Two features from Norton File Manager ?

[stevemul]

I would like to find a File Manager which is a worthy replacement for Norton File Manager. I am looking for two great features that IMO made Norton File Manager so good :-

1. The ability to click an on/off button to show/hide the "Entire Branch" in the current window. The file list then shows details of all files in the selected folder plus all subfolders. The display can select, sort, filter, etc. just the same as if one folder is selected.

2. The ability to click an on/off button to switch a file view to Outline or Summary Mode. This shows one line with a  node character of '+' for each file type in the selected  folder(s). The line shows the file extension, the number of  files and the total size. Any file type in the view can be  expanded by clicking on the '+' to show all the files of that  type. This feature functions in both normal mode and the "Show Entire Branch" mode described above.

This screen capture shows an entire branch in outline mode :-



The two depressed buttons on the bottom RHS of the screen are the "Show Entire Branch" and "Outline Mode" controls.  These provide two very flexible and powerful features.

Xplorer2 has its ‘Flatten’ feature but then if the Branch contains a large number of files there’s a need for a grouped outline or summary view to work with so many files.

It also appears that ‘Flatten’ requires an extra window.

Is it possible to :-

1. Show the Entire Branch in any pane ?

2. Switch to a grouped summary or outline mode showing the count of each File Type ?

3. Select any grouped File Type in outline mode and expand just the list of one file type only ?

[nikos]

the outline mode is an interesting idea -- but there's no equivalent in xplorer2. However x2 has many many ways to classify files that go way beyond file extension only. The simplest way to do what you want would be to flatten a folder, then use a selection filter for e.g. jpg and then use ctrl+alt+J (visual filter | selected only) to show just these files

for reasons i've explained elsewhere, you can't have scrap views mixed with regular folder views

[stevemul]

the outline mode is an interesting idea -- but there's no equivalent in xplorer2. However x2 has many many ways to classify files that go way beyond file extension only.

Assuming I have a selected Flatten view with say 500 files :-

1. Aside from sorting by type and scrolling through 500 files how can I  know what types of file I have in this view. Can I see a summary of the file types in the view, for example, .txt, .pas, .dsk, .doc., etc.. ?  

2. Can I quickly create a filter selecting one or more of the available file types ?

3. Having selected a file in the Flatten view I typically want to get to the folder containing that file. Does "Locate in Tree" or anything similar work in the Flatten View ?

4. Some operations in a Flatten View with many files can take a long time, for example, AutoSize Columns. Is there any way to interrupt a long process ?

[stevemul]

for reasons i've explained elsewhere, you can't have scrap views mixed with regular folder views

This really is a pity. I think xplorer2 would be so much more powerful if scraps were part of the main window.

In the meantime it would help the User if the Scrap View was named from its use. For example, if I have created a Flatten View of "C:\Program Files\MSOffice" it would be great if this was shown in the Scrap Container Header Bar.  Scrap View #nn is not very useful.

A Scrap View seems to be a one-way trip. Usually when I use a Scrap View to find something I then want to locate to that file/folder in the main window.

This is where Norton's File Manager is good.  I do think xplorer2 is great. I would like to find a way of getting the same results as Norton but using xplorer2.  I'd like the best of both worlds in one program !

[Jedimaster]

Yes, I brought this issue up a few days ago. I know Nikos said that it integrating the scrap container into the main window is not possible at the moment but I would like to suggest a similar feature to be included in the main window.

I would like to suggest a separate pane be included at the bottom left part of the screen similar to the preview pane. A collection of virtual folders would be shown where each folder contains references (not duplicates) to files which are stored in various locations on the disk. Only files are to be included in the virtual folder. If an actual folder is dragged onto the virtual folder, all the files in the actual folder (including subfolders) would be added to the virtual folder. By clicking on the virtual folder, we can see the content of the virtual folder on the folder pane on the right side. By restricting the content of the virtual folder to files, we can circumvent some of the incompatibilities between scrap containers and folders.

I find the structure above to be more intuitive than opening each scrap container individually to access its contents. Having virtual folders would allow us to structure our files based on purpose and function rather than based on the actual locations of our files.

Any comments are welcome.

[nikos]

as things stand now, scrap views are complete file managers. That's what most people don't understand and feel they need to "return someplace that I can manage files" e.g. the main window. You don't have to get back to the main window, all you need is available straight from the scrap!

if nevertheless you want to locate the real folder, just press <ctrl+enter> (or click)

turning to specific questions:

1. you can't see what file types you have other than scrolling through. However this discussion gave me an idea about "categories" that will be added in a future version

2. you create extension-based filters using <gray plus> and a comma separated list like *.jpg,*.gif. Or just type a few characters and hit up arrow to fetch an existing filter from the history list

3. ctrl+enter as mentioned

4. that particular process cannot be stopped

your "rename scrap window" idea is good

in general, x2 is not norton commander and will never become it. But I believe that if you go through the documentation and especially the tips and tricks, you'll get the most out of the program and discover all the little details that perhaps you think are missing!

[JRz]

General tip for all users: RTFM

Many features which are discussed in these forums are often very clearly described in the excellent manual. Of course I know it is much easier to lean back and wait for an answer from the 'knowledgable' people, but you might discover things you never even thought would be possible, just by reading the manual!

[chp]

Assuming I have a selected Flatten view with say 500 files :-

1. Aside from sorting by type and scrolling through 500 files how can I  know what types of file I have in this view. Can I see a summary of the file types in the view, for example, .txt, .pas, .dsk, .doc., etc.. ?  

2. Can I quickly create a filter selecting one or more of the available file types ?

Unfortunately "Create filter from currently selected files" did not make it to xplorer2 (from 2xplorer) http://forum.zabkat.com/viewtopic.php?t=1854

While it would be more uselful and "userfriendly" than Filter dialog (Ctrl+H, both when used on single and multiple file types), it would also solve your case:

Ctr+A
Alt+Ctrl+H (create and use filter from currently selected files)
Ctrl+Tab to address bar to see / edit selected file types


PS Alt+Num_Plus for quick "same type" file selection would be nice too, sigh

[nikos]

the old 2x command (which i never used in 5 years!) was a bit daft since if you had a selection comprising more than 1 file type it would only take one extension of the lot

i could do it properly in xplorer2 but i'd need a good example where this type of command is actually useful

[stevemul]

A filter feature based on selection of File Types in the selected folder(s) would be superb and, for me, would add greatly to productivity with xplorer2. With this there would be no need for an Outline View.

An alternative idea :-

1. Show the count and extension of each file type in the selected folder(s), for example:-

 cfg(1) dcu(15) ddp(2) dfm(3) doc(1) dpr(1) exe(1) html(22) pas(15) ~dfm(2) ~pas(12)

2. Provide an option to display this file type information in alphabetical or count order, ascending or descending.

3. Where could this information be displayed ?   -   I'm not sure what would be best but maybe in the Status Bar, in an optional 2nd Status Bar, in the Title Bar, in an optional line below the Title bar, possibly as a pop-up hint box.

With this information available the user could quickly enter a filter based on extension type.

In many ways this may be a better solution as the information could be available at all times for all users. There may be many more uses for it.