Which file explorer do you use?

IsacImages · Dec 28, 2021

Multi Commander for me. Windows is way behind in upgrading the File Explorer, wich is probably the most used bit of kit on a Windows machine. I'm puzzled as to why they refuse to bring it into the 21st century. Until they do, I'll stick to Multi Commander. It has dual drive listing for easy copy/move and many powerful features that don't exist in WFE.
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Roban · Dec 28, 2021

Q Directory

idgat · Dec 29, 2021

Hollywood said:
I liked Xtree.

Who didn't! Now there was 3rd party software EVERYONE needed.

Pure nostalgia :tears:

TheMystic · Dec 29, 2021

DigitalGoat said:
File Explorer and Terminal (Command & PowerShell). Anything the Explorer GUI cannot do Terminal can.

Can you connect to SFTP servers to access files?

TheMystic · Dec 29, 2021

barman58 said:
I automatically rename Image files by date from the internal Metadata in the file when Importing them - as this is done in reverse order [YYYY-MM-DD.HH-MM.SS.nn.Ext]

Which program do you use for this?

TheMystic · Dec 29, 2021

Stigg said:
As I said, I use Directory Opus. But regardless of which one you prefer, once you've discovered how productive a tabbed file manager is, you'll find it very hard to go back to an unproductive single pane, single tab file manager.

Honestly, while that is true, I'm just so used to the stock file explorer that I really feel very comfortable using it. I have considered checking out other more capable file managers, but never really went ahead with it.

Stigg said:
And while we're on this topic, I am puzzled as to why Microsoft hasn't moved to a tabbed file manager in Windows.
Windows 11 includes all the non-productive nonsense that people are scrambling to reverse, but they couldn't couldn't look over the horizon and include something useful like a tabbed file manager. Third party ones have been around for decades.

If you look at other operating systems, pretty much everyone keep their default stock apps very basic. I guess they do it intentionally to support 3rd party app developers. It is very easy for Microsoft or Google or Apple (or any of the Android OEMs and others) to buy out one of the best apps in each category and include them as part of the OS, but they haven't done so. The only reason I can think of is to indeed support 3rd party app developers. Besides, the App Store brings in revenue, so that could be another reason.

barman58 · Dec 29, 2021

TheMystic said:
Which program do you use for this?

It's part of Adobe Lightroom, It takes the "Date" Metadata that's encoded in the image by my cameras, ( it's a standard function of most cameras these days, even Cell Phones ), and makes it available to the user, along with a lot of other technical data - Shutter Speed, fStop, Etc.

Obviously Lightroom is not a free option but there are some free ones that have similar functionality, I'm not sure but Adobe's own free option "Bridge" may be able to do a similar renaming task - I definitely has the access to the Metadata

DigitalGoat · Dec 29, 2021

TheMystic said:
Can you connect to SFTP servers to access files?

Yes, although I have no need to do that. There are several good tutorials online for various methods to use, and I believe Microsoft Docs has a rather technical write up if you want to melt your brain.
As to comments about tabbed file managers, am I just not understanding? You can open multiple folders/ drives at a time to transfer/ maintain files, Explorer has a vertical one click browser (quick access) that is also customisable.
I personally don't see any limitations with this setup, not saying others won't find another style of file manager easier/ better suited to their needs, but to paint File Explorer as a single pane, limited use app is a bit disingenuous, it is perfectly adequate for the majority of users needs, I would think.
Third party apps to add to/ replace Explorer's functionality may well be needed/ desirable for some people, every one uses their PCs for different things, and however you want to feel about Windows at least you still can change the default apps if you want (although MS seem to be making it less obvious and more difficult to do lately).
There are several additions that can integrate with Explorer to extend it's capabilities, Power Toys comes to mind (bulk renaming, batch image sizing), and if you are any good with Visual Studio or similar you can write your own shell integrations for nearly anything you want.
Just my opinions.

Bree · Dec 29, 2021

What is this 'Windows Explorer' everyone keeps talking about? It hasn't been called that since Windows 7. Microsoft renamed it File Explorer from Windows 8 onwards, up to and including Windows 11. :wink:

And yes, for the most part it's all I need. For a few thing though it does not suffice, such as exploring the contents of the System Volume Information folder without having to take ownership and mess up its permissions. For that I run TreeSizeFree as an administrator.

Berton · Dec 29, 2021

Total Commander, Multi Commander, FreeCommander on various Win10 x64 machines, most free but one paid-for. File Manager 10 [WinFile] from years ago still works up through Win11.

Dru2 · Dec 29, 2021

barman58 said:
For general file management I find that Windows explorer is all that I need, However for more specific filetypes I rely on specialist File Database Management applications, For my Images I use Adobe Lightroom, for Music and Video I use Mediamonkey 5 Gold.

for example I automatically rename Image files by date from the internal Metadata in the file when Importing them - as this is done in reverse order [YYYY-MM-DD.HH-MM.SS.nn.Ext] it will automatically sort in order. these files can then be automatically added to collections that are based on other Metadata, or searched quickly within Lightroom including the descriptive metadata/keywords added by the camera or manually.

barman58 said:
It's part of Adobe Lightroom, It takes the "Date" Metadata that's encoded in the image by my cameras, ( it's a standard function of most cameras these days, even Cell Phones ), and makes it available to the user, along with a lot of other technical data - Shutter Speed, fStop, Etc.

Obviously Lightroom is not a free option but there are some free ones that have similar functionality, I'm not sure but Adobe's own free option "Bridge" may be able to do a similar renaming task - I definitely has the access to the Metadata

While I can't say I've done that level of sorting, yes, Adobe Bridge certainly has access to all the meta data used by both PS & LR.

Edwin · Dec 29, 2021

Bree said:
What is this 'Windows Explorer' everyone keeps talking about?

Berton · Dec 29, 2021

Yeah, Microsoft renamed Windows Explorer to File Explorer but so far has not changed the references in many places in Windows to the new name. It seems to be all part of the naming conventions Microsoft's programming teams like, similar to Outlook Express and Outlook or Works and Works Suite or Outlook [installed program] and Outlook.com [Webmail].

TheMystic · Dec 29, 2021

barman58 said:
It's part of Adobe Lightroom, It takes the "Date" Metadata that's encoded in the image by my cameras, ( it's a standard function of most cameras these days, even Cell Phones ), and makes it available to the user, along with a lot of other technical data - Shutter Speed, fStop, Etc.

Obviously Lightroom is not a free option but there are some free ones that have similar functionality, I'm not sure but Adobe's own free option "Bridge" may be able to do a similar renaming task - I definitely has the access to the Metadata

Life would be much easier if those Cameras and Apple can implement the naming of files as Android does: YