Vista - SaveAs dialog changes file-name to save

SaveAs dialog typically opens with the file-name box filled in with
the name of the file being saved. E.g. download an internet file by using the context menu "Save As" choice. The file-name to be downloaded is automatically inserted into the "SaveAs" dialog.

Very handy!

Now, if you happen to click on a file in the display pane of the "SaveAs" dialog - say by accident or intentionally to delete no longer wanted files in that folder, THE FILE NAME TO BE SAVED
IS CHANGED TO THE LAST FILE YOU CLICKED ON.

At this point you've lost the name of the file chosen by the web site you are downloading from, or if you hit "Save" are running the risk of overwriting a file you don't want to overwrite.

DANGER! DANGER!

Can anyone explain to me how this is useful?

Better yet, how can I turn off this feature so the original file-name
is retained in the "SaveAs" dialog?

Bob

The Save As dialog box is not used for general file maintenance, like
renaming, deleting, etc. You can do this in Windows Explorer.

Here is how I use this feature. I have cetain websites where I save pages
every few days, these files have very long custom names. When the page has
added new information, I use the Save As dialog box to select the existing
custom named file and click Save. A dialog box appears stating that the file
already exists and do I want to replace the file, I click Yes and the file
is updated.

You will always get this warning dialog if you select a file that already
exists.

If you do happen to accidentally click another file in the Save As dialog
box, you can click the drop down arrow at the right side of the File Name
Box and select the name that was automatically generated when you first
opened the Save As dialog box.

--

Ronnie Vernon
Microsoft MVP
Windows Desktop Experience


"BobF" <BobF.36fcv3@xxxxxx-mx.forums.net> wrote in message
news:BobF.36fcv3@xxxxxx-mx.forums.net...

Thanks for identifying the drop-down list where the original file-name has been stacked. I was not aware of this.

I would estimate your use of SaveAs to remap filenames is less frequently used than to use SaveAs to just save using the automatically filled in name. As such, I would prefer your use to require an extra gui step to do the remap and therefore allow the behavior of SaveAs to be altered to eliminate the confusion I find in its present state.

If you frequently remap custom web pages onto standard file-names that must be a pain to do over and over and over. Why not have automation to do this remapping for you? Even perhaps automation setup available through the SaveAs dialog?