WINAPI Multiple File Selection Order

Many Thanks to Frank Oquendo for showing the solution to get multiple files in a WINAPI dialogue box as explained in other topics. It isn't short, but it works!

I still have one question now that the file selection is up and running as demonstrated in the QT (Quantity Takeoff) toolbar button of the app I am pushing as Construction Notes Manager (I will resist the temptation to give my web site). I will send code on request.

QUESTION: Is there a published standard behavior for the order of multiple files selected? They seem to come in backwards of what I would have expected. Is this standard behavior? The last file selected is put at the front of the list. Should I just rely on this behavior and always reverse the list?

 

It gets even better. Try selecting a group of files by picking the
first one and then holding down the shift key while you select the last
one. The order will be last file selected followed by all the files
between the first and the last (in order) followed by the first file.
Nifty, huh?

 

Then I suppose all a developer is left to do is decide what SHE thinks is the most intuitive behavior and sort to emulate it without regard to the behavior of the WINAPI file selection. What do you do about this--just let the user sort the results manually? I can't imagine releasing a product with this behavior.

 

I seem to recall a time when the file dialogs would return the files in the
actual order in which they were selected, but that might just be my imagination.

As far as knowing how to sort is concerned, that would require a bit of ESP
since I don't know of any way to tell what order the user REALLY selected the
files in. I guess you could sort them alphabetically, but that would be kind of
presumptuous. Honestly, the best you can do is probably to just let your users
figure out for themselves what kind of results to expect when dealing with file
dialogs.

Convincing them that it isn't your fault might be a challenge, though.

most intuitive behavior and sort to emulate it without regard to the behavior of
the WINAPI file selection. What do you do about this--just let the user sort
the results manually? I can't imagine releasing a product with this behavior.

 

:-D :-D :-D

I think that if you select one at a time, they do come in predictably backwards. Only when you ctrl-a, shift-pick, ctrl-pick, etc, do things get crazy. I think I will experiment, find the few predictable cases, and build around them. I have a hunch that reversing the order may be the key. I will let you know.

Thx again,

Tom Haws
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