Windows 7: Renaming Files

Ok, so there are two options: You can either make windows show file extensions like file.exe, or you can have it hide known extensions, like file . What bothers me, is why isn't there an option that hides everything but click to rename it, the extension shows up?



Is this possible?

Thanks,
Alex.

Alex, I don't believe that I have ever seen that. I firmly believe that the default should be to show file extensions instead of hide them. Big mistake and a great opening for the virus and trojan creators..

Just my opinion..

Rich

I think what you are asking is:

You already have the .ext set to hide, but when you click on it to rename it (the file .ext), automatically shows up in the renaming box. Close?

I do not know if it is possible to permanently hide the .ext through all file functions.
I would think Microsoft did it that way to give the user a gentle reminder as to what .ext the file was originally saved under.

After you rename the file does the .ext go back into hiding?


"Sometimes we can have our cake, but we daresent eat it."

Nah what he wants is for extensions to be hidden until he clicks on it to rename it and then it would show the extension while renaming. Once he renames the file its extension then is hidden again.

I also understand why this could be useful but honestly just tell it not to hide extensions. Having extensions shown is far more valuable than having them hidden. The only reason they ever did hide them in the first place was to prevent dummies from changing the extension on accident and then not knowing how to fix it.

And no there is no way to hide extensions but still show them while renaming the file. It would defeat the purpose of the files having their extensions hidden.

Windows depends on the file extension to denote the type of file. It doesn't have a mechanism like Linux to set the file's attribute to executable or utilities that figure out the file type by reading contents like the file command. It should just show the extension always and be done with it. Just another setting I have to change from default every time I get a machine or install an OS.

What corpse said is exactly what i meant, i don't want to remove the extension, i just wanted to hide it and whenever i rename it, the extension would show up. I also thought it was impossible, but i just wanted to be sure.

I wanted this mainly to organize my computer, i know its silly, but i find those extensions unsettling hehe.

You could probably hack something together to toggle the setting in the Registry on and off. But I doubt it would be smooth. I would check out FreeCommander. It has a built in rename utility. It's a free file manager.

FreeCommander - freeware file manager

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FreeCommander - freeware file manager

Unless I really want to do complicated renaming I use the tool in FC instead of Bulk Rename Utility.

I'm not sure what happens in FC if you have Explorer set not to show extensions. But you could try it.

Like the others who have commented I will always have file extensions shown - and all file types too - and display them in full detail view rather than anything else since apart from knowing exactly what file type you are dealing with the file size and date can give important information too. I doubt I will ever change my method of viewing regardless of what the OS will choose as the default.

I actually didn't mind the extension being hidden since I can right click and go to properties if I need that info. However as soon as you start doing any real work on a computer like writing code etc you now need to have extensions shown if for nothing more than being able to quickly change the extension to .bak so as to have a copy of that file in the same folder with the same name. Which you will when working on scripts for servers and so on as you will need to make simple changes then compile them to test them frequently.

Your best option is to leave them showing and move on and soon you will forget what having them hidden was even like.