Microsoft Making File Copying Better in Windows 8
A more powerful way to do the drag and drop.
One of the great things about GUI operating systems is dealing with file management. While some of us from the old days became pretty good at shuffling files around via the command line, seeing graphical representations of files and dragging and dropping them made things much faster and easier.
Microsoft has changes planned for the way Windows 8 handles the copying and moving of files. Microsoft cites add-ons TeraCopy, FastCopy, and Copy Handler as software it has looked at for file copying. The company found that less than 0.45 percent of Windows 7 PCs are running such software, but still sees it as
"We aren’t aiming to match the feature sets of these add-ons. We expect that there will be a vibrant market for third-party add-ons for a long time," wrote Alex Simons, Microsoft's director of program management, in the Windows 8 Blog. "Our focus is on improving the experience of the person who is doing high-volume copying with Explorer today, who would like more control, more insight into what’s going on while copying, and a cleaner, more streamlined experience."
Ever get stuck copying more than one file, or a set of files, thus collectively dividing up the available transfer speed available? That's no problem if you're not in a hurry to have a certain job finish before the other ones, but for when it's a problem, you'll be thankful that Microsoft has added a pause feature.
Windows 8 will also have an expanded file action window, where you can see a graph of the transfer and other details.
Microsoft is also revamping its file conflict function, which will show up to aid a user when he or she is copying or moving files to a destination with already-existing filenames.
Check out the video above for a visual demo.
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... just copying from linux...
It is a fairly minor element, but I do like what I see. Hopefully this is how hard they are working on the entire OS.
Looks pretty cool. Can't wait to play with the Beta to see how it stacks up. I think many of us are just happy to see that Tablet Metro UI gig isn't some permanent interface.
Good idea! Now I can manage all of them in a single dialogue window.
I've always said it's the little things that matter most. At it's core any windows version will get the job done, its improvements in workflow and efficiency that, to most users, makes the biggest difference.
The one thing that I want to make sure they add is that it will keep copying other files in the background when it detects duplicate file names.
Well this idea seems okay so far,let's hope that when the operating system comes out it will be okay.
There needs to be an installation option that says:
"Get rid of the Windows 8 frills and make this look like Windows 98, Windows XP or Windows 7. I only bought Windows 8 so I wouldn't run into compatibility issues for new applications."
it look good, but i got 1 question why did it take them this long to make something as simple and merging the 2 copy windows together, you guys are sure slacking over there
Someone at Microsoft has been using bittorrent clients
... just copying from linux...
Please, DO share what kind of distro you're using! Ubuntu and Debian don't have that, for one!
Looks to me more like download manager... If anything, they copied from Mozilla.
no one here use terra copy? I have it installed one all my windows machines. This is no "breakthrough" they should of had this done for windows 7. I kinda expected it. It's stupid(extremely inefficient) when trying to copy/paste multiple items to/from the same destination.
Please, DO share what kind of distro you're using! Ubuntu and Debian don't have that, for one!
linux already has a better similar copying feature than xp/7
The first image is a total copy of Linux, but I like the other transfer Windows that shows performance over a select period of time. :-)
linux already has a better similar copying feature than xp/7
Whom are you trying to trick? I'm an Ubuntu user (11.04) and it does NOT have that or "better" feature.
EDIT: Actually, I can't remember for sure and my mobo is in service right now, and no Ubuntu here. I therefore refrain from further arguing because my memory is betraying me xDD
I hope we can view folders in multiple tabs in Windows 8.
I've always said it's the little things that matter most. At it's core any windows version will get the job done, its improvements in workflow and efficiency that, to most users, makes the biggest difference.
Exactly, Microsoft should (and quite possibly already is) look at the most popular utilities used by "power users" e.g. Renamer, Terracopy, Daemontools, Notepad++, etc. and incorporate their features into the OS where applicable.
It's one of those things that wouldn't need improving if it was done reasonably well in the first place. Nothing's better than XP abruptly aborting an entire copy job if one file failed(not sure if Vista/7 do that anymore).
They could just make a basic GUI for their own Robocopy utility, Robocopy actually does it right. Just pop up a quick dialog with some sane defaults corresponding to the Robocopy CLI switches, and let 'er rip.
Please, DO share what kind of distro you're using! Ubuntu and Debian don't have that, for one!
For years that gnome puts all transfers in a single window and has the ability to pause transfers and prioritize them.
In this new dialog, there seems to be missing the option to select all files and say "overwrite if source is newer" when copying or moving, that is a neat feature in TeraCopy.
ps. The Suncraft picture in the demo is from Reykjavík, my hometown - very exciting! lol
Let port to xp lol
Windows 8 will be a monster OS, can't wait. When can we start geteting build releases play with?
I have the best solution for Microsoft with regards to file management.
1. Please get rid of My Computer/Computer and Windows Explorer(I know they are basically the same thing),they are not a very good file shell.
2. Get rid of auto start(I know you can shut it off) when you put in a CD/DVD's or plug in a thumb drive, the same thing goes for when I insert blank CD/DVD's
3. Go to a file shell type system like Total Commander(it used to be called Windows Commander.)It allows you handle different types of archives with out leaving the program. Has search functions that can be sent to a separate list box and then further manipulated. One button copy,move functions. The best file rename tool I have ever seen. The list goes on and on. These are just a few of the capabilities the program has.
Total Commander is the best file shell I have ever used, and it is not just for the tech heads out there. When I show this program to newbies, they love it as well.
If you are not familiar with this program I would suggest you check it out
while the average user may not use a lot of the functions a file shell like this has it should be built directly into Windows. When you are managing a lot of files, whether they are MP3's JPG's or what ever the type, it is a must to have something that is simple to use, flexible and fast.
If Microsoft whats to give it's users a better experience managing files, then a system like this is a must in any future Windows versions.
Just my two cents.
Transfer speed graphs! <3 <3 <3
Hopefully when I'm copying a large collection of files, and it encounters a file or folder that has too long of a path (more than 255 characters?), it won't just say that the destination path is too long and the only button is the "ok" button and then it cancels the rest of the transfer, like it does in windows 7!? That is why I use total commander for complex transfers.
2. Get rid of auto start(I know you can shut it off) when you put in a CD/DVD's or plug in a thumb drive, the same thing goes for when I insert blank CD/DVD's
@#2, control panel --> AutoPlay, uncheck checkbox labelled :"Use AutoPlay for all media and devices"
OK this looks... nice. This is not a big deal. OK it's nice to see all transfers in single window and to pause them. But this is not a thing worth mentioning and making announcement video just for it. It would be nice to include ability of creating and adding to sequential lists of transfers. Maybe even ability to change order between items. Some third party programs have this ability for ages, it's not bad to copy things from others, especially if people find it useful.
Please, DO share what kind of distro you're using! Ubuntu and Debian don't have that, for one!
Anything with KDE4. So that includes KUbuntu, Debian with KDE, openSUSE, Fedora, Linux Mint, and most others.
have they said anything about tabbed browsing in explorer?
There needs to be an installation option that says:"Get rid of the Windows 8 frills and make this look like Windows 98, Windows XP or Windows 7. I only bought Windows 8 so I wouldn't run into compatibility issues for new applications."
most people hate what you say and will hate what i have to say, but o well.
its not like that cant include more os variants, its a user interface, not the core of the os.
give me an xp user interface, and i would go over to 7 in a heart beat. take out that horrible looking areo think that sucks resources. and give me back an xp theme.
let me have a start menu function the way i want it to.
you already built the ui once before, why not just include it as an option for me to use?