2
exerceo
303d

Like pull-to-refresh, auto-selecting the file name in "save as" dialogues is a design trend we are perpetuating without questioning its usefulness.

The "rename" feature of file managers and the file name fields in "Save as" dialogues and screenshot tools automatically select file names without the ending, expecting the user to want to replace it.

It would more sense to place the cursor between the file name and the ending ".png".

I can't remember the last time I replaced a file name. I almost always rename files to add a comment or time stamp at the end.

Adding a comment after the time stamp, for example, "Screenshot at 2024-02-04 12-04-37 progress bar.png", makes more sense than replacing the file name. A file name with a time stamp is more easily searched.

Comments
  • 3
    If you want to add sometime at the end you can just press the ➡️ key and you'll have your cursor there. For me I usually either replace all the name or just leave it as it is.
  • 2
    I find those whitespaces way more disturbing
  • 1
    @cafecortado Indeed. However, doing this every single time becomes annoying. One has to reach for the right arrow key with the small finger.
  • 1
    @exerceo it’s a better default. Because you are just one arrow key press away from what you want.
    If the cursor was in that place before the .png as you suggest, then people who wanted to replace the entire file name would need to do much more than just one key press.
  • 0
    It doesn't bother me at all.

    What bothers me is whitespaces and colons in the name.
  • 0
    @Lensflare not much. Just a shift+home
  • 0
    @netikras while it may be technically correct, I bet that the vast majority of users don’t know about that, so for the average user it will be significantly more effort to do.
Add Comment