Submission details
Where's the 'UP' Button to return the parent folder?
EDIT: Yes, I know the breadcrumbs thing was supposed to replace this button, but why can't they coexist? There's no need to be rude and throw childish insults.
One of the things I really missed in Vista was that they nixed the "Up" button that used to be next to the "Previous" and "Back" buttons in XP. It took you to the parent folder of the current folder you are viewing. I realize that you can now just click on one of the categories in the url bar, bur I really missed the "Up" button in XP and couldn't find a way to re-enable it in Vista, and I don't see it in 7 either.
Just put it back in.
Low
Medium
Not fixed
Discussion (46 comments)
This proves that you don't know how to use the Breadcrumb Navigation feature(or at least the purpose). Microsoft removed the "Up" button to implement a more elegant and efective method - Breadcrumb Navigation. Now you just select what you want(yes..in text form - wich also gives more information) instead of pushing a button that only jumps to the next "upper" folder.
Euhm Joe, instead of shouting to people that they are stupid, it would be nicer to give more constructive feedback and describe how it should/can be done in Vista/7.
As 'Arayta' gives this remark, it means that somehow it isn't that clear to all users.
Vista has a lot of changes in ways of interacting with the UI, just like Office 2007 and if people are used to working years with the Windows Vista's predescessors than it isn't always that clear on where the feature is now and how it changed and why...
We are all posting here to give feedback, share ideas and hopefully help make Windows 7 better in terms of useability,...
Grtz,
Nick
Um, just throwing it out there, I AM aware of the breadcrumbs. But for the sake of usability, wouldn't it be easier just to include it in addition to the breadcrumbs feature? I miss the button, its more convenient for me and seeing as how you said other people were complaining about it, doesn't this just prove that they should just put it back in? It really isn't a big deal, you didn't have to call me stupid.
Changed problem description.
Dude, the UP button has been replaced with the bread crumb. The breadcrumb is more advanced then the up as you can see not only 1 but 2 or 3 spaces before it.
your not stupid, you just need to know the whole conpect and the fact is its more advanced the the old up button.
WHY CAN'T THEY COEXIST?!
Look-- I get it. Breadcrumbs is available, but why can't I just have a button that does it quickly on a single level? Someone, please, tell me why this is such an unreasonable request! It's just a single button that would make peoples' life easier-- is that asking too much?
Ensign_Joe even said people were complaining about it. I realize he was trying to use that against me, however it actually helps my argument. If people are complaining, just throw it in. Its really not a big deal at all.
Arayta, you can just click the name 2ed to last and thats your up button
I don't really think I could have been any more crystal clear than I was in my last statement...
I give up. Forget the button. I guess I'm the only person who would miss it anyway. =/
You were clear, I'm just saying the new method is much better. Whats so hard to press the button 2ed to last. its just like the up button.
I'm not bashing your idea here, i'm just tring to explain that its the same thing, the 2ed to last button.
What's so hard about pressing a dedicated button?
Ah well, forget it, I'm over the button anyway. I guess I'll just have to get used to the new way (although I still don't see why they can't just coexist...).
I'll just drop the subject now, lets move on. =]
I'd put that button back in the right corner of the breadcrumb bar, much like the stop/refresh buttons in IE.
It's not really superfluous - ever heard of muscle memory? WIth breadcrumb bar you need to know exactly what part of the path to click to get up, however the button is ALWAYS in the same place.
I for one also liked the up button, and as Jote said: 'WIth breadcrumb bar you need to know exactly what part of the path to click to get up, however the button is ALWAYS in the same place.'
Most of the time I need to jump up 1 level fast and that button provided that functionality.
The bar is indeed handy to jump up multiple levels, but it is more like the heavy duty control. The up button is the little brother, plain simple for the simple work.
With the bar you first have to look at the path to know where the 'level above' is located and with large paths that useually takes more time than just clicking the up button.
I finally understood why I found navigating around Vista explorer so unergonomic. I couldn't quite put my finger on it, but now I see - I was missing the "Up" button, and the "Backspace" key function is now "Back" instead "Up". I'm really surprised people are so eager to demote this.
Finally, someone understands! =]
I have some problems with the breadcrumb bar, but I believe it's better to solve them instead of putting the upper button again. When I'm navigating through long name folders, they dissapear from the bar and I need to click the arrow to see the options. This wastes time...
@henrique: Exactly! Also, when I get up to a root directory of some sort, there's no breadcrumb to the desktop.
@Jote, @nick: This outlines my feelings perfectly. I knew where the up button was, and it was always there. It didn't move back and forth across my toolbar in pseudo-relevance to what directory I was in. Also: I understand the logic between changing "Backspace" to "Back", the functionality is present in IE, so it makes sense... I just have to get used to it.
Anyways, in closing: I like breadcrumbs. I like the 'up' button two. If it were unobtrusive, why couldn't I have both?
For 95% of the time the back button is the up button. We really have to stop thinking in folders! What they tried to achieve in Vista was to think about the history (back button) and the location/adress (breadcrumb bar).
With virtual folders and now libraries you really can confuse users with an "up" button.
