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Edit the catalog as a list
Posted: 03 Oct 2006 20:42
by noutters
Hi folks,
may be I missed it totally but how can I manage the catalog items if I don't want to use the catalog window.
Can I manage it like a list somewhere?
If not, I would like to see it. May be the tree structure is tricky to implement in the list format?
Then why not save the catalog.dat file in XML?
Thanks for a great program anyway! It is very useful and getting constantly better.
Re: Edit the catalog as a list
Posted: 04 Oct 2006 08:12
by admin
noutters wrote:Then why not save the catalog.dat file in XML?
Because I would have to write this.
Why you need it? Do some global change, or so?
Posted: 04 Oct 2006 10:09
by noutters
I would like to see it for the same reason you introduced the list management interface. Lists are easier to manage in an editor and not by pointing and clicking stuff in a GUI.
Examples:

I could use a text editor to manage my catalog and massively use data collected with the search feature of XYplorer.

I could delete all pathways and file types in the catalog in one operation, if i want to. No more picking + right-click + rename + renaming + OK per line

I could build very fast my own alterenative file/dir trees. Isn't it cool?
Question:
Do you plan to add the possibility to open/run objects directly from the catalog by, say, double-clicking on them?
Posted: 04 Oct 2006 14:21
by ugus
noutters wrote:I would like to see it for the same reason you introduced the list management interface. Lists are easier to manage in an editor and not by pointing and clicking stuff in a GUI.
Yes, a kind of more "editor"-friendly alternative to edit the catalog would be really nice. One of XY:s strengths is it's easy multiple way of editing (by editing the ini, raw mode etc) ... so it would be really nice to have the possibility to edit the catalog in some kind of raw mode.
Ulrik

Posted: 04 Oct 2006 16:29
by RalphM
noutters wrote:Do you plan to add the possibility to open/run objects directly from the catalog by, say, double-clicking on them?
It's already there, at least for objects
Just create the destination of the catalog entry as follows:
file:///C:\...\xxx.xls which opens xxx.xls directly on a single click.
Posted: 04 Oct 2006 16:55
by surrender
RalphM wrote:noutters wrote:Do you plan to add the possibility to open/run objects directly from the catalog by, say, double-clicking on them?
It's already there, at least for objects
Just create the destination of the catalog entry as follows:
file:///C:\...\xxx.xls which opens xxx.xls directly on a single click.
WOW!!! Now thats very handy. Thanks Ralph, good tip.
PS: Guess i was sleeping when Don made this change on 26 May 2006 12:25:
http://www.xyplorer.com/xyfc/viewtopic. ... &start=645
Posted: 04 Oct 2006 17:56
by admin
surrender wrote:RalphM wrote:noutters wrote:Do you plan to add the possibility to open/run objects directly from the catalog by, say, double-clicking on them?
It's already there, at least for objects
Just create the destination of the catalog entry as follows:
file:///C:\...\xxx.xls which opens xxx.xls directly on a single click.
WOW!!! Now thats very handy. Thanks Ralph, good tip.
PS: Guess i was sleeping when Don made this change on 26 May 2006 12:25:
http://www.xyplorer.com/xyfc/viewtopic. ... &start=645
So my users are sleeping while I work!
I guess I should add "Open & Run" to the catalog's ctx menu, so that you can do the trick without adding file:///. Shouldn't I?
Posted: 04 Oct 2006 18:23
by jacky
admin wrote:I guess I should add "Open & Run" to the catalog's ctx menu, so that you can do the trick without adding file:///. Shouldn't I?
Would be nice yes!

Actually, and the other way around too ("Open" for a file:/// item that would do as if there was no file:/// : jump to location and select the file on the List). Have them both, and bold the one that's triggered on a single click.
And since this it reminds me of
this one, I'm linking to it

Posted: 04 Oct 2006 19:32
by noutters
Good idea.
BUT adding file:/// is not really eye friendly. You want to keep the catalog as clear as possible. So may be consider the following options:
-Rename 'open' to 'jump to host'
-Add 'open' or 'run' or 'execute' for exes (type sensitive?)
Posted: 04 Oct 2006 19:33
by j_c_hallgren
admin wrote:So my users are sleeping while I work!
I guess I should add "Open & Run" to the catalog's ctx menu, so that you can do the trick without adding file:///. Shouldn't I?
1) Yes, some of us who are in USA are sleeping while you work, due to time zone diff!
2) There are SO many tricks that XY can do, it's hard to keep track of all of them!...so having this forum and wiki with folks who use product in many ways helps us locate those features that one may have overlooked or didn't need before or maybe didn't see/follow how it may help your situation.
3) Given that the /// syntax is not as obvious as a ctx menu item, I'd agree to add it there.
4) "jump to host" isn't obvious to me what it would do...not sure yet of a better verbiage, however....maybe "locate and select file"?
Posted: 04 Oct 2006 20:36
by noutters
May be 'jump to host dir' is better? It's a bit long but it is pretty clear
Posted: 05 Oct 2006 01:36
by RalphM
noutters wrote:Good idea.
BUT adding file:/// is not really eye friendly. You want to keep the catalog as clear as possible. So may be consider the following options:
-Rename 'open' to 'jump to host'
-Add 'open' or 'run' or 'execute' for exes (type sensitive?)
The "file:///" syntax only has to be entered as the destination, so you can still name them as you like. (mine start with "DL" for direct link to distinguish them from the "dumb" catalog entries)
Posted: 05 Oct 2006 06:45
by admin
noutters wrote:Good idea.
BUT adding file:/// is not really eye friendly. You want to keep the catalog as clear as possible. So may be consider the following options:
-Rename 'open' to 'jump to host'
-Add 'open' or 'run' or 'execute' for exes (type sensitive?)
How about this:
(1) Currently "open" on a
folder will actually
go to/select the folder. A bit confusing maybe, but in the tree node ctx menu it's also called "open (in new tab etc.)". So I would leave it at "open" for folders.
(2) Currently "open" on a
non-folder (and non file:///) will
go to the item's folder in tree and
select the item in the list. This functionality could be renamed to "Select" (Select in New Tab, Select in New Background Tab).
(3) On top of that I could add a new item "Open" or "Run" for executables which would open but
not select the item; this would be a real
start menu functionality.
Posted: 05 Oct 2006 06:54
by noutters
I apologize for my ignorance
Since "file:///" only has to be entered as the destination, XYplorer works just fine the way it is today. Don't change anything for me.
I've learned something new about this wonderful proggy.
Posted: 05 Oct 2006 07:00
by admin
noutters wrote:I apologize for my ignorance
Since "file:///" only has to be entered as the destination, XYplorer works just fine the way it is today. Don't change anything for me.
I've learned something new about this wonderful proggy.
I still think the new options would be nice.