Do you open files with File > Open or via Windows Explorer?

There's a debate within Xara about how most people find and open files, you can help us find the answer. Do you open files with File > Open or via Windows Explorer?

Anyone can post in this thread and vote in the poll, even if you're not registered. But registering is recommended.

I use File > Open recent or the Open file button on the Infobar if the file isn't in the recent list.

I used File >> Recent or from Windows explorer if the file isn't in the recent list.
I never use File >> Open.

Within the Xara program or in general? I take it you don't mean in general, because then it depends on the file type. Within Xara I mostly use CTRL+O.

|I mostly open them from Adobe Bridge - you can set different programs and choose which one to use.

Christine

I use either file>recent or File>open unless I am bringing the file into a document that is already open, then I use file>import.

If I am bringing the file into a document that is already open, then I use file > import.

Windows Explorer, 99% of the time. I really don't like the File->Open menus in almost any application I use.
I have the impression that Windows Explorer is mostly used by more advanced users (no offense intended). Here at my office, most people don't use it at all, and neither do they use shortcuts like ctrl-c/ctrl-v, multiple selections (shift/ctrl), or even right-click menus. The only ones using it here are the guys in IT (me included), and a handful others who started using computers intensively in the eighties.

Hi Fransie,

The Xtreme File Open dialog has many of the same functions as Windows Explorer. Right click offers the same options, including delete and rename. Use a shift key or a control key to make multiple selections the same as in Windows Explorer. You can drag and drop the multiple selection into the current document.

Using the File menu the dialogs open to the last used folder. Open shows my dedicated folder for saving my Xtreme documents. Import opens my Pictures folder. Export opens my Pictures folder. All those dialogs offer the functionality of Windows Explorer.

I usually have Windows Explorer open for accessing other folders quickly.

Using the Xtreme dialogs provide easy access to specific folders that are constantly used (by me).

Windows Explorer is always open on my desktop to some folder or another.
Tend to double click files as needed.
This practice works very well for most programs.

Drag and drop is quite convenient too! More so than the File menu for me.

Once in a while, will right click and chose OPEN WITH if need to open a file that is associated with some other program usually.

Voted for Explorer although strictly speaking i use Total Commander almost exclusively with Xtreme files folder permanently open in one tab.

I use File > Recent and my recent is set for 20, so I'm usually OK.

For less than recent files I do use File > Open because all of my Xara files are in the same directory

I answered File -> Open or File -> Import to open files (or keyboard shortcuts) as I open files that way an estimated 40% of the time. The other 60% of the time I use a variety of methods including Double-click, Drag-n-drop, Alt-click > Open With, File > Open recent, Copy and Paste, File > Import graphics from web, and probably a few other methods that have slipped my mind at the moment.

How about this one...

Did you know that with a bit of determination you can even open Xara Xtreme (XAR) files from a Windows command line (DOS prompt)?

You sure can! I've even done it a time or two!!! Hmmm, I wonder why that way never made it into the poll. :eek: :rolleyes: ;)

Diff'rent strokes for diff'rent folks, I guess,
Harry

Most of the time I use explorer to navigate to the file and then double click. If we are talking about .xar files , I mostly open those directly from Xtreme.

I voted for the double click option to open files, but the truth is I use the open recent from within Xtreme almost, if not as much. It depends on if Xtreme is already open when I start.

I almost always use Windows Explorer, but there are exceptions.

Contol O or the open doc icon and file menu if a recent file, would never use explorer to open files

It's a bit of a non-issue really. I suppose it's always possible to develop something like this into a "religious war" :)

I just do what's most convenient at that moment; explorer (I use Xplorer), file/recent. file/open or their shortcuts. [shrug!] But I suppose on balance I'm a file/open person.

Brett

I couldn't vote because I don't use any of these methods usually. For most programs I use an icon shortcut on my toolbar that's on auto-hide. Call me lazy:cool:

I keep a folder on my desktop containing my most recent work files, and just double-click the file I want to work on to open XX. Sometimes to start something new it's faster to double-click an existing file and then the "new document" icon within XX once it opens, rather than doing the Windows app shortcut dance. I tend to keep my work files more handy than I do app shortcuts.

File / Open recent first off . After that it's a 60/40 mix of your top 2 choices. Not mentioned yet but very handy is File / Open / Files of Type = .xar
This is great for looking for a lost XX file.