In the modern world, any file manager is called a file manager. Read the history of the term and a description of several third-party programs in the article.
Historical excursion
Initially, the File Manager program was built into Windows 3.0. The utility interface consisted of a single window with a single panel. In it, file operations were performed. The program divided all files into three types: unassociated, associated and executable. There were also only three icons. The icon was assigned depending on which group the file belonged to.
Since the utility was inferior to similar products in the number of functions, and the interface was inconvenient, it did not receive recognition. Instead, third-party applications, such as Norton Commander, were often installed.
In Windows 95, the program was replaced by Explorer, but it still turned on in the OS. The utility was abandoned only in Windows editions released after Windows 98.
"Conductor"
How to open file manager in modern Windows ? To do this, simply double-click on the "Computer" icon located on the desktop. If starting from the Start menu, you only need to click the shortcut once.
The first versions of the Explorer program simply replaced some outdated system utilities. In modern editions of Windows , the file manager is most often referred to as the explorer itself. In fact, the "Explorer" is the entire graphical shell, like Gnom or KDE in Linux. As they developed, new functionality was added to a small file management program until it grew into a fully functional system that implements the entire OS interface.
Total commander
Total Commander is one of the most popular file managers. The first version was released 23 years ago. Initially, the program completely repeated the functionality of Norton Commander.
The interface of modern versions of the utility can be called classic. File Manager works in two-pane mode. Standard functionality can be expanded with plugins.
The main distinguishing features of Total Commander:
- built-in archiver;
- the ability to create bookmarks for directories;
- the classic interface is supplemented with drag-n-drop-functionality;
- viewing a list of computers on the local network and accessing directories using the SMB protocol;
- saved history of working with files;
- splitting files into several parts without archiving.
Far manager
FAR Manager File Manager is completely free. Its main difference from other similar utilities is the appearance and speed of work. The text interface is similar to Norton Commander and will appeal to lovers of retro style. To perform basic actions, hot keys are used. The program options are extensive and allow you to configure FAR Manager in accordance with the requirements of each user.
Key features of the utility:
- text interface;
- plug-ins;
- minimum system requirements among similar programs;
- in addition to the built-in functions, the user can quickly switch to the command line to enable Windows console applications;
- file manager can work with SMB directories and FTP repositories;
- a text editor is already built into the utility, the text can be viewed in standard mode or in hexadecimal representation.
Despite the fact that FAR Manager is considered one of the best file managers, because of the outdated interface, it is mainly the old-timers of the computer world who choose it. Of course, the appearance of the program can scare off modern users, but its functionality completely covers this drawback. For example, in FAR Manager, you can easily switch the encoding in a text editor and delete a file that is locked.
On the official resource, where the file manager can be downloaded, there is a detailed FAQ and a description of the plugins. If this is not enough, you can ask a question on the forum, chat with users, make a proposal for modernization.