blog: visual filters the easy way

nikos · Moderator Joined: 07 Feb 2002 Posts: 12346 Location: UK

here's the comment area for today's blog post found at
http://www.zabkat.com/blog/05Aug07.htm

fgagnon · Posted: Sun Aug 05, 2007 2:52 pm Post subject:

1. Glad you're back home safely. Very Happy

2. Visual filters = powerful stuff. thumbup

So powerful that, re: your note at blog's end "If you're scratching your head where your files went, first check for a green filter icon on the statusbar!" I have to say I find it to be an insufficient warning for some, if not most users, myself included.

As I have mentioned in responses to folks questions/comments on how better to indicate when a filter is active (i.e.: some items are hidden), I use and recommend a more emphatic reminder: set the Filtered panel background color to something distinctive. I set an amber shade like a traffic caution light. That little green funnel is just to easy to miss; but having a distinctive background color is an indicator that cannot be ignored. Cool

Demetris · Silver Member Joined: 04 Jul 2004 Posts: 220

I think a nice addition would be the ability to turn a filter off by clicking in some way on the green funnel.

Sometimes I don't have my hands on the keyboard, and it takes a lot of clicking to turn a filter off with the mouse.

FrizzleFry · Gold Member Joined: 16 Oct 2005 Posts: 454

You could use menuhack to create a tool bar button for the filter toggle command but I do like the idea of clicking the icon on the status bar. Or nikos could implement a toggle filter button similar to the sticky button.

I have been using fgagnon's tip on changing the background when a filter is active for a while now. I have actually started using the filter features more since I implemented this. The changed background just makes it obvious that a filter is active. Good tip.

RTC · Posted: Mon Aug 06, 2007 1:18 pm Post subject:

fgagnon · Posted: Mon Aug 06, 2007 2:01 pm Post subject:

Important: Whichever method you use, make sure to close all instances of xplorer2 before you make the settings.

1. Assuming you'd rather not use regedit to set rgbFilterBgcol to something like: 90f0fa (hex) ...

2. Run x2SettingsEditor.exe (located in your xplorer2 installation folder)
On the Layout settings tab, scroll down to Filtered panel background.
On the right side of the color swatch, click on the little ... to bring up the color setting panel and pick your color.

OK your way out, and restart xplorer2.

HTH

RTC · Posted: Mon Aug 06, 2007 3:26 pm Post subject:

fgagnon,

cheeez...it's that easy....how could I miss that option in x2settingsEditor.exe
And I'm not even blond.... Wink

Thanks again for your quick response and help.... lol

*** RTC ***

FrizzleFry · Gold Member Joined: 16 Oct 2005 Posts: 454

It's always easier to find things when you know what you are looking for Smile