Total Commander

TC is one of the most incredibly useful pieces of software. It makes my life so much easier. It is the reason why I never have transitioned to MAC or LINUX, even thought there are alternatives there.

That said, I think that there are things to to improve on TC:

1) When trying to copy a file or a number of files to a folder, if there is a file with the same name of the folder, it will show it as the first option.
Example: I have file1, file2, file3, and RETROPIE folder and RETROPIE_MANUAL.txt
If I try to move the 3 files, the first option that shows up is retropie_manual, instead of the folder.
Folder should always show first, as the chances of one trying to override one file with different ones is null.
2) When uncompressing a file with password, there is no way to see what password I am typing.
3) Make the Copy, Move, etc, boxes, wither, they are too little with today resolutions.
4) Do we really need the Help menu to the right? I know it was like that in NC, but we are in 2022.

While installing: why do you always insist that I install other languages besides the one I choose?
first run after installing: Choose the new an more beautiful icons, not the old ones.

Defaults: some defaults make no sense to me, but maybe I am different from the other users. Whenever I have to reinstall TC (for example new Windows version), the defaults that I have to change are:
1) Have to save the position with TC maximized. Maximized should be the default.
2) Natural Sorting, alphabetical and numbers should be the default.
3) Show hidden files and Show system files. I am 99% sure that TC users are advanced users.
4) Font: have to make all 3, two points bigger, but maybe I am getting older.
5) Color: DARK THEME ENABLED PLEASE!
6) Operation: LEFT MOUSE BUTTON, windows standard, and disable rubber band which has no reason to exist.
7) Quick search: letter with alt dialog should be the default!

Some of this things might be smaller changes, some might be just my own ideas, but it will really surprise me if 90% of the users do not agree with me.

My 2cents.

Just feedback to use as you wish. Tastes do vary!

I agree TC is one of the most incredibly useful pieces of software I use.

In the first set of four points, I agree with 1 and 2. From my perspective, items 3 and 4 can be adjusted manually.

Regarding installation, I can't remember when I have done an automatic install. I open the install file and copy over the files I need.

In the second set of seven items, my system follows your suggestions in items two, three and four.

You should make one thread per suggestion, or at least group them together. Why? It's bound to get chaotic when different opinions about different things are brought together.

kwanbis wrote: 2022-02-26, 16:05 UTC Folder should always show first, as the chances of one trying to override one file with different ones is null.

Well, that's how Windows' autocomplete works. It suggests the best match first. Sure, software has some influence on how autocomplete works, but I'm not sure how far that goes.

2) When uncompressing a file with password, there is no way to see what password I am typing.

I never understood why someone wants to make the password visible, not in OS, some other software or websites. Password fields are supposed to make their contents hidden. Pretty sure that someone grabbed a password while looking someone else over the shoulder while the password was revealed (accidentally). That being said, I know that users are different and work differently and have varying requirements. As long as it's optional to show a button to reveal the contents of a password field, it's fine.

3) Make the Copy, Move, etc, boxes, wither, they are too little with today resolutions.

Indeed. It would be a good start to make those dialogs resizable, which has been suggested in the past IIRC.

4) Do we really need the Help menu to the right? I know it was like that in NC, but we are in 2022.

You can create your own menu file and use that instead of the stock one, although this doesn't work with the built-in English language.

While installing: why do you always insist that I install other languages besides the one I choose?

I suggest to take a look at TC's auto installation feature, i.e. unattended installation. You can set various things in advance, and not installing other languages is one of them.
See the wiki for example: https://www.ghisler.ch/wiki/index.php?title=How_to_make_installation_fully_automatic%3F

first run after installing: Choose the new an more beautiful icons, not the old ones.

It's definitely subjective what is beautiful and what isn't.

Defaults: some defaults make no sense to me, but maybe I am different from the other users.

Well, you said it: They don't make sense to you. I, for one, don't like dark mode at all, and I don't like left mouse selection mode either. There's nothing wrong with creating a default wincmd.ini with the settings you like and copy that to the new installation, overwriting the one created by TC's setup. It's also possible to just copy the entire TC directory to another system when UseIniInProgramDir=7 is set in its wincmd.ini. This also works for a portable TC. See TC's help, section 4.b. for more information on that setting.

Regards
Dalai

jinsight wrote: 2022-02-26, 17:24 UTC Regarding installation, I can't remember when I have done an automatic install. I open the install file and copy over the files I need.

