file open/save dialog replacement

What other productivity software are you working with...
Post Reply
cslevine
Posts: 62
Joined: 15 May 2013 12:26

file open/save dialog replacement

Post by cslevine »

after lots of google-ings,
i don't know if it exist, on Windows, some utility which
take over the place of the usual dialog for file open / save, called by the menu "Open" or "Save as" in softwares.

This could be good, because the windows one doesn't have true representation of the real hardware hierarchy,
and fools all beginners with "Documents", "Desktop", and some new "catalogs" representations, making the confusion
in the mind of most users.
( so that I know why most today users are missing completley the using of explorer and file managing.
They only remembering one way to find back their last photos and believe all is fine when datas are "in the computer" and
don't want to mind with "complicated" file copying ! )

Filehero
Posts: 2644
Joined: 27 Feb 2012 18:50
Location: Windows 10 Pro x64

Re: file open/save dialog replacement

Post by Filehero »

cslevine wrote:i don't know if it exist, on Windows,
Me too, but I'm quite sure it doesn't.
cslevine wrote: This could be good, because the windows one doesn't have true representation of the real hardware hierarchy,
and fools all beginners with "Documents", "Desktop", and some new "catalogs" representations, making the confusion
in the mind of most users.
Here, I AM sure. You don't want to see the "real hardware representation". No, you don't want to see mft entries or lists of clusters/blocks. ;-)

I think you can still get by with the standard dialogs, you just have to know the way MS decided to use descriptive hard-linked shortcuts a bit better and you will be fine.

For example, Documents always points to the document folder of the currently logged user, which is C:\Users\${currentUser}\documents. The same holds true for the famous "desktop" abstraction, the actual folder refered by is C:\Users\${currentUser}\Desktop.
BTW, you can get the real path navigating those shortcuts using Windows Explorer and selecting the path by clicking into the address bar.


Cheers,
Filehero

xman
Posts: 133
Joined: 28 Nov 2009 22:57

Re: file open/save dialog replacement

Post by xman »

I absolutely hate the standard open/save dialog. But I learned to live with it. Most of the time I just copy the path in XYplorer or in Everything and paste it to the open/save dialog. Yes, you can just copy and paste the entire path, even when it doesn't match the one selected, and then hit enter. The problem occurs only when there is no box to paste anything, which is a real pain :twisted: .

But there is one utility that I know of, that enhances the open/save dialog: FileBox eXtender (http://www.hyperionics.com/files/). Perhaps check it out :wink: .

avsfan
Posts: 554
Joined: 29 Jun 2006 09:00
Location: Fort Collins, Colorado

Re: file open/save dialog replacement

Post by avsfan »

Listary also helps -- if you have the path open somewhere else (such as in XY), then move the cursor to the xy window and back to file load/save dialog, the path automatically updates (plus, you can use favorites, etc in the listary bar which is just below the file load/save dialog). Pretty slick!

Stef123

Re: file open/save dialog replacement

Post by Stef123 »

Tried all kinds of stuff over the years. Most of it was dedicated to Adobe and MS dialogs and yielded mixed results. DirectFolders is not perfect either, but it's the one tool that really stuck with me, so I guess it must have some merits.
http://codesector.com/directfolders

Norn
Posts: 416
Joined: 24 Oct 2021 16:10

Re: file open/save dialog replacement

Post by Norn »

I played around with the AutoHotkey script a bit. Press F4 in the open/save dialog to display the queue Guis. The Gui on the right displays the XY tabs.
I like using Listary.
Queue Guis (File open or save dialog path switcher).png
Queue Guis (File open or save dialog path switcher).png (46.05 KiB) Viewed 1098 times
Win10, Win11 @100% 2560x1440 22H2

Horst
Posts: 1085
Joined: 24 Jan 2021 12:27
Location: Germany

Re: file open/save dialog replacement

Post by Horst »

The AHK script QuickSwitch works fine in most Open/Save dialogs.
IT supports a lot of file managers.
I use it together with Total Commander and YX.
https://github.com/gepruts/QuickSwitch
https://www.voidtools.com/forum/viewtop ... f=2&t=9881
Windows 11 Home x64 Version 23H2 (OS Build 22631.3374)
Portable XYplorer (actual version, including betas)
Everything 1.5.0.1371a (x64), Everything Toolbar 1.3.2, Listary Pro 6.3.0.69

Norn
Posts: 416
Joined: 24 Oct 2021 16:10

Re: file open/save dialog replacement

Post by Norn »

I played around with it again. :)

1) The ControlSetText function causes problems, use the EditPaste function instead.
2) Display automatically, press F4 to switch display.
3) Right-click will close Guis and navigate.
4) Support browse dialog.
5) Automatic second Gui size.
6) Automatically update XY tabs.

Use the address bar first, the address bar will flash. *********************************************************************************************************************
All navigate using Edit1 control, the alias only supports "Desktop" and can be added by yourself.
Queue Guis.png
Queue Guis.png (56.24 KiB) Viewed 927 times
I will use both this and Listary. :party:

*********************************************************************************************************************
For Total Commander users, here is a piece of v2 code: Send command to tC
Win10, Win11 @100% 2560x1440 22H2

Post Reply