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windows 7 F2 selects both name and extension

Anonymous
2011-10-28T01:04:14+00:00

where is the setting in Windows 7 that allows me to select the entire filename with extension when I F2 ( rename ) it.

I seem to see a question about this when I used Windows 7 the first time

Windows for home | Previous Windows versions | Files, folders, and storage

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Anonymous
2011-10-28T18:44:14+00:00

What you are seeing is the default behavior in Windows 7.

As Shawn B Keene points out in his post in the thread below, it prevents users from changing the extension which may lead to the file not being opened by the correct program. I realize that for a more advanced user such as yourself this may not be a problem, but for the average or novice user this could cause problems.

As a work-around, he suggests using Ctrl+A or Shift+End immediately after pressing F2. It may not be perfect, but it does work.

Renaming a file only highlights the name and not the extention. http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows_7-performance/renaming-a-file-only-highlights-the-name-and-not/0cf3ccbd-b545-e011-90b6-1cc1de79d2e2?msgId=b195411b-ce45-e011-90b6-1cc1de79d2e2

Regards,

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  1. Anonymous
    2013-08-15T16:26:16+00:00

     I realize that for a more advanced user such as yourself this may not be a problem, but for the average or novice user this could cause problems.

    Even though Windows does a fine job of warning you when that's about to happen. I think it's another case of guiding the user too much to the detriment of their learning. I say warning them once is sufficient. After one or two mistakes, they will then UNDERSTAND the significance of file extensions, whereas overly protecting them could keep them ignorant from the true intent of extensions... forever?

    Anyway, thanks for the CTRL-A tidbit, I would never think to use it in that context. It's awkward, but it works.

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  2. Anonymous
    2011-10-28T17:49:13+00:00

     Click Start -> Computer.  Press the ALT key if you don't have a menu bar.  Click Tools -> Folder Options.  Then click the View tab.  Uncheck the box that says Hide file name extensions for known file types".

     

     I hope this helps.  Good luck.

    Thanks Hula_Baloo for the reply but that was not what I was looking for. I already have the file extension showing. What I wanted to know is how to make Windows selected the entire filename with extension when I try to rename the file. Right now it only selects the filename but not the extension. 

    Ex: abc.txt, F2 ( rename ) will only select abc. I want to be able to select abc.txt as the default behavior.

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  3. Anonymous
    2011-10-28T01:55:55+00:00

    Click Start -> Computer.  Press the ALT key if you don't have a menu bar.  Click Tools -> Folder Options.  Then click the View tab.  Uncheck the box that says Hide file name extensions for known file types".

     I hope this helps.  Good luck.

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