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Does anyone know if it's possible to change a setting so that the full file name is selected when you rename a file in Windows 7? (i.e. to match the behavior in Windows XP).

Currently it doesn't select the extension, so I have to do it manually.

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Why do you need this? How many times do you want to change the extension when renaming? – ChrisF Mar 1 '10 at 14:02
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I was wondering how long it would take for someone to ask for this. – ChrisF Mar 1 '10 at 14:03
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I actually rename extensions all the time at work (i.e. working with multiple copies of a file, .bak, .bakorig, .bakphase2, etc) so I can work with multiple file versions with automated processes and have the process pick up only the version I'm currently testing. – BBlake Mar 1 '10 at 14:36
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I'm a developer and basically spend a lot of my time renaming files-in particular changing the extension or copying the filename (by pressing F2 then Ctrl-C). I agree it is a good feature for most users, but in my case more of a hindrance. – John Sibly Mar 1 '10 at 14:37
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I wanted to do the opposite, which is to rename files in WinXP like Win7, and the answers may be useful for you: superuser.com/questions/102104/… – Mehper C. Palavuzlar Mar 1 '10 at 14:44
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2 Answers

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Well, sure, if you're willing to go third-party.

#IfWinActive, ahk_class CabinetWClass
F2::Send {F2}^a
#IfWinActive

In the AutoHotKey scripting language. If you, for whatever reason, don't want to/can't install autohotkey, give me a shout in the comments and I'll compile a script containing that so it can run on it's own (and should not have any requirements such as .net)

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Thanks for the advice-this does the trick. I'm sure AutoHotKey could be useful solving a number of other issues as well! – John Sibly Mar 2 '10 at 14:53
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@John; Autohotkey is something I adore unreservedly. I'm fairly sure there's very little it can't do. – Phoshi Mar 2 '10 at 15:36
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If you are not positive that you will want to rename the whole thing more often than not (or even if you just don't want to mess with anything, can remember, and can do it fast enough), just type Ctrl + a after you start editing and before you start typing the filename. It's barely any work at all since you're going to type in a new filename anyway.

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