Select Next/Prev Directories?

[jw113]

My pictures are stored in subfolders by date, and I often want to start at a particular dated subfolder and browse pictures in that folder as well as other nearby parallel subfolders. However, when I reach the end of the current folder IV offers only the options of the current folder ("[.]") or the parent folder ("[..]"), but not the previous or next folders at the same level. These would seem to be "natural" options at this point, and I've looked for an option to enable it, but if it's there I've missed it.

Other posts have suggested using Thumbnail view, where I can view all pictures in all subfolders, ignoring the subfolders. But this isn't practical here, since I don't want to navigate through (for wait for thumbnails to be generated for) 10's of thousands of pictures, but just a small subset.

Is there a way to navigate to next and previous folders/directories?

Thanks.

[Skippybox]

Very easy. From the Browse SUbfolders dialog, choose the parent folder (but don't press Enter or double-click it). Instead, press the right arrow button or space bar. This will access the listing of directories to choose from, and highlight your current position. You can keep doing this until you find the right one. The tips are at the bottom of the dialog. Press Enter or double-click to view the folder.

Anytime you wish to leave your directory, press CTRL+B, and the Browse Subfolders dialog will appear.

[Skippybox]

If you are only looking for a subset, you can try search (CTRL+F). Also available, is the directory count display, where you can filter your directory with a pattern. Command line option /filepattern allows you to also filter your files. Therefore, you could open Thumbnails with far less files.

[jw113]

If you are only looking for a subset, you can try search (CTRL+F). Also available, is the directory count display, where you can filter your directory with a pattern. Command line option /filepattern allows you to also filter your files. Therefore, you could open Thumbnails with far less files.

Thanks for the suggestions, but neither seem as simple as the option to move to the next (or previous) directory. I'll re-post as a feature request and see what happens.

[jazzman]

Thanks Skippy, I hadn't known about CTRL+B and CTRL+F
Great features! IrfanView: L IV E AND LEARN

[Skippybox]

Thanks for the suggestions, but neither seem as simple as the option to move to the next (or previous) directory. I'll re-post as a feature request and see what happens.

What do you mean? I posted how to do it right here:

http://en.irfanview-forum.de/vb/showpost.php?p=22819&postcount=2

[jw113]

What do you mean? I posted how to do it right here:

http://en.irfanview-forum.de/vb/show...19&postcount=2

Sorry, when I first read your steps the process seemed more complicated than it really is. I just tried it and it is a useful workaround.

Still, when the Browse Subfolders dialog pops up it seems natural (to me) that it should include the next and previous directories as options right there, without having to navigate up a level. The default choice could/should be set by the direction I was last browsing in the current directory (forward or backwards), e.g., pressing [space] in the Browse Subfolders dialog should start browsing the first file in the next directory, and [backspace] should move to the last file in the previous directory

[Skippybox]

Sorry, when I first read your steps the process seemed more complicated than it really is. I just tried it and it is a useful workaround.

Still, when the Browse Subfolders dialog pops up it seems natural (to me) that it should include the next and previous directories as options right there, without having to navigate up a level. The default choice could/should be set by the direction I was last browsing in the current directory (forward or backwards), e.g., pressing [space] in the Browse Subfolders dialog should start browsing the first file in the next directory, and [backspace] should move to the last file in the previous directory

It can't really work that way, because it must act like any folder with hierarchy. Naturally, it can't show parallel folders along with a folder's subfolders. You must move up a folder to see them because you are theoretically browsing the current folder. This is how Windows Explorer works, doesn't it?

I don't really see the logic with your statements. Subfolders usually have more in common with each other, than parallel folders, so they would be more likely browsed.

I can't imagine changing the keys, as it would make less sense. For one, the parallel folders are not shown, so why would Space and Backspace take you to one? Backspace is what you use to move up a level in Windows Explorer, so left arrow makes sense here. Right arrow or Space returns you into the same directory you were browsing, which is a natural first choice. Otherwise, it moves you into a subfolder or the parent folder, if selected. How would these functions be incorporated into your method?

[jw113]

It can't really work that way, because it must act like any folder with hierarchy. [...] This is how Windows Explorer works, doesn't it?

If you view this as a hierarchical browser then, of course, you're right. I've used IV for years but have always used Explorer as my file browser. When the Browse Subfolders dialog has popped up I've always focussed on the question "Do you want to continue in another folder?" with the answer usually being "Yes, the next one!" and wondering why IV didn't offer that as a direct option.

...Subfolders usually have more in common with each other, than parallel folders, so they would be more likely browsed.

It all depends on where you start in the hierarchy. I always start IV in a "subfolder" rather than the parent, and I often want to navigate sequentially through folders at the same level.

...I can't imagine changing the keys, as it would make less sense. For one, the parallel folders are not shown, so why would Space and Backspace take you to one?

If the dialog remains strictly a browser then you're right.

...Right arrow or Space returns you into the same directory you were browsing, which is a natural first choice.

Of course "natural" depends on the user. But when I'm browsing through folders I rarely (never?) want to loop back to the beginning of the current directory. I'm either finished or I want to move on to the next directory.

My original post was about making browsing between sequential parallel folders as easy as possible. Perhaps a better way to allow this is an option (sorry, yet another option) to make such browsing transparent. With the option enabled pressing [space] at the end of a directory goes immediately to the first file in the "next" directory, and pressing [backspace] at the beginning of a directory goes immediately to the last file in the "previous" directory. (With the option disabled you get the current behaviour: reaching the first or last file in a directory pops up the Browse Subfolders dialog.)