Okay, I give up... where are the "other tools"?

crazyblend

Where do I find the "other tools" described in the handbook?

- File Tool

- Mass File Renamer

- File Attribute Tool

- Find and Replace

- File Encrypter

- File Analyzer

The handbook says that these tools are "not directly available from the main window," but doesn't say how they are available! :)

jv16

Please see: http://www.macecraft.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=366

Also, I have improved the handbook to be more clear on this matter, the new version of the handbook will be released with the next update of the product itself. Most likely in next week.

crazyblend

Okay, I found them. Thanks.

Yes, please update the handbook.

Dragging files into PowerTools for the purpose of working with them in File Tools is a rather unconventional technique. Usually, dragging files means that you are moving or copying them.

As an alternative, I suggest that you provide File Tools as a top-level tool within PowerTools, and then (within File Tools) provide a standard file- and folder-selection dialog to populate the file list.

Another option would be to add File Tools to the Windows Explorer context menu. You select the files and/or folders that you want, then right-click and select "Macecraft File Tools". (This is what WinZip does, for example.)

jv16

Actually, dragging files into an application is very commonly used method. It's used for example by Winzip, Adobe Photoshop, Internet Explorer and Mozilla Firefox, just to mention a few.

You should also note that you can also access the File Tool simply by using File Finder or File Cleaner. The File Tool isn't available from the main screen simply because we didn't made up any good way to allow users easily to list their files in it (except the already used dragging and the use of other tools).

But I must say that your idea about the standard file and folder selection dialog isn't bad at all, I'll have to think about this.

A Windows Explorer context menu extensions support has been on my todo list for ages, it was supposed to be included to the jv16 PowerTools 2005 but it was left out due to schedule issue. It's coming, I just don't know when.