File Explorer Bug and Woefully Missing Features

[Mot]

This bug and feature report pertains to WeBuilder version 11.0.1.127 on 64-bit Win7 Professional.

File exploration in WeBuilder has been seriously lacking appropriate features for some time now. Additionally, I find the file and directory panes do not size appropriately when the program starts and the File Explorer tab is visible - a bug. In the screenshot attached below, note that the directory and file panes do not fit the allotted space. When I grab the horizontal sizing bar in between these two panes and move it even the slightest bit, the panes instantly expand to the appropriate size, so there is a workaround, but it's just annoying.

Moreover, do you see anything missing from these file and directory panes? Things that are missing even when the pane is properly sized?

These panes are missing:

1) A horizontal scrollbar
so you can scroll over to see information/columns that are currently off the screen to the right.

2) The file list is missing column headings
which would not only permit more convenient, and standard, sort functionality, but would also allow resizing the columns.

These elements have been woefully absent in WeBuilder for far too long. Frankly, I think it is worthy of consideration for the next decimal point update, don't you?

[davenz]

+1.

Though I champion WeBuilder and those Blumentals products I have used in the past as being great bang for buck and very usable even for deadbeats like me, I agree this aspect of the editor is is one of the most annoying aspects of the whole WeBuilder experience for me. I understand that using either Blumentals-developed or purchased third-party Explorer-style controls can result in different functionality, however this functionality should, in my opinion, be over and above that offered by the standard Windows Explorer feature set, not reduced. Not being a programmer's armpit, it may well be that adding functionality to Windows Explorer is not possible, or too difficult and/or buggy, which requires the inclusion of third-party file manager controls, though as you point out, this type of quirky behaviour has been going on for a long time now and it is overdue to be sorted.

However, I also suspect that due to amount of work involved in redoing or replacing that side of the editor, this might not be a decimal point update. I was hoping 2011 would have this sorted and the fact it isn't makes me think it is a can of worms the developers aren't really keen to open. Then again, maybe I'm way off base and the whole thing is a simple bug that can be fixed with 'a few lines of code'.

Thanks for starting this thread.

[x3po]

so true.

+1

[Elygen]

+1

[RoyReed]

+1

[Gatis]

Hi,

I can not make any promises, only that I will make sure this gets attention from the developers.

[Jay Q]

+1... big time.

Just about every other feature of WB enhances my productivity. The lack of normal File Explorer functionality does the opposite, however, and has prompted me in the past to look at other editors (though there's enough good in WB to make me stick with it ).

[MrCleanX]

+1 here too! We have 5 copies here in my shop, but we're not buying any future versions until these very basic feature get built in. Come on...is it really that difficult?

I miss HomeSite...

[valBXL]

Since this problem is related to Windows Explorer, I would suggest using Total Commander instead. Can it be done? I would love to see a File Explorer that uses a reduced version of Total Commander.

[johnradams]

I posted this entry back in 2009:

"enhanced column management in file explorer" ------- - http://forums.blumentals.net/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=4213

A number of people "+1"ed my post.

This remains an obvious and annoying oversight in an otherwise excellent piece of software.

[Jay Q]

I miss HomeSite...

Ah, another old-timer . Yeah, HomeSite was great.

[william070707]

+1 from my end too

[johnradams]

On a related topic for WB's File Explorer, why is it that I cannot specify the file extension(s) to be used for filtering the fileset? I have tried changing the filtering in Options (setting it to *.* and making this the first entry in the list). I have tried all sorts of "right-click here", "right-click there" to try and get WB's built-in File Explorer to show me the files I want based on my filer (and I would be happy with *.*).

Today's battle with WeBuilder: I navigated to a folder containing some c# files (I preferred to do some searching and examination using WebBuilder instead of loading anotehr instance of VS). Alas, WB refuses to show the .cs files. So my list of files in the file pane is empty. How do I get WB to show the .cs files? And even if there is a way to do it, why is it so darn hard to find it?

PLEASE MAKE THE FILE EXPLORER SANE.

[Nikolajs]

I disagree that it is hard to find the file type filter or the filter does not work. See:



There are some problems with the File Explorer, but that will change in the next major version of the product.