MiniTree

[admin]

I also noticed that it might be nice to have a visual hint that a folder currently only shows part of the subfolders (similar to the third [grey] state of a checkbox) and incorporate that somehow. Currently there doesn't seem to be a direct way to show all children of a partially expanded node. You can shift-close it and expand it again (which currently shows all children) but this also closes/resets all those child nodes down the tree (if folder a from the example was the only one shown below test and had 2 children '1' and '2', where only 2 was shown, this would afterwards show a closed a).

I understand the impetus, but I'm against such a visual hint because it would spoil the simplicity of the MiniTree.

Show all children of a partially expanded node: Shift+F4 (Refresh current folder).

[Creat]

I understand the impetus, but I'm against such a visual hint because it would spoil the simplicity of the MiniTree.

I didn't actually mean some icon overlay or other fancy stuff. Just a variation of the (already changed) plus/minus symbols. So maybe just a combination of those two, especially nothing making the mini-tree not mini
I've attached a rough sketch, showing that C:\ is only partially expanded, test fully and a not at all. Doesn't have to be like this, just some variation of the plus/minus-symbol would do it...

Show all children of a partially expanded node: Shift+F4 (Refresh current folder).

Yes, but that requires me to be in that folder at the moment, most of the time I need this to show subfolders so I can drag&drop to them from somewhere else when I notice the folder isn't there.

Thx,
Creat

[j_c_hallgren]

I didn't actually mean some icon overlay or other fancy stuff. Just a variation of the (already changed) plus/minus symbols. So maybe just a combination of those two, especially nothing making the mini-tree not mini
I've attached a rough sketch, showing that C:\ is only partially expanded, test fully and a not at all. Doesn't have to be like this, just some variation of the plus/minus-symbol would do it...

I had read about the changed plus/minus symbols but it wasn't until I saw that sketch that I realized I'd never seen that coloring on mine...and wondered why...so looked at Config...I use "Flat plus-minus icons" because the partially shaded ones are hard to see/distingush for me.

So...could there be a simple consistent light blue color in the square even when using this config opt if mini-tree is on? That way, mini-tree being on is still obvious but not making it hard to read when maxi tree.
This would require the "+" or "-" to be inverse white as shown.

BTW, I like creat's idea of a upside-down T to show a partially shown/expanded tree.

Second topic: What exactly does new "Convert to mini tree" opt on context menu do that differs from simply clicking on the MT TB icon to flip states? I don't get this option at the moment.

Third topic: The background color for Locked tree seems a bit dark...where might I be able to adjust this value only?

[admin]

I understand the impetus, but I'm against such a visual hint because it would spoil the simplicity of the MiniTree.

I didn't actually mean some icon overlay or other fancy stuff. Just a variation of the (already changed) plus/minus symbols. So maybe just a combination of those two, especially nothing making the mini-tree not mini
I've attached a rough sketch, showing that C:\ is only partially expanded, test fully and a not at all. Doesn't have to be like this, just some variation of the plus/minus-symbol would do it...

Show all children of a partially expanded node: Shift+F4 (Refresh current folder).

Yes, but that requires me to be in that folder at the moment, most of the time I need this to show subfolders so I can drag&drop to them from somewhere else when I notice the folder isn't there.

I like the design, but still not the idea. It's like reading a book full of footnotes. Rich in information but straining also.

Another point is performance: The incredible speed of MT is also due the fact that it does not care about looking for subfolders.

[admin]

I didn't actually mean some icon overlay or other fancy stuff. Just a variation of the (already changed) plus/minus symbols. So maybe just a combination of those two, especially nothing making the mini-tree not mini
I've attached a rough sketch, showing that C:\ is only partially expanded, test fully and a not at all. Doesn't have to be like this, just some variation of the plus/minus-symbol would do it...

I had read about the changed plus/minus symbols but it wasn't until I saw that sketch that I realized I'd never seen that coloring on mine...and wondered why...so looked at Config...I use "Flat plus-minus icons" because the partially shaded ones are hard to see/distingush for me.

So...could there be a simple consistent light blue color in the square even when using this config opt if mini-tree is on? That way, mini-tree being on is still obvious but not making it hard to read when maxi tree.
This would require the "+" or "-" to be inverse white as shown.

BTW, I like creat's idea of a upside-down T to show a partially shown/expanded tree.

