What's new in this version? (8Beta8)

[eugensyl]

Version 8 beta 8 added an interesting feature.
I suggest to add into HELP - "What's new in this version?"

Use a different pattern and brightness from the normal focus rectangle to distinguish it easily (32/64)

[Sir_SiLvA]

Help has allways been first point to explain what
wc now tc is second whats new in the actual version.

So canan you please explain more what you mean?

[eugensyl]

Help has allways been first point to explain what
wc now tc is second whats new in the actual version.

So canan you please explain more what you mean?

Yes, of course...

In History of TC 8beta8 we have:

03.11.11 Added: (experimental): InactiveFocus=1: Use a different pattern and brightness from the normal focus rectangle to distinguish it easily (32/64)

So, in my opinion this add is an important feature because we can see both place of the cursor ( source and destination) useful for "compare by content" and so on.

Many people, standard users, don't look (often) in History file.
First of all it's good to know and it must have a check box for this option.
Secondly, it's about the perception of a new valuable feature.

On the other hands, I would like this feature to be by default ON. I mean InactiveFocus=0 OR better InactiveFocusOff=1

This was an awaiting feature for me for a long time. I suppose, not only for me.

That's all.

[MVV]

This is a BETA, this option is EXPERIMENTAL.
I think it will be enabled by default in release.

Anyway, it is necessary to support inverted cursor...

[ghisler(Author)]

I think it will be enabled by default in release.

No, it will not be enabled by default. It's non-standard behaviour, you don't get this in any other Windows programs.

Anyway, it is necessary to support inverted cursor...

This isn't planned, it would make it too difficult to distinguish the active from the inactive side.

[HolgerK]

So, in my opinion this add is an important feature because we can see both place of the cursor ( source and destination) useful for "compare by content"...

Waiting for the first bug report complaining that "Compare By Content..." ignores the position of the inactive cursor...


Holger

[Phred]

This has always perplexed me - which panel is currently active, especially if the selection bar has been scrolled out of view.

And, in addition, where to click in TC upon return to it - a 'neutral zone', so as to not disturb the current active panel - is always a challenge (especially if the selection bar has been scrolled out of view).

FWIW, related to focus: have you seen a program called Ghoster? It dims background apps/windows (though not, of course, active/inactive panels).

[petermad]

is always a challenge (especially if the selection bar has been scrolled out of view

Sorry, what is it you refer to as a selection bar ?? Is it the Current directory bar AKA Breadcrumb bar (if enabled) ?

[Phred]

No, Peter, I'm referring to the 'cursor bar', the 'file highlight bar' - the 'selected file bar' within the currently active TC panel.

If a file is 'selected', if the 'bar' (esp Detail view) is on a file, and that file is scrolled out-of-panel or obscured, there's little indication as to what panel is active - except a feint change in colouring between the two panels

HTH.

What's YOUR 'neutral zone' (without resorting to some auto-focus mechanism - like X-Windows/Katmouse that brings the window under the mouse to the front)?

[MVV]

I think it will be enabled by default in release.

No, it will not be enabled by default. It's non-standard behaviour, you don't get this in any other Windows programs.

BTW standard EDIT windows support displaying selection w/o focus (special style bit).

Anyway, it is necessary to support inverted cursor...

This isn't planned, it would make it too difficult to distinguish the active from the inactive side.

It is sad... If you won't enable inactive cursor by default, you may add flag for inverted cursor - it won't confuse people until they enable it.

[HolgerK]

What's YOUR 'neutral zone' (without resorting to some auto-focus mechanism - like X-Windows/Katmouse that brings the window under the mouse to the front)?

Also I'm not Peter:

Explorer: Task bar icon
TC: Caption bar
TC: Empty Space in Button bar
TC: Empty space in Tab bar
TC: Current director Path bar
Explorer:<ALT+Tab>
Explorer:<Win+Tab>
Explorer(Win7):<Win+(Position number of the TC-Icon in Task bar)>
...

There are a lot of possibilities (also for mousers) to set the focus back to TC without changing the cursor position. Most of them are also available if the TC-window itself is hidden by another window.

Regards
Holger

[Phred]

[ [
Hi Holger,
This is a minor point regarding TC8+ but it's just about returning to a particular panel in TC without disturbing the currently selected file in a panel.
With the mouse.
I find people have selected a file in one panel and then have a second thought about something else, and so change to the alternative panel.
After covering that issue the challenge is to return to the original panel/file and continue with the line of thought associated with that.
The issue is, when the selected file is scrolled out of sight -
a. how to identify which panel is currently active, and
b. which file was the subject of the thought processes at the time.
Your suggestions are well understood. But so far there doesn't seem to be a simple mouse action that snaps the previous selection back into view.
A neutral action with the mouse.
Katmouse helps because a focus-click isn't required to scroll a panel (indeed window) with the wheel.
] ]

[HolgerK]

[OT]

The issue is, when the selected file is scrolled out of sight -
a. how to identify which panel is currently active

wincmd.ini section:

Code: Select all

[Colors]
ActiveTitle=<Set the same value you've selected for the cursor color>
ActiveTitleText=<Set your preferred text color>
InActiveTitle=<Set the same value you've selected for the panel background>
InActiveTitleText=<Set your preferred text color>

b. which file was the subject of the thought processes at the time.

Interesting question. How will you find the position of the cursor, if you even don't remember in which direction you've moved the scrollbar?
Sometimes keyboard commands are simply better (<Up><Down>)
[/OT]

Regards
Holger

[petermad]

What's YOUR 'neutral zone'

Well, I do use KatMouse - couldn't live without it. Unfortunately it sometimes stops working under Win 7.

Otherwise I mostly use the breadcrumb bar to focus a panel, if I don't want to "disturb" it. Or I use an empty space in the panel if any (but in that case nothing can be scrolled out of view anyway).

[Phred]

[OT]
Holger - thanks for the colour info (color). I can't find a reference to the color values required for those settings. Can you point us to a color table or utility that will give them?
I could use existing numbers in the ini and play around with them - but that'd be like moving a car by pushing on the tyres...

Yes, a move over to the KB looks like the answer. At least you know you're only one file off.

Pmad - yes, KM has its moments - although a click and a click on its icon can refresh it. It disables off-control volume change, for instance, which is nice in Win7 - but that's what it's for, I suppose..

See above re a KB movement. TK.
[/OT]