#120 Navigating by entering filenames problematic

[Anonymous]

7-Zip inherits Explorer's weaknesses when navigating file
list by entering filenames:

1. There is no way to tell what users have previously
entered. That may not be much of a problem if it only
accepts one character, but it is a problem when it
accepts multiple characters, and gets worse with long
file names.

2. There is an undocumented time out that causes 7-Zip
File Manager and Explorer to forget previously entered
characters. This consistently cripples users who types
slowly and those have to enter non-English characters,
where more time is needed to enter a character.

3. If there are multiple files matching previously entered
characters, choosing one file over the other becomes a
nightmare. 7-Zip File Manager always chooses the first
one in the list, with no way to refine the query; or
choose the other ones, then refine the query.

4. If there is a misentry, there is no way to recover
previously entered characters. Combining the
misfeatures 1, 2, and 3, the result can render the
feature inaccessible to large group users, or to file using
non-English character filenames.

To solve these problems, 7-Zip File Manager needs to
implement the inline automatic completion feature,
which can be found in web browsers. However, to make
it more effective, when entering characters, it highlights
the files in the window that matches the entered
characters. To differentiate highlights of selected files,
cursor position, and entered characters, the filenames
will use different colours to indicate the partial filenames
that matches entered characters. Unlike Explorer, the
proposed solution does not forget previously characters
when moving the cursor across file list, but will do so
when the contents of directory/archive is changed (Eg:
switching directory, entering an archive, delete/add files
to current file list; but not when changing sorting order,
view settings, filtering file list (see below)), or when an
explicit command is executed to clear the buffer
(proposed keyboard mapping used is ESC). Optionally,
new commands are added to toggles filter that shows
only files matching the entered characters (possibly
mapped to Ctrl-Enter), and to recall previously entered
partial filenames (possibly mapped to (shift-)tab). As a
result of adding inline automatic completion, command
that moves up a directory level need to be remapped to
a key sequence other than Backspace such as Alt-PgUp.
If recalling previously entered partial filenames is
implemented, the 'Switch panel' command need to be
remapped.

[Igor Pavlov]

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user_id=65083

7-Zip uses standard windows list.
And I don't program behaviour of that list.
All you wrote is difficult to program. I can't spend time
for it now.