Formatted Preview of .REG files?

[j_c_hallgren]

I was doing some work with some .REG (Registry) files today...mine are mostly small 1KB files with a couple of keys that I need to check/update on occasion, and I can only see them in Raw mode style in XY.

I can right-click on them, select Edit, and they open in Notepad, but that's a bit of a hassle when I just want to see contents quickly.

It seems that they are basically TXT files but have hex 'FF FE' as first two chars, and rest of file appears to have a hex '00' between printable chars.

If they would show as a TXT file does in Preview, that would be great!

[admin]

Weird, because I see my *.reg (XP prof SP2) files in Preview and Raw View exactly as you want them!

[j_c_hallgren]

Ok...I just realized what I had done...MY fault! SORRY! I'd left "Hex view" turned on...but...that brings up a query:
Shouldn't .REG files be recognized as such and thus not have the "Raw View" option boxes at right showing? As when I view .TXT in Preview, I don't see any options...just the data in typical view mode.

[admin]

Ok...I just realized what I had done...MY fault! SORRY! I'd left "Hex view" turned on...but...that brings up a query:
Shouldn't .REG files be recognized as such and thus not have the "Raw View" option boxes at right showing? As when I view .TXT in Preview, I don't see any options...just the data in typical view mode.

Not possible, at least not by just adding *.reg to the list of previewed formats. Drag a reg file onto IE and see what happens. This would happen in XY, too, since I exploit IE for the TXT preview.

[j_c_hallgren]

Hummm...ok...so could there be a built-in mechanism so that .REG files when only in Preview tab have "hex view" turned off temporarily and automatically? As that gives satisfactory view results, but having to keep flipping H-V switch when going between PV and RV tabs is kinda a nuisance.

[admin]

Hummm...ok...so could there be a built-in mechanism so that .REG files when only in Preview tab have "hex view" turned off temporarily and automatically? As that gives satisfactory view results, but having to keep flipping H-V switch when going between PV and RV tabs is kinda a nuisance.

You don't need to check HexView unless you want to see ASCII files in HEX which is a rare thing to want.

[j_c_hallgren]

You don't need to check HexView unless you want to see ASCII files in HEX which is a rare thing to want.

Well, in my case, having hex mode on is my standard view, as I prefer having both views of a file (hex and formatted) available...so I use Preview for formatted and Raw for hex mode...thus, when REG files use the hex option in both PV/RV, it's an issue for me, ok?

[admin]

You don't need to check HexView unless you want to see ASCII files in HEX which is a rare thing to want.

Well, in my case, having hex mode on is my standard view, as I prefer having both views of a file (hex and formatted) available...so I use Preview for formatted and Raw for hex mode...thus, when REG files use the hex option in both PV/RV, it's an issue for me, ok?

Okay, it might make sense to auto-turn-off hex view on the PV tab if the file is not a binary file. But this is the kind of auto-smartness I rather avoid... I bet some user does not want exactly this...

[j_c_hallgren]

Okay, it might make sense to auto-turn-off hex view on the PV tab if the file is not a binary file. But this is the kind of auto-smartness I rather avoid... I bet some user does not want exactly this...

Given that a REG file (at least on W2K/XP) is somewhat binary (embeded hex zeros, etc), I'm not sure how this would qualify...other than the .REG extension, for which I do believe that most, if not all, users would like to see those in a formatted preview even if they have hex turned on for raw view...yes, that might involve a bit of auto-smartness, but in this case, it would avoid the issue of trying to use IE to view it, or user (like me!) having to keep setting/resetting hex view option.

[jacky]

Okay, it might make sense to auto-turn-off hex view on the PV tab if the file is not a binary file. But this is the kind of auto-smartness I rather avoid... I bet some user does not want exactly this...

Yeah, I'm one who'd disagree I guess. I think the way it's done now makes sense: on preview tab you get an actual preview of the file, unless it is not a known format/extension (or is disabled) and then you get to see the file through XY's Raw View mode (while still being on Preview Tab), so it only makes sense to use the same options as we're using that mode!!

My point is, if one did enable Hex view on its Raw View mode/tab, it should be used whenever a Raw View takes place, no matter what tab or file is being viewed.

I mean, I say I want Hex view, it means I want it. I don't expect XY to disable it because it's a *.txt file and that usually is a text/ascii file, or for some other reason, such as what Tab I'm on.


And while I'm there, little bug it seems: try to preview/raw view a file that's too large, both will say so.
Now first load up a small file, then move on to the too large file: raw view behaves the same, but preview does not: it does nothing, which could be quite confusing as it looks like it's previewing TooBigFile, which is focused&selected, when it's actually still showing SmallFile on the preview tab!

[j_c_hallgren]

My point is, if one did enable Hex view on its Raw View mode/tab, it should be used whenever a Raw View takes place, no matter what tab or file is being viewed.

I mean, I say I want Hex view, it means I want it. I don't expect XY to disable it because it's a *.txt file and that usually is a text/ascii file, or for some other reason, such as what Tab I'm on.

My point is that while I expect to have Hex view within Raw tab, I'd really like to have it auto-disabled on Preview tab so I can more easily attempt to see it in non-hex mode. To me, raw=hex, preview=display, and by switching tabs, that's normally what I get...but on a .REG file now, I get hex in both!

So since .REG files can't be processed by normal IE method, XY is forced to use the Ascii mode, which gives a very acceptable "display" when hex is off, and that's what would be preferable...remember, on a .TXT file, XY is almost always able to use IE so hex is thus disabled, right?

