Not the same Boxed Branch at the Same Folder

[Eugen]

Hey,

it is kinda hard to find a Subject for this bug. So sorry for that.

I have a Folder at "C:\Users\XX\Documents\SomeFolder". Added a Boxed Branch to this Folder under "Computer\Dokumente\SomeFolder", BUT this Boxed Branch dont Paint at "C:\Users\..."

The Same goes to Favorite Folders

Anyway I have a Screenshot for this bug

Or is this just "by-Design" ?

Eugen

[admin]

Yes, it's by design.

[Eugen]

Oh..

then I would like to have a new Feature. As an Option or something like that.

That when I do Boxed Branch at "Documents/SomeFolder" this Boxed Branch then also shows up at "C:\Users\SomeFolder".

(Should I create a new Topic at "Wishes" or this ok in this Thread? )

[j_c_hallgren]

(Should I create a new Topic at "Wishes" or this ok in this Thread? )

I' pretty sure this thread would suffice just fine...there have been many many things implemented from this sub-forum that turned into "Wishes" as well as from the Tips/Tricks sub-forum...having separate threads just clutters up the forum and makes searching for desired thread a bit harder.

[TheQwerty]

Yes, it's by design.

Care to elaborate on why? I'm not convinced it really makes sense this way. Though to be honest, it doesn't bother me one way or the other.

[zer0]

Don will very likely be able to explain this better, but I'll have a go

While, to a normal user, "Computer --> Documents --> SomeFolder" and "C:\Users\XX\Documents\SomeFolder" may appear as the same folder, they are not the same. It may be pedantic, but it's the truth. In reality, "C:\Users\XX\Documents\SomeFolder" is a directory (and, therefore, a folder), but "Computer --> Documents --> SomeFolder" is a folder and not a directory. It's very important to understand those differences. "Computer --> Documents" is a virtual folder, whereas "C:\Users\XX\Documents\" is a physical directory.

Consequently, when one points click on "Computer --> Documents" (or My Computer --> My Documents on pre-Vista systems) one accesses a location in memory where virtual folders are (created partially or wholly) and not the physical location on the HDD. Currently, "Documents" ("My Documents") virtual folder cannot be deleted, but the physical one can be. Further, only Win 7 users can create true virtual folders -- until Don implements those in XY as well . Combining all of the above, I think it is possible to see why Don designed it the way that he did. Perhaps as Virtual Folders (VFOs) start creeping into the picture this matter can be revisited, but of what advantage is to have 2 folders highlighted at the same time?

P.S. For further reading, I'd recommend http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library ... 85%29.aspx and http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library ... 85%29.aspx

[jacky]

Yes, it's by design.

Care to elaborate on why? I'm not convinced it really makes sense this way. Though to be honest, it doesn't bother me one way or the other.

I believe the simple answer is: because we're talking about two different places/nodes on Tree (, regardless of the fact that they might point to the same folder in the end).

Those highlighting features refer to Tree nodes, and if you have multiple names/ways of getting to one single place on your hard drive doesn't matter. Using junctions for example, you can have D:\Foo and E:\Downloads\Bar to be/point to "the same" location, yet they are two different paths, two different nodes on the Tree, and so have two different (Tree) highlighting options. Makes perfect sense to me

[TheQwerty]

What I'm really after is a use case of when the user is actually going to want the two nodes to not use the same boxing. I don't think I'd ever want that to be the case, and I have a feeling most users are expecting the exact behavior Eugen is after. The current behavior is great for advanced users but probably not so much for normal users.

Which is why to me it makes the most sense to have XY box them both by default, and if you really believe someone wants to box them separately give them that option via tweak.

[jacky]

Well, it could happen. But another thing to take into consideration is that the way it is implemented right now is also extremely fast, obviously, while if XY needs to resolve/check for junctions, hard links, etc and locate the source where each Tree node (w/ highlighting) points to then check whether that one has highlighting and if so apply it, it might slow down the whole thing -- and for what?

I mean, most of the times one node == one location and that's it, and then again as I said, it might be one single location but with two names/paths, hence two different nodes on Tree, and those features relate to the Tree (and its nodes). Easy enough.

Besides, after that you get the what if D:\Foo & E:\Downloads\Bar are the same, and there's a box branch on E:\Downloads, then what happens to D:\Foo ?? People will complain that it has no boxed branch while E:\Downloads\Bar does (from its parent) while they're "the same" -- and now we have a huge complicated mess, or the need for XY to resolve & check not only for all junctions/etc's sources, but to go up the tree as well and check the parents ?? (Not to mention, if the junction is removed, but the folder stays, how about XY having to "refresh" and remove the highlighting...)

