Author Topic: What is now the best dialog box enhancer/extender? (Read 21021 times)

rjbull · « **on:** February 20, 2011, 03:30 PM »

Please, what is or are the best dialog box enhancer/extender(s) on recent versions of Windows?

The excellent DonationCoder Review: Best Open/Save Dialog Box Extenders was written in 2005 and last updated in October 2006. Many things have changed since then, in particular, new versions of Windows; XP has been replaced by Vista (I have 32-bit Vista) and Vista itself replaced by Win 7. Some of the programs mentioned in the review have been updated while some seem to have been more or less abandoned. New ones may have appeared; the author of AcFolders even announced his program here and said that he had taken note of the DC review in making it in AcFolders - new file-open dialog box extender, but it has only one other brief mention on DC that I can see, in Any dialog extenders (like FileBox Extender) for 64-bit Win 7?. Other DC threads on dialog box extenders include:

I run Listary, the Pro version which has favourite folders, but its main focus is on improved searching through file lists, and it doesn't have a recent folders list. Development might have stalled, too. I could go back to PowerPro, but it's not as happy on Vista (at least with UAC On) as it was on XP, and the thought of wrestling with its configuration again is daunting. Further, neither Listary nor PowerPro support Total Commander like some of the others do, notably Direct Folders.

As I'm going round in circles, I'll repeat the first line: Please, what is or are the best dialog box enhancer/extender(s) on recent versions of Windows?

timns · « **Reply #1 on:** February 20, 2011, 03:37 PM »

I tried a couple of those and settled on DirectFolders. It's simple, seems to always pop-up when it's supposed to, and has a couple of nice side-tweaks that I like. For instance you can double click a lister in DOpus, and DF switches the currently open dialog to that path.

hpearce · « **Reply #2 on:** February 20, 2011, 08:44 PM »

I use direct folders too .... bascially just the dialog resizing

ahhh yes, with the CLICK SWITCH option checked ... never noticed that before :|

lanux128 · « **Reply #3 on:** February 20, 2011, 11:47 PM »

i was quite happy with FlashFolder on WinXP, but it is not compatible with Win7 so had to change to Direct Folders, mainly due to its click-switch function.

moonwatcher · « **Reply #4 on:** February 21, 2011, 12:44 AM »

I really liked FlashFolder and - like many other users - was very disappointed to see the development of that great tool coming to a halt.

And totally against my expectations, there are some promising news from FF's developer:

I think I have to finally finish this Win7 stuff so I can step on with other projects without having sth. in my back that bothers me ;-). Win7 / x64 code is technically already done and working quite good on my and a friends machine. I'm currently working on some minor quality issues and final touches. I plan to finish all this before spring (it's very little time, considering the time you already had to wait ;-p ).

(http://bit.ly/hHRCLE, 2011-01-24)

rjbull · « **Reply #5 on:** February 21, 2011, 05:56 AM »

I just installed Direct Folders because it's one of the few that seem under active development, basic features are free for personal use, and the Click Switch feature works with Total Commander very nicely. On the other hand the current version seems too mouse-centric for my taste (I prefer keyboard-centric), and I seem to remember at least one mention on DC that DF spikes the CPU sometimes. A couple of the pay-only features look very nice:

* Set default folder for any application.
* Rebound to the last used file in that folder.

I'll be interested to see if there's a new Vista/7-compatible version of FlashFolder (which I never tried), but I'm not holding my breath...

lanux128 · « **Reply #6 on:** February 21, 2011, 07:37 AM »

DF developer [user]DesertEagle[/user] occasionally frequents the forums.

Curt · « **Reply #7 on:** February 21, 2011, 05:20 PM »

Sometimes timing is everything...:

Downloading now ;-) http://sourceforge.n...rojects/flashfolder/

Curt · « **Reply #8 on:** February 21, 2011, 05:38 PM »

I don't know what the fuss was about; FlashFolder is almost nothing. FileBox eXtender is still way ahead, even no longer supported, since May 27, 2009.

kalons · « **Reply #9 on:** February 21, 2011, 05:57 PM »

+1 for Filebox eXtender.

fenixproductions · « **Reply #10 on:** February 21, 2011, 06:25 PM »

Sometimes timing is everything...:

(see attachment in previous post)

Downloading now ;-) http://sourceforge.n...rojects/flashfolder/

-Curt (February 21, 2011, 05:20 PM)

But isn't it dead?
The only version I can see at Sourceforge is 1.9.181 from 2008. I have 1.10.227.0 installed from somewhere I don't remember but it changes nothing.

lanux128 · « **Reply #11 on:** February 21, 2011, 08:40 PM »

Sometimes timing is everything...:

(see attachment in previous post)

-Curt (February 21, 2011, 05:20 PM)

the "last update" thing you saw was the comments section. basically you downloaded an old version which is not compatible with Win 7.

rjbull · « **Reply #12 on:** February 22, 2011, 02:38 PM »

I don't know what the fuss was about; FlashFolder is almost nothing. FileBox eXtender is still way ahead, even no longer supported
-Curt (February 21, 2011, 05:38 PM)

Does it fully work on Vista and Win7? And, does it have the wonderful feature of being able to change a dialog to whatever directory Total Commander is pointing to? Direct Folders can do both TC and Directory Opus; I know you could add file managers ad nauseam, but those, XYplorer and xplorer² would probably cover most DC users.

Curt · « **Reply #13 on:** February 22, 2011, 04:25 PM »

-no, no and no.

It is one thing what a program can do, another thing is if you like it. I have Direct Folders Pro, and others, but I prefer FileBox eXtender. On Vista, it even has a bug!

rjbull · « **Reply #14 on:** February 23, 2011, 11:28 AM »

I prefer FileBox eXtender. On Vista, it even has a bug!
-Curt (February 22, 2011, 04:25 PM)

Please, what's the bug on Vista?