Well, of course, but at this point we can say that TC is very much in a refining phase, so I am suggesting things that make the experience better.

jinsight wrote: 2022-02-26, 17:24 UTC In the first set of four points, I agree with 1 and 2:
1) When trying to copy a file or a number of files to a folder, if there is a file with the same name of the folder, it will show it as the first option.
2) When uncompressing a file with password, there is no way to see what password I am typing.

jinsight wrote: 2022-02-26, 17:24 UTC From my perspective, items 3 and 4 can be adjusted manually.
3) Make the Copy, Move, etc, boxes, wither, they are too little with today resolutions.
4) Do we really need the Help menu to the right? I know it was like that in NC, but we are in 2022.

How can you manually change this? The dialog boxes cannot be resized manually, or at least I have no idea of how. Regarding the help thing, is a totally minor thing, but, again, how can you change it's position to be after the STart menu and not to the right?

jinsight wrote: 2022-02-26, 17:24 UTC In the second set of seven items, my system follows your suggestions in items two, three and four.
2) Natural Sorting, alphabetical and numbers should be the default.
3) Show hidden files and Show system files. I am 99% sure that TC users are advanced users.
4) Font: have to make all 3, two points bigger, but maybe I am getting older.

Remember that this is about defaults, I think my defaults make more sense. But of course, not everybody has to agree. But I cannot believe anybody does not use the LEFT button when ALL programs in windows, even windows itself, use LEFT for context menus.

I.
2) security reasons- if you type wrong, you just cannot unpack
3) Change DPI settings!
4) Edit MNU file, remove "HELP_BREAK"

II.

kwanbis wrote: 2022-02-26, 16:05 UTC ...Whenever I have to reinstall TC (for example new Windows version)...

Just copy old INI files!

1) maybe...
2) not so obvious
3) maybe... (it's better than make hidden folder visible by default)
4) 5) 6) 7) you can change anything you wish, so no need to change defaults.

Dalai wrote: 2022-02-26, 17:30 UTC You should make one thread per suggestion, or at least group them together. Why? It's bound to get chaotic when different opinions about different things are brought together.

The things aren't as big change to merit their own thread IMHO, however, it can be splitted.

Dalai wrote: 2022-02-26, 17:30 UTCWell, that's how Windows' autocomplete works. It suggests the best match first. Sure, software has some influence on how autocomplete works, but I'm not sure how far that goes.

I don't know if Delphi will allow the change, or if Ghisler uses a custom component or what, but it is worth a try.

Dalai wrote: 2022-02-26, 17:30 UTC I never understood why someone wants to make the password visible, not in OS, some other software or websites. Password fields are supposed to make their contents hidden. Pretty sure that someone grabbed a password while looking someone else over the shoulder while the password was revealed (accidentally). That being said, I know that users are different and work differently and have varying requirements. As long as it's optional to show a button to reveal the contents of a password field, it's fine.

Because most of the time this are simple passwords that are there for minor reasons, or at least for my use case. Of course I can type it in Notepad, and then copy, but that is the same problem x2. This is why 99% of the apps/webs have the option to show the password.

Dalai wrote: 2022-02-26, 17:30 UTCYou can create your own menu file and use that instead of the stock one, although this doesn't work with the built-in English language.

The HELP menu position is almost a non issue. It is just weird that it is there.

Dalai wrote: 2022-02-26, 17:30 UTCI suggest to take a look at TC's auto installation feature, i.e. unattended installation. You can set various things in advance, and not installing other languages is one of them.

Again, this is a very simple request. It is just saying no on the next step of the installer. My point is that it should default to NO, because probably 99.99% of the users only install and use one language.

Dalai wrote: 2022-02-26, 17:30 UTCIt's definitely subjective what is beautiful and what isn't.

Again, is about defaulting to the newest thing that Ghisler or someone built for him. Why build a new set of icons and default to the old one? Is like Windows 11 defaulting to the old Windows XP interface.

Dalai wrote: 2022-02-26, 17:30 UTCWell, you said it: They don't make sense to you. I, for one, don't like dark mode at all, and I don't like left mouse selection mode either. There's nothing wrong with creating a default wincmd.ini with the settings you like and copy that to the new installation, overwriting the one created by TC's setup. It's also possible to just copy the entire TC directory to another system when UseIniInProgramDir=7 is set in its wincmd.ini. This also works for a portable TC. See TC's help, section 4.b. for more information on that setting.