Second topic: What exactly does new "Convert to mini tree" opt on context menu do that differs from simply clicking on the MT TB icon to flip states? I don't get this option at the moment.

Third topic: The background color for Locked tree seems a bit dark...where might I be able to adjust this value only?

Good point about the icons - I had totally overlooked the flat style! Will do...

The MT TB icon also rebuild the tree to show only your current paths. I.e. it minimizes the tree. "Convert to mini tree" does not minimize the tree but just sets it to "mini mode": from now on only used paths are added to the tree.

The background color for Locked tree: yes, good point again. I will add that to the color config.

[j_c_hallgren]

"Convert to mini tree" does not minimize the tree but just sets it to "mini mode": from now on only used paths are added to the tree.

This wasn't obvious (at least to me) from the beta log..you may wish to add that sentence or similar...and I've not yet blog'd that update, so would pick up any chgs.

Thanks for the icon color/background color issue handling...both were minor but made it a bit less than ideal.

[admin]

"Convert to mini tree" does not minimize the tree but just sets it to "mini mode": from now on only used paths are added to the tree.

This wasn't obvious (at least to me) from the beta log..you may wish to add that sentence or similar...and I've not yet blog'd that update, so would pick up any chgs.

Okay, done.

[j_c_hallgren]

Thanks for the icon color/background color issue handling...both were minor but made it a bit less than ideal.

7.80.0031 installed and both of these looking good here! Thanks again!

[Creat]

Something strange: I was copying a few larger files to an external HDD (normal tree mode), then while that was going on I loaded a minitree from Catalog (which didn't include the external HDD). I was browsing around a bit and at some point for no apparent reason that external HDD showed up in the tree (I think I was clicking on some unrelated folder in the tree when that happened, and the copying was also still going on). This was still with 7.80.0030 though, so might be fixed already.

What I just noticed: there doesn't seem to be a way to show "My Network Playce" in MiniTree mode if it's not already visible, since it doesn't show up in the list when "My Computer" is selected.

And thank you very much for the 'Remove from MiniTree' option for the Scripting Command!

Another point is performance: The incredible speed of MT is also due the fact that it does not care about looking for subfolders.

It doesn't? For me it does show weather or not a folder has subfolders or not, and I'm glad it does! Also I thought the MiniTree was mainly about clarity and reducing the view-scope to items actually in use, and not speed (especially since XY is already faster than pretty much everything else anyway ).

I like the design, but still not the idea. It's like reading a book full of footnotes. Rich in information but straining also.

Well I really don't agree with that, since it's very much unlike footnotes, where you have to shift your focus from the important bits to get to the additional information, but if I'm browsing by tree then the focus is already there, as a matter of fact that's exactly where I'd look for information like that (is a folder fully or partially expanded). But in the end it's your decision anyway of course

[admin]

Something strange: I was copying a few larger files to an external HDD (normal tree mode), then while that was going on I loaded a minitree from Catalog (which didn't include the external HDD). I was browsing around a bit and at some point for no apparent reason that external HDD showed up in the tree (I think I was clicking on some unrelated folder in the tree when that happened, and the copying was also still going on). This was still with 7.80.0030 though, so might be fixed already.

What I just noticed: there doesn't seem to be a way to show "My Network Playce" in MiniTree mode if it's not already visible, since it doesn't show up in the list when "My Computer" is selected.

And thank you very much for the 'Remove from MiniTree' option for the Scripting Command!

Another point is performance: The incredible speed of MT is also due the fact that it does not care about looking for subfolders.

It doesn't? For me it does show weather or not a folder has subfolders or not, and I'm glad it does! Also I thought the MiniTree was mainly about clarity and reducing the view-scope to items actually in use, and not speed (especially since XY is already faster than pretty much everything else anyway ).

I like the design, but still not the idea. It's like reading a book full of footnotes. Rich in information but straining also.

Well I really don't agree with that, since it's very much unlike footnotes, where you have to shift your focus from the important bits to get to the additional information, but if I'm browsing by tree then the focus is already there, as a matter of fact that's exactly where I'd look for information like that (is a folder fully or partially expanded). But in the end it's your decision anyway of course

I'll check that about the HD appearing.

