File managers

[JohnFredC]

<Moderator's note: This topic has been split from another topic>

2ckit

Wow. xplorer2 would be near the bottom of my list. Lots of functions buried in there, but the ui doesn't seem nearly as functional, configurable, or polished as other dual pane filers. I really dislike its "one tree" design, the "floating" scrap panel, and the lack of options for user customization.

Here is my list of viable Windows-based dual pane filer candidates ("commander clones"). All have something to offer. Not all have tabs, not all have virtual folders, not all have trees in each panel. But I've tried each one, purchased some, have a favorite or two, have one I depend upon for serious work, and still I keep evaluating new releases "just in case". There are other "commanders" out there, but these are closest to my standards for a tool I would use every (day|hour|minute|second) and recommend to almost anyone.

Prices seem to have risen quite a bit in the last year or two, making some of these commanders moderately priced and some "way" too expensive considering the competition. However, one of them is free.


(Alphabetical order)


AB Commander XP: http://www.winability.com/abcommander/
Directory Opus: http://gpsoft.com.au
EF Commander: http://www.efsoftware.com/cw/e.htm
FreeCommander: http://www.freecommander.com/
Magellan Explorer: http://www.enriva.com
Servant Salamander: http://www.altap.cz/salam_en/index.html
SpeedCommander: http://www.speedproject.de/
TotalCommander: http://www.ghisler.com

[Tommy]

have u ever tried CubicExplorer? is freeware

www.cubicreality.com

[ckit]

JohnFredC,
You can disable the "Folder Tree" in xplorer2 pro\lite making it a true dual pane file manager.

For more information on xplorer2 Pro\Lite please read this thread:
viewtopic.php?t=5155

[Clo]

—> Tommy

Hello !

• JohnFredC and I are users of Total Commander (not any other for me) for a loooonng while, so I (and maybe John too…) am¦are ?¦ rather sceptical when one announces a new “freeware file manager”…

- I just gave a glance inside the French language file of CubicExplorer - I'll let you off the mispellings -, and noticed that with a 4.1 KiB file, many things might miss, while the Total Commander one is 56.8 KiB, plus the menus file for 5.6 KiB…
-An EXE UPX-packed = 1.5 MiB - Un-UPX = 5.0 MiB ! Skins ?
- Perhaps is it the same ratio between "Free" and €28 ( «for life», you'll never pay any update or upgrade…) ?
- Moreover, a good partnership with XnView for years too, and (the must !) you can even write to the Author in Italian !

- No more comments, but I could inform you more if you would wish

Kind regards,
Claude
Clo

{Aside : «Italian from "Tommy"» Not a big job to translate yet, isn't it? }

[Tommy]

i think CubicExplorer is much better than Total Commander.

CubicExplorer is multitab and not only dual-tab.

thins means you can open as many folders as you want and not only two.

second: CubicExplorer is no-install.

third: the author keeps upgrading it every week according to user's suggestions

fourth: is free. you don't have to give a penny for it.

[Clo]

Hello !

i think CubicExplorer is much better than Total Commander.

- The best joke I heard for a while !
- Do you know TC really ? I guess you don't…

- TC is a programme which exists since 1993, and indeed has been improved continually… You will have a lot of strings to translate still to reach the same level I use it since 1996 or so, I know that I tell.
- First, the Options - almost non-existent in CubicExplorer- and in English only currently…
- About tabs, let know that although the TC ones have many powerful capabilities, I never use tabs in a manager, that sucks a lot for me.
- Then, where are packing¦unpacking¦FTP-Client¦Lister Viewer and a mountain of other functions in your toy ? A long way to go still… IMHO, just a beta version, no more.
- Notice that I've no special grievance against any programme a priori , I just verify that I can do or not with… and in the case, there is no finish photo !

fourth: is free. you don't have to give a penny for it.

- This is not a criterion. Personally, I never spent one penny, I earned licences working for the programme, the Author is not stingy if you help efficiently. All translators and authors of plugins (hundreds exist) got free registrations… This is official.
- Moreover, €28 (CHF 40 - CHF 30 for studients) is not “the sea to drink”, you can find in the John's list above that the most others are much more expensive, and demand extra payments for updates¦upgrades, or a yearly supplemental fee…

- I don't use XnView (for almost ten years too) because it is free, but because it's a good programme that satisfies my needs. But still, there are a lot of things to improve, despite it exists since… 1991 !
That's all for the moment, we'll chat again of that… 10 years later !

Kind regards,
Claude
Clo
Clo

[helmut]

@Clo: Without knowing too much about those file managers just a note from my side:
There's evolution, which is good and steadily bears something better and improved. And sometimes there's revolution, which really creates something new and well thought through. This does not happen too often, but it does happen.

