Total Commander

.....AKA drag frame, selection box, square of selection, cute blue box from explorer... and many others.

This might already have been suggested before, but this is really necessary. I think that this is the very feature that prevents TC to be the absolute leader in matter of filemanagers. Others have that, what makes it easier for not-so-experienced users. I must say that another shareware filemanager beats TC (will not mention its name in here) solely because of this 'little' difference.
The obligation to select an entire line in full view is so limiting for the user experience.

Please, please, consider implementing it, sir.

ps. I know that there are some "tricks" to "simulate" the function but they're not very comfortable and lack in productivity.

Hello Ross,
Please see True "Mouse selection mode (Windows standard)". I hope you have some other arguments apart from

this is really necessary

Roman

Hacker wrote:Hello Ross,
Please see True "Mouse selection mode (Windows standard)". I hope you have some other arguments apart from

this is really necessary

Roman

Thanks for the response mr. Hacker!
By "this is really necessary" I meant that this could bring us much greater productivity, since I believe that's what TC was made for. Being comfortable, means that the users will use it often, eventually reducing the time to perform the action while they get more used to it. Besides, every user of TC and a contemporary Windows version has certainly used Win Explorer before, that's why they got used to it.

Ross,

this could bring us much greater productivity

I am still waiting for arguments supporting this. I say there would be no increase in productivity compared to the current way of selecting files. Prove me wrong and I will support the wish.

every user of TC and a contemporary Windows version has certainly used Win Explorer before

No, definitely not. I have been using TC since Windows 3.11 (and yes I am using a contemporary version of Windows ) and never touched Explorer enough to get used to anything about Explorer.

Roman

Indeed, me too definetely not. To proof that "..every user of TC.." is, as often, a weak argument.

And I don't care a bit if TC is the absolute leader in matter of filemanagers, I'll use it anyway.

If I could remove Exploder from the set, I would do it, but it's settled too deep in the OS system.

And I reserve drawing a rectangle when working with a bitmap, not when I deal with a list of files.

I am still waiting for arguments supporting this. I say there would be no increase in productivity compared to the current way of selecting files. Prove me wrong and I will support the wish.

Let me get through it: people may either be used to select multiple files by putting the cursor in the first, holding shift then pressing down, or either holding down ctrl each time s/he wants to select a particular file. Nice. However, by dragging a selection rectangle, the user would accomplish the first task more quickly than by holding down shift and pressing down. this would take the little keyboard delay plus the time the down key takes to tap in its frequency. Both features, the rectangle and the ctrl/shift+arrows could act completing each other. And last, but not least, this could come disabled by default if most users prefer the TC traditional way (the way it selects the whole line).

No, definitely not. I have been using TC since Windows 3.11 (and yes I am using a contemporary version of Windows Smile ) and never touched Explorer enough to get used to anything about Explorer.

I did not express myself correctly. I was talking about a user that discovers TC from now on. He will certainly be used to Explorer's way of selection, and the lack of a selection rectangle could make him find the new interface (TC's, in the case) weird. Remember that the interface, unfortunately, weights a lot during the trial period. Being TC a commercial software, perhaps this could make the new users skeptical about the 'easiness to use'.

And I don't care a bit if TC is the absolute leader in matter of filemanagers, I'll use it anyway. Smile

Well, THAT is a weak argument. That's like the decision to support a candidate only because he's leading the polls. And the competitors, meaning x², for example, may be behind in # of users, but I can say it's no bad at all.

And I reserve drawing a rectangle when working with a bitmap, not when I deal with a list of files.

you are a case to be considered, but trust me: this could be only a matter of preference. Why not have this option available, even not by default? I like selecting files with a rectangle, I and understand and respect that you don't.

Ross,

However, by dragging a selection rectangle, the user would accomplish the first task more quickly than by holding down shift and pressing down. this would take the little keyboard delay plus the time the down key takes to tap in its frequency.

Well, what's the advantage over selecting files using the right mouse button?

