Windows has a way of collecting virtual dust, a circumstance that has not changed considerably in Windows 7. These obsolete files take up space and contribute to hard. Freeware Tools and applications. Direct link freeware software that include full descriptions and images. Serving all your freeware downloads needs. In this article, Gizmo describes how you can use free software to run system tasks and third party programs automatically without having to do this manually every time. Whether you're a professional looking to save money, a student looking for a program to help with a school project, need software to organise and edit videos for your. ![]() The best freeware file manager: a comparative analysis. File management in Windows (browsing, viewing, copying, deleting files etc) is an area where Windows Explorer is not sufficient for many people. Explorer lacks several functions such as a tabbed interface and multiple panes for organizing files easily, quick file viewing, sorting folders by folder size, enhanced archive management, multiple file renaming, to name a few. One of the major shortcomings is Explorer’s tendency to stop ongoing file operations if one of the files is locked or not available because of security settings, which makes it unclear which files where copied and which were not. There are several freeware file managers that address this gap in Windows’ file management functionality. We looked at 1. 7 of these and found 1. This post will compare the following program across several criteria: Cubic. ![]() Explorer, Free. Commander, Master Commander, Nexus File, Nomad. NET, Q- Dir, SE- Explorer, Ultra. Explorer, Unreal Commander and Xplorer. Lite.? What is important? ![]() There are as many opinions as there are people. In this article we tried to compare these programs across several criteria that we thought to be important, although at times felt like we had to make a comparison work that was akin to comparing an apple and an orange, which was a hard job. So, we apologize if you feel that your favorite file manager has been unfairly evaluated. If you would like to simply jump to the overall verdict ratings list, click here. The easiest, fastest way to update or install software. Ninite downloads and installs programs automatically in the background. ZET 9 Lite - basic function set, for amateur of astrology ZET 9 Pro - expanded function set, for astrologer and advanced amateur ZET 9 Geo - flagship modification. In this comparison the criteria are: The user interface: it must be simultaneously intuitive, powerful enough and not too cluttered. Tabs and breadcrumbs are modern addition to the interface that can improve usability. We also considered the option to open multiple folders in different tabs and to drag- and- drop files or compare the contents of several folders. File operations: lot of file managers use Windows’ built- in file operations which will stop on encountering the first problem. The best file managers have the ability to pause/resume operations for time- consuming transfers, to display the transfer rate and estimated time to completion. Often they also have enhanced support for skipping/overwriting files, like . If some of the selected files are locked or inaccessible they can be skipped and the copying/moving of other files will be resumed. Additional features: many programs have advanced features that make life easier such as: Multi rename tool – ability to rename multiple files using patterns. Like rename all selected files like . Use with care, as this can be time- consuming for big folders like . Most computer users today may be unaware of the time before Windows when all file operations were carried on the DOS command prompt. Norton Commander (abbreviation NC) was the most popular file manager at the time and the two- paned interface and keyboard shortcuts it introduced are still used on many Windows file managers. We gave points to the programs that can be configured using either Windows Explorer style operation or Norton Commander style operation for the fans of both interfaces. Probably the most popular Norton Commander clone is Total Commander (shareware). After evaluating 1. In alphabetical order these programs are: Cubic. Explorer, Free. Commander, Master Commander, Nexus File, Nomad. NET, Q- Dir, SE- Explorer, Ultra. Explorer, Unreal Commander and Xplorer. Lite. The following programs were also evaluated but got a lower score than the first seven: a. Alt. Commander, Explorer. XP, File. Ant, JExplorer, Pablo Commander and Snowbird. The Evaluation. The User Interface. In this section the quality and usability of the user interface is evaluated.#1: Cubic. Explorer. Windows Explorer style, with tabs, breadcrumb path and quickview/bookmark/filters panel. The toolbars and panels can be customized by dragging. Tabs: Yes, multiple tabs can be opened. Panes: No NC style multiple panes. Favorites: Yes, called Bookmarks. Several bookmarks can be quickly opened in different tabs. Score: 5/5. The interface is simple, modern, intuitive and configurable.#2: Free. Commander. Norton Commander (NC) clone with tabs. Two panes, NC- like vertical split or horizontal split. Cannot switch to one pane. Select files in Windows Explorer mode or NC mode. NC legacy key shortcuts. Folder sizes can be shown (manual or automatic), folders can be sorted by size. Intuitive quick filtering. Tabs: Yes, multiple tabs can be opened. Panes: Yes. Favorites: Yes. Score: 5/5. Powerful yet simple interface, not too cluttered. Very configurable.