Easier breadcrumbs for mouse-centric users?

mahuron · Post by **mahuron** » 29 Dec 2006 17:41

Why not have each component of the path in the active tab be clickable?

For example, if I'm browsing C:\Program Files\XYplorer; C:, Program Files, and XYplorer can be clicked to navigate to that directory.

This functionality would be disabled for inactive tabs (for obvious reasons).

Directory Opus (bloatus?) features this functionality and I've found it to be very useful.

surrender · Post by **surrender** » 29 Dec 2006 18:14

Hi mahuron!!!

Welcome to XY forums.

Good idea you have there, but what do you do if the path is a loong one? Which wont fit completely into the small tab space. As of now i cant think of a way, but there should be something obvious that DO does to overcome this issue.

Post by **j_c_hallgren** » 29 Dec 2006 18:31

I seem to recall this topic being discussed in another thread in last few months...not sure what the final result was...I'll try to locate it and update this post with a link, if I find it!

mahuron · Post by **mahuron** » 29 Dec 2006 18:32

I can think of a number of ways to combat this:

a.) When the paths in the tabs are subject to truncation (i.e. ellipses appear), you could disable the breadcrumb feature or limit clicks to complete path elements.

b.) Hovering over a truncated tab "maximizes" it (temporarily shrinking others), displaying the full path (or at least, more of it) and more breadcrumbs.

c.) Hovering over a truncated tab overlays a menu displaying the full path and all breadcrumbs.

The first option is probably easiest to implement and would be a good stopgap. The second is probably the most difficult but is also the right way to do it.

jacky · Post by **jacky** » 29 Dec 2006 18:40

j_c_hallgren wrote:I seem to recall this topic being discussed in another thread in last few months...not sure what the final result was...I'll try to locate it and update this post with a link, if I find it!

yep, here it is: http://www.xyplorer.com/xyfc/viewtopic.php?p=9081#9081

As said, it's not that great when multiple tabs come into play, and there's the problem of renamed tabs as well, etc.
I don't think this will be added. What you could ask for maybe is, a TB icon for breadcrumb only, if you don't wanna go through another's icon (Up/Hotlist) ctxt menu & get it in one click only....

Post by **j_c_hallgren** » 29 Dec 2006 18:48

Thanks for the link, jacky! I remembered we were discussing it...

And having Breadcrumb as a unique TB icon would be a simple but handy addition, IMHO...as I have tended to access it via Go menu, so again it's a double step to get there...so what would be a good icon? It'd be hard to make a piece of bread that looks good that small, I suspect.

mahuron · Post by **mahuron** » 29 Dec 2006 19:07

Thank you for pointing me at previous discussion. However, I must state that most of the points made there are moot. JC addresses most of them already (rename, truncation). Regarding "empty" real-estate in the tabs for left click/drag operations, this is easy to solve. If a drag operation starts before mouse release, it's a drag, if not, it's a click on a breadcrumb.

While "admin" (Mr. Lessau I presume?) didn't go into detail, I suspect the issue has more to do with implementing this feature within a tab. Most APIs do not support this out of the box. Subclassing and/or creating an owner drawn control can be a lot of work.

jacky · Post by **jacky** » 30 Dec 2006 20:51

mahuron wrote:While "admin" (Mr. Lessau I presume?) didn't go into detail, I suspect the issue has more to do with implementing this feature within a tab. Most APIs do not support this out of the box. Subclassing and/or creating an owner drawn control can be a lot of work.

It sure is, and that of course might come into admin/Don's decision'making process, but that would never stop him: he did write a lot of stuff on his own for XY, starting with Tree, List, Toolbar, etc

But indeed, the work & time it would required might not be worth it, since it would have restrictions (many tabs, title, etc) and there's already a Breadcrumb implemented.

Post by **admin** » 05 Jan 2007 11:01

Interesting discussion...

what about this: add a command "Breadcrumb..." to the tab headers ctx menu, that will pop up the usual XY Breadcrumb menu based on the path of the tab (right/left)-clicked!?

lukescammell · Post by **lukescammell** » 05 Jan 2007 12:24

Ideally, I'd like to have this implemented by holding down say... the windows key and clicking on a part of the text path in the address bar.

Post by **j_c_hallgren** » 05 Jan 2007 16:47

Not sure if this is technically possible, but how about this idea:
On tab header, between icon and path name, have a drop down arrow (but pointing UP) somewhat like history has...and when clicked, would drop the breadcrumb menu right underneath that tab position, or close by...so cursor would only have to scroll down a line or two or three, etc...
This arrow, if same width as on Toolbar, would seem to not push path name over much, and I'd give up that one full char width to get it there.

Right now, if I'm on a tab at extreme right, and invoke BC via keybd, it shows up WAY over at left edge...so I have to move cursor almost all the way across screen...not very efficient! Actually, if BC could be popped up based on current cursor pos, with ideally with cursor on left end of first entry, I think we'd have a great improvement already...and this would tie into above, as it would then appear in correct location..

Again, this may not be available to do, but thought I'd ask...

Also, should the tab be VERY far to right, and maybe barely visible (width wise), then the right edge of BC should be at XY window edge.

This wouldn't require any new keyboard shortcuts, as existing ones for BC would work fine, and most times, one would invoke via mouse.

Post by **admin** » 05 Jan 2007 17:54

No, I don't want to put another icon on the tab header.

j_c_hallgren wrote:Right now, if I'm on a tab at extreme right, and invoke BC via keybd, it shows up WAY over at left edge...so I have to move cursor almost all the way across screen...not very efficient!

But if invoke BC via keybd, why not go on with keyboard: Up/Down keys will select the menu items.

Anyway, I think nobody will complain when I pop the BC at mouse position, or?

Post by **j_c_hallgren** » 05 Jan 2007 18:30

admin wrote:No, I don't want to put another icon on the tab header.

But if invoke BC via keybd, why not go on with keyboard: Up/Down keys will select the menu items.

The space needed on tab header would be no more than one capital letter requires, as I perceive it, but more importantly, would give me a much more efficient way to access it using mouse only...as now I either have to work my way all the way left over to "Go" menu and then click it, and then go down six entries, click BC, and now I'm finally ready to use it! Or...go over to BC icon on TB, which saves a bit, but still, I have to leave tab location..which may be way at right end...So I'll on occasion, use keybd to invoke it...but then revert back to mouse asap to continue...

So by having it on header, I could get it showing in one click, and be ready to use it...almost as good as clicking on path portions as X2 allows!

Plus, by having it related to tab that I'm on, it makes it more obvious that I want to go somewhere else on that path...having it way at left kinda disassociates it from that tab mentally to me.

If it were full width icon, I could see it, but this arrow could even be two pixels narrower and still be workable.

..or...could maybe either left or right-clicking exactly on existing tab icon specifically invoke BC there? I prefer left click, but would deal ok with a right click (mousepad, remember?) in order to not have to move mouse or use keyboard...

This would isolate it from existing context menu that one gets via tab header...as adding BC to current context would mean having to navigate thru sub-menu to get there, as compared to direct invocation.

Post by **admin** » 06 Jan 2007 08:05

What about this: make path parts of the current tab header clickable! You don't need to reselect the current tab because it is already selected, so its header can be used for the breadcrumb magic.

Okay, remain the issues with truncation and renamed tabs. Hmmm...

Post by **admin** » 06 Jan 2007 08:26

lukescammell wrote:Ideally, I'd like to have this implemented by holding down say... the windows key and clicking on a part of the text path in the address bar.

That reminds me that I originally had planned to use the AB for it. Maybe a simply switch (TB button, KS) to toggle it between BC and edit box.