I want Return = action!

[spacific]

I often prefer to navigate by keyboard.  Having selected a file by typing part of its name, I would like to be able to download it (for editing) by hitting Return. At present, hitting Return lets one rename the file. Similarly for folders: I wish to be able to hit Return to open the folder, not rename it.  I rename folders/files very rarely, but open folders and download files many many times a day, therefore I find the rename option a nuisance.  I know Mac guidelines are being followed here, whereas hitting Return to open a file is Windows-like -- but sometimes Windows has the right idea! Having to reach for the mouse to double-click is a pain.

OK there are keyboard equivalents (Cmd-E for edit and Cmd-downarrow to open a folder) but it is a pain to have to think "which one do I want now?" because if I get it the wrong way round then trouble. Also, Cmd-E is non-standard.

There must be other users who would like this use of Return. For anyone used to command lines (or Windows) it is natural to hit Return for "action". Even typing an address in a browser: you hit Return for a response.

Would it be possible to have a toggle between the two systems, so the user can chose? On the rare occasions when I need to rename several files I could then switch to the current system, do the renaming, and then switch back. Heaven!  Adding such a toggle would involve a very minor programme change: just a new preference entry and change a couple of lines of keyboard code.

Anyone else think this a good idea?

Thanks

[josephj]

Hitting return to rename a file is the standard by Mac OS X.  One thing Apple emphasizes is consistency across the UI.. and personally I'd find it rather distracting to have to use a different hotkey to rename than OS X uses and most of my other apps use.

Just my $0.02.

[spacific]

That's fine, josephj, I have no problem with the Mac guidelines.

What I am asking for is an option that allows the user to choose. Those who use Matlab, or Windows, or type URLs, or are used to command lines will want the Return=action choice I am sure, it is just so natural and efficient.

Cheers.

[Tekl]

Hi,

I'm also a switcher and cross-platform user and first it was a general problem to me that the Finder is little bit different how it can be controlle with the keyboard. Now I learned to use the Finder and it's okay that all Apps acting with files have the same behaviour. But I also have sometimes the problem that I just try to press Enter to enter a folder. I think an option would be nice.

Why is Cmd-E not standard? What's the standard-key for editing? I like that hotkey and so when working with lots of textfiles I use Yummy instead of Finder. Also on Windows there's EmFTP which uses Ctrl-E and most other FTP-Clients there have different or no hotkey or just don't have remote editing.

Well, very offtopic: I'm still searching for a Yummy-equivalent on Windows. Does anyone know? I tried FileZilla, SmartFTP, PsFTP, FTP Voyager, WS_FTP ... and they all lack in comfortable remote editing.

Tekl

[JD]

Yes, it seems redundant to have both Return and Enter doing the same thing, so I'll likely add an option to map one or the other as the 'action' key. It's likely that I'll use the Enter key for that.

I don't think there is any agreed standard for Cmd-E ... it just makes sense because Editing starts with E

I can't recommend any Window FTP clients - sorry! Although, one that sticks in my mind as being rather Mac-like is Tango FTP from Etonica, but I don't think that it has any remote editing capabilities.

[Tekl]

Hi Jason,

I thought spacific can recommend a win-client. Tango FTP is ugly, slow and doesn't has remote editing.

Tekl

[JD]

Ok. It's a long time since I looked at Tango... but it seemed nice looking at the time, compared to other Windows offerings.

[spacific]

I thought spacific can recommend a win-client. Tango FTP is ugly, slow and doesn't has remote editing.

Maybe you think I am a Windows man? No! Mac through and through. It is just that I do use and programme Windows occasionally.

Sorry can't help with the client.

Spacific

[Skunkie]

Well, very offtopic: I'm still searching for a Yummy-equivalent on Windows. Does anyone know? I tried FileZilla, SmartFTP, PsFTP, FTP Voyager, WS_FTP ... and they all lack in comfortable remote editing.

Some other FTP clients you might wanna check out for Windows (though you will not see anything like Yummy) is:

CuteFTP (they also make a Mac version but Yummy beats it by a million):
NO LINKS ALLOWEDNO LINKS ALLOWEDcuteftpNO LINKS ALLOWED/products/ftp_clients.asp

FlashFXP (A lot fo Windows users love this client):
NO LINKS ALLOWEDNO LINKS ALLOWEDinicomNO LINKS ALLOWED/pages/en.ffxp-home.php

I hope this helps a little bit.

[Tekl]

Hi,

thanks for helping. I tried all mentioned and all ftp-clients I've found for windows and only EmFtp and CuteFTP have seamless remote editing, but both support only their own editor. If I set an external Editor in CuteFTP there's still a question if I want to upload. As EmEditor is my preferred Editor EmFTP could be my FTP-client but EmFTP has so many bugs and the developers have stopped developing it.

Now I'm hoping that my boss will buy an Intel-Mac soon, so I have to use Windows only for some apps.

Tekl

[Skunkie]

Sorry it was a little late.

That is one thing about Windows, even though there is a million different applications that do the same thing, none of them are any good. 

I was browsing around (got a little curios) for specific FTP clients with remote editing and I remembered a few others:

LeapFTP:
NO LINKS ALLOWEDNO LINKS ALLOWEDleapwareNO LINKS ALLOWED/leapftp.html

FTP Editor:
NO LINKS ALLOWEDNO LINKS ALLOWEDftpeditorNO LINKS ALLOWED/

I'll cross my fingers!  I also know the pain of having to use Windows for work related projects.

[Tekl]

Hi,

thanks, but LeapFTP also asks to upload instead of automatically uploading. FTPEditor is no solution because I also need a full-featured ftp-client and I also have Editors with ftp capabilities.

Tekl

[Skunkie]

Yeah, I figured as much.  Just thought I would toss them in the mix. 

[Tekl]

It doesn't matter. Thanks for helping.

[JD]

Don't start asking me to port Yummy FTP to Windows.......