Feature: Add an option to disable selection checkbox feature

[hishitetsu]

What feature or improvement do you think would benefit Files?

Checkbox behavior changed in #11546. This eliminates the need for a dedicated checkbox column, but some users do not need the checkbox feature itself. So there should be an option to disable selection checkbox feature.

Requirements

• Add an option to disable selection checkbox feature
• Checkboxes do not appear when items are hovered or selected if disabled.

Files Version

2.4.60.0

Windows Version

Windows 11 22H2

Comments

No response

[yaira2]

The only downside to the checkbox is that it covers up the thumbnail on hover (and only in the details layout). We want to give this change some time to settle and see if users get used to it before adding a setting to turn it off.

I second OP's thoughts. I use the details layout to work with a lot of image files, and use the thumbnails to quickly navigate my folders. While checkboxes are a great feature, they can sometimes get in the way. Perhaps they could be put next to the thumbnails instead of covering them, giving us the best of both worlds? Thanks!

[yaira2]

Either way there is a tradeoff, putting them next to the thumbnails takes up valuable horizontal space.

[takaokim]

I agree, it's annoying that the checkbox is activated by selecting a single item. It should only be enabled if you hold down the shift key or select multiple items with the mouse. You could add an icon to activate the selection with checkboxes in the toolbar

[yaira2]

@hishitetsu should clicking the thumbnail still select the item?

[takaokim]

In my opinion, if you select the thumbnail it should select the element but not the checkbox (unless you specifically activate it with the mouse). But if you select several elements, then the checkbox of these should be activated. It would be the most intuitive way for the user. That way when you are browsing between directories, the checkbox is not activated for each subdirectory that you enter when you double-click on them

[hishitetsu]

@hishitetsu should clicking the thumbnail still select the item?

It should. It is not intuitive that clicking on a thumbnail does not select the item.

How about not showing checkboxes when no item is selected? Because there is no difference between clicking a checkbox and clicking a thumbnail until any item is selected. Checkboxes should appear when any item is selected. This way, there will be fewer comments about wanting to disable the checkboxes.

[yaira2]

Is it necessary to provide a third option to never show check boxes (even when multiple items are selected)?

[hishitetsu]

I don't think it is necessary. I'm uncomfortable with the empty checkboxes that appear just by hovering over an item. Simply not displaying this should greatly reduce discomfort.

If checkboxes appear after an item is selected, no functionality is lost.

If this still raises comments, we can provide an option to disable the checkbox completely.

[yaira2]

Can you update the requirements to reflect this discussion? I'm going to start on this soon.

[hishitetsu]

May I open another feature request? I would prefer to keep this in case we should add an option to disable checkboxes.