The Windows 8 Picker is a
touch-oriented control for selecting files in the tile-based interface.
You might think of the Picker as a dumbed-down version of Windows
Explorer —but
I like to think of it as a “thumbed-down” version of Explorer. You saw
the Picker when we explored the Photos and Music apps ;
they both use this control for the same purpose. Since the Picker is a
standard item, you’ll see it in more and more apps going forward, and
it will likely become more developed than what you see here, which is
version 1.0. The Picker is very simple to use—and given that it’s meant
to be part of the glance-and-go interface on a phone or tablet, it has
to be.
The Picker allows you to view your folders by name (descending alphabetical order) or by date (most recent first).
1. To select a file in the Picker
1. In a tile-based app, tap or click a button in the Apps bar with a function similar to the Open File button . (The name of the button may vary slightly depending on the app; for example, it might be titled “Open.”)
The Open File button opens the Picker in the tile-based interface.
The Picker opens to the same location in the file system that you last exited it from.
2. Click the Go up link until you see the Desktop folder , the top level of the file system.
The Desktop folder in the Picker
3. Each folder is represented by a button. Tap or click a folder’s button to open it.
2. To navigate the Picker
• Tap or click a folder to open it.
• Tap or click Files to open the Files menu . Select a category, and the Picker takes you to the top level of that item.
Use the Files menu to quickly navigate your libraries, special folders, and disks, as well as your cloud storage on SkyDrive.
Documents, Downloads,
Desktop, Homegroup, and Network take you to those special folders.
Pictures, Music, and Videos take you to the top level of those
libraries. Computer shows you all your disks and other connected
devices. SkyDrive is your cloud-connected storage.
