A proposal - Dired -`$' and `i'

A proposal - Dired -`$' and `i'

[Tak Kunihiro]

I try to manipulate files using Dired. I have to combine 42 documents
to single manuscript. In other word, I need to go thorough 42 sub-dirs
that are placed in one main-dir. When I walk across sub-dirs, I use
`i', `^', and `$'.

To see files in a sub-dir, I hit `i'. I can tell what's going
there. Now I want to go back to the main-dir with hiding the
sub-dir. Ideally I want to hit `$', then `^'.

Key `$' is assign to (dired-hide-sub-dir). It hides or unhides the
current sub-dir and moves to next directory. With my case, it is nice
it does not move to the next directory, and stay there.

 * Proposal 1: with option, (dired-hide-subdir) stays

With this, hitting `$' twice brings original status back in any
dirs. It offers a kind of dir-preview capability.

After going back the main-dir, I want to insert another sub-dir. I
will soon find out the sub-dir was not concern for now. With analogy
to `$', it is nice hitting `i' twice brings original status back.

Note (dired-hide-sub-dir) moves point to sub-dir head-line such as
"c:/Users/dream/xtreeml:...".  First, it is more consistent if `i'
moves point to the sub-dir head-line instead of the first element of
the sub-dir.

 * Proposal 2: with option, (dired-maybe-insert-subdir) moves
   point to sub-dir head-line

One may argue that current behavior (move point to the first element)
is more natural. That is true when there is only one sub-sub-dir
exists in sub-dir. Emacs point of view, the current behavior could be
more convenient; however, human point of view, a directory with single
sub-dir is not ideal.

After this proposal 2 is accepted, there is nothing that `i' can do on
the sub-dir head-line for now. It is nice go back to main-dir with
`i'.

 * Proposal 3: (dired-maybe-insert-subdir) calls (dired-up-directory)
   when point is on sub-dir head-line

With proposal 2 and 3, one can view sub-dir and come back to main-dir
with hitting `i' twice.  I did same thing by `i', and (undo) for a
while. Emacs point of view this can be OK; however, human point of
view, look for sub-dir and find out that was not concern, is not
something undo required.

I am writing a manuscript with these setup, and works well. I hope
these proposals would be considered and implemented for default Dired.

RE: A proposal - Dired -`$' and `i'

[Drew Adams]

FWIW, the proposed behavior is the Dired+ behavior.
(http://www.emacswiki.org/cgi-bin/wiki/DiredPlus)

* `i' bounces between a subdir and its line in the parent listing.

* If the parent dir is hidden, then `i' from the subdir opens the
  parent so it can move to the subdir line.

* `$' does hide/show without advancing to the next subdir.

* `M-$' does what vanilla Emacs `$' does: hide/show then advance.

* `C-u $' does what vanilla Emacs `M-$' does: hide/show all.
  (This does not need to be on as quick a toggle key as `$'.
   And it certainly does not need to be on a repeating key such
   as `M-$'.)

Re: A proposal - Dired+'s `$' and `i' to vanilla

[Tak Kunihiro]

I tried Dired+ and found it is nice!  Thank you to let me know.  In my
personal setup, `i' jumps to subdir hearder-line instead of the first
element because hitting `i' twice brings status back like what hitting
`$' twice does.

What I want to propose now is to make the Dired+ behavior in regard to
`i' and `$' to default of vanilla Emacs.

It took me for an year to find out Dired+.  Most books and
documentations mention about vanilla.  Vanilla behavior is important
especially for beginners such like me.

I feel Dired+ behavior in regard to `i' and `$' is more adequate for
vanilla than current one.  Is there reason for Dired to stick to the
current behavior?



> FWIW, the proposed behavior is the Dired+ behavior.
> (http://www.emacswiki.org/cgi-bin/wiki/DiredPlus)
>
> * `i' bounces between a subdir and its line in the parent listing.
>
> * If the parent dir is hidden, then `i' from the subdir opens the
>   parent so it can move to the subdir line.
>
> * `$' does hide/show without advancing to the next subdir.
>
> * `M-$' does what vanilla Emacs `$' does: hide/show then advance.
>
> * `C-u $' does what vanilla Emacs `M-$' does: hide/show all.
>   (This does not need to be on as quick a toggle key as `$'.
>    And it certainly does not need to be on a repeating key such
>    as `M-$'.)