#3: Master Commander. Norton Commander style interface with 2 panes, several tabs can be opened on each pane. Most similar to Total Commander (shareware) by interface and richness of functionality. Tabs: Yes. Panes: Yes, two panes arranged vertically or horizontally. Favorites: Yes. Score: 4/5#4: Nexus. File. Interface with two vertical panes, switchable to Windows Explorer style one pane interface. Tabs and breadcrumb paths. Different file/folder selection style – click left to the file name to select, click another time to deselect. Or select by Spacebar. Tabs: Yes. Panes: Yes, one or two panes. Favorites: Yes. Score: 5/5. Intuitive uncluttered interface with . Support skins, the default one is . Breadcrumb style folder path. Folder tree can be shown beside or above the file/folder listing. Quick and advanced filter. Tabs: Yes. Panes: Yes. Favorites: Yes, called Bookmarks. Score: 5/5. Nice Run. As function in menu which allows to run the program with command- line options (besides running as different user). One can select all files or all folders by clicking the number of files/folders on the bottom of the pane. Type a file name to begin quick filter or quick search.#6: Q- Dir. Flexible interface with panes and tabs. There are 1. 2 buttons with preconfigurations – from 2 to 4 panes, split vertical and horizontal etc. The big folder tree can be shown/hidden and also there is a button to show tree for each pane. Address bar can be shown as breadcrumb (Extras/Address bar/Modern style). Tabs: Yes. Panes: Yes, easily switched between different configurations. Favorites: Yes. Score: 5/5. The first start after installation, displaying 4 panes can be a bit frightening but You can switch to a view that has less details.#7: SE- Explorer. The program has different tabs with different modules. Select files with . Breadcrumb paths and Mac style . Simple, not cluttered, configurable. Tabs: Yes. Panes: Yes, two vertical or horizontal panes. Favorites: Yes, named Hotlist. Score: 5/5. Cannot display folder tree in any form?#1. Single or dual pane interface, divided vertically or horizontally. Windows style file selection. Many useful functions but many more are only available in the commercial version. Tabs: Yes. By default Excel style tabs on the bottom of a pane but this can be configured. Panes: Yes, one or two, vertical or horizontal split. Favorites: Yes, called Bookmarks. Score: 5/5. Simple uncluttered interface, well configurable. Unfortunately, so many useful functions are disabled in the free version. File operations. In this section we evaluate how the file managers perform file operations like copying, moving and deleting. The problem with Windows Explorer is that it stops the operation when one of the files is locked or unavailable and you never know which files were successfully copied and which ones were not. In worst cases it will result in the loss of files when the user thinks that the files are copied when actually they were not. The best file managers have their own custom built file handling with . Once it was considered very important functionality, but now FTP usage in general has been decreased and many programs have their own FTP clients like webpage creators, image managers etc. The best file managers can open the files and also preview the contents inside the interface, without opening another programs. This option is especially handy for people who like to use their favorite tool on several computers. All except Unreal Commander provide portable and installer versions. Unreal Commander can be made portable and prepared portable version can also be found on portable programs websites. NOTE! Master Commander, Nomad. NET and SE- Explorer require Microsoft . NET Framework to be installed. You must install . NET Framework before You can use these program from the removable media. This is making the portable use of these programs more inconvenient. Interesting features: Some of the evaluated programs had special features worth mentioning: #1: Cubic. Explorer. Dropstack, used for holding a set of file shortcuts to work with later#2: Free. Commander. Wipe File option. Split/Join files.#3: Master Commander. Wipe file function. Create ISO. Split/Join files. Digital signature, checksum, code page conversion functions. Process viewer#4: Nexus. File. What. Is. This. File function – opens http: //ext. Create. Shorcut. On. Desktop/Create. Shorcut. On. Quick. Launch functions#5: Nomad. NETPowerful search (also by attributes, for example picture taken date, file owner, document author, MP3 album name etc.), find duplicate files. Copy file details like size etc. Some of the file managers with good interface lack even essential functionality. Some of them do not have very flexible and usable interface but a lot of extra features. In this chapter we bring out the positive and negative of all the evaluated programs.! However, picking the best Windows Explorer style file manager from these ten is harder to do. Q- Dir and Ultra. Explorer both have some major drawbacks: Q- Dir lacks functionality like a powerful viewer, directory comparisons etc, and Ultra. Explorer has no custom file handling with . Ultimately, I would choose Nomad. NET as the strongest candidate for the . The strengths are uncluttered powerful interface and enhanced file handling. The weaknesses are missing built- in viewer and . NET Framework requirement that reduces portability. Again, probably some of you, friends, may disagree with some scores and the weights of the evaluation criteria.
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