Honestly, I think we're much better off leaving it as it is, it's simpler/easier as well as faster, and if one really wants to have the same box color for D:\Foo and E:\Downloads\Bar, one can simply set it twice, one for each node.

[PeterH]

You got me to believe that the mentioned 2 entries in tree are not identical.
In this case I would not expect XY to handle them identical.

Another example: which path would you handle identical with i.e. Desktop, when XY is started by runas with another than the logged-on user? (I.e. administrator or such.) The path for the logged-on user, or the path of the XY-user? Both make a bit of sense - and both don't. I think another reason to treat them all as something different.
(Just my popint of view)

[Eugen]

Off-Topic:

If I add a Folder of "Documents\SomeFolder" to the Catalog. And then Select this Folder from the Catalog, XY shows up this Folder "C:\Users\..\Documents\SomeFolder" instead of "Documents\SomeFolder"

Off-Topic End.

I would like to have this Option that TheQwerty mentioned.

[zer0]

Off-Topic:

If I add a Folder of "Documents\SomeFolder" to the Catalog. And then Select this Folder from the Catalog, XY shows up this Folder "C:\Users\..\Documents\SomeFolder" instead of "Documents\SomeFolder"

Off-Topic End.

Hmmm. Perhaps this behaviour is different in Vista (which you're using) to that in Win 7, which I am using. This is because I created a shortcut (.lnk file) to "Documents", enabled Catalogue (this is a big step for me!:P), added an item to open that file and, upon clicking, WE window opens up with "Documents" virtual folder (or library, as they are called in Win 7), just as expected.

I would like to have this Option that TheQwerty mentioned.

I'm still curious about benefits of both being boxed. Strictly speaking, they are not the same, even though their contents are the same. I'm with jacky on this one. Having a (My) Documents VFO in the tree a good thing as far as abstraction of the actual physical location is concerned. Having both boxes would confuse me a lot, not in the least because there's no precedent for such behaviour.

[Eugen]

Off-Topic:

If I add a Folder of "Documents\SomeFolder" to the Catalog. And then Select this Folder from the Catalog, XY shows up this Folder "C:\Users\..\Documents\SomeFolder" instead of "Documents\SomeFolder"

Off-Topic End.

Hmmm. Perhaps this behaviour is different in Vista (which you're using) to that in Win 7, which I am using. This is because I created a shortcut (.lnk file) to "Documents", enabled Catalogue (this is a big step for me!:P), added an item to open that file and, upon clicking, WE window opens up with "Documents" virtual folder (or library, as they are called in Win 7), just as expected.

Nah I have this behaviour under Windows 7.

So either this Boxed Branch is a bug (first post) or this Catalog (my quote in the quote).

They should act the same in the end. At Boxed Branch the Folders are different, at Catalog the Folders are the same

Admin Response Needed

[admin]

Off-Topic:

If I add a Folder of "Documents\SomeFolder" to the Catalog. And then Select this Folder from the Catalog, XY shows up this Folder "C:\Users\..\Documents\SomeFolder" instead of "Documents\SomeFolder"

Off-Topic End.

Works fine here.

Conc. the Boxed Branch: Jacky's answer was the one I would have given. These colors are meant to help visual orientation in the tree. They are properties of tree nodes, not of file system units.

[Eugen]

Off-Topic:

If I add a Folder of "Documents\SomeFolder" to the Catalog. And then Select this Folder from the Catalog, XY shows up this Folder "C:\Users\..\Documents\SomeFolder" instead of "Documents\SomeFolder"

Off-Topic End.

Works fine here.

Here at Windows 7 not. (32 Bit)

Anyway I had to Edit the Catalog-Item from this Path "C:\Users\..\Documents\SomeFolder" to "Eigene Dokumente\Eigene Videos\". Saved it. If I now click on this Catalog-Item it shows up the SomeFolder at the "Documents" TreeNode.

So at least this is a bug am I right?

Conc. the Boxed Branch: Jacky's answer was the one I would have given. These colors are meant to help visual orientation in the tree. They are properties of tree nodes, not of file system units.

If I already have colored the Documents\ Node with many folders ... I would have expected that these Folders are also get colored at "C:\Users..\Documents\" and then it is a redundant work to do. Is there any chance to get a special option that does this automatically?

PS: Good Morning