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Nethood: yep, no one-click way. The same is true also for Desktop and MyDocs. MyComputer just lists drives so that's not the right place for them. They could go to the top of the Special Folders Menu (but seems pretty bloaty to me... although it would give you KS for those places...):

MyComputer (special folder)
Desktop (special folder)
MyDocs (special folder)
Nethood (special folder)
---
Desktop (real path)
MyDocs (real path)
Favorites (real path)
...

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looking for subfolders: yes, you're right. But I'm still not convinced. Let's give MT a time to settle in the current state. Give simplicity a chance.

[Creat]

First of all, I found another (small?) refresh-bug: if you're in MiniTree mode and the focus is on "My Network Places" in the tree, hitting F5 will Refresh the tree or something. After it all partially expanded folders are completely expanded and all top-level items are visible (meaning those directly below "My Computer").

Something else weird I've just noticed (don't ask me how I found that out): Pressing Shift-[x] with x being any letter or number key seems to opens a new tab.

As for the unreacheable special folders: Even though it does seem a bit strange to put them atop the Special Folder menu, I just can't think of a better way to make them accessible. So maybe it's not such a bad idea

bye
Creat

[admin]

First of all, I found another (small?) refresh-bug: if you're in MiniTree mode and the focus is on "My Network Places" in the tree, hitting F5 will Refresh the tree or something. After it all partially expanded folders are completely expanded and all top-level items are visible (meaning those directly below "My Computer").

Something else weird I've just noticed (don't ask me how I found that out): Pressing Shift-[x] with x being any letter or number key seems to opens a new tab.

As for the unreacheable special folders: Even though it does seem a bit strange to put them atop the Special Folder menu, I just can't think of a better way to make them accessible. So maybe it's not such a bad idea

1. fixed
2. you can select a folder via key ("type ahead find"); and SHIFT down always creates a new tab for a new location. (KSs unsing Shift, however, will not trigger a new tab.) I will stop this in the next version for keys that do NOT select a new folder (because no visible folder starts with that letter).
3. I'll see...

[Creat]

I've got another two bugs, the first one I've encountered twice, second only once so far. I was also unable to reproduce either. Both are related to network browsing (via Network Places, not network drives) with MiniTree enabled.

When trying to search (boolean) on a subfolder of a share, I'm told by the list that the share doesn't exist (which it does) even though the correct path appears under Location and AutoSync is enabled. The blue arrow that appears during the search and is usualy followed by the location that is currently being searched shows the wrong location. Specifically some folder on my hard drive (that I often use). Can't remember if it's been the same one on both occasions.

For the second one I deleted a folder on a network location by pressing 'del' (focus was in the tree), which did work, but 'My network places' was not only collapsed afterwards but lacked it's [+] and the list didn't show anything even though it was focused. My instinctive hit of F5 expanded the whole tree, as reported (and already fixed for the next version as you already mentioned) so I couldn't investigate further.

bye
Creat

[admin]

I've got another two bugs, the first one I've encountered twice, second only once so far. I was also unable to reproduce either. Both are related to network browsing (via Network Places, not network drives) with MiniTree enabled.

When trying to search (boolean) on a subfolder of a share, I'm told by the list that the share doesn't exist (which it does) even though the correct path appears under Location and AutoSync is enabled. The blue arrow that appears during the search and is usualy followed by the location that is currently being searched shows the wrong location. Specifically some folder on my hard drive (that I often use). Can't remember if it's been the same one on both occasions.

For the second one I deleted a folder on a network location by pressing 'del' (focus was in the tree), which did work, but 'My network places' was not only collapsed afterwards but lacked it's [+] and the list didn't show anything even though it was focused. My instinctive hit of F5 expanded the whole tree, as reported (and already fixed for the next version as you already mentioned) so I couldn't investigate further.

bye
Creat

Cannot reproduce. But might be fixed in the next version along with other fixes.

[TheQwerty]

I think Lock Tree is breaking the behavior of up when at the root of a network location.
Going up from "\\ExistingServer" takes me to "\" when Lock Tree is enabled, but it correctly goes to My Network Places with it disabled.

Not sure if this behavior was present with the previous incarnation of this option or not.


And slightly off-topic, is there anyway to prevent the list from losing focus when you browse to a location that doesn't exist (perhaps by a tweak)? It can be a bit annoying when you are browsing through network locations, hit one that doesn't exist, and then have to change focus because Backspace is no longer a shortcut for Up.