Increase functionality of Filelist Toolbar: modifiable Recent Folders list

Ideas for improvements and requests for new features in XnView MP

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KLE-France
Posts: 147
Joined: Mon Jan 14, 2019 3:00 pm

Increase functionality of Filelist Toolbar: modifiable Recent Folders list

Post by KLE-France »

First: "Filelist Toolbar" describes here the bar that appears or disappears when View > Filelist toolbar is checked or unchecked ( not to be confused with View > Sort by > Show header thus. My research found that these two bars are frequently confused).

Second: This post is an addition to this post of mine and others like it, suggesting that the already useful Filelist Toolbar could be even better.

Here, and building upon this post, I suggest that the Recent Folders dropdown could be improved.

I propose adding the ability to:
  • remove this function entirely for those who don't need it (see my earlier post)
  • clear the list entirely (a "clear recent folders" button)
  • clear any one item in the list (right-click > "Remove from recent folders")
  • pin folders to the list, so that they remain at the top (right-click > Pin to recent folders)
  • reorganize pinned folders (drag and drop)
This dropdown list is currently limited to 14 folders, if I"m counting right, which is coherent with the "recent" intent. Maybe extend that out to 20 just the same?

I hope others will sound in with their ideas, and as always, thanks for hearing me out.
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user0
XnThusiast
Posts: 3042
Joined: Sat May 09, 2015 9:37 am

Re: Increase functionality of Filelist Toolbar: modifiable Recent Folders list

Post by user0 »

you are talking about File list address bar.
The only thing currently missing is an option in the drop-down to clear its history (like in win file explorer).
At the moment, history can only be cleared via 'Purge now' in Settings>Interface
KLE-France
Posts: 147
Joined: Mon Jan 14, 2019 3:00 pm

Re: Increase functionality of Filelist Toolbar: modifiable Recent Folders list

Post by KLE-France »

user0 wrote: Sat May 30, 2026 10:54 am The only thing currently missing is an option in the drop-down to clear its history
And the ability to delete any one folder, and the ability to pin folders (etc. see above). I do think it would be need to greatly extend the function of the recent folders function. Whether its do-able or not, that I don't know
user0 wrote: Sat May 30, 2026 10:54 am
At the moment, history can only be cleared via 'Purge now' in Settings>Interface
As I said here also, that's already a step forward, but that also purges recent files, which users may or may not want when they purge the folders.

Ironically, users can delete all recent files alone (Files > Recent files > Clear), but they can't delete all recent folders alone...

All of that makes me think that the above could also be carried over to the Recent Files function...

What if there was the OPTION OF both a recent folders dropdown and a recent files dropdown on the Filelist toolbar, both offering the above functions??

Hey, nothing says 'ya can't dream big!

In any case, the Settings > Interface > Purge now option is very good to know.
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user0
XnThusiast
Posts: 3042
Joined: Sat May 09, 2015 9:37 am

Re: Increase functionality of Filelist Toolbar: modifiable Recent Folders list

Post by user0 »

KLE-France wrote: Sat May 30, 2026 4:35 pm
user0 wrote: Sat May 30, 2026 10:54 am The only thing currently missing is an option in the drop-down to clear its history
And the ability to delete any one folder, and the ability to pin folders (etc. see above). I do think it would be need to greatly extend the function of the recent folders function. Whether its do-able or not, that I don't know
Recent files/folders/searches/etc is the standard functionality across many apps, so there's no need to reinvent the wheel.
Advanced options are typically available only on dedicated Home/Recent page (eg ms office apps, photoshop), not in dropdown.

KLE-France wrote: Sat May 30, 2026 4:35 pm
user0 wrote: Sat May 30, 2026 10:54 am
At the moment, history can only be cleared via 'Purge now' in Settings>Interface
As I said here also, that's already a step forward, but that also purges recent files, which users may or may not want when they purge the folders.

Ironically, users can delete all recent files alone (Files > Recent files > Clear), but they can't delete all recent folders alone...

All of that makes me think that the above could also be carried over to the Recent Files function...

What if there was the OPTION OF both a recent folders dropdown and a recent files dropdown on the Filelist toolbar, both offering the above functions??
I would
- move all related settings to new Privacy page in General (eg like in Directory Opus)
- split current 'Recent files and folders' to Address bar history and Opened files history
- add 'Clear search' option for Quick filter in Browser


Example
  • Directory Opus
    other_apps_privacy_dirOpus.png
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