When renaming a file arrow down selects next filename (wo extension)

[theking2]

When renaming a file assign the arrow down key ↓ as accept and rename next file.

rationale

The use-case would be a user renaming a number of files in on directory. It would skip over and save a number of clicks and enters.

[ghost]

Arrow keys are for navigating or cursor movement and mixing them is a very bad idea and it would not improve anything, when you are done renaming a file the 'enter' key is more then sufficint to apply the change, and is also just one key press and it is not confusing because that is the standard in file managers on all operating systems.

Sincerely someone who manages files most of the day.

[theking2]

Exactly my point, thanks. The down or up arrow navigate the next or previous line and in this case the next or previous line are tne next or previous file name. There for it is very intuitive.

Your last sentence confuses me. Maybe you meant to write the opposite?

[ghost]

I said 'enter' as in enter key using any arrow key to enter a file name is a bad unituitive idea.

To be clear arrow keys in a file manager context should be used 2 ways:

1. When renaming a file, the arrow keys get used to move the cursor within the file name text box up, down, left, right.
2. After entering the new file name by other means then you can use the arrow keys to navigate thru your files.

Using a arrow key to enter text at all is a bad idea that will confuse and frustrate anyone other then the one who asked for it, including terminal users from the 80s.

I will add however if you can change the keyboard shortcut to do so, or write an extesion and/or try it youself for few months to see how it works out for you over the long term.

If there is one hard lesson I have learned over the years is that most ideas we come up with workout far better in our heads then real life.

[cplittlfield]

The use-case would be a user renaming a number of files in on directory. It would skip over and save a number of clicks and enters.

If you want to rename a bunch of files, select them, right-click, and select Rename. The bulk renamer will open, and you will have tools for changing their names. Granted, this works best if there is a pattern in the old names that you want to change to a different pattern.

[theking2]

What a nice idea but not related to my suggestion.

[ghost]

Then what is the suggestion exactly?

because all I am getting is you are tired of clicking or navitaing to a given file via keyboard or mouse, and either pressing enter or clicking on the next file both entering the new filename and opening up a simple menu where the next click allows you to rename that one, and so on a so on.

If this would be a optional feature under a toggle or something then I kinda get it, but to force it on others if it makes renaming files and/or file browsing with keyboards more confusing then I don't get it at all.

If it is what I think it is how would nemo know when you are using the down arrow to enter the new file name, verses just moving the curser aroung to edit the file name without using the mouse? And what counts as the next file? The one below, above, left or right maybe if you explained how the logic tree would work then me and others could undertstand you better, and maybe even like it.

For example:

1. you select a file to rename.
2. Arrow keys work as normal (moving the cursor) untill the last line.
3. If you are at end of the last line and press the down arrow twice then apply the new name and go to the next file.
4. If you select the next file via step 3 then automaticly select the rename fuction.
5. Repeat steps 2-4 untill you apply the new name with any other method and go back to using the arrow keys normally.

This way normal users may not notice it, but those who know about the feature can use it just fine.

[theking2]

What an excellent input! Thank you!

To answer your question.

• start changing a file name with F2
• use the horizontal cursor keys to navigate in the name
• instead of confirming with Enter hit one of the vertical cursor keys to navigate to the next or previous file just like in any text editor. The normal user is very familiar with this behavior
• the next or previous filename is marked for editing
• the Ctrl+ z can be used to undo an accidental edit
• a final Enterconfirms the final edit.

I hope this answers your question.

[ghost]

All right I no longer hate the idea, and as long as 1. it only triggers with f2, and 2. F2 does not conflict with anything else.

Then in that case I give the idea a rating of "good enough".

[theking2]

Dolphin does this.

[magic-bretzel]

Hello,
I agree that such a feature is great for a day-to-day use. I miss this on Mint.
On other operating systems, another way of validating the entry and going to the next one is using TAB key. And I wonder if Fedora KDE is not using both keys (tab and down arrow do the same). But one is enough to have the feature.

[Jopp-gh]

A simple way is to double click on file names to rename (to change in Nemo settings)

Another idea is to write a bash script and rename files/folders with whatever criteria we want.