Renaming files and file extensions

• Scarlet_Buckeye

  

  When I rename a file, I have to make sure that I leave the file extension before I rename the file, otherwise when I press the Enter key or save my changes, the file will become un-executable.
  
  Another user at my work, however, can rename a file and start typing right away and not have to pay attention to the file extension, and when he saves his changes, the file will still open with the appropriate software (e.g., Word, Excel, Adobe PDF, etc.)
  
  Does anyone know why this might be? Is there a setting that I can toggle? I'm running XP, and while I don't know for sure what my colleague is using, I do know that he has a newer computer.
  
  Just curious if anyone could provide a little light onto the situation for me.
  
  Thanks
• wildcats20

  

  Scarlet_Buckeye;810053 wrote:When I rename a file, I have to make sure that I leave the file extension before I rename the file, otherwise when I press the Enter key or save my changes, the file will become un-executable.
  
  Another user at my work, however, can rename a file and start typing right away and not have to pay attention to the file extension, and when he saves his changes, the file will still open with the appropriate software (e.g., Word, Excel, Adobe PDF, etc.)
  
  Does anyone know why this might be? Is there a setting that I can toggle? I'm running XP, and while I don't know for sure what my colleague is using, I do know that he has a newer computer.
  
  Just curious if anyone could provide a little light onto the situation for me.
  
  Thanks

  
  I don't have answer for you, but it happened to me before too. I think it just eventually went back to being able to just type and hit enter. I don't remember ever doing anything to change it.
• thePITman

  

  I think this should address your issue.
  
  There is an option under Folder Properties to "hide file extensions". If you choose not to hide them, then you SEE them, and thus they are part of the file name when renaming. If you ARE hiding them, then when you rename a file, you are just renaming the base file name and not the extension.
  
  I personally NEVER hide file extensions.
• GoChiefs

  

  Get a Mac.
  
  
  
  OK, don't know the answer, just thought I'd get that out of the way.
• FatHobbit

  

  I think windows 7 is smart enough to not highlight the extensions when you try to rename a file.
• thePITman

  

  On Windows XP...
  
  Hiding file extensions, what it looks like:
  
  
  
  How to get to the setting so you can change:
  
  
  
  
  Not hiding file extensions, what it looks like:]
  
  
• Scarlet_Buckeye

  

  thePITman;810101 wrote:On Windows XP...
  
  Hiding file extensions, what it looks like:
  
  
  
  How to get to the setting so you can change:
  
  
  
  
  Not hiding file extensions, what it looks like:]
  
  

  
  This did it. Thanks a mill! I owe you a beer
• thePITman

  

  If only I drank...
• thePITman

  

  You are very welcome.
• karen lotz

  

  thePITman;810157 wrote:You are very welcome.

  
  
  Do you have an excel sheet with your slow pitch softball stats?
• thePITman

  

  karen lotz;810162 wrote:Do you have an excel sheet with your slow pitch softball stats?

  
  One of the leagues I play in keeps stats for all teams/games, and I copy them into Excel for easier access.
  
  http://bgsd.com/softball/
  Example: http://bgsd.com/softball/stats/2011/lw-L4-sun-eve-menHigh-11.shtml
• karen lotz

  

  Got ya. A guy that used to play on my team in Columbus would take the book home with him and send emails with spreadsheets of batting averages. He reminded me of Johnny Trinno from Beer League, only he wasn't the best hitter on the team. Pretty cool of the league to do that though.