Tags & Comment lost when moving files/folders

[chumbo]

Hi,
When I move files or folders which have been tagged and/or have comments added, the tags and comment are lost at the new location!? This can't be the normal behaviour, right?
That was the ONLY reason I decided to give XYplorer a try, because I had been looking for such a functionality. But if I can't reorder and move files around...it's pretty much useless! :-(
Thanks in advance,
chumbo

[highend]

I've just tried it with 5 test files.

Every file that I moved (either via drag and drop on the second pane or via ctrl + x, ctrl + v) got it's new location correctly. Tried with and without custom copy...

[bdeshi]

Mayhaps you moved the files outside of XYplorer.

[chumbo]

Nope, I moved them within the XYplorer. I just tried it again and it still loses tags and comments! I thought it might have been because of moving it to an external drive but no, it happens even when I stay within the same partition! :-(

[highend]

What happens to the entry for such a file in the tag.dat file?

[chumbo]

highend, you maybe are on to something as it's certainly interesting. In my case, the tag.dat file showed all my original tags and comments but with only the original path shown (where they were copied from and were displaying properly tag & comment).
So as an experiment, I recopied back the file that had lost it's tag back to it's original location as shown in the tag.dat file...and tag & comment were back!
So...what does that tell you?

It would be interesting to see what happens to your tag.dat file when you move a file and it retains it's tag info...does it show the new path now?

Thanks to all who are helping! :-)

[highend]

My tag.dat updates accordingly that's why I asked.

Create a new file. Tag it. Menu "File - Settings Special - Save tags"
Move the file. Menu "File - Settings Special - Save tags"

Does it have the correct path in the tag.dat file?

[chumbo]

YES!!! You're awesome, that did it! Thanks :-)

I guess I have to get used to the fact that I must always exit using the Exit (Save) button and not the 'x' in the top right as I would with the Windows Explorer.
Cheers,

[highend]

It's just the problem that there is no option for autosaved tags (after a completed copy / move / delete operation)

[chumbo]

RIght, maybe someday then, I guess I need to post this in the request feature section. Still it's SUCH a great feature, I'll happily put up with the minor inconvenience. ;-)

[PeterH]

YES!!! You're awesome, that did it! Thanks :-)

I guess I have to get used to the fact that I must always exit using the Exit (Save) button and not the 'x' in the top right as I would with the Windows Explorer.
Cheers,

You must save on exit *if* you don't have setting "Save settings on exit" selected!
If you always exit with save you should set this option.

[chumbo]

Hmmm, strange stuff going on here. I checked and I already had the 'Save Settings On Exit' selected and everything is checked in the "Applies to...'.

So then, to experiment, I created a new tag, moved it to a new location, closed with the 'x' and the tag was still there when I re-opened!?

I guess just some weird minor bug/issue that auto-resolved itself? :-S

Still, I learned stuff today, so thanks to all! :-)
(and I might be back if the problem comes back as strangely as it disappeared!?)

On a side note, does anyone know if it's possible to add entries manually to the tag.dat file? For example, I use tags and comments to identify what a software does because often names can be cryptic as to its functionality. And I have a backup of my main hard drive and would like my backup to have all the same tags and comments. SInce the only difference in the name of the path to all the files is just the actual drive letter ('D:\Portable Apps\Foobar' instead of 'C:\Portable Apps\Foobar' for ex.) I was thinking of copying the content of the tag.dat file and rename the 'C:\' to 'D:\' using flash renamer, which will do that in a few seconds. Then I could paste that back in the tag.dat....would that work? Will my files on the D:\ now appear with tag and comment as on C:\?
I don't want to risk messing anything up so I prefer to ask first.
Cheers,

[highend]

if it's possible to add entries manually to the tag.dat file?

Sure. Correct upper / lower case (as you see it in XY) is a requirement!

[bdeshi]

the tag.dat is plain text.
you need to add new entires for new files under the Data: section.
The entry must be in this format:

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Path\to\file\or\folder\with\correct\case|<label>|<tag(s)>|<extratag1>|<extratag2>|<extratag3>|<extratag4>|<extratag5>|<comment>

Data are pipe-separated. Data within <> can be empty, they are optional (but the |'s are not!). Tags must not contain "|".

Example: Here's a manually added entry that successfully tags XYplorer.chm with 'document' and 'the guide'

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C:\Portable\XYplorer\XYplorer.chm|0|the guide,document||||||

note that if you do not apply any label, the section after filename may be either empty or 0. This entry is similar to the one above:

Code: Select all

C:\Portable\XYplorer\XYplorer.chm||document, the guide||||||

you can enter tags in any order, but after saving the database in XY, tags will be reordered alphabetically (A-Z) .

[edit] The <label> section can be a number 0-15. 0 or empty means no label, and values 1 to 15 (max) corresponds to the labels list in Configuration->Tags.
This applies label number 5 to the chm:

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C:\Portable\XYplorer\XYplorer.chm|5|document, the guide||||||

[edit]

And an entry that successfully adds a comment to XYplorer.chm.

Code: Select all

C:\Portable\XYplorer\XYplorer.chm||document, the guide||||||This is the manual or help file of XYplorer.¶There is a line break before this sentence.

The pilcrow (¶) == linebreak in comments. (But it will be literally displayed if entered as a tag). Also since the comment is the last section in an entry, it can contain additional pipes.

Code: Select all

C:\Portable\XYplorer\XYplorer.chm||document,¶, the guide||||||This comment is piped ||||||||| 

And last but not least, save settings in XY, edit tag.dat, then restart XY WITHOUT saving. Else XY will remove your manual customizations when "quit-saving".

[chumbo]

WOW! that was awesome Sammay, thx a lot! I'm know a Tag expert. Lots of precious information and tips in there, I'll get started tagging away right now! :-)