Real Time Rename Preview (RTRP)

[admin]

Okay, I think I better do it right away because it's just too good to wait longer. And it's not even that hard to do.

The only thing that's a bit unclear to me is how to handle the help texts that you currently find in the 5 Rename Special dialogs. I never liked that layout anyway, so I'm happy to change it. But how? Pop them up via a "Hints..." button?

[serendipity]

Wow! looking forward for RTRP.

Pop them up via a "Hints..." button?

Sounds good.

[jacky]

Okay, I think I better do it right away because it's just too good to wait longer. And it's not even that hard to do.

The only thing that's a bit unclear to me is how to handle the help texts that you currently find in the 5 Rename Special dialogs. I never liked that layout anyway, so I'm happy to change it. But how? Pop them up via a "Hints..." button?

hmm.. well I kinda like it actually, and I would vote against the "Hints" button. Mostly because I feel it's not really hints that are given out here, but a (quick) "reminder" of the syntax supported.

So for people not aware of how it works at all, sure they might click "Hints", but I think it's better to have it all right away, makes it feel "safer" I think...

Besides, whether you're familiar with the syntax or not, it's always good to be able to have the syntax on screen while working on your pattern, especially for like Search/Replace or Batch Rename.

[admin]

... So for people not aware of how it works at all, sure they might click "Hints", but I think it's better to have it all right away, makes it feel "safer" I think...

Besides, whether you're familiar with the syntax or not, it's always good to be able to have the syntax on screen while working on your pattern, especially for like Search/Replace or Batch Rename.

Okay, but where? Do we still have to think of 800x600 screens? Even on 1024 it's not easy to make it look good.

One might make use of a More/Less button to expand the window on demand.

Well, needs a little inspiration...

[jacky]

Okay, but where? Do we still have to think of 800x600 screens? Even on 1024 it's not easy to make it look good.

hmm.. Just a quick try...

[serendipity]

Ok, given the fact that i mostly remember the syntaxes the hint would have been good enough. But like jacky said its good to have always ON by default. The screen shot makes a point there, screen size doesnt matter as long as you have the scroll which saves lot of space.
I take back my vote for hint and vote for the above style.

[admin]

Okay, but where? Do we still have to think of 800x600 screens? Even on 1024 it's not easy to make it look good.

hmm.. Just a quick try...

Not bad. I like it.

[John Bee]

Not bad. I like it.

And so do I.

[ugus]

Not bad. I like it.

I like it too

[j_c_hallgren]

I was away all day at an air show, so just now getting to see that mock-up...and...I also like it!

And yes...I still think that one needs to account for 800x600 screens, which in some cases, are used by older users who are having vision issues and a higher resolution is hard to see...I've also used a couple of public PC's that were set that way, but allowed USB usage so probably could run XY from there.

[admin]

One thing about the mock-up: after editing/selecting the pattern and before pressing "Refresh Preview" the preview is not in sync with the pattern currently displayed in the edit box, nor is there a way to find out which pattern is actually used in the preview. I'm still looking for a good solution here.


BTW: I find the term "pattern" more natural than the current "template" in this context. Should I change it?

[j_c_hallgren]

Quick thoughts on issues:
1) Maybe use the area to left of Rename/Cancel buttons to show the pattern used for preview above it? (title it "Prior"?) And do so only when user has made any changes to edit box above? And also then change right box heading to "Prior Preview new names" or similar..

2) Yes, pattern makes sense, since there is only one parameter/value involved controls it, whereas Find Files templates have multiple parameter/values, so template is more fitting there.

[jacky]

One thing about the mock-up: after editing/selecting the pattern and before pressing "Refresh Preview" the preview is not in sync with the pattern currently displayed in the edit box, nor is there a way to find out which pattern is actually used in the preview. I'm still looking for a good solution here.

Well... as jc said, you could have the pattern used for preview shown under the two lists, as a reminder. Or tweak things a little and shown it under the actual pattern field (combobox) even.

As for whether or not it's in synch, I'd say it should be enough to have the "Refresh preview" button disabled once clicked. That way it's easy to teel: if one cann't refresh the preview it means it's in synch.

BTW: I find the term "pattern" more natural than the current "template" in this context. Should I change it?

hmm.. I believe you have the two now : template for Batch Rename, and pattern for RegExp Rename, maybe even others for other modes.
I'd say it could stay that way, but if you intend to only use one same word all the time, it definitely must be "pattern" then.

[graham]

I would just clear the right side panel entries if and when the pattern is changed. This then indicates to the user to press preview - no need for refresh preview.

[admin]

Thanks for your ideas, folks. I don't like them.

While they all meet the necessary logic, they are too "non-Windows" for my taste (uncommon use or behavior of controls).

Now, I did not find anything better.

Hypothesis: there is no good UI for RTRP because there is no real RTRP! Read on...

Maybe ask for real-time preview is too much.
It'd really slow down the pc with a lot of files.

Muroph was right. I should have taken him more serious. And you see the contradiction that is the source of the UI problem in jacky's mock-up: "Realtime" + "Refresh" button ... Either one or the other.

So, I think what we have right now is not that bad and a better "UI-fication" of the realities of XY's Rename Preview (which does quite some CPU cycling in the background to provide you with all that valuable information about your near-future filenames).

What's left to do:
- add the 3rd button to the pattern dialog (Preview..., OK/Rename Now, Cancel) so that you can skip the preview if you don't need it
- allow to configure which rename operations should skip the preview right away (many do not have a pattern dialog, so this is the only way to skip the preview).