Add Windows 7 And Vista’s Quick File-Renaming Shortcut To XP

Earlier this week we shared a handy file-renaming shortcut that works in Windows 7 and Vista (see video). Reader derilium put together a script that brings the same functionality to XP.

Using AutoHotkey — which Lowell gave a nice nod to earlier today — derilium whipped up a script (and system tray executable for those of you who don’t want to install AHK) that lets you use the Tab key (and Shift+Tab) to quickly move between editing file names in Explorer, just like in the video above. If you want the code itself, it looks like this:

Menu,tray,add,About,AboutScript
Tab::GoSub,RenameNextFile

RenameNextFile:
Hotkey,Tab,Off
ControlGetFocus, CurrentControl,A
If (CurrentControl="Edit2")
{
Send {Enter}{Down}{F2}
}
Else
{
Send {Tab}
}
Hotkey,Tab,On
Return

+Tab::GoSub,RenamePrevFile

RenamePrevFile:
Hotkey,+Tab,Off
ControlGetFocus, CurrentControl,A
If (CurrentControl="Edit2")
{
Send {Enter}{Up}{F2}
}
Else
{
Send +{Tab}
}
Hotkey,+Tab,On
Return

AboutScript:
MsgBox, renameTab created by James Kwan (derilium)
Return

If you give it a go, let’s hear how it works for you in the comments. If you just want to download and use the EXE, you can grab it here. Thanks derilium!