F2 Rename Cycle with arrow key modifier

[unrealreality]

Heya,

It seems like every week I learn something new and cool I can do with XY to make my life easier. One thing that I thought might be a simple wish was a modification to a feature when you hit F2 to rename a file. Currently the cycle is:

F2 once: highlights name sans extension
F2 twice: highlights full file name
F3 thrice: moves cursor to the end

for the first F2, where it highlights the name without extension, when you hit the right arrow key, the cursor goes to the right of the period, meaning if you type, you're modifying the extension. Typically I use the first F2, and want to modify the name by adding something afterwards, so I currently do:

F2, right arrow key, left arrow key...then type.

Not sure how others feel, but would it be better to just hit: F2, right arrow key, and have the cursor be on the left of the period? Just thought that might have more utility.

Just a suggestion. Thanks for your hard work!

EP

[LittleBiG]

+1, it is an issue for me as well.

F2, right arrow: cursor should be at the end of base name (before the dot, not after)
F2, left arrow: cursor should be at the start of base name (current position is totally illogic)

[grindax]

.

[LittleBiG]

Typically I use the first F2, and want to modify the name by adding something afterwards, so I currently do:

F2, right arrow key, left arrow key...then type.

There is already a shortcut for doing what you want. F2, down arrow.

It is the serial rename for me. Right and left are more natural.

[grindax]

.

[unrealreality]

while right and left do feel more natural based off what littleBIG said, I never caught that hitting down did what I wanted it to do. Thank you grindax!

I'll just train myself to use down, not an issue. I just tried it and hitting up goes to the beginning which is pretty cool. Though I do see littleBIG's point about highlighted and hitting left. it doesn't make sense to float a character before the last letter, but whatever, this works.

Thanks! Sometimes asking the question is all it takes.

[admin]

Typically I use the first F2, and want to modify the name by adding something afterwards, so I currently do:

F2, right arrow key, left arrow key...then type.

There is already a shortcut for doing what you want. F2, down arrow.

It is the serial rename for me. Right and left are more natural.

Tip: If serial rename is active then PageUp/Down do the job of Up/Down.

[tiago]

Maybe this is just me but I find a bit weird not having a bit more control over the renaming states' capabilities.

Sometimes I'd like F2 to start renaming with caret positioned at the end of file names, or selecting the curbase (default) or the whole name (curbase+ext). Sometimes at the beginning, for common numbered files or the whole extension so I don't need to delete it letter by letter, just start typing the new extension (which makes more sense, extensions are mostly entirely different one from each other so when I need to rename it, it's the whole thing).

Sometimes when using the arrow keys I expect that the caret smartly jumps to the start or end of curbase, the whole extension (above explained), selecting the whole curbase or just acting like it currently does. It all depends on which files I'm dealing with so there's no single, simple answer for this.

Controlling the F2 cycle order itself would make a huge difference, as well.

[j_c_hallgren]

Maybe this is just me but I find a bit weird not having a bit more control over the renaming states' capabilities.

The current method was developed some years ago with input from a nbr of heavy XY users in a quite long thread and was the best consensus that satisfied as many users needs as possible...no matter what scheme is developed, I'm sure that it won't suffice for some users so the goal back then was to make the most options available and make them the most requested, ok?

[LittleBiG]

The current method was developed some years ago with input from a nbr of heavy XY users in a quite long thread and was the best consensus that satisfied as many users needs as possible...

Maybe I should read the mentioned discussion, but I feel the situation is really simple. If somebody wants rename a single file, he wants basically these:

1. Change base
2. Change extension
3. Change the whole name (rename radically)
4. Extend or delete at the start of base
5. Extend or delete at the end of base
6. Extend or delete at the start of extension
7. Extend or delete at the end of extension
8. Extend or delete at the start of whole name
9. Extend or delete at the end of whole name

1-3 can be covered by F2 cycle (for example 1* mark base, 2* mark extension, 3* mark whole name)
4-9 cab be covered by F2 cycle and modifier (<Up>/<Down> or <Page Up>/<Page Down> jump to the start or to the end of the selected text)

Now 1,3,4,5,8,9 is covered by XY.

[j_c_hallgren]

4. Extend or delete at the start of base
5. Extend or delete at the end of base

8. Extend or delete at the start of whole name
9. Extend or delete at the end of whole name

Sorry but I don't see how 4 would be any different from 8 (and 5 from 9)...

And I believe that most all of that list can be done now, but in some cases it requires another key press because there is an obvious limit as to what can be done with the four arrow keys.

[LittleBiG]

Sorry but I don't see how 4 would be any different from 8 (and 5 from 9)...

And I believe that most all of that list can be done now, but in some cases it requires another key press because there is an obvious limit as to what can be done with the four arrow keys.

Not 5 and 9, but 7 and 9.

Anyway, you are absolutely right. I would have liked to point out: if the F2 cycle contains extension part (in the middle or at the end of cycle) and Up/Down buttons work logically as now, all rename possibility would be covered. And you are right, F2-Down (end of the name) would be the same as F2-F2-F2-Down (end of the extension).

[j_c_hallgren]

Sorry but I don't see how 4 would be any different from 8 (and 5 from 9)...

Not 5 and 9, but 7 and 9.

Typo! That's what I meant.

Anyway, you are absolutely right.

Thanks! By the way, it's been a few years but I know that I was one of those who helped get the current scheme setup...previously, I think, two of the arrow keys (up/dn) were not unique but were same as left/rt...the thread was a long multi-page one..I do recall that.

[unrealreality]

whoa, did I open pandora's box or what? oopsie! *carefully steps backwards out of the room*

(I'm actually quite happy now that I know the right keys)

[j_c_hallgren]

whoa, did I open pandora's box or what? oopsie! *carefully steps backwards out of the room*

No - not really at all - but I just wanted to make sure you knew that the present scheme was quite thoroughly debated when it was created so it should accomodate most all users, we hope.

(I'm actually quite happy now that I know the right keys)

Glad to know that! We love happy users, obviously!