That is why I said do not make sense to ME, me as in I. Maybe you are too young or you don't use TC as much, so the white does not bother you. But there is a reason most apps/os are moving to dark themes. Again, this is about having defaulst that are better for 80% of your population. For example, not having RIGHT button as the deffautl, which is used by 99.99999% of the apps and even windows itself, makes no sense at all. And I am not saying remove the option, I am saying choose the default that makes more sense.

repeted.

Gral wrote: 2022-02-26, 17:41 UTC 2) security reasons- if you type wrong, you just cannot unpack

And your point is?

Gral wrote: 2022-02-26, 17:41 UTC 3) Change DPI settings!

What?

Gral wrote: 2022-02-26, 17:41 UTC 4) Edit MNU file, remove "HELP_BREAK"

What is the purpose of having the help to the right?

Gral wrote: 2022-02-26, 17:41 UTC Just copy old INI files!

Yeah, or I can just make an image of the whole disc.

Gral wrote: 2022-02-26, 17:41 UTC you can change anything you wish, so no need to change defaults.

You clearly don't understand what I said.

You wish some defaults, other users wish exactly the opposite.
It's impossible to suits everyone's needs.
That's the point!

Gral wrote: 2022-02-26, 18:09 UTC You wish some defaults, other users wish exactly the opposite. It's impossible to suits everyone's needs. That's the point!

Of course it is impossible! This is why I talked about DEFAULTS and not about removing feature.

Why build a new set of icons, much better and modern, and default to the old one?
Why keep defaulting to the NC use of the left button when I bet money 90% of the people who care about configuring TC change it to right?
etc, etc, etc.

At this point I imagine it is very difficult to keep adding features to TC because it is a very specific type of software and is almost perfect, so my suggestions are on that sense.

kwanbis wrote: 2022-02-26, 18:06 UTC

Gral wrote: 2022-02-26, 17:41 UTC 3) Change DPI settings!

What?

Have you ever seen the settings window?

kwanbis wrote: 2022-02-26, 18:06 UTC

Gral wrote: 2022-02-26, 17:41 UTC Just copy old INI files!

Yeah, or I can just make an image of the whole disc.

Nope, change whole internet if you don't like it, it's more reasonable

kwanbis wrote: 2022-02-26, 18:17 UTC Why keep defaulting to the NC use of the left button when I bet money 90% of the people who care about configuring TC change it to right?
etc, etc, etc.

Are you even sure what you are writing about?
Default is RIGHT.

kwanbis wrote: 2022-02-26, 18:17 UTCOf course it is impossible! This is why I talked about DEFAULTS and not about removing feature.

You wish to have dark mode as default, I don't. You wish to have left mouse selection mode as default, I don't. We are talking about defaults here. As I said, you can make your own default wincmd.ini to apply to new installations. I have done so many years ago because there are a lot of settings I need to be changed, column widths, quick search, showing hidden objects, hotkeys, packer, font settings and many more.

Why build a new set of icons, much better and modern, and default to the old one?

Because there's a large user base that's been using TC for decades, and maybe it's even the majority that doesn't like and/or need such a change. Again, maybe it's the majority, but maybe it's not. What I do know is that I count myself among them, but I also know that the new icon sets have their fans. Either one of those groups is required to change a setting, so it's just about which one is thought to be the larger one or the preferred one or whatever you want to call it. The same applies to the other settings whose defaults you want to see changed.

Why keep defaulting to the NC use of the left button when I bet money 90% of the people who care about configuring TC change it to right?

I think you mixed left and right multiple times. Default mouse selection mode in TC is right, unless you swapped mouse buttons (e.g. because you're left-handed).

Regards
Dalai

kwanbis wrote: 2022-02-26, 18:01 UTCMaybe you are too young or you don't use TC as much, so the white does not bother you.

I don't use white backgrounds, and I have probably never done so. White background is awful, even more so than dark mode, and I HATE every website using white background or too bright design in general. I've been using some grey-ish-brown background since more than 2 decades because white is just as stressful to the eyes as too dark colors. The thing is that MS decided to remove a lot of configuration options from Windows in Win8 and later*, just to bring a dark mode in Win10 ... which they can now sell as the hot new sh** to people. But maybe that's just me.

*) Yes, I know it can still be configured using third-party tools. Yay, an OS whose colors can be configured to your liking, but you can't do it with the settings provided by the OS...

/Sorry, rant done.

Regards
Dalai

Dalai wrote: 2022-02-26, 19:50 UTC You wish to have left mouse selection mode as default, I don't.

Nothing more to add.