Browser>Filter by & Image viewing filtering

[xnview]

I need feedback about this problem.

We have Settings>Filelist>Custom filter used by Browser when using 'Filter by>Custom'
But we can change settings for files shown in Fullscreen/Image tab (Show in preview). You can hide video or PDF when viewing.
(Many users use 'All', and don't want to view video files)

If we use in Browser, All or Custom for 'Filter by', and open fullscreen or an image tab, the filter 'Show in preview' will be used.

Is it good that it works like that?
And how to make this setting more understandable?

Perhaps remove 'Show as preview' column, and a Filter tab in View Settings
- Show video
- Show PDF
- Show Text
- Exclude/Icnlude
?
(We have already Settings>View>Show video)

Related:
1.5.0 64bits (Jul 10 2023) Custom filter stopped working
Scroll through individual images from browser view?
Déplacement entre fichiers de types différents

[user0]

Is it good that it works like that?

its a bit confusing, because:
- 'Custom filter' located in Settings>Browser>File list, that does not look related to Viewer mode at all
- also I have feeling that Browser>View>Filter by shall be global, eg when I select 'Image', Viewer still use 'Custom filter's 'Show in Preview' column from settings.

And how to make this setting more understandable?
Perhaps remove 'Show as preview' column, and a Filter tab in View Settings

that can work

I would also make 'Filter by type' global setting accessible from both modes via View>'Filter by type' menu
If app started with file (eg double click in file explorer) - Viewer tab will be opened, no matter what 'Filter by type' is selected.
However, further scrolling in Viewer will be limited by current 'Filter by type'.


Mockup A

viewer_filter_by.png

VIEWER/BROWSER

• rework 'Filter by' into 'Filter by [file] type'
  - remove Tag,Label options
  - remove folder options

• add 'Filter by type' menu group into View menu

BROWSER

• add separate 'Folder' settings
  instead separate menu group it can be added to the bottom of 'View as' menu group

• rework filters in File list (see FastStone example)
  - add Tag filter combobox
  - rework Rating filter combobox
  - add Labels filter as separate combobox

SETTINGS

• remove 'Show video' checkbox (View>Misc)
  as Visible column in 'Custom filter' will affect both modes

• remove 'Show in Preview' column from 'Custom filter'
  as filter become global, Visible column affects both modes

• move 'Visible' checkboxes from 'Folders' and 'Parent folder' columns to new 'Folder' menu group
  as this filter is about file types, folder settings moved to browser menu

• move 'Show as Thumbnail' checkbox from 'Folders' to Settings>Browser>Thumbnail>Misc

Example

• acdsee
  filter_acdsee.png

• faststone
  filter_faststone.png

[xnview]

BROWSER

• add separate 'Folder' settings
  instead separate menu group it can be added to the bottom of 'View as' menu group

I thinkt that we must keep like that for '..' & folder

And about 'Filter by type', how to show Image+Videos, better for me to put it in Settings>View

[xnview]

• rework filters in File list (see FastStone example)
  - add Tag filter combobox
  - rework Rating filter combobox
  - add Labels filter as separate combobox

Rating as combobox is better than current rating widget?
Advantage is that we can have Tag&Labels

In ACDSee, the filter options is global even when we select 'ALL', i think that it's not clear...

[user0]

BROWSER

• add separate 'Folder' settings
  instead separate menu group it can be added to the bottom of 'View as' menu group

I thinkt that we must keep like that for '..' & folder

you mean 'Show parent folder' and 'Show folders' in 'View as'?
'Show files in subfolders' (btw, I think it must be plural).. well, I do not have strong opinion here, just do not like standalone option when there is something similar grouped in other place.

And about 'Filter by type', how to show Image+Videos, better for me to put it in Settings>View

via 'Custom filter' OR just add 'Images+Videos' option

tbh, I do not like current approach when Viewer has video setting in Settings>View as it feels not right (inconsistent/clumsy):

• why there are 'Show video', but no 'Show audio'? How about 'Show txt/pdf/etc'?
  its better to manage these settings from single place.

