Drop-down list in Search & Replace dialog

[MHoefler]

Hi

The drop-down list in the "Search & Replace strings from selected name(s)" dialog is not working correctly. There are two issues:

1) When pressing cursor down, the list doesn't drop down. Only the first item seems to be accessible.

2) How can I delete items from the list? Usually, you'd put the focus on the list item and press DEL (like in IE, Firefox, etc.) This doesn't seem to work, but it would be extremely necessary to be able to "clean" the list from unnneded entries.

Thanks,
Martin

[serendipity]

Welcome to XYplorer!!

1) You are right, as of now only alt+down arrow works. I dont remember if this is intentional.

2) Oh yes, you can clean them. Go to Tools>List management>Rename special.

enjoy.

[admin]

1) When pressing cursor down, the list doesn't drop down. Only the first item seems to be accessible.

It's a feature. Pressing Down key (I guess this is what you mean) oopens the "Match List" of the current contents. If there's no match then nothing happens.

[MHoefler]

Thanks! However, it'd be easier if I could just use the DEL key in the list itself, as it's implemented in all other programs.

Regards,
Martin

[admin]

Thanks! However, it'd be easier if I could just use the DEL key in the list itself, as it's implemented in all other programs.

In "all other programs"? I know this only from HTML pages displayed inside browsers. Give an example.

[TheQwerty]

Thanks! However, it'd be easier if I could just use the DEL key in the list itself, as it's implemented in all other programs.

The problem with this is how do you distinguish between wanting to empty the box for new input and completely removing the history item.

I've seen this same thing dealt with in a lot of ways.
1) Use delete to remove the entry.
2) Add an X button beside the field that you can click when a pattern is selected to remove it.
3) Use a separate dialog for managing the history.
4) Use a context menu with delete item.

TextPad uses number 4 in their Find and Replace dialogs. When the history list is dropped down you can right click an item for a context menu that shows:
Delete item
Delete All
Cancel

I'd like to see something similar in XY and either number 2 or continue using number 3 but add an "Edit History" button to the rename dialog that opens the List Management editor.

[serendipity]

I'd like to see something similar in XY and either number 2 or continue using number 3 but add an "Edit History" button to the rename dialog that opens the List Management editor.

OK the pros and cons:
A link to list management (LM) sounds good.
On the other hand maybe ctrl+del to remove entry directly and simple delete to empty field is also OK. I mean why should i go to LM if i have to delete just one or two entries? To be frank I dont use LM so much because I dont care too much about the history and anyway it is always easy to type few words followed by down arrow to see the matchlist.

[j_c_hallgren]

Having a link to LM here would then mean there likely should also be links wherever other lists are used for consistency, and so to me, this would clutter up dialogs/panels too much...while any keyboard combos thus mean less combos available for other uses, so it'd seem to me that a right-click context menu as described in #4 would be most flexible yet not intrude into existing interface.

BTW, the comment was "in all other programs"...I think that maybe "many" instead of "all" might have been better, as I just checked one program that I use often that has a similar situation, and it has no ability to delete old entries...

[TheQwerty]

On the other hand maybe ctrl+del to remove entry directly and simple delete to empty field is also OK. I mean why should i go to LM if i have to delete just one or two entries? To be frank I dont use LM so much because I dont care too much about the history...

I see no problem with having a hotkey to do the action, just don't make it the delete key by default. I suppose I should have made that clearer in my previous post.

I also don't edit the history but I see why someone would. When I make a small change and end up with two entries that are similar it's nice to have the ability to remove the unwanted one, and even nicer to not have to go digging into partially hidden dialogs.

I'm not sure about anyone else but my first instinct in looking for such functionality is a context menu, so it's my preference that the functions are added there. Plus, it's a good way to show someone that a hotkey exists in the first place.

...and anyway it is always easy to type few words followed by down arrow to see the matchlist.

I actually find it annoying that I have to use the down arrow. I prefer the way Firefox does this:
If there are matching items and the list is open Tab/Shift+Tab moves through the list, Esc closes the list.
If the list is closed Tab/Shift+Tab changes field focus.
Using down means I have to reposition my right hand or really stretch out the pinky.


Update:

Having a link to LM here would then mean there likely should also be links wherever other lists are used for consistency, and so to me, this would clutter up dialogs/panels too much...

I agree, but it could be something as small as a "..." after the text field. In the very least some text "To edit the history goto Tools -> LM -> whatever" should be okay.

while any keyboard combos thus mean less combos available for other uses

As long as the combo is listed in CKS that shouldn't be a problem.

[j_c_hallgren]

Addendum: The other advantage I can see with context menu option is that it can be accessed directly via mouse without keyboard use...

The "..." to get to LM would be possible option, but any text explaining it should be only via tooltip/hover.

[serendipity]

It might not make sense in this context, but "..." is normally used to indicate "browse" like you see next to location field in find files tab. What about "LM"?

[TheQwerty]

It might not make sense in this context, but "..." is normally used to browse like you see next to location field in find files tab. What about "LM"?

I've seen "..." used for both browsing and for opening a larger edit field (which I see the LM editor as), which is why I suggested it. It can really be anything though.

But I have a better idea. The little orange and white arrow icon used on the Info Pane -> Raw View tab and Info Pane -> Find Files -> Date tab.

Put that after the text field, it opens a menu containing:
Delete Item
Delete All Items
Open List Management

Pros: It's small. It can replace the context menu idea. It makes it easier to add further functionality*. It can display the hotkeys.

Cons: Unless Don has a different way of adding it than the two uses above it's not accessible with just the keyboard.


*It could add options for arranging the history (Move Item Up/Down), inserting some common/suggested patterns (Regex for A, B.ext to B, A.ext), and some other super cool awesome things that I haven't thought of.

[serendipity]

I like the "icon" idea, that is if at all there is a menu coming up.

[j_c_hallgren]

It might not make sense in this context, but "..." is normally used to indicate "browse" like you see next to location field in find files tab. What about "LM"?

Yes, of course! But I'm still concerned about the inconsistency with some LM options being available via link buttons and some not.

Put that after the text field, it opens a menu containing:
Delete Item
Delete All Items
Open List Management

Having those choices as context menu would give greatest flexability for mouse user...but how would one best access it via keyboard only? Not sure.

[TheQwerty]

Having those choices as context menu would give greatest flexability for mouse user...but how would one best access it via keyboard only? Not sure.

That's why I have that concern about accessing the menu via keyboard. It's no problem once the menu is displayed, but how can you display it. I imagine it can be done, but as Don didn't do it in those other places maybe it can't.

There could be CKS events for the items as well, or even just one to open the related LM (based on the dialog that is open) and the keyboard user can do their editing there.