment" type of field. But it seems to rely on a static description file that is generated in the folder and the comment does not stay with the file when moved, copied or renamed.

You should enable the T.C. to copy descriptions along with the copied objects:
Menu => Configuration => Options => Operation
At the bottom of the dialogue box there is the setting [X] Copy comments with files.
In fact this should read [X] Copy/move/delete comments with files/folders

You create comments by pressing <Ctrl>Z on an object and typing your comment text and confirming it with <F2>.

You can make the "description" comment permanently visible by adding a custom column to your file panels which display the value of tc.comment.

[MrMcGoo]

Thank you! I will try that. But if a file is renamed, does the comment stick? What about if it is moved?

Yes! I just tested... it works for moved and renamed files! And it even cleans up the description file when files are deleted!

Nice! Thank you!

[karlchen]

In fact this should read [X] Copy/move/delete comments with files/folders

This was meant to confirm T.C. preserves file comments when copying or moving.
T.C. deletes a comment when the commented object is removed.
Renaming is just a special form of moving. So yes, when a file is renamed, the comment will be preserved.

Note:
All this is only true provided the operations copy / move / rename / delete are performed by Total Commander.
Explorer does not know about the descript.ion files and their content and will not preserve T.C. comments.

[MrMcGoo]

I probably need to upgrade. I am still using version 7.56a of TC. My version just has the option to "Copy comments with files." Maybe that's why the functionality isn't all there.

Anyway, thank you! That was very helpful!

[MrMcGoo]

I probably need to upgrade. I am still using version 7.56a of TC. My version just has the option to "Copy comments with files." Maybe that's why the functionality isn't all there.

Anyway, thank you! That was very helpful!

Oh... maybe you are saying that is SHOULD read copy/move/rename instead of just copy, but it doesn't.

In my initial test, it did not seem to consistently remove data from the description file when files were deleted, but I need to upgrade, and test again more carefully. If I find any glitches when I get to that, I will report back.

THANKS AGAIN!

[Lefteous]

2MrMcGoo

Is there some way to make TC duplicate this must have feature of Windows explorer?

Install this plugin:
http://www.totalcmd.net/plugring/shelldetails.html
and add the field 'shelldetails.Comments' to a custom column view.

[MrMcGoo]

2MrMcGoo

Is there some way to make TC duplicate this must have feature of Windows explorer?

Install this plugin:
http://www.totalcmd.net/plugring/shelldetails.html
and add the field 'shelldetails.Comments' to a custom column view.

That looks ultra cool! Thank you, I'll try it!

Works like a charm! Same way as it works in explorer. Perfect!

Now I even have an option to use the TC version that creates a file I can copy text from if I want, or to use the same field that WE uses... fantastic!

Does anyone have any idea where Windows stores this data? It is always nice to know for a number of reasons not the least of which is that you may want to clean it out once in a while. I don't know if it is accessible or not, but if not then that could be a case for using the TC version where you can actually find the data if you want to and not have more inaccessible clutter on your hard drive that sits there forever with no way to even know it's there.

[ghisler(Author)]

The data is stored in so-called alternate data streams of the NTFS file system. Unfortunately it seems that these comments are no longer supported on Windows Vista, 7 and 8, and Windows XP will go out of support in April.

[white]

The data is stored in so-called alternate data streams of the NTFS file system. Unfortunately it seems that these comments are no longer supported on Windows Vista, 7 and 8, and Windows XP will go out of support in April.

So people using Windows XP comments again will search for alternatives. It would be great if TC could use alternate data streams for comments. I think that is better than working with descript.ion files. And it would be a reason to use TC instead of Explorer...

[karlchen]

It would be great if TC could use alternate data streams for comments. I think that is better than working with descript.ion files.

One man's meat is the other man's poison.
Alternate data streams are only available on NTFS filesystems.
I.e. everytime you copy commented objects to a device that uses a different filesystem, you will lose your comments.
The good old JPSoft comments, stored in descript.ion files, can be used on any filesystem.

Karl

[MrMcGoo]

I see pros and cons to each method. But I think the fact that Windows doesn't have a built in universal, hardware/file system/OS version independent way to store extra information about a file is a big flaw in the OS. This seems elementary.

And I think the fact that MS would drop support and leave anyone who used that feature without a path forward for their data is indicative of an even bigger flaw in their customer support system.