Fcmd-help

Topic:.FcmdHelp.

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See also Fcmd_motivation_de.html.

Topic:.FcmdHelp.usage.

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Context sensitive help: Some tables, edit fields or buttons are associated with a context sensitive help. Open the help window, leave it open, then select any table, select an edit or output field or press a button (and move the mouse back to prevent an action) - the context sensitive help will be shown.

Topic:.FcmdHelp.layout.

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Three file panels: The.file.Commander presents files in three panels. The classic Norton Commander has only two panels. Use the middle and right panel to select a source and desination for copy or a first and second folder for comparison etc. The left panel can be used e.g. to select a documentation in the file system while working. You have this third panel additionally. The left panel contains a command card, see 9 Command card. A selected command in the left panel can be combined with the selected files in the other panels to execute somewhat, for example a file comparison.

Tabs for favors and files: One of the capability of the.File.commander is to handle with some directories in your file system, see 7 Concept of favorite paths. You have a system of favor themes. That are able to select in the left Tab of the file tabs, and then the left tab below. You may have 10..20 or more favor themes, it is the length of that list. Any favor theme can have some favor directory path, maybe 10 or more. For example if you work with documents, that are the directories where documents, pictures etc. are stored. That favor paths can be selected in the tabs in the lower tabbed panel. If you select a favor theme in press [Enter] the associated favor path card is opened or selected. The file cards are disposed in the upper tabbed panel. If you select a file card, the favor cards are hide. But you can switch from any file card to its favor path select list by typing [ctrl-down]. If you switch to another directory in the file card, it is saved of course, meanwhile you work in another file card. But you can go back to the start directory by simple pressing of [ctrl-<]. All the key operation you find in the menu bar too or you can use the context menu (right mouse button). You can close a tab by typing

Bild: Layout

Output/edit area: The middle area of the window is a output area. It can be zoomed by pressing [ctrl-O] like switching to the output window in the classic Norton Commander. The output area's content can be used as write area, to select any content ([ctrl-a] is select all), to copy to the systems clipboard etc.. It is possible to write commands in that area, see 10 Command invocation in the output area.

Status line: In the bottom area there are shown information about the selected file. Especially the full path is shown. You can switch between backslash and slash presentation (for windows users) and copy the file path or parts of them in the system's clipboard to use it as input for other applications. drag'n drop: You can mark somewhat in the path field and drag it to any other application. Then the file is dragged if the drop receiver can deal with the file.

Function buttons: In the bottom are you can see all function buttons, like the classic Norton Commander. There are shown all combinations with [ctrl]-, [alt]- and [sh]-key. Because you may know the meaning of the buttons you can hide this information. Type [ctrl-F1] to hide and show. All function buttons can be invoked with the mouse in that window part or with the real keys on keyboard. You can find all functions in the standard menu too!

Topic:.FcmdHelp.config.

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The.file.commander can be configured.

• Later versions should be support changing of all keys and texts, so a language specific or user specific layout can be gotten. It is prepared yet only.

• The command panel contains some user specific commands which can be combined with any selected file or path in a specific assembled command line. You can configure your specific commands. File cfg/cmd.cfg.

• The association between a file extension and its application can be configured in a specific os-independent way. While some standard users of the os may have its habitually applications a administrator can have other associations to the file extensions using this.File.commander. All associations between extensions and a command line invocation are contained in a cfg/ext.cfg textual file which can be adapted. The systems associations between extensions and applications (in windows contained in the registry file) can be transfered to that cfg/ext.cfg with a special application.

• Especially all paths in the file system which are your favorites can be configured both by creating new favor paths with [ctrl-b] key and by editing the cfg/path.cfg.

• All files are pure textual, can be edit manually, or can be processed by any specific aplication. It is possible to switch between sets of that file.

Topic:.FcmdHelp.config.pathCurr.

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The bottom are of the main window contains two status lines:

• Upper line: The absolute path of the currently selected file.

• Lower line, left field: Status of command execution. If it is empty, no command is pending.

• Lower line, right field: timestamp, and size of the currently selected file.

You can copy some information in the clipboard of the system. See 11 Drag'n drop and copy paths.

The timestamp of the file is also shown as milliseconds after 1970.

The path is able to show slash or backslash. Especially in Windows the backslash may be necessary. Use right-click context menu on that field. (todo)

Topic:.FcmdHelp.keys.

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Further versions may have the capability to adapt key usage individually. The standard key usage are oriented to a simple and usual system. Some keys are adequate the classic norton commander.

Topic:.FcmdHelp.keys.naviCards.