I've got some files that are SO "hexy", that no matter what hex option is set to, will ONLY display in hex in Preview tab...but for those few (like .REG, .CSS, .KML (Google Earth) and most .LOG's, etc.) that could be viewable, having it auto-off would just make it quicker/easier to see it.

[jacky]

My point is that while I expect to have Hex view within Raw tab,

Well, I think the thing is here: forget about the tabs, XY has two modes: Preview mode (which is done through IE unless it's a picture/video/audio/font) and Raw View mode, which can be also used on Preview tab when the format is unknown/disabled.

To me, raw=hex, preview=display

Yeah, but that's not really it. preview = "display" allright, but raw = view the content of the file, hex or not. For example, with *.html preview is the display through IE, but raw = the source code, and that does not mean in Hex view!! Also true with PHP files, where preview can be the actual site (through IE, via server mapping) while Raw View is the source code, again, no Hex view wanted here.
It's actually the same for pictures/audio/etc, only because they're binay files you cannot view them otherwise as hex view, regardless of the option.

I understand that you use Raw View mode mostly for Hex, but that's not how it's been actually done. Most people might want the "display" on preview tab, and the content on Raw View tab (as intended), the later being in Hex view for binary file (even without Hex view enabled) and in ASCII view for ASCII files, those being view in Hex using the option being probably a rare case for most people (I mean I think most people don't care about viewing some TXT/LOG/CSV file in Hex, most of the times).

remember, on a .TXT file, XY is almost always able to use IE so hex is thus disabled, right?

No, not really. I mean, Hex view isn't disabled at all, you're just not in Raw View mode, so that option doesn't apply here.
Imagine for some reason you don't like IE ways of showing text file, you could uncheck *.txt on the config, and then *.txt files would be shown on Preview tab using XY's Raw View mode, and then the Hex view option would be available, obviously.

[j_c_hallgren]

jacky, I think we're basically agreeing but just having some issues explaining ourselves, especially me!

In simplest terms, at this point, I just don't see a need for having Ascii hex option turned on when I'm on the Preview tab, as I can/could get that via Raw View...now that doesn't mean that Raw view would/should/will always be hex...just that that sub-option would be available within that tab only...and that Preview would always attempt to display it in some form of formatted fashion...and in case of a CSS for example, that would just be plain Ascii text...and for some files, it would be hex as it just can't be displayed in any other form, such as a dump file.

For almost all files, as I see it, there are a maximum of three ways to view it: 1) Hex dump 2) Ascii text 3) Formatted based on layout.
Methods 1 & 2 are always available via Raw View, and selectable there.
Method 3 is only available via Preview.
Methods 1 & 2 may be only option for Preview for some types.
But method 1 should not be forced in Preview when method 2 is possible, since it can thus be easily seen via swap to Raw tab.

Because I prefer to have hex view turned on, whenever I want to see a REG or CSS or similar in Acsii, I have to set hex off...and then turn it back on again...it would be SO much easier/simpler if all I had to do was swap to Preview tab, and that would temporarily set hex off while on that tab, ok?

[jacky]

In simplest terms, at this point, I just don't see a need for having Ascii hex option turned on when I'm on the Preview tab, as I can/could get that via Raw View...

hmm but that's what I was trying to explain: Preview/Raw View tab doesn't really matter here, it's what mode is used to show the file.
You do get the Hex option as soon as usig the Raw View mode, regardless of what Tab you're on.

May I just ask you this: what ASCII file do you need to view in Hex mode? Cause having the Hex option disabled means you'll still get all binary file shown as Hex anyways...

Also, when you say "that sub-option would be available within that tab only", well that's the thing:
- again it's an option for Raw View mode, not a tab
- and besides, when using the XY's Raw Viewer one can except to see any ASCII file in Hex view with such an option, why should it be "removed" ?

I think what you'd be looking for would be basically to have XY retains 2 sets of options for the Raw View mode: one for each tab. That way either can turn the Hex view on/off, it'll be remembered but setting in on one Tab won't affect the setting for the same view (Raw View) from within the other Tab.
Now to say that is doable/a good idea.... I'm not sure.

[j_c_hallgren]

Time for some pix to try and resolve this...
Here's a .CSS file in the four possible combinations of how one might show it:
Preview with Hex mode on - This is what I see as unneeded and redundant and extra work to block display of. Note that this mode MAY be required for some file types. That's NOT the issue. It will show as such when needed.

Preview with Hex mode off - This is what I desire to see in this tab only for those files that require usage of XY Ascii viewer, and which can be shown in non-hex mode

Raw View with Hex mode on - This is only place I'd want to see hex

Raw View with Hex mode off - In this case, same as Preview, but NOT my normal setting


You see, being an old fashioned programmer, I'm used to seeing things in hex, so having that mode on is not unusual...but it's that it stays on when I'm on a tab that I prefer to see non-hex view, that's my problem.

I don't see any need to have 2 sets of options, as the hex option only makes sense (to me) within the Raw View tab...I'm just wanting it to be auto-off while within the Preview tab...

Because, when I'm browsing thru a set of files in a folder using the Preview tab, having a file that is strictly text only, like CSS, show up as hex dump causes extra work to have to turn hex mode off to see it "normally" and then back on so it's ready when I use Raw view tab...as some files I need/like to see in hex, so that's where the other tab comes into action...at least as how I perceive it, ok?

Why does the raw viewer need to show same results in both tabs? I think it doesn't...if I want to see file another way, maybe swapping tabs is a better way than turning a option on/off/on/off/on/off/on/off/on...etc., ok?

I don't see how you think I want to totally remove any option, rather it's just removing it from having it in a place that is duplicated and thus causing extra work for a user, like me!