Problem: Branch View on when new instance of XYplorer starts

[kmccabe]

SUMMARY: I don't always use Branch View, but if it's on when I exit XYplorer it wants to be on when I start up again.

Up til now, that hasn't been a problem. I only now just discovered this, because I never had the permanent startup path set, and it would just open wherever I last left it.

I am in and out of XYplorer all day, constantly closing and opening the app. I usually have so many other app windows open, I don't want XYplorer window always up, only when I need it.

Since I'm all over the place folder-wise throughout the day, I found it disorienting/distracting to open on last folder, because that's often not where I need to be. So I figured I would always have it just open to the root directory C:\

That's when my struggle began.

Have XYplorer Permanent startup path set to C:\

Now I view a folder, say C:\Temp
Press the branch view
Address bar changes to C:\Temp? /:flat
all is well
Exit XYplorer

Start XYplorer
It wants to come up in Branch View as seen in address bar c:\? /:flat
Since, I'm at the root, Branch View causes some churn and starts scanning files (escape to stop not very responsive--and I resort to killing XYplorer via task manager)

Am guessing this is because I have "Save settings on exit" checked, which I do, for numerous reasons.

Now I am not posting to have the escape feature more responsive, I am posting to see how to work around this so that subsequent instances of XYplorer don't have branch view on when they start up--regardless of previous session.

More specifically, I want to run XYplorer open to C:\ with branch view off.

Thanks for any advice.

kevin

[admin]

If a search would be run at start up then XY will not perform the search but open with a message about the search. One click will run the search.

However, Branch View (which technically is nothing but a search) has been deliberately excluded from the above strategy. Because Branch View does not "feel" like a search. Nobody ever complained. (Not sure if this ever has been discussed here in the forum.)

So, I'm open to some discussion now. Should BV be blocked at startup?

[kmccabe]

Appreciate the opportunity to discuss.

Am I correct that this will only be an issue if "Save settings on exit" is checked?

If so, then what about if "Save settings on exit" is checked and "Permanent startup path" is not specified behave as you do now: startup as things were left: same folders/tabs and branch view setting.

But if "Save settings on exit" is checked and "Permanent startup path" IS specified, then just open the specified path with Branch View disabled.

If I am in folder XXX with Branch View on and I navigate to some other folder, say YYY, via the tree or favorites or address bar, Branch View setting is automatically switched off. So, it appears you already have the concept that Branch View doesn't make sense when going to a different folder than the one that currently is displayed in Branch View. So, it seems like exiting with folder XXX and with Branch View enabled, and startup in folder YYY, the behavior should be similar to just navigating to YYY, where the Branch View is automatically disabled.

So, I think if "Permanent startup path" is specified, disable Branch View.

Another scenario where I would want it disabled would be opening an instance of XYplorer with a path specified on the command line. For example, I tried opening XYplorer with C:\ on command line, and it still wanted to go into branch mode if that's where i left it.

Other than opening XYplorer in same folder as active when exiting, the only other time where it MIGHT make sense to stay in Branch View upon opening is when there IS a "Permanent startup path" specified, and user exits XYplorer and happens to have that same path active with Branch View on.

Having a command line option to force Branch View on/off would work . That or some kind of script command that could be specified in the command line when starting up via /script option. I am not aware of a current script command that could be used when starting up that would ensure branch mode was off.

thanks again for your time and a great product.

[admin]

Thanks for your reply. Thought about it and finally decided to make it a bit simpler:

Code: Select all

    * Branch View: No more Branch View on startup. It's blocked now just like a 
      search on startup, and for the same reason: it might extremely slow down 
      startup.

[kmccabe]

Well, that will fix my issue, thank you very much.

and now you will probably hear from the one who won't like this.

There is a way to start up in branch view if someone else needs it:

XYplorer.exe C:\temp /script="::goto '? /:flat'"

[admin]

Not bad for a newbie!

[kmccabe]

I just now downloaded a newer version where you addressed the above question.

and now you will probably hear from the one who won't like this

Wasn't expecting it would be me!! Having issues with this implementation.

I have Permanent startup path set to C:\

If I am browsing another folder and have branch view on, and then quit XYplorer, the fix let's me start up in C:\ and does not attempt branch view.

I see a message telling me

"XYplorer was closed with this branch view tab open. Click the icon to perform the branch view now."

That successfully prevents the search from occurring, but in the process, it prevents me from seeing what I want to see: The contents of my startup path!

Not sure what the user is expected to do here to see those contents. Pressing F5 is not the answer, because it goes into branch view mode. I ended up clicking in the address bar and pressing enter. What would the proper response be to dismiss the message and see the contents?

Was really hoping not to have to do *anything* to start up in the desired path and see its contents in a non-branch view.

The current solution works fine for a folder that is in branch view and user quits and comes up in that same folder. Giving user option to perform branch there makes sense.

But, I don't think it makes sense to even consider applying branch view when the startup path IS DIFFERENT from the shutdown path. If you are in branch view looking at one folder, you don't try to assert branch view when user navigates to a different folder.

I really see this as the same scenario: branch view currently applied to folder X should not be considered when opening folder Y.

Thanks for your further consideration.

kevin

[admin]

Whoops, and important and AFAIK quite old bug! Thanks for the report, fix coming...

[kmccabe]

Just providing closure to this thread by saying it is all working well now.

Thanks again.

[suslo]

Should BV be blocked at startup?

please add an option to choose 'do not block BV at start-up' (like it was before 09 Mar 2015)

explanation:
very seldom i have to be in BV and 'it might extremely slow down startup' is never my case (i know and remember which folders i'm opening, and they are not so big)

while the blocked list with the 'xyplorer was closed with this branch view tab open. click the icon to perform the branch view now' inscription brings nothing but constant irritation

[admin]

It's just one click for you after startup to open the BV.

[suslo]

isn't it your constant goal to remove as many such useless clicks as possible?

why do you so decidedly refuse to give a choice (in many moments including much more important ones)? especially in cases like this when it costs nothing to you
xyplorer has hundreds of settings. 1 more tiny setting could not be a problem for a developer

i'm saying it honestly. xyplorer is a really great program. for me it literally has no rivals
if using it in systems since vista, xyplorer has no alternatives at all, in my opinion

but there are some aspects that really upset me constantly:
there was nothing interesting and useful (for me) added in recent years in xyplorer (which is totally bearable)
but also not a single real problem (that are bothering me) had been solved during this time
i may mention a lot of them but for your convenience i've decided to begin only with this small request concerning the branch view

[admin]

To reduce your constant upsetness it might help to realize that XY is developed for many users, not just for you.

[suslo]

can i ask you to consider the possibility of adding an ini-file-option to choose between current behaviour (1 click after start-up to open the BV) and the previous behaviour (BV is opened automatically)?

[admin]

Code: Select all

v14.80.0245 - 2015-03-09 11:52
    * Branch View: No more Branch View on startup. It's blocked now just like a 
      search on startup, and for the same reason: it might extremely slow down 
      startup.

I stand by this reasoning.

But I'm curious: What is so hard about doing one single click at the beginning of a session that you want me to change a program that's used by thousands of people?