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Renaming files: windows re-selects entire filename when other files resync
Found a reproducible annoyance in Windows 10 with Dropbox. I often cycle through a lot of folders using the tab key to rename them one at a time, and this produces an issue where, as soon as the Dropbox app has synced the previous file, Windows highlights all text in the currently-being-edited filename, even if I am tapping through it.
To reproduce:
- Open a folder containing many files that is currently synced in Dropbox
- Click on a file name twice (not doubleclick) to begin renaming it. Rename it however.
- Press the Tab key to flick down to the next file in the folder. If the previous filename was still in the 'editing' mode then you will automatically be editing the next filename.
- Quickly start using the arrow keys or Home/End to move around in the filename but do not start typing
- After a second or two, when the Dropbox App has re-synced the file you previously renamed, Windows will highlight the entire filename that you are currently arrowing-around in - maybe just as you were about to start typing.
I suspect this has something to do with updating the little blue and green file icon overlays.
If you were just about to start inserting some text somewhere in a filename, but hadn't started typing yet, then the fact that the filename has just re-highlighted itself might cause you to overwrite the entire filename instead of inserting the part you were planning.
When doing this with many files this can be a real annoyance. Is a fix possible?
- Hey AntennaMan!
Thanks for following up with us!
It looks like this is not a Dropbox specific issue, and it's appearing with other cloud programs as well.
Now, it'd be wise to note, that since this isn't an issue caused by Dropbox or pertaining just to us, we're not able to provide a precise solution.
I'd definitely suggest checking in with Microsoft about this, as well just to make sure you've exhausted all options and to also let them know about this.
Give me a nudge if you have any other questions!
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- Daphne
Dropbox Community Moderator
Thanks for joining the discussion Matthias C.
I've just sent you a brief message to the email linked with your profile here. When you have the chance, please get back to me there - cheers!
As people have stated, old issue been happening for a few years, happens daily still today.
I can help out too if your devs still would like more input.
(I am also interested if you think I could be of help testing early 64-bit Win10 app or fixes for better throttle of CPU usage and Drive read/write use which still bottleneck my machines either at startup or throughout workdays.)
I have a Dropbox Pro subscription.
Specs:
Laptop: Asus F555L Windows 10 Home 64-bit (10.0, Build 19041)
Dropbox 112.4.321
At home media workstation desktop PC Windows 10 Pro/Corp 64-bit1, probably latest Dropbox there too.
I do media work (Photoshop, blender...) and usually have a budget laptop and a fast enough last-gen desktop PC but rarely present-gen or next-gen specs (so i3/i5 or older i7, 8/24GB RAM, SSD on PCI, 100/10 home broadband on wifi).
I also use the android dropbox app.
Thanks for still looking into this issue, Daphne and colleagues!
Hi,
I've been having the same issue for years.
I'm regularly renaming files and this issue makes me lose a lot of time and nerves.
Thanks for looking into it!
Windows 10 64bit
Dropbox v112.4.321
This happens to me in win10 File Explorer all the time, perhaps it's a OS problem.
In Fact I try to delay all my file renaming and sorting work for when using linux as windows does untold crazy **bleep** to the point I deleted a whole folder of over 2000 files that I had spent hours sorting and renaming and deleting duplicates, due to not noticing a window I had minimised while a large file deletion was in progress had stolen focus and I thought, as I'm experiencing a lot lately that the mouse click did not work and the finalising of what I was doing did not happen, the window that stole focus had similar files to the one I had emptied but was the finalized work which needed to be transferred to other backups of those same files, luckily I was able to restore them ... which meant I had to find 40 files which were unwanted which got restored as well FFS M$ ... you should have that **bleep** sorted by now!
I also rename files frequently and have been experiencing this issue on multiple machines for quite a while. I also assumed it was a Windows 10 issue but now seeing that this is an issue Dropbox has been aware of for literally years and has been unable to fix. We have multiple business licenses for our company, can you provide a timeline as to when this may be fixed?
- Walter
Hey there Episode10 & JB40; thanks for your reports here.
If you notice this after performing an advanced reinstall, may we reach out via email to investigate further?
I've done an advanced re-install and have still encountered the behavior. It might be occurring less frequently but that may just be me imagining it. Regardless, it is not corrected with an advanced reinstall.
