Rename dialogs no longer activate drop-down with alt+(down)

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dorito
Posts: 2
Joined: 16 Jun 2025 10:57

Rename dialogs no longer activate drop-down with alt+(down)

Post by dorito »

Hi, I'm not sure if this is a bug, but if it isn't then it's definitely a step backwards in my usage experience of XYplorer.

The rename dialogs - Batch Rename / RegExp Rename / Search and Replace - used to EXPAND the drop-down of their field when ALT+<up/down arrow> was pressed so you could see a recent history of items/text you had search/replaced using that dialog.
This allowed the user to easily see any previous search/replaces or renames they had done so they could then use the <up>/<down> arrows key to find the right one and select it with the <Return/Enter> key.

Recently - not sure which version of XYplorer this changed in, but it's some time this year as far as I can see - the ALT+<down arrow> only changes the field content itself to the next item in the drop-down history/list (which isn't expanded any more). This means you have to press the ALT+<up/down arrow> keys until you see the recent search/replace item you want in the field, often over-shooting the item (because the whole history list isn't expanded to easily see where in the list the item you want is) and having to go back up/down again, until the right one is shown.
This also makes it much harder if you don't have a suitable item in the history list to re-use (but you think you might have) so you are using ALT+<up/down> seeing the field flashing/changing but not easily knowing if you will or won't find the right recent search/replace item to use, like you would if the recent search/replace history for that dialog form was expanded in the first place.

I use the rename dialogs A LOT and this change is UI experience is very annoying for me. If it can't be brought back as the default UI, can there please be an option to enable/disable it for users who use the rename dialogs a lot and find this "UI behaviour" (always as it was before it changed) very useful.

Is there also a way to control/increase the number of items remembered/shown in the drop-down history lists for the three main rename dialogs?

Thanks.
Dorito.

altoclef
Posts: 87
Joined: 12 Oct 2012 18:54
Location: Win10 @100%

Re: Rename dialogs no longer activate drop-down with alt+(down)

Post by altoclef »

+1 from me.

I've found this also affects the 'Go to' dialog, which I use a lot and where I was used to using Alt+Down to drop the list and see my MRU entries.

admin
Site Admin
Posts: 64695
Joined: 22 May 2004 16:48
Location: Win8.1, Win10, Win11, all @100%
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Re: Rename dialogs no longer activate drop-down with alt+(down)

Post by admin »

The next beta will bring improvement:

Code: Select all

    * Dropdown Boxes: Now you can make them drop by Alt+Down and Shift+Down, and undrop by 
      Alt+Up and Shift+Up.
    * Dropdown Boxes: Now the standard size of the dropdown is 16 lines. Was 8 lines before.
PS: note that F4 also opens and closes the dropdown.

altoclef
Posts: 87
Joined: 12 Oct 2012 18:54
Location: Win10 @100%

Re: Rename dialogs no longer activate drop-down with alt+(down)

Post by altoclef »

Confirmed fixed in v27.00.0714. :tup:

My muscle memory is now happy. :) Thank you.

admin
Site Admin
Posts: 64695
Joined: 22 May 2004 16:48
Location: Win8.1, Win10, Win11, all @100%
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Re: Rename dialogs no longer activate drop-down with alt+(down)

Post by admin »

Ah, those happy muscle memories! :biggrin:

dorito
Posts: 2
Joined: 16 Jun 2025 10:57

Re: Rename dialogs no longer activate drop-down with alt+(down)

Post by dorito »

Thank you, thank you, thank you. This is wonderful news. :-)

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