I totally agree with this one. I know how to use the breadcrumb, but it takes more EFFORT to use the breadcrumb. I shouldn't have to read the name of the parent folder just to get there. I often have things logically laid out in my mind in tree form, not by names. I think the breadcrumbs are way more powerful, yet way more confusing (as in non-intuitive). This sentiment is felt by many of my coworkers and family members.
Let them COEXIST!
Tell your family and coworkers to vote also! ;-)
Most people I know don't work with Vista yet because they don't like it or just don't want to upgrade yet.
i dont read the beadcrumbs i just click the 2ed to the last to go up.....
Yes, but the last one is variable width depending on the size of the label. I can NOT use muscle memory since the location changes!
Doesnt cause problems with me, i dont need read anything, just click anywhere where I see black text on that label.
simple as that p[eople
I don't see why you absolutely DO NOT want that button there... I mean, would it cause you some kind of inconvenience or something? Please help me to understand because I really don't get the logic for NOT wanting something that would just make things easier.
no no, I agree with options, but come on, how hard is it to click a button with in the bread crumb.
thats all i'm saying
All I'm asking is why would you demote something that would make things easier? What is so hard about clicking a button that is always in the same place?
I really doubt they will go back..
just get used to it people or dont use it
There still are so many ways to go to the upper folder. As said before in 95% this can be done with the back button. Then there is the breadcrumb bar, the folder tree and the ALT+UP shortcut. I can understand that for some people it would be good to have the old up button back but think of what would be next? A "rename" button? A "copy" button? ...
And if MS would make everything optional it wouldn't help but just make things more complicated. Why is Office 2007 the most successful version? Because the UI was done right. It is the less customizable MS product ever released.
This site should help to evaluate what should really be in the Win7 UI and what not. ;)
It's a button. A single button. It's not like I'm asking for something unreasonable, just requesting an old feature that they left out. Also, If I'm supposed to be using the breadcrumbs menu now, then the back button will not work 95% of the time or even 10% of the time because I can jump between two different hard drives, therefore clicking back wouldn't bring me up. "Rename" and "Copy" buttons haven't been there before, all I'm doing is requesting that a feature they left out be returned.
PLEASE tell me a straightforward answer to this question without beating around the bush or offering a way around it: WHY do you HATE this button so much?
@Arayta: I do not hate it. I just think that it is not necessary anymore and that the space should be used for more important things. And when they would make it optional they have to implement a new system and a new dialog of selecting and arranging buttons.
It would not take up much room at all; and if the room isn't being used for something else, then why not include it? Sure, it's not necessary per se, but if you only want the necessities in Windows then you can go back to using Windows 95. For the rest of us, there would be several instances where this button would be very convenient.
still, its not hard to use the breadcrumb...
And it's even easier to use the button.
not really. both are easy
So you admit that having this button there would make it easier? C'mon, you have to agree to at least that much.
I mean, if someone offered you $5,000, would you say "No, that would only make my life easier"?
I have worked with Vista day in and day out for over a year now. This has always bugged me, and I am sure it will continue to bug me. I am sure Microsoft had some good meetings debating the issue and the 'lone' breadcrumb won. That added to the fact that so many people have voted this down in this Taskforce show there are many 'super-users' (come'on, anyone pre-betaing Windows7 is a 'super-user') that don't care for the function. I expect the feature to be lost forever.
But I STILL MISS IT! and I still see nothing wrong with having it there. My family, friends, and I will still complain. But with Windows being for the masses, I suppose not everyone will ever be kept happy. I just wish it was decided back in Vista to co-exist them. :-P
there is currently no way to open a new window for the folder at an upper level, in XP you did this via Ctrl-clicking the up button. At least they should allow ctrl+clicking the breadcrumb buttons for opening new windows. nothing wrong with adding it back via an option though.
I can imagine it'd be hard for them to find the right place for it, but they should really just add it back along with the ability to customise the toolbar.
+1
also, those saying it shouldn't be there because 90% of the time back is the same are missing a couple of points. first off, it's definitely not 90% the way I browse folders, secondly you shouldn't have to think about whether you need to click a button for it to do something, it should always have the same behaviour. not having to think about it and knowing where it is implicitly save lots of time when browsing.
@craze: great points!
@craze: They really need to and should improve the breadcrumb bar. That is true. But as a last point I wanne make here is that Explorer moves forward to more virtual folder structures. With libraries and filters there is really a chance to confuse users with an "up" button and they are used to the back button in a browser.
if there's any chance of confusion then leave it off by default, if a more experienced user wants it they should be able to turn it back on again.
> people who complain about this one button need to get a life......
Please apply this rule to yourself and "get a life" with all your "bring back"-type requests. Be fair.
It's not funny, it's pathetic to say the least ;)
ok......
Changed my vote
+1
http://www.windows7taskforce.com/view/899
+1
I m too missing
+1
I like some of XP features
+1
(But thanks to you I now know about the [Alt]+[Up arrow] equivalent shortcut: might temporary do the trick)
Arayta don`t bother ,you talk with a lot of light users ,most of them don`t understand.
Ensign Joe wrote on November 3, 2008, 10:07pm
My god you people are so STUPID.
In Vista they complained about the absence of this button, now they complain it's absence in Windows 7 as well...
People.. YOU HAVE A BREADCRUMB BAR WHICH MAKES THIS BUTTON SUPERFLUID!