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[alt-F1]], [alt-F2] and [alt-F3] selects the left, middle or right favor theme card. It is like [alt-F1] and [alt-F2] for drive selection in the classic Norton commander. The drive selection is not the important one yet. The selection of favor themes is it.

[sh-alt-F1]], [sh-alt-F2] and [sh-alt-F3] or [sh-F1]], [sh-F2] and [sh-F3] focuses the left, middle or right panel.

With [(sh)-alt-arrows] you can walk through all cards of one panel:

[sh-alt-left] and [sh-alt-rigth] focuses the cards to the left and right in the same panel.

[(sh)alt-up] and [(sh)-alt-down] focuses the file card or the associate theme card.

[ctrl-tab] switches between the last 2 panels. The classic norton commander has used the [tab] key only for that. But [ctrl-tab] is usual today to switch between the windows or panels of an application, whereby the [tab] is the traversal key between widgets.

Topic:.FcmdHelp.keys.fileCard.

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[alt-down] shows the favor paths of this file card or file tab.

[ctrl-pgUp] navigates to the parent directory.

[ctrl-alt-left] and [ctrl-alt-right] shows the left and right file card and the first left card, it is the favor selection.

[shift-alt-left] and [shift-alt-right] selects the left or right panel.

[alt-F9] shows the command card.

Topic:.FcmdHelp.keys.fileKeys.

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[Enter] on a file: The extension will be tested. One or some commands are offered to execute with that file. Select it and type enter to execute a command with the file. The commands for any extension are contained in the file cfg/ext.cfg in The.file.Commander's configuration folder. You can build any combination of command line invocations with the selected file, with files in the other panel or maybe with the directory only.

[ctrl-F9] on a file: The last selected command in the 9 Command card will be executed with the selected file and maybe with the file in the other panel. It depends on the command which will be done. If the command doesn't use a file as input, the command will be executed also.

[F2]: Edit properties of the file. Opens a dialog window.

[F3]: View the file with the internal viewer, maybe with hexa presentation.

[F4]: Edit the file. The editor is configured with the file cfg/cmdi.cfg in The.file.Commander's configuration folder.

[F6]: Copy or move the the file. Opens a confirm window. Note that [F5] is refresh.

[F8]: Delete the file. Opens a confirm window.

Topic:.FcmdHelp.keys.folderKeys.

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[ctrl-<]: Select the origin directory of the favorite, back to its root.

[F5] or [ctrl-R]: Refresh the file card view. The classic Norton commander uses [F5] for copy. But the usage of [F5] for refresh is usual in most other modern applications. Use [F6] for copy and move both.

[F7]: Create a directory or an empty file in the current folder. It is the F7-Key for 'mkdir' from the classic Norton commander.

Topic:.FcmdHelp.copy.

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The copy dialog box helps to copy files and directory trees.

Topic:.FcmdHelp.copy.pathSrc.

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The source root path contains either one file or one directory of more as one of them. If one file is selected, only this file is select as source. If one directory is selected (last sign is '/'), then some or all files in this directory may be selected.

More files or directories can be given in the same parent directory. In this case the parent directory is given and the files are given separated with a colon. All of them are source files or source directories.

The/parent/path/ : file1 : file2 : file3

That situation occurs if some files are selected in a file panel while open the confirm window or while press <set source>.

Topic:.FcmdHelp.copy.setSrc.

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If the confirm copy/move/del/compare-Window is opened the first time, opened after finit a process or if the <set source> button is pressed in the opened confirm window in that states, the currently selected file(s) of the first current file panel of the.File.commander are taken as source directory/ies.

Topic:.FcmdHelp.copy.selcond.

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If the input field for select conditions is left empty, all files in the source root path will be selected. In this case the move and delete takes the files and directories of the source root path without any more selection and moves or deletes that. The copy and compare need a check phase to select and count all files.

The input field can contains one wildcard expression or more as one separated by a colon ':' maybe with spaces before and behind (for better reading). The wildcard expression is used to select files in the source root directory(ies).

Topic:.FcmdHelp.copy.check.

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If you press the check button, the files in the source root path are selected regarding the conditions for selection. This may need some seconds if the directory tree is deep and/or it is a remote or network directory. The progress is shown than. While this process runs, the [set source] button is shown grayed.

The result of the selection is able to check in the file panels of the.File.commander. Additionally the selection can be changed in the file panel using the right-mouse-menu or select keys there.

The selection can be enhanced or reduced by given some other selection conditions and pressing check again. The selection state before that is left unchanged but the new selection will be set (or cleared) for the matching files. That process counts all files and bytes, the selected in the past and the selected yet, so the result of bytes and files are correct.

If you write ? in the selection condition field and press check, the selected files up to now are counted and shown again in the state field.

