How do you use YOUR Favorites tree?

[Scott_Y]

I think the Favorites tree has a lot of potential. But to be honest, I haven't really caught onto it yet. Partly that's because it seems rather awkward (for example, viewtopic.php?f=6&t=4271), but also because I don't have a vision for how to use it.

It would be helpful to hear from users who like using the Favorites tree. How do you use it? How does it save you time or make your navigation easier? Do you leave it open all the time? Where do you put your most frequently used locations: on a tab that's always open, or on the Favorites tree? What do you put on the Favorites tree? Thanks!

[BGM]

I like the Favourites tree very much. I have *lots* of folders on my computer, but probably only use 20 of them more than once during a day, and probably only 30 of them during the week. The folders I visit most frequently, I drop into the favourites panel so I don't always have to navigate to them. This is especially useful for certain configuration directories on other computers - oh, say, for example, the php directory on my web server, or the _layouts directory in the 14 hive of the sharepoint server, or the old program files folder on my old computer from which I am not finished transferring files.

Now, there are certain directories that I use alot more, and those I put into dropdown menus attached to buttons in the toolbar.

The value of the favourites panel is that it is fast, and you can easily categorize things. I can visit a folder and drop it into favourites and not have to remember where it was located.

[Scott_Y]

Thanks, BGM. If anyone replied, I thought it would probably be you ;^)

... The value of the favourites panel is that it is fast, and you can easily categorize things.

From what I have read somewhere, the Favorites list is hierarchical, but I don't see how to nest items on it. Could you tell me how? Thanks!

[BGM]

Scott, you have to right-click in the white area of the Favourites tree panel and "Add new category". The parent folders are not really folders per se, but category designations, kind of like how it works in the Favourite Toolbars.

OR - go to the Favourites menu in the main menu bar, and select "Favorites edit..." - that will open a little panel where you can manage the tree. You'll see the familiar dropdown button (from the toolbar customizers) where you can "add new item" - in there, choose "category" and you'll get a "folder".

[joby_toss]

I don't like using the favorites tree because it takes up too much screen.
I much prefer the popup menu from the splitter icon.

[BGM]

Ah! I have three monitors! The one with FC is 1920 pixels wide. I have *lots* of room, so I love to have the panel open.

[Scott_Y]

The parent folders are not really folders per se, but category designations, kind of like how it works in the Favourite Toolbars.

Thanks for the instructions, BGM. Ah, so the favorites are not actually nestable; the distinctive "category" icon just provides a visual contrast in the Favorites tree. Helpful enough.

But in the dropdown list of favorites, the category appears the same as any (functional) shortcut, which is not helpful. But by using only hyphens or other punctuation characters as the name, the category becomes a separator bar. I find that easier to distinguish quickly in the list than a name.

I don't like using the favorites tree because it takes up too much screen.
I much prefer the popup menu from the splitter icon.

I feel the same. But because I prefer the keyboard, I use Alt+UpArrow instead of clicking the button.

[BGM]

No, the categories do offset just like "real" folders in a regular file tree. The effect is the same as if it were a real tree. Maybe they should be "called" folders instead of categories, actually. It might be more intuitive.

[Scott_Y]

Ah, you are correct BGM, the folders do nest! Thanks.