• when I disable 'Show video' I do not want to see video in Viewer.
  however, its still opens from Browser until disabled in 'Custom filter'

• 'Filter by' settings spread across app
  it just makes things complicate without visible benefits

• rework filters in File list (see FastStone example)
  - add Tag filter combobox
  - rework Rating filter combobox
  - add Labels filter as separate combobox

Rating as combobox is better than current rating widget?
Advantage is that we can have Tag&Labels

issues of current approach:

• 'Filter by' menu
  - concepts mixing: File_types, Folders, Tags and Labels all in one place
  - no Rating

• Filelist's widgets
  - same as above
  - no Tag widget
  - Rating filter is clumsy (takes too much space, looks too different from other controls, does not look solid enough)

benefits of new approach:

• 'Filter by' menu
  - separation of concepts
  - Tag,Rating,Label filters can be moved into its own 'Filter by metadata'? (like in acdsee) menu OR just make them Filelist's widgets only.

• Filelist's widgets
  - widgets look unified (only one combobox per filter)
  - easier to vizualize individual state of each filter (like in faststone)

In ACDSee, the filter options is global even when we select 'ALL', i think that it's not clear...

Guess only 'Filter by type' shall be global, other filters have to be Browser (and session) only.

[user0]

based on 1.5.5
few mockups in order to split Browser/Viewer filelists


Mockup B

viewer_filter_by_B.png

• settings
  • browser
    - return 'Show in Preview' column OR use 'Visible' column checkboxes with the same intention (if file is visible - show it in Preview)
  • viewer
    - change 'Filter' to manage Viewer filelist, instead of Browser Preview

Mockup C

viewer_filter_by_C.png

• viewer
  - add 'Filter by' menu

• settings
  - simplify settings structure by merging Browser and Viewer filelist visibility into single tab
  -- add 'Visible in Viewer' column (activates when Custom filter selected in Viewer's 'Filter by' menu)
  -- remove Filter tab from Settings > View

[xnview]

- use 'Visible' column checkboxes with the same intention (if file is visible - show it in Preview) [/list]

I think that it's better

[kbyork]

I realize that I am very, very late to this conversation.
And my suggestions are going in a rather different direction... and will probably cause a bit of ire.

I am speaking up only because 'SETUP>file-list>custom-filter' and 'TOOLS>open-with>configure-programs' are my two most cherished settings.

PREFACE:

• I run XnView-MP as a PortableApp.
• I run many other utilities as PortableApps [which is why 'TOOLS>open-with>configure-programs' is so important]
• While most of my usage of XnView is images; I also use it for videos, audios, HTML,...
• and (once-in-a-while) Python or C++

First, in reference to 'view in Viewer' column vs 'if file is visible - show it in Preview': I would prefer the former. But the later is fine too.

My suggestion is multiple custom filters with a couple more columns and a couple custom rows.

WHY MORE COLUMNS?
Regarding SETUP>file-list>custom-filter's 'Open with' column... When opening a video, audio, HTML,... file: I may want to EDIT or PLAY/EXECUTE.
So I would like separate columns for each of these, and probably separate triggers [like CLICK & CTRL-CLICK or something].

memo: as I use some PortableApps, I currently have a long list of various utilities under 'TOOLS>open-with>configure-programs'.
And it would certainly be nice if I could move some of these under this new EDIT column.

WHY CUSTOM ROWS?
Currently, I have added a ton of file extensions under the 'TEXT' row; which work great for VIEWing and EXECUTING, but I need to use 'OPEN-WITH' for EDITTING.
so having a couple user defined ROWS with EDIT, PLAY/EXECUTE, EXTENSIONS columns would be helpful.

(completely optional) in my case, these would all be TEXT files, so having away to use your TEXT PREVIEW would be a cherry-on-the-cake.

WHY MULTIPLE CUSTOM FILTERS?
With the 'SETUP>file-list>custom-filter' menu; I can tailor exactly how I want XnView to work.
You have added multiple custom filters of your own to the 'Filter-by' menu.
And as great as that is, letting me do more than one custom filter would be even better than that.

POST SCRIPT:
I realize that this should be a feature request; not inserted into your current conversation.
But I fear that you may be trimming down 'SETUP>file-list>custom-filter'.
Which I heavily rely on!