When opening a file, accept a filename without extension. If the file does not exist, look for that filename with the .mlt extension. If that file exists, open that file instead.
Typically on Windows (and I think most other platforms) this is taken care of automatically - might only need to add the MLT extension to ::getOpenFileNames in order for that to happen automatically? No experience with Qt.
When saving a file (through Save As), pre-enter the current projectâs file name. If the user is saving to e.g. a temp edit, then can simply append " temp" to the end, rather than having to spell out the full filename again. Right now it seems that â/.mltâ is appended to the path by default, replace with QFileInfo(m_currentFile).fileName() ? Again, no Qt experience.
Iâm not sure if weâre referring to the same thing here. I meant to say that if you open the file âHello World.mltâ, then going through File > Save As, the dialog should have âHello World.mltâ, rather than just â.mltâ suggested as the filename. I hope that makes more sense.
âSave Asâ assumes you donât want to overwrite the original file, therefore will give you the opportunity to enter a new name. This is not different to most all other software.
How would the application know the userâs intention?
The user is in control and should assume responsibility for file management and naming, not the software.
Perhaps itâs a difference in platform that has given us different expectations? My context would be use on the Windows platform.
I have tried about two dozen programs, and so far they have all suggested the same filename as that was opened. The behavior for a blank file does differ between leaving the filename blank, or using whatever the program decided to call the file for other purposes - e.g. LibreOfficeâs âUntitled 1â.
Not suggesting that ShotCut automatically saves to a generated filename (like âIncrement on Saveâ) - that would be a different suggestion altogether.
Really? Two dozen?
Anyway, if you are saving âasâ, then why would you want the original file name to automatically populate the name field? Seems like a good way to overwrite the master copy.
Shotcutâs empty âSave Asâ file name field prevents this from happening. Itâs a âfeatureâ
And while I have tried far fewer than that when seeing what happens if I leave the filename in place, they have all so far warned me that the file already exist and asks if I want to overwrite it or not.
True, but itâs still easy to just press enter when in a hurry.
I guess some of us just donât mind being in full control rather than trusting the software.
If you donât have a file opened, correct. My suggestion was with regard to having a file opened. Try opening an existing file in notepad, then File > Save AsâŚ
It should re-use the name of the file that was opened as a suggestion in the File save dialog; https://i.imgur.com/2WTeMgb.png
If you press enter in a hurry, it will default to âNoâ and take you back to the file saving dialog. ShotCut does this as well if you explicitly specify a file name that already exists - that wouldnât change: https://i.imgur.com/HwScC9e.png
You would still be in full control. If you use File > Save As, the suggested filename is selected text by default (blue highlight). If you begin to type, it will overwrite that just as it is now. Nothing in your existing workflow should be changing as a result of this suggestion.
I just click on the previous file, then rename it. Itâs just one extra click of the mouse. I fail to see the necessity. This is just something I overlook and it doesnât bother me in the least. Guess Iâm just happy the way it is.
That would be at least 3 mouse clicks (1 to click the file, presuming itâs visible in the folder view, 1 to click back to the filename input - which selects the entire filename, and 1 to place the cursor where you want it), or 2 mouse clicks and key presses (same first two, then two tabs to get to the file input, then arrow keys to place the cursor).
Regardless, the suggestion would still not affect that workflow either.
In short, it wouldnât affect the workflow of anybody who likes it the way it is now, while improving the workflow for people who are used to the way this is handled in almost every other app.
If youâre happy the way it is, thatâs great! Iâm glad youâre happy. The question is whether you would be unhappy if it were changed, given that it wouldnât change anything for your existing workflow.
This is not possible because we use OS file dialogs (via Qt) with no control. On macOS, you have to pick something - no text entry available. On Windows, Windows complains that you entered a file that does not exist even before we get to it.
I would love it if something like Ctrl+N would append an incremented number to the end of the existing projects filename. For cases where one likes to document the rapidly developing stages of a project this can be very useful. Or even something like in Blender where you just F2, then Numpad+ to add the incremented number to the end of the existing filename.