Topic:.FcmdHelp.copy.setDst.

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If the confirm copy/move/del/compare-Window is opened the first time or opened after finit a process then the directory of the currently selected second file panel of the.File.commander is set as destination directory. If the <set destination> button is pressed in the opened confirm window then the directory of the first current file panel is taken as destination directory.

Topic:.FcmdHelp.copy..

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You can choose the destination directory

Topic:.FcmdHelp.copy.show.

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The little buttons [=>] right hand on the path lines selects the directory in the current file panel of the.File.Commander. You can use this function to go back to the source or destination root directory after you had walked through the files especially in some sub directories or check any other in the panel. for the current file displayed you can go to this file to check some details about it.

Topic:.FcmdHelp.copy.state.

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The state

Topic:.FcmdHelp.copy.currfile.

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This field shows either the current file or directory path which is processed in the moment or the last found file path after check. If any process is running, the content of this field is refreshed in a cycle about 300 ms. It is volatile. But if the process is waiting for example for any question or because a pause is pressed, you can read, copy to clipboard or press the [=>] button to show the file.

Topic:.FcmdHelp.copy.ctrl.

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A copy process creates new files in the destination directory. It may overwrite existing files or not, it may overwrite read only files or not, it may create new files or not. Three choice-keys controls that.

The buttons show the current state left side and the other possible states right of them after a question mark. Pressing the a button changes the state and shows that. The state is used if the copy process runs. The state can be changed while the copy process is in a quest. The new state is valid for the next following files.

Topic:.FcmdHelp.copy.ctrl.overwrRo.

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The button shows the current state left side and the other possible states right of them after a question mark. Pressing the button changes the state.

• ask: Any read only file will be overridden only if the [overwr file] button is pressed for this file while it is displayed in the current file field.

• yes: A read only file will be replaced by the copy process without quest. The state of the copied file will be set to the state of the source file, maybe readonly or not.

• no: A read only file won't be replace, the copy process skips over such files.

Topic:.FcmdHelp.copy.ctrl.overwrExists.

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• ask: Any read only file will be overridden only if the [overwr file] button is pressed for this file while it is displayed in the current file field.

• newer:

• older:

• all: A read only file will be replaced by the copy process without quest. The state of the copied file will be set to the state of the source file, maybe readonly or not.

• no: A read only file won't be replace, the copy process skips over such files.

Topic:.FcmdHelp.copy.ctrl.createNew.

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T

Topic:.FcmdHelp.copy.quest.

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x

Topic:.FcmdHelp.copy.quest.wr.

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T

Topic:.FcmdHelp.copy.quest.skipFile.

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T

Topic:.FcmdHelp.copy.quest.skipDir.

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T

Topic:.FcmdHelp.copy.escape.

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T

Topic:.FcmdHelp.copy.ok.

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There are four keys to select the function which is done:

[compare ?] Comparison of the files in source (selected) and destination (same files in destination path).

[delete ?] Deletion of the selected files in the source root path or the whole source root path(s)

[move ?Copy] Move or copy from source to destination of the selected files.

The keys can be pressed to switch between the choosen function. The [ok]-Button right button shows the resulting function:

• [check copy]: Copy is choosen, but the [check] is not done up to now. Either press this key or press the [check] to do it.

Topic:.FcmdHelp.mkdirfile.

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This dialog box helps to create an empty file or a sub-directory in the current directory. It is the 'F7-Key' functionality of the classic Norton Commander. The classic 'F7-key' only helps to create a sub-directory, but empty files are often needed too, to be filled with scripts, config data etc.

The ...TODO

Topic:.FcmdHelp.favorpath.

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occasion: You may work with several source files, scripts, result files etc. in more as one subject matter or you have to attend some files in several directories. Then you have to switch between that several positions maybe in a large and complex directory tree. Favorite paths help to switch.

second stage selection: The favor selection have two stages:

• Selecting a main favor which is related to a tab on the tabbed file panel.

• Selecting a favor path inside one tab.

If a favor path is selected, which is already in use, the last selected directory will be shown. To switch back to the favor directory, use the [ctrl-<] key combination or use the menu entry "file-navi" - "favor-home".

All favorite paths and their main favors with the tabs are contained in one file in the cfg-folder of The.file.Commander in the "favorpath.cfg" file.

Topic:.FcmdHelp.favorpath.tabSelect.

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The table for favor tabs contains the name of main favors and the label of the associated tab in each line. Selecting one line of this table opens the favor path selection in the associated tab. If the tab was created already, the last used favor is selected per default.

Topic:.FcmdHelp.favorpath.favorSelect.

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The table for favor paths contains the alias name of a path and the home path of this alias in each line. Selecting one line of this table opens the file view of this alias. If the file view was created already, the last used path is selected, elsewhere the home path.

