Feature: Add option to not treat pinned folders as root in Columns View

[Draise14]

What feature or improvement do you think would benefit Files?

Requirements

1. Add option to not treat pinned folders as root in Columns View

Files Version

3.3.0.0

Windows Version

10.0.22635.3350

Comments

No response

[yaira2]

Always show the parent folder columns up to top level harddrives (scroll back opt-in if necessary, open at current column)

I'm not sure I'm understanding this right, but do you mean a Tree View that only displays parent folders?

Show a column current folder label

The tab already displays the current folder, are you looking for something more visible?

Show highlighted (active) column somehow (could be in label or with line thickness)

The far-right column is always the active one.

[Draise14]

Inaccessible Parent Column from folder shortcut example:

Files_gq12fEPgm1.mp4

Desired UX:

1. Open up a drive folder, that would be the top and first column, then navigate to sub folders and it adds columns. As expected.
2. Open up a shortcut to a folder, a child of a child in the drive, then navigate to the parent columns to go to elsewhere quickly.

Current UX:
2. Open up a shortcut to a folder from a drive, that will be your first column, and there is no way to go "back" to parent column in the drive in the column layout (only by hitting "up").

The video shows the inconsistency of the column view with no "parent" columns if accessed from a folder shortcut.

Path Updating to "active" column example:

Files_2afccvMruJ.mp4

The tab already displays the current folder, are you looking for something more visible?
Yeah, the bottom little strip highlight could be nice, similar to how you have the dual panel have a highlight then updating the path. I notice the path updates depending on the column I have clicked on (as the "active")

[yaira2]

I think you're referring to the fact that pinned folders are treated as root. This is by design but if there is enough interest, we can make it an option.

[Draise14]

Yeah, that would be nice, a way to toggle. Most explorers with shortcuts and pinned quickly navigate down.. a shortcut doesn't remake the folder tree roots in a general UX - thus to only be able to navigate down and not back up to the relative tree paths vs quick jump to existing tree to allow to climb down then back up at any time if necessary.

[yaira2]

For more context as to why it's this way by default see #7589 (comment) (this comment isn't to say a setting won't be added, it's just to provide context on the current experience).

@hishitetsu fyi

[hishitetsu]

I don't have a preference, but I'm not opposed to having it as an option.