editing metadata the main explorer window beta 2

Editing metadata in the main Explorer window in Beta 2

I seem to recall it being possible in previous CTPs to edit file metadata directly in the bottom pane of an Explorer window, but that doesn't appear to be possible now in Beta 2. You have to click on the Edit link now to get the old style summary tab in the properies dialog where you can edit metadata. Any idea why this was removed, or was I imagining it all along?
Also, it would be nice to be able to add new metadata fields to files that don't already have that field built in, or at the very least have a keywords or tags field for every file type (understandably this data would only be stored in Vista's search index). Otherwise, it's a bit limiting when, for example, an Excel spreadsheet has fields for tags and categories but a plain text files has none.
Or maybe I should just wait for WinFS ;)

WinFS is really cool :o) Have it running on a couple of computers in the house.
-- Zack Whittaker » ZackNET Enterprises: www.zacknet.co.uk » MSBlog on ResDev: www.msblog.org » Vista Knowledge Base: www.vistabase.co.uk » This mailing is provided "as is" with no warranties, and confers no rights. All opinions expressed are those of myself unless stated so, and not of my employer, best friend, Ghandi, my mother or my cat. Glad we cleared that up!
--: Original message follows :-- "Chris Altmann" wrote in message

I seem to recall it being possible in previous CTPs to edit file metadata directly in the bottom pane of an Explorer window, but that doesn't appear to be possible now in Beta 2. You have to click on the Edit link now to get the old style summary tab in the properies dialog where you can edit metadata. Any idea why this was removed, or was I imagining it all along?
Also, it would be nice to be able to add new metadata fields to files that don't already have that field built in, or at the very least have a keywords or tags field for every file type (understandably this data would only be stored in Vista's search index). Otherwise, it's a bit limiting when, for example, an Excel spreadsheet has fields for tags and categories but a plain text files has none.
Or maybe I should just wait for WinFS ;)

I think the properties bar was removed from the preview pane sometime either by or after build 5270, you were not dreaming. ;) So, the Edit link is the best way to add meta info to supported application files. Yes, its true, not all application files will not be exposed to tagging in the system.
WinFS is presently not all that powerful since it requires third party applications to be tyed into its data store, so it will be exposed through the search system in the operating system or an application thats built on top of the WinFS datastore. I hear they are doing just that right now, called "Project Orange". I guess we will know more when Beta 2 is launched at Tech ED. -- -- Andre Windows Connected | http://www.windowsconnected.com Extended64 | http://www.extended64.com Blog | http://www.extended64.com/blogs/andre http://spaces.msn.com/members/adacosta
"Chris Altmann" wrote in message

I seem to recall it being possible in previous CTPs to edit file metadata directly in the bottom pane of an Explorer window, but that doesn't appear to be possible now in Beta 2. You have to click on the Edit link now to get the old style summary tab in the properies dialog where you can edit metadata. Any idea why this was removed, or was I imagining it all along?
Also, it would be nice to be able to add new metadata fields to files that don't already have that field built in, or at the very least have a keywords or tags field for every file type (understandably this data would only be stored in Vista's search index). Otherwise, it's a bit limiting when, for example, an Excel spreadsheet has fields for tags and categories but a plain text files has none.
Or maybe I should just wait for WinFS ;)

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