It’d be nice if the batch rename dialog could be popped out into a floating window, similar to how that feature was added to the Nautilus properties dialogue in GNOME 50.
The batch rename dialog being attached to the window creates the following problems:
- The inability to resize the dialog which can obscure longer filenames as discussed in this issue on Gitlab
- Having to close the dialog in order to copy/paste a filename for the ‘Find and replace text’ feature if the user forgot to do so beforehand.
- Access to the rest of the Nautilus window is blocked, so other tabs or files that could contain information on what you’re trying to rename is inaccessible without opening a new window.
I’m not sure if the user having access to the Nautilus window and being able to change which files are selected would present any problems, but I imagine the batch rename dialog is populated by the files it was given when it was launched and not the files that are currently selected. While it would be nice to be able to change which files are selected on the fly, that seems like it’d be technically challenging and at least outside the scope of this feature request. 