[Feature Request] Create new folder next to (before) the selected folder instead of inside it.

[CrazieIvan]

Hello,
In order to add a new folder somewhere, I have to right-click on an existing bookmark or a folder. Right-clicking on a bookmark creates a new folder above the bookmark, so there is no problem. But right-clicking on a folder creates a new one inside that folder, at the bottom of all other bookmarks and folders. That is inconvenient because it's never my intent to create it there, and many times I don't have any bookmarks to right-click on at the current tree level, only folders. In 99% of cases, I want to create a new folder next to the one I'm right-clicking on, not one level deeper.

Is there a way to create "New folder before" the selected one? If not, that would be a good feature to have, or alternatively, it would be good if that was the default behavior instead of sending the new folder inside the selected one.

Thank you!
p.s. Great extension btw! I can't use FF without it.

[aaFn]

Hello @CrazieIvan, the behavior that you describe is correct, and is exactly copied on the native Firefox bookmark sidebar.

Remember that the purpose of BSP2 is to add to FF the function of locating results on search, but not really to make things more flexible / customizable. We can seek to marginally improve the FF native sidebar in the process, but this is the limit.
Indeed, the purpose of this add-on is simply to disappear when FF will implement the main "locate search" function 😃

At least, if you want some level of control, there is in the options panel of BSP2, in the Bookmark handling: section, an option to Insert the new bookmark as first child of folder when you drag & drop something to a folder, or when you right-click it to add something to it.

[CrazieIvan]

I understand if you're not interested in the request. It was worth a try. 😀
Although, I take issue with your reasoning that this feature is outside the scope of your extension, and that the behavior is 'correct' because that's how the native bookmark sidebar works. There are many things about the native interface that are not correct at all. That's why we use extensions such your BSP2, to fix/improve something about the native UI. Also, your extension already adds related features, such as "Paste before" and "paste after", which are very nice to have, and dont' exist in the native sidebar. So I think that the suggestion about "New folder before" is very similar, and not outside the existing scope IMO.
That said, I respect your decision, of course. The extension is already great as it is.
Thanks! 🤍

[aaFn]

Sure, you are right on "Paste before" and "Paste into" .. however, mind that for the rest, this is not 1 action, but 4, which would need the logic that you are exposing:

• Bookmark Tab Here
• New Bookmark...
• New Folder...
• New Separator

Doubling menu entries for each goes a bit too far. Adding an option to specify to create systematically "before" instead of "inside" is also a bit rigid + non-intuitive compared to the native FF behavior. So not a so easy problem to solve in fact (although you may have other suggestions ?).

[CrazieIvan]

That is a fair point.
I wonder.... and I'm just spitballing here, and have no idea how feasible/difficult this would be. Is it possible to show a different context menu depending on where exactly you right-click along the line of the selected folder? For example: keep the current context menu when you right-click in the folder itself (when the pointer becomes a hand/finger as you hover over the folder name), and show a modified menu if you right-click in the margin space to the left of the folder (left side of the collapse/expand arrow marker). And in that alternate context menu replace "New folder" with "New folder before" maybe? That way the user would have a choice to use the default behavior or the modified behavior.

Personally, I never use the native option to create a new folder inside an existing folder because I almost always need the new folder somewhere in the current tree level, not one level deeper. So I always try to find a bookmark to right click on, create a new folder there, and then move it where I need.

[aaFn]

Or modify the content of the context menu if Ctrl is pressed at the same time ?
(I was thinking also of Alt, but for some reason, the menu doesn't stay, it only briefly appears ... I need to investigate .. although in the native FF bookmark sidebar, it doesn't appear either).

[CrazieIvan]

hey. a modifier key could work too! Although having to press an extra key is not as convenient as just clicking in a different zone, but if you think that's better, or easier to implement, I would be very happy with it! I just think that most users wouldn't be aware of the Ctrl + RM to find the alternate menu options.
Alt doesn't work for some reason. How about Shift key? I think it already shows a different menu which is almost empty.

[CrazieIvan]

Hi, just curious, is there any news about this? 😁 No worries if there isn't.

[aaFn]

Hello @CrazieIvan , as it is a bit complex to rework menus for such a small delta, in fact, I simply added the function that when pressing the Shift modifier key at the same time as "Bookmark Tab Here", "New Bookmark...", "New Folder.." or "New Separator...", that would create them outside the folder, when being on a folder (and no special effect on normal bookmarks).

I opted for Shift, because Ctrl was not free, since already used when bookmarking the current tab.

So not showing anything in the menu .. just an advanced feature to know about, which I am reminding people of in https://github.com/aaFn/Bookmark-search-plus-2/wiki/Mouse-clicks-and-modifiers-summary-table

This is out in 2.0.133. Let me know if any problem, aaFn.

[CrazieIvan]

😄 I LOVE IT !!!! Thank you! That makes my life much easier heh