Filenames don't autocomplete with "Save As...", must type whole name

[catalogue]

Filenames don't autocomplete with "Save As...", must type whole name

When I save documents, files, or anything at all using "Save As...", and start typing in the filename field in the dialog box, Windows used to autofill the rest, using the first filename in the folder that starts with those letters. Now it has stopped doing that and doesn't autofill at all. How do I turn it back on?

In the example, I typed "fr" and the way it always worked in the past was, Windows would fill in the rest with "front_cover.jpg". Now it doesn't do that and I have to type the whole thing.

 

[Snick]

Hi catalogue,

Backup your system or at a minimum a manual restore point before you mess with the registry!
I prefer full disk image backup to external hard drive.

Enable Windows 7 Auto Complete File Name In Save As Dialog Box

 

[iko22]

Hello catalogue

Had you installed any new applications prior to the change? It may be that a new installation has over-ridden the settings you see.

The Autocomplete settings can be found at HKEY_CURRENT_USER > Software > Microsoft > Windows > CurrentVersion > Explorer > AutoComplete .

Use Regedit to Check (don't alter) the values for AutoSuggest and Append Completion .

 

[catalogue]

HKEY_CURRENT_USER > Software > Microsoft > Windows > CurrentVersion > Explorer > AutoComplete .

Use Regedit to Check (don't alter) the values for AutoSuggest and Append Completion .

It's not clear whether you mean "check" as in "inspect, examine", or "check" as in, "to check a box". Can you clarify? The entries under AutoComplete are (Name Type Data):

(Default) REG_SZ (value not set)
AutoSuggest REG_SZ no

It would seem that the Data for AutoSuggest should be "yes" but you didn't say to change it, which also has confused me. There isn't any Append Completion entry.

Had you installed any new applications prior to the change? It may be that a new installation has over-ridden the settings you see.

Unfortunately the answer is "maybe". Here is a possible scenario. Just a >>>possibility<<< and we have no way of knowing if this actually happened.

1. I installed a new program
2. I didn't happen to do any "Save As..." for several days after that
3. I did a "Save As" and it didn't autosuggest. I figured it was just a standard example of the many ways Windows can be unpredictable, so I forgot out about it.
4. A few days later I did another "Save As" and again it didn't autosuggest. Now I figured I must have hit the Tab or Esc or Space or some similar key by accident that stops the autosuggest (for the current instance only). This is completely normal, intended functioning in many programs. I can never remember which ones have it and which don't.
5. By this time maybe 10 days had passed since installing the new program so I definitely wasn't going to recall if the problem had started right afterward.

[FONT=&quot]But again maybe I hadn't installed any new program at all.[/FONT]

 

[iko22]

Hello,

no need to be confused, I meant the "check, inspect, examine" variety of words - we are communicating at a great distance, and I did not want to initiate anything at that point that could damage your computer's registry.

It is significant that you had installed new program prior to this unwanted behaviour. It sounds like that you want the AutoComplete feature. Since this is not in the registry, you would need create the entry.

So, you can choose to leave things as they are, or if you are confident, alter the registry to include "AutoComplete yes".

There is a forum tutorial that shows you what to do see OPTION 3 Windows Explorer AutoComplete - Turn On or Off . The tutorial says it is for Windows Explorer, but it uses the same registry keys as the Save As Dialog Box.

Remember to backup your Operating System or create a new restore point, before modifying the registry.

 

[catalogue]

It sounds like that you want the AutoComplete feature. Since this is not in the registry, you would need create the entry....

There is a forum tutorial that shows you what to do see OPTION 3 Windows Explorer AutoComplete - Turn On or Off .

Many thanks. That link seems to have solved the problem and saved me hours of headaches! The solution turned out be one that you didn't mention but is on that page and is even easier. Namely, all I had to do was check the box for "Use inline Autocomplete in File Explorer and Run Dialog" which is found at Control Panel > Internet Options > Advanced > Browsing section. (To be precise, in the screenshot the wording is *Windows* Explorer whereas in my computer it says *File* Explorer - I *hate* Windows' inconsistent terminology...)

After checking the box my registry now has the Append Completion entry which wasn't there before and the "Data" is "yes". "AutoSuggest" is "no" but apparently it doesn't affect the problem I was having.

I don't recall going into that part of Control Panel recently but I guess it's possible I did and accidentally clicked on Inline Autocomplete. Probably would be better if you could only change the settings by clicking in the box itself instead of the way Windows has it, which is that clicking anywhere in the text will change it, which is easy to do by accident.

 

[Snick]

catalogue

Is you autocomplete working now?

 

[iko22]

(To be precise, in the screenshot the wording is *Windows* Explorer whereas in my computer it says *File* Explorer - I *hate* Windows' inconsistent terminology...)

Glad to hear that you were able to use the tutorial to your advantage. And I agree with you entirely about Microsoft terminology.

 

[Snick]

Glad to hear that you were able to use the tutorial to your advantage. And I agree with you entirely about Microsoft terminology.