xplorer2 v2.5 final released

[Kilmatead]

...nowhere can I find an assurance that v.2.5 supports X64 architecture

All versions of Pro or Ultimate support x64 - only the Lite version does not. However, as you noticed, the installers are different per bit-type.

Why do I have to pay for a version of Xplo2 which I do want in order to try a version which may or may not do what I want?

I don't understand - the trial-versions are fully functional (for a month), and do not require any purchase or license whatsoever. Purchased licenses are good for both x86 and x64 versions - it makes no difference (you can even install and use both with the same license, if you wish).

Get the appropriate version from the main site - be sure to specify x64.

[nikos]

or for x64 direct try this page www.zabkat.com/x2-64bit.htm

[pelesl]

Your forum search is broken, so I'll post here.

This new version is the first one I tried the windows explorer replacement on.

Like most users I found xplorer2 when I got sick and tired of a few of the bad things in Explorer (for me it was mostly not opening in the last folder). But there are plenty of Explorer features I don't mind - and I dare say even like. One of those is color showing NTFS compression (I don't use encryption, but I believe Explorer also colors those). I have seen posts where people get slammed wanting this feature. So let me sidetrack for a minute...

NTFS compression is *GREAT*. It compresses a lot of files to the same level of ZIP, and unless you're running a program that does crazy hard drive access and you can benchmark it, I doubt you can notice the difference. Do I compress everything? No. The reason is that hard drives are pretty cheap and I still hang on to the mirage that it's faster not to do so. However, I have plenty of large work files that I don't access frequently and those are compressed. I work with a lot of image processing with boring, almost all-black images so ZIPping is not practical because then my programs can't access the images. That being said, sometimes ZIP files are the best choice simply because they create a single file and this is significantly faster to copy (something that I don't understand why operating systems can't somehow work around, even when fragmentation is nonexistent).

So I would like to see colored folders in Xplorer. I think this is a good opportunity to again one-up Explorer and do it better by simply allowing color coding based on any file attribute. It is simply a much more effective visualization than scanning a bunch of capital letters to see if there's an "R" there. Although I don't particularly see any reason to color code hidden files, Xplorer is not about second-guessing the user as the enormous advanced options editor (among other things) proves.

So back to replacing Explorer completely - I never tried it because there are some things I don't mind about it. In Windows 7 in particular, I like being able to go into Control Panel, then search for what I want. The search is not great but it is a thousand times better than looking through a list - much less a categorized one.

If I enable to full Explorer replacement, I get a great benefit, like my Dropbox folder (if opened from their tray icon) opening with Xplorer. But then I get a horribly arcane Control Panel - that is, I have no choice but to sift through the categories. Moreover I use the detail view for folders so looking at the Control Panel like that is miserable.

So I would like to see the option to open only file paths in Xplorer, everything else (like the crazy GUID that shows up for the path of Control Panel) in Explorer.

Keep up the good work. I bought a lifetime license and never looked back. I probably don't use even 10% of the features.

And for forum posters, please remember that everyone using Xplorer is at least a bit of a nut job: the rare type that does not settle for tediousness and work-arounds - instead looking for real solutions to make their work more efficient. So if someone asks for something that you don't understand, just don't bother with it - or choose to put in some effort and understand the other's point of view.

[Kilmatead]

So I would like to see colored folders in Xplorer.

This ability was added many many years ago. If your request is in relation to compression specifically, create a rule in Customise -> Colour Coding which seeks the letter 'C' under Attributes [S], as that represents compressed objects. To delimit this to compressed folders-only (no files), seek the text 'DC' instead of just 'C', etc. Colour-coding may be extended to a great many aspects of identifying objects (by name, by location, by size, etc), so using attributes is but one avenue - details of how a user may create bespoke rules to control it can be found on page 249 of the PDF manual. (It is noted you posted about this before, yet never sought to read the reply. )

It should also be noted that if you like compression so much, you will be disappointed with ReFS (the not-yet-widely-released) successor to NTFS, as it does not support compression (see this for other things it does not support).

