Exploring WinRT: File and Folder Pickers

added by LunarFrog

10/9/2011 12:01:13 AM

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Because we are very restricted in accessing file system directly, sometimes we will need user’s help to access files and folder. There are three classes that give app access to the locations unavailable through Storage APIs – FileOpenPicker, FileSavePicker and FolderPicker - Windows 8’s replacement for the well know Open/Save dialogs...

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6 comments

vijayst

10/9/2011 12:03:47 AM

The new UI looks good. I wonder how the FilePicker will look like if we are browsing for say Word documents. Also, I am not able to see folders or folder path. I wonder how navigation is possible for users who want to browse to a different location. Can the green background be customized?

Are these UIs suitable for developers creating metro apps for tablets? or even for desktop applications?

Within the browser, there is a dialog for picking files for FileUpload. Will this get affected by the new UI?

dpeterson

10/10/2011 9:12:27 AM

I think this is a terrible step backwards in usability. The UI fits the new idea of restricting filesystem access, but why is Microsoft doing that? That makes sense on a tablet, but not on a PC. Navigation to a different file location is not possible with this new UI.

So to answer your question, I don't see these new API calls being suitable for a desktop app, only a metro app. I wouldn't even think these api calls would work if run from a desktop app.

As for whether IE will have this interface, I would imaging when running in metro mode it will, but running on the desktop will probably bring up the standard dialogs.

LunarFrog

10/10/2011 9:52:27 AM

Actually navigation is possible although this is not so obviuos as before.

LunarFrog

10/10/2011 9:32:57 AM

New UI will be used with the Metro style apps only, the classic dialog are still available for the desktop applications.

But for the Metro apps it will be used everywhere, including Metro styled IE.

If the pickers a re used to select a Word document, you will see the Word icon and document's name.

And of course you are able to change the folder. "Go up" and "Files" actually the buttons. Go up brings you one folder up and Files opens a drop down menu with the different locations - Libraries, Computer, Network, etc.

dpeterson

10/10/2011 9:43:35 AM

I didn't notice the Go Up link before. I'm assuming that stops at the Documents folder? Or will it go all the way to the root of the drive?

I didn't notice a New Folder button, can new folders be created from the new dialogs?

LunarFrog

10/10/2011 10:30:59 AM

It goes up to the root folder with the three entries: Libraries, Computer and your personal folder.

No, there is no way to create a new folder within the picker. And here I would agree - this is a big gap. Hope they will fix it before release.

vijayst

10/10/2011 11:56:41 AM

Thanks for the information. I will keep a look out for these features, especially in the new Metro-styled IE. That will be IE 10, I suppose.