[Clo]

—> Helmut

Hello !

- Right, indeed, but in the case this can't be applied, I guess…

- You could get a very close similar disparity comparing i.e. the current XnView with FuturixImager5.5.3… that supports 50 image-formats only currently, and in which some good feature can be found -needs a hard search, though- …

G
Claude
Clo

Note : A header-smiley for you on Sunday only !

[Dreamer]

AB Commander XP: http://www.winability.com/abcommander/
Directory Opus: http://gpsoft.com.au
EF Commander: http://www.efsoftware.com/cw/e.htm
FreeCommander: http://www.freecommander.com/
Magellan Explorer: http://www.enriva.com
Servant Salamander: http://www.altap.cz/salam_en/index.html
SpeedCommander: http://www.speedproject.de/
TotalCommander: http://www.ghisler.com

OK, I 'know' TotalCommander, Servant Salamander, also tried many freeware file managers - freeCommander, Gyula's Navigator (dead) and many others (probably all free (dual panel) file managers).

I use Servant Salamander from the beginning (it was freeware), for me it was always better than TotalCommander (I don't like many things in TC but don't want to talk about it, it would be very hard and long discussion with Clo ), but now, v2.5 is beta too long, there are too many annoying bugs - and it's not free, therefore...

...My default file manager is freeCommander now - just few days. I test beta version(s) of freeCommander 2006 now, many new features (mostly my suggestions ) have been implemented, many bugs have been fixed. New beta(s) are not public, but you can try to send email...

[Tommy]

@ Clo

you are free to enjoy and support Total Commander. if you like it so much, keep using it. there's no problem.

probably you are happy with its features that fit your needs, so you don't have to change.

but you still have to respect my opinion: i tried both the software and according to what i need i think CubicExplorer is much better than TotalCommander.
and there's no joke about it. believe me.
i need a multitab file manager, not a dual panel file manager.
CubicExplorer can open as many tabs you want. TotalCommander can't, becuase it can handle only two.
if you are happy with two there's no problem, but i really need more than two so TotalCommander is completely useless for me.
i'm not saying is a bad software, i'm just saying that it doesn't fit my needs while CubicExplorer does.

i understand that people can prefer TotalCommander becuase of other options it has, but you should understand why other people prefer CubicExplorer beacause of many reasons (no.install software, multitab etc etc...).

we are not all the same. we have different tastes.
that's all. and there's no joke

[ouistiti]

2 Tommy

Please, just explain me which operations are you able to perform with a whole lot of tabs, and a handful of functions to use with ?

Paul

[LaBero]

2 Tommy:

i need a multitab file manager, not a dual panel file manager.

November 21, 2003: Total Commander 6.0 is now available for download. This upgrade contains many new features, like a multi-page interface (folder tabs)

When did you try Total Commander?

regards

[Icfu]

have u ever tried CubicExplorer? is freeware

I have tried it – although the screenshots already told me enough – and have to say that this is probably the worst "file manager" I have ever seen. The good thing is: It uses INI files only so at least I had no problems to dump it in my cubic recycle bin in one go.

If you are really satisfied with a one pane file manager try XYplorer, formerly known as TrackerV3. It's also free for home users at least and offers a lot more than just multi tabs. Anyway, although it's one of the best ones of this special category it is of course still no option for "serious" users who would always prefer a dual pane file manager.

As Total Commander, like LaBero has already pointed out, supports tabs for about 2.5 years now, I am asking myself if you have really used that Cubic thingie for so long now...

@Clo:
Thanks for pointing out this thread, it has saved my day!

Icfu

[Olivier_G]

Hi All.

I recently looked at several File Managers (I like: lean&efficient, treeview, tabs, resource friendly, free...) and tried XYplorer, xplorer2(lite) and ExplorerXP.
=> I kept XYplorer.

Olivier
PS: I also keep an archive of Servant Salamander 1.52, which is probably [?] the lightest file manager... If you know a lightest (RAM/CPU) one, please name it...

[Icfu]

If you know a lightest (RAM/CPU) one, please name it...

Just use an old Windows Commander:
http://totalcmd.pl/download/app/old/

Version 3.53 was released at the end of 1998 and not only offers more features than the poor Servant Salamander 1.52 released at that time but also uses fewer resources.

Edit:
Haha, I have just wet my pants. Now Servant Salamander compares itself to the old Windows Commander 5.1 released in 2002!
http://www.altap.cz/salam_en/windows_commander.html

When I had a look some weeks ago it had *at least* compared itself to Total Commander 6.0 although version 6.5 has been out for a long time already...
Now, that is a lame developer... (yes, I had contacted him because of that with *no* reaction)

Icfu