Catalog - switch catalog file whilst XYplorer is running?

[petersboulton]

Is it possible to switch Catalog (file) whilst XYplorer is running?

For example, if I'm using XYplorer on a USB Stick maybe I would want different Catalogs in different customers I visit. Obviously I can play with renaming the Catalog file before XYplorer starts, but that's messy (and I'd need a decent File Manager to do it with! )

Or, maybe I'd like a different Catalog for each specific project I'm working on. Switching Catalog within XYplorer would give me this, without the clutter that trying to do the same with a single catalog would introduce.

So, my suggestion is a quick facility to switch Catalogs (2 clicks max!) or else the ability to have nesting in a single Catalog (which I know Don does not like! )

Or better still, tell me XYplorer already has this facility!

Thanks!

Pete

[jacky]

This isn't yet supported, though it had been talked about before.

In the meanwhile though, you might wanna have a look at this script serendipity wrote, which allows you to switch between Catalogs (of course, restarting XY is required, but it should be all automatic)

[petersboulton]

Thanks Jacky!

I hope that what I was wishing can be accomplished in the future without the need for scripting.

I'm going to be provocative here, but hopefully not offensive! Whilst there are clearly a number of XYplorer 'gurus' here, who maybe account for a lot of forum activity, I think there are, equally, a number, possibly a silent majority, who don't want to touch scripting and just want a nice, easy to use and powerful (without needing to script) file manager.

That doesn't mean I want a dumbed down XYplorer, of course, just one which does as much as possible 'out of the box' without the need for learning the intricacies of scripting. Of course, scripting is there if you need it for something special / non-mainstream, but I don't view my catalog switching feature request as anything out of the mainstream.

I hope that this wish can influence future development of the product.

Thanks for taking the trouble to respond, Jacky, and also for the script! Appreciated.

Pete

[admin]

I'm going to be provocative here, but hopefully not offensive! Whilst there are clearly a number of XYplorer 'gurus' here, who maybe account for a lot of forum activity, I think there are, equally, a number, possibly a silent majority, who don't want to touch scripting and just want a nice, easy to use and powerful (without needing to script) file manager.

I think so too. Actually I'm planning to offer a "lite version" that will come without scripting and UDCs.

[petersboulton]

Don, if the lite had been available I would still have bought the 'pro'.

Even if a lite was available, I still feel my wish is valid. Mainstream features (which is how I perceive my suggestion) should not require scripting. They should be in the product via the same elegant UI as the majority of the current feature set.

Of course, I'm happy for anyone to say they don't like my suggestion, that it would add little value for the majority of users, if that's what they genuinely think.

I really do appreciated Jacky's care for suggesting the script - it was most helpful. But for me scripting it in this way is one step too far. Simple one-liner scripts are great because they are easy and do allow me to extend the product for my own unique purposes, but, dedicated C++ coder as I am, I have no desire to have to either code mainstream features or even figure out how to use other peoples' scripts.

I hope scripts won't replace the implementation of sensible mainstream features we can all use. Or distract from discussion about whether a feature suggestion made here is an idea that a lot of people will like to see in the product, or not.

Pete

[admin]

Don, if the lite had been available I would still have bought the 'pro'.

Even if a lite was available, I still feel my wish is valid. Mainstream features (which is how I perceive my suggestion) should not require scripting. They should be in the product via the same elegant UI as the majority of the current feature set.

Of course, I'm happy for anyone to say they don't like my suggestion, that it would add little value for the majority of users, if that's what they genuinely think.

I really do appreciated Jacky's care for suggesting the script - it was most helpful. But for me scripting it in this way is one step too far. Simple one-liner scripts are great because they are easy and do allow me to extend the product for my own unique purposes, but, dedicated C++ coder as I am, I have no desire to have to either code mainstream features or even figure out how to use other peoples' scripts.

I hope scripts won't replace the implementation of sensible mainstream features we can all use. Or distract from discussion about whether a feature suggestion made here is an idea that a lot of people will like to see in the product, or not.

Pete

I fully agree!

[petersboulton]

I fully agree!

Great! So the idea up the flagpole is this - will anyone salute it?

Idea 1: To allow the user to easily (2 clicks) switch to a different catalog, with all changes to the switched from catalog saved upon switch.

Idea 2: (not original I believe) to be able to nest categories in a single catalog.

I would vote for either, with idea 1 preferred, just to start the ball rolling!

Thanks!

Pete

[TheQwerty]

What jacky didn't mention when saying this has been talked about before is that it was generally agreed that this would be useful and Don said it would eventually happen.

Yep, that was my plan from the beginning. I also plan to export/exchange/import catalog categories between users (typically between collegues in a project).

The same is true for UDC.

In one of the future versions...

So Don's already done some thinking on how to do this, and I have a feeling that when we get Snippets the ball on this will really get moving.

[petersboulton]

So Don's already done some thinking on how to do this, and I have a feeling that when we get Snippets the ball on this will really get moving

.
Fantastic! I look forward to it!

Please excuse my ignorance not knowing it was already in the pipeline. I did search the forum on 'catalog' but must have missed the post you quoted.

Pete

[j_c_hallgren]

I'm going to be provocative here, but hopefully not offensive! Whilst there are clearly a number of XYplorer 'gurus' here, who maybe account for a lot of forum activity, I think there are, equally, a number, possibly a silent majority, who don't want to touch scripting and just want a nice, easy to use and powerful (without needing to script) file manager.

I think so too. Actually I'm planning to offer a "lite version" that will come without scripting and UDCs.

With you being a newer member here, Pete, I appreciate your concern, as compared to some who join and just expect the XY world to change based on them...and yes, there are a few of us forum 'rats' (gurus) who have varying areas of knowledge/expertise which helps all of us...and some who who also post quite often.

Don, as far a 'lite' vers goes: My only concern is that scripting can be used to solve some problems/situations that are not possible without it, and using canned scripts in a manner similar to plug-ins would then not be possible, which might be irritating to a lite user...so while I think the idea for a lite vers makes sense, I'm not sure what features being absent would make it so.

Now...IF...there were a way to be able to limit the number of UDC/scripts to a very minimal amount (2?) so a user could get a sample but would have to rename scripts in/out to use others which becomes a PITA enough to encourage the full vers...I've seen other products do same, which is a variant of the trial vers scheme.