If I enable to full Explorer replacement [...] then I get a horribly arcane Control Panel

Tools -> Advanced Options -> Global (Tab) -> Don't browse Control Panel folders

And for forum posters [...] if someone asks for something that you don't understand, just don't bother with it - or choose to put in some effort and understand the other's point of view.

You haven't asked for anything, so you can't feel hard-done-by just yet. That part comes later, and is an inevitable part of learning to cope with humanity's foibles and the internet in general - there are no rules for either, and nor should there be.

[pelesl]

So I would like to see colored folders in Xplorer.

This ability was added many many years ago. If your request is in relation to compression specifically, create a rule in Customise -> Colour Coding which seeks the letter 'C' under Attributes [S], as that represents compressed objects. To delimit this to compressed folders-only (no files), seek the text 'DC' instead of just 'C', etc. Colour-coding may be extended to a great many aspects of identifying objects (by name, by location, by size, etc), so using attributes is but one avenue - details of how a user may create bespoke rules to control it can be found on page 249 of the PDF manual. (It is noted you posted about this before, yet never sought to read the reply. )

Thanks for pointing that out.

If I enable to full Explorer replacement [...] then I get a horribly arcane Control Panel

Tools -> Advanced Options -> Global (Tab) -> Don't browse Control Panel folders

Thanks again. I would have never found it.

So to reactivate "explorer replacement" I have to reinstall?

Is there a way to export settings and reimport them?
[EDIT] Actions->Export Settings. Found it in the PDF Manual.

[pelesl]

Exporting settings does not export the color coding rules. That's a shame.

[Kilmatead]

So to reactivate "explorer replacement" I have to reinstall?

If you disabled it in the options, yes, just reinstall; you may safely install "over" the programme without needing to uninstall it first - all settings/customisations will be preserved.

Exporting settings does not export the color coding rules. That's a shame.

Yes it does - they are contained as part of the overall export within the key:

HKCU\Software\ZabaraKatranemia Plc\xplorer2_UC.global\ColorCode Attributes

If you are restoring the settings using the reg file, you must terminate x2 first using either <Alt+X> or File -> Exit... you cannot simply "close" the programme normally because when used in replacement mode x2 stays "resident" in memory (there is an advanced option to disable this, if desired). Thus, any changes you make to the registry when x2 is active will be overwritten, and the attempted "restore" will fail, which is likely what happened.

[pelesl]

If you are restoring the settings using the reg file, you must terminate x2 first using either <Alt+X> or File -> Exit... you cannot simply "close" the programme normally because when used in replacement mode x2 stays "resident" in memory (there is an advanced option to disable this, if desired). Thus, any changes you make to the registry when x2 is active will be overwritten, and the attempted "restore" will fail, which is likely what happened.

Thanks again. That worked.

[Abyss]

Windows 8.1 x64 and Latest Ultimate trial x64 version.

There are issues with integration:
1. When I click "Show in folder" in Chrome's download page the path opens but I also get this error:
[Window Title]
chrome.exe
[Content]
There was a problem sending the command to the program.
[OK]
It seems it happens with other programs too.

2. If I click "Show in folder" in latest Skype on downloaded file Windows Explorer opens (without errors) while Directory Opus open the folder correctly.
In the same time what opens with SHOpenFolderAndSelectItems opens correctly. It seems you missed something.

Could you please explain more detailed how you implemented the handling of SHOpenFolderAndSelectItems? I read your discussion on stackoverflow but it is still not clear for me

[nikos]

if you have many programs registered and competing for DDE like xplorer2 and DO then such messages are bound to appear. You must have only one tool set as explorer replacement, uninstall all others, and finally uninstall/reinstall xplorer2 and you shouldn't see such error messages

as for the mysterious "select and open" API I will blog about it one day