Roman

Because:

Setting it to multi-select with the rbutton disables the context menu;

The files remain selected even when I click outside any of them, what I think it's not very good unless there is an option to change that;

The selection box makes it easier to see which files are going to be selected (yes, it makes difference when you're performing an action that the centiseconds of difference matter), and it would bring no hassle at all, specially if it's optional;

Makes TC new users feel more comfortable, while not letting down the old school users since there would be the option to switch between the new and old way.

That's like the decision to support a candidate only because he's leading the polls.

My fault. I should have written : "I don't care a bit if TC is the absolute leader in matter of filemanagers, or not"

Setting it to multi-select with the rbutton disables the context menu;

It's not disabled, you have to click the RMB somewhat longer...

Anyway, I don't like the default RMB mode in TC as well, I prefer to select using the LMB, because this is the default way to select stuff in all Windows applications and my first file manager was Explorer, not TC...

I am still forced to use Explorer for all the virtual panel stuff which TC cannot do. It's not even able to operate the recycle bin correctly because you cannot sort by deletion date. You also cannot remove fonts in TC without leaving junk in Windows registry. The list is endless, so no way to get rid of Explorer at all.

TC is a little bit like Opera: If it works, it's great, but sometimes you need FF or IE to get things done, because Opera refuses to do the job.

A visual indicator like a rectangle would enable all comfort which native TC users have with RMB mode also for those who prefer LMB. As Explorer users are used to select AND drag with LMB, the visual indicator would prevent the conflict to decide if a LMB-down event is meant as a start for a new selection or a drag operation: If the LMB-down is within the rectangle, the user wants to drag, otherwise the selection is cancelled.

Icfu

Ross,
I see. So it is not about a rectangle per se, but rather about a "retracting" selection, so that the files are deselected when the mouse hovers over them in the opposite direction, before releasing the mouse button. (Not sure if I am explaining clear enough.)
In this case I support that. One could select and deselect files (for instance to get their filesize) without having to release the mouse button.
I still do not think the rectangle is necessary, however.

Roman

It's not disabled, you have to click the RMB somewhat longer...

Anyway, I don't like the default RMB mode in TC as well, I prefer to select using the LMB, because this is the default way to select stuff in all Windows applications and my first file manager was Explorer, not TC...

The LMB ends up less powerful and versatile than using the RMB, because in the latter you have a "imaginary" rectangle, yet the function appers to be, so far, poor. It's, unfortunately, impredictable when you're about to select /deselect multiple files or not, unless you train very hard.

I am still forced to use Explorer for all the virtual panel stuff which TC cannot do

What's that?

TC is a little bit like Opera: If it works, it's great, but sometimes you need FF or IE to get things done, because Opera refuses to do the job.

These "breaches" are exactly what I'm talking about. The one pointed by me is reasonable. Besides, I have a feeling that it's not hard to implement.

In this case I support that.

Thanks for having an open mind! You see? It's about what some other filemanagers call "adherent selection". It's hard to deselect files when the first group is selected...

Ross,

It's, unfortunately, impredictable when you're about to select /deselect multiple files or not, unless you train very hard.

Well, if you start the RMB selection on an unselected file, you select files. If you start it on a selected file, you unselect files.

It's hard to deselect files when the first group is selected...

I do not quite understand, I am afraid.

Roman

Well, if you start the RMB selection on an unselected file, you select files. If you start it on a selected file, you unselect files.

That's the training!

It's hard to deselect files when the first group is selected...

I do not quite understand, I am afraid.

I definitely explained very badly

For example, lets say you have the following set of files selected:
Image: http://i27.tinypic.com/idbnzc.jpg
As you can see, the selected files are mixed with the unselected ones. Since your last post I learnt how to predict whether the next drag will select or deselect the files, but what if I'd like to inverse the selection in a range? That's what the rectangle is used for, among many other things in Explorer.

It's not disabled, you have to click the RMB somewhat longer...

Where exactly? I dind't find that magic location This means, so far, that using the RMB to select not only makes it a little uncomfortable (since we're used to select the left button) but we'll also lose the context menu. I think I'm wrong, but where it is???

Ross wrote:Where exactly? I dind't find that magic location

Absolutely in the same magic location where it has always been. Press RMB and hold it pressed for about a second — the context menu will appear.