Curt · « **Reply #15 on:** February 23, 2011, 02:20 PM »

-bug: When saving a file, if you want to rename it, you must first navigate to the target folder, before renaming, otherwise the file will regain its' initial filename when you click FBX. Of course this is only if the navigation was done with FBX (I use AnVir Task Manager for these jobs).

rjbull · « **Reply #16 on:** February 24, 2011, 03:24 PM »

Thanks, Curt... something like that used to happen when I used PowerPro on XP (IIRC).

bob99 · « **Reply #17 on:** April 07, 2011, 08:09 AM »

Sometimes timing is everything...:

(see attachment in previous post)

Downloading now ;-) http://sourceforge.net/projects/flashfolder/

-Curt (February 21, 2011, 05:20 PM)
But isn't it dead?
The only version I can see at Sourceforge is 1.9.181 from 2008. I have 1.10.227.0 installed from somewhere I don't remember but it changes nothing.
-fenixproductions (February 21, 2011, 06:25 PM)

I saw Ver 1.10.227.0 available for download in this FlashFolder Forum posting on SourceForge. ~~Here is the link shown in the post. http://zett42.de/_te...er_TEST_1.10.227.zip~~

Edit: Oops...The link now comes up not found.

David.P · « **Reply #18 on:** April 07, 2011, 10:45 AM »

I used to be so happy having finally found DirectFolders (Pro) which seemed to do everything...

However, I can't get it to work with Firefox (3.6 and 4) at all anymore. I asked and begged the Codesector team about a dozen times for help, started support tickets etc. but they wouldn't even care to answer (to a paying customer).

I have requested a refund of my payment because of this very unpleasant experience.

Thus, after like ten years, again (still) looking for the perfect Dialog Extender (that has the click switch feature),

Cheers David.P

Curt · « **Reply #19 on:** April 07, 2011, 12:13 PM »

; .. FileBox eXtender is still way ahead, even no longer supported, since May 27, 2009.
-Curt (February 21, 2011, 05:38 PM)

mentioned elsewhere, but should of course also be mentioned here:
Filebox eXtender was updated in February 2011 ♥

http://www.hyperionics.com/

rjbull · « **Reply #20 on:** April 07, 2011, 03:45 PM »

Filebox eXtender was updated in February 2011
-Curt (April 07, 2011, 12:13 PM)

Listary has also been updated. DC announcement: Listary Update: The new and improved Listary 3 released. It now behaves a little bit more like FBX or PowerPro's equivalent feature. The Web site hasn't been updated except for the new files. Listary is portable, which may interest some people. I don't know quite how portable - ideally I'd like it to have favourite folders on a USB stick, which would mean that it would have to know about variable drive letters.

The "call your text editor feature" has been removed and put into a separate freeware called Text Editor Anywhere, but there doesn't seem a link for that on the Web site at present.

oblivion · « **Reply #21 on:** April 08, 2011, 01:24 PM »

+1 for FileBox Extender from here too -- although I'm currently playing with DM2, courtesy of the PortableApps build of it. It's not as good, but the portable-ness is a bonus.

dr_andus · « **Reply #22 on:** April 22, 2017, 10:34 AM »

Direct Folders is back! V. 3.8 has just been released. Also 50% off today.

Direct Folders 3.8 + 50% discount – Code Sector Blog

Added: “Command prompt here” command
Added: “Show hidden files” option
Added: “Show file name extension” option
Added: Total Commander 9.0 support.

The fine print:
– After you purchase Direct Folders Pro it may be used indefinitely.
– Upgrades to future versions of the software will be free for the lifetime of the product.
– Direct Folders Pro is licensed per user, so if more people are going to use Direct Folders Pro you will need to purchase additional copies.
– Each license allows installation on all owned computers, and Direct Folders Pro may be used at exactly the same time on each of them.
– Transfer of a license to another owned computer is allowed.
– License activation isn’t required.

dr_andus · « **Reply #23 on:** April 22, 2017, 10:38 AM »

DF developer [user]DesertEagle[/user] occasionally frequents the forums.
-lanux128 (February 21, 2011, 07:37 AM)

Hey @DesertEagle,

you may want to tell Alternatives.to that Direct Folders has risen again (as it's designated as "discontinued" on there):

Direct Folders Alternatives and Similar Software - AlternativeTo.net

Curt · « **Reply #24 on:** April 23, 2017, 06:33 PM »

; .. FileBox eXtender is still way ahead, even no longer supported, since May 27, 2009.
-Curt (February 21, 2011, 05:38 PM)
mentioned elsewhere, but should of course also be mentioned here: Filebox eXtender was updated in February 2011 ♥ http://www.hyperionics.com/
-Curt (April 07, 2011, 12:13 PM)

Filebox eXtender x64 is working flawlessly on my Windows 10 Pro.
http://www.hyperionics.com/files/downloads.asp

Please note: We no longer support the FileBox eXtender product. You may still download it from here, including the source code, should you like to fix or improve anything in this program. Please do not ask us for any support or improvements.

FileBox eXtender 32 bit build, English version (1.6 MB)
Download ver. 2.01.00

FileBox eXtender 64 bit build, English version (1.7 MB)
tested only Vista x64 release and on Windows 7, may work on other 64 bit versions of Windows.
Download 64 bit ver. 2.01.00

Source code licensed under GNU General Public License: Download the source code as Visual Studio 2008 C++ solution. About 631 kB RAR archive. If you download the source and make any useful modifications or bug fixes, please share them with us.
-hyperionics