XYplorer Beta Club

I occasionally find that while I'm in a tab and I click to open a Favorite folder, the focus shifts to another tab where that Favorite's folder also happens to be open. What I'd like to occur is for the Favorite folder to open in current tab, even if it's open in another tab. Is there a preference I can set to make this the default action?

Currently there is no option to change this. This behavior was wished for many years ago and up till now nobody complained about it.

I am rather interested in why the OP prefers the current tab as opposed to an existing tab with the same location. Of what benefit, if any, is having the same location in 2 separate tabs?

Thanks for the responses. My reason for this preference is that I sometimes have many tabs open while copying / moving files. When I can't see the full names of the paths, it's easier for me to remember the relative positions of the tabs. It catches me off-guard when a tab isn't where I remembered it. It's not a big problem, just an occasional annoyance (and maybe only to me).

GamaRex wrote:Thanks for the responses. My reason for this preference is that I sometimes have many tabs open while copying / moving files. When I can't see the full names of the paths, it's easier for me to remember the relative positions of the tabs. It catches me off-guard when a tab isn't where I remembered it. It's not a big problem, just an occasional annoyance (and maybe only to me).

I see your point.

There are various location commands that will unconditionally look for an existing tab and open it if found: Favorites, Hotlist, Recent Places...

I'm not sure how to handle this best, maybe a general NeverOpenLocationInExistingTab or AlwaysOpenLocationInCurrentTab tweak? If more folks find this useful AND provide me with a catchy caption, I might even add an option in configuration.

Thanks for considering this. Maybe someone else has the same concern. Another way to name the preference might be: RetainFocusCurrentTab or RetainFocusActiveTab or another variation of it.

May I bump this request? I wasn't sure if there was some undesirable side to the suggestion, or if it's too difficult to implement. Thanks.

zer0 wrote:I am rather interested in why the OP prefers the current tab as opposed to an existing tab with the same location. Of what benefit, if any, is having the same location in 2 separate tabs?

Since the OP bumped this, thought I'd chime in on this -- The usage case I can quickly think of is wanting to have the same folder with two diff views at same time, such as thumbnails and details...yes, one could swap between the two in one tab but some might prefer having them in separate tabs.

Yes, I'm all for it. As I said before: Provide me with a catchy caption, and I will add an option in configuration.

I can't say these are catchy, but I think they are brief and descriptive:

"Allow a new tab for an existing open folder tab"

or, if the what I'm requesting is to be the default state:

"Shift focus to existing open tab for requested folder"

If this isn't what you'd like, can you give me an example of one you do like for an existing feature?

The problem is that the behavior you dislike is only exhibited by Favorites, Hotlist, and Recent Places AFAIK.

I also have to say that I begin understand your dislike and am inclined to simply change the current ways w/out adding a new option to config.

Any word by the others?

Thanks for considering making the change without its having to be an option.

If you do make it an option, and the behavior occurs only in limited circumstances, you could amend the captions I suggested to start with "Always...."

I also wanted to mention that I liked j_c_hallgren's comment, since his example is a situation that has happened to me as well: I'll have a tab open with a Thumbnails view, and want to open the folder again with a Details view, and normally open the folder from the Hotlist or Recent Places.

admin wrote:The problem is that the behavior you dislike is only exhibited by Favorites, Hotlist, and Recent Places AFAIK.

Yes but that's also most likely the source for the folder to be opened, I'd suspect.

I also have to say that I begin understand your dislike and am inclined to simply change the current ways w/out adding a new option to config.

I also think there are enough users who DO prefer the current way so having it for those who don't or those who want to switch behavior only while doing some tasks would be better...I know Config is getting heavy but I'd say that 85-90% of time, the current way is better but for those other times, not being able to do so easily can be a irritant so something that can be toggled would be good.

As far as caption -- maybe "reuse existing tab" with checked being as now is?

We can only find out by trying it...

j_c_hallgren wrote:

I also have to say that I begin understand your dislike and am inclined to simply change the current ways w/out adding a new option to config.

I also think there are enough users who DO prefer the current way so having it for those who don't or those who want to switch behavior only while doing some tasks would be better...

j_c_hallgren said it for me. i do prefer the way it is now. with plenty of ways to "not get lost in own tabs"(locked tabs, default tabs etc) i just open folders with middle click, if i need to surely open it in new tab.