You can switch from any file view to this path select table by typing [alt-down]. You can switch between several working directories of this tab. If you switch to another directory, and then back to a last one, the last selected file is selected per derault anytime.

Topic:.FcmdHelp.favorpath.favorNew.

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You can select any directory in a file panel. Pressing [ctrl-B] or menu "faVors - new" opens a confirm window.

Topic:.FcmdHelp.favorpath.favorNew.tab.

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Write the label for the tab in text field 'label'. Per default the same label is set from the starting favor, you can change it and write either a label of an existing favor tab or a new one.

Topic:.FcmdHelp.favorpath.favorNew.persist.

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You can write 'lmr' (one of or more) to force showing the label on startup of The.file.Commander. (TODO test it).

Topic:.FcmdHelp.favorpath.favorNew.alias.

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The alias is the string which is shown in the favor select card. Write any proper designation.

Topic:.FcmdHelp.favorpath.favorNew.dir.

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The actual directory path is presetted. Check it. Commonly it is what you want. You can write any other path there. Therewith you can create a new favor without selecting the path, instead e.g. take the path from clipboard.

Topic:.FcmdHelp.favorpath.favorNew.temp.

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Pressing this button the favor path is stored only for the current session, it would not be stored in the favor path file.

Topic:.FcmdHelp.favorpath.favorNew.save.

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Pressing this button the favor path is stored in the favor path file.

Topic:.FcmdHelp.favorpath.favorNew..

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All favor paths can be edit manually, for example to remove some paths, to correct it, to correct tab and alias names, to duplicate the same paths for different tab labels.

The favor path file is stored in The.file.Commander's config directory with name path.cfg. You can edit this file with an standard text editor. Be vigilant about the syntax. It should be self-explaining by the given entries:

==tab: alias in favor tab card==
alias in favor card, path
other alias in favor card, other/path

Topic:.FcmdHelp.fileSelect.

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You can select any file in the current file table. If you are switching to another favor path, the last selected file will be selected by default anytime. So you can mark these files, which are the point of interest in any path.

You can select a directory, then type [Enter] or double click the left mouse button. Then the the directory content will be shown. If you have visited that directory in the past, the last selected file or directory is selected by default again. So you can navigate to the same files or directories which were the last points of interest. The.file.Commander stores all paths and the selected files in an internal tree anytime if a directory view was left.

For key commands see 4.2 Navigation keys from a file card

Topic:.FcmdHelp.cmdCard.

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The command card contains some commands to execute.

Topic:.FcmdHelp.CmdWrite.

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You can write in the output area. Write

>anyCommand with arguments

with a '>' on the start of any line, then press [ctrl-Enter]] with the cursor after the last argument. The this command is executed then inside The.file.Commander and sends its output to this output area. The current directory is that of the last selected file.

You can navigate in the output area to the command back and repeat this command. It need not be written in the last line.

>&anyCommand with Arguments [ctrl-Enter]

invokes the command in a shell of the operation system. There you can give some input etc.

Topic:.FcmdHelp.dud_FilePath.

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You can use The.file.Commander to search and select files. If another application needs a file, for example in a file-open dialog, you can copy the path of the selected files from The.file.Commander: Select that part of path you need in the file-path text field and press [ctrl-C] or [ctrl-ins] or press the right mouse and use the context menu. The.file.Commander will copy the textual content in the clipboard of your system.

You can use the drag and drop technique too. If you mark any part of the file path in the file path text field and then drag it to your application, which is able to receive a draged file, not the textual part, by pressing left mouse button you drag the file.

Later revisions of The.file.Commander may support dragging of files from the file table too.

Topic:.FcmdHelp.folderCmp.

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Select 2 directories in 2 panels (middle, left), then select "folDer - comPare folder tree" in the menu or press right mouse in the directory output field of a file card - opens the compare window.

Button get dir gets the directories in the compare path fields and resets an older comparison.

Button compare executes the comparison. TODO: yet it executes in the graphic thread, if the tree is big, it may be work after some seconds. It should be worked in an extra thread (same as copy...)

Press refresh

Signification of compared files:

• # directory contains differences, files are different

• + directory contains more files, an additional file

• - directory doesn't contain any file of the other panel

• Without extra signification: The directories are equal, the files are equal.

Button sync: The 2 file cards which were compared works synchron: Selecting one file, entry in a directorie selects it and entries in the other card automaticly.

You can use the sync mode to proper see differences in trees. Switch it on or off.

File difference view: Use any difference viewer of your system: Select both files, then type "Navigation - cmd" and select your diff viewer. It should be prepared already.