I hate "Dynamic multi-dimensional scrolling"

[Guest]

I'm totally annoyed about the so-called "Dynamic multi-dimensional scrolling"
in Windows Vista (described for example on
http://www.istartedsomething.com/20061102/dynamic-multi-scrolling/). I spent
hours for a way to disable this "feature", but all I have found is blog posts
and comments of other users who hate this feature. Please tell me how I can
disable it or make it disablable in the next update.

Regards,
Luzius





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http://windowshelp.microsoft.com/co...6fb&dg=microsoft.public.windows.vista.general

 

[Guest]

I'm totally annoyed about the so-called "Dynamic multi-dimensional scrolling"
in Windows Vista (described for example on
http://www.istartedsomething.com/20061102/dynamic-multi-scrolling/). I spent
hours for a way to disable this "feature", but all I have found is blog posts
and comments of other users who hate this feature. Please tell me how I can
disable it or make it disablable in the next update.

dynamic multi-dimensional scrolling is a cool feature. Only a stupid user
like you would disable it!

 

[Mike]

dynamic multi-dimensional scrolling is a cool feature. Only a stupid user
like you would disable it!

I never heard about this. But then I never use that Explorer view
anyway. I have always used the "My Computer" view were you have links
on the left, and the folders view thing is closed. I just click thru
folders in the right side pane to navigate.

I agree though that it's pretty cool.

Mike

 

[Guest]

Ok, I'll explain why I am so annoyed about this feature by giving an example.

The Software development tool I am working with has a nice feature that
automatically selects the currently opened file in the explorer tree which
allows to efficiently navigate its context if desired. However, most of the
time, I switch editor windows in other ways. And here comes the first problem:
1. Whenever I navigate and a new item in the tree is selected, the tree
quickly scrolls vertically to the correct position and then slowly scrolls
horizontally to show the selected item's full name. This scrolling is an
unnecessary distraction. Whenever something moves on the screen, I catches my
attention even if I don't want to look at it. And I do not like to be
distracted when working.
2. When it scrolls to the item, I can't see the current context any more!
One of the main benefits of the tree is that it is always possible to see
where you are. Not any more with horizontal scrolling. Since I work with long
file names, it scrolls always so far to the right, that I can't see the upper
level items (with short names) any more!
3. Thereby, it also made navigation a pain. To navigate to a top level item,
you have to move the mouse point to where you suspect the desired top level
item to be and then watch the tree scrolling sloooowwwly to the left before
you can finally select the item.
4. In order to see the current context, I often tried to manually scroll
back to the left. But the stupid scrollbar does not stay where you put it!
After waiting for half a second or so, it moves back to its old position,
hiding the whole context again. If I explicitely scroll somewhere, I want the
scroll bar to stay there!

I can understand that for other applications, this might be a useful thing.
I think they have even patented this! However, there should be a way to turn
it of. To me, this is by far the most annoying feature in Vista.

 

[cquirke (MVP Windows shell/user)]

"Luzius" wrote:

dynamic multi-dimensional scrolling is a cool feature. Only a stupid user
like you would disable it!

There's a switch; from...

"We don't do it, so you don't need it"

....or...

"If our solution doesn't fit, you need to redefine your problem"

....to...

"We created it, so you're a fool if you don't like it"

Bah!

Some stuff that has been created, I find nearly impossible to like.

(looks at the link)

Yep, it's just a more refined kludge for too-small a viewing area for
unbounded data. I agree, it should be controllable, though I'd prolly
leave it enabled while wishing for an on-hover "completion tooltip".

See:

http://cquirke.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!C7DAB1E724AB8C23!292.entry

"Use the API, Like!"

Resizable windows have been around since Win3.yuk, don't you think
it's time the OS vendor fully embraced this feature set?

Scrolling is to user efficiency, what disk swapping is to machine
efficiency. MS go to some trouble to optimize the way the OS uses the
machine, and IMO it's time they did the same for our UI.

--------------- ----- ---- --- -- - - -

To one who only has a hammer,
everything looks like a nail

 

[cquirke (MVP Windows shell/user)]

On Sat, 21 Jul 2007 11:44:00 -0700, Luzius

1. Whenever I navigate and a new item in the tree is selected, the tree
quickly scrolls vertically to the correct position and then slowly scrolls

Kill "smooth scrolling" in IE, Tools, Options, Advanced and/or in
Control Panel, System, Advanced, Performance tab, Settings.

That's a problem distinct from what you mentioned, which is
auto-scrolling to show what you are expected to want to see.

For some reason, MS thinks it's cool to deliberately slow down the UI,
something that dates from Win98. It's useful when teaching, as it
draws attention to what is changing, but if I'm "driving", I know what
is changing. If I wanted slow graphics, I'd have bought a duff SVGA.

Co-incidentally, Win98 saw some extra per-item overhead (placement
order?) that made Start Menu icons dribble into place, a problem we've
been stuck with ever since. I suspect the "animation feature" was
deviced to hide the OS being too slow to respond properly.

2. When it scrolls to the item, I can't see the current context any more!
One of the main benefits of the tree is that it is always possible to see
where you are. Not any more with horizontal scrolling. Since I work with long
file names, it scrolls always so far to the right, that I can't see the upper
level items (with short names) any more!

Yup. Long file names suck, and this is just one of the ways.

A switch to a tree-on-top design might help use the screen hardware
more effectively, especially if you also use details view that fills
up lateral space in the right pane anyway. You could drag the pane
separator to the right, dunno if it will "stick" there, tho.

3. Thereby, it also made navigation a pain. To navigate to a top level item,
you have to move the mouse point to where you suspect the desired top level
item to be and then watch the tree scrolling sloooowwwly to the left before
you can finally select the item.

I've switched to keyboard navigation for this reason, when
encountering similar issues in Regedit (which as a geek, tends to be

4. In order to see the current context, I often tried to manually scroll
back to the left. But the stupid scrollbar does not stay where you put it!
After waiting for half a second or so, it moves back to its old position,
hiding the whole context again. If I explicitely scroll somewhere, I want the
scroll bar to stay there!

Cursor arrows are nav keys, not scroll keys. Left and right will
navigate up and down levels, not scroll horizontally.

I don't know if Ctl or other key state modifiers will change this.

...there should be a way to turn it of(f).

Agreed. I'd prolly leave it, most of the time, but sometimes...

--------------- ----- ---- --- -- - - -

To one who has never seen a hammer,
nothing looks like a nail

 

[Anton Hinds]

I'm totally annoyed about the so-called "Dynamic multi-dimensional scrolling"
in Windows Vista

So am I!

In development tools it is especially annoying because I bounce around
from sub-directory to sub-directory in the source tree. When it scrolls,
I can't see the parent directory name anymore. I would rather see the
parent name and the start of a child name vs the entire child name.

So there is no way to disable it?

-Anton

 

[whatever]

I'm surprised you can type bill.

dynamic multi-dimensional scrolling is a cool feature. Only a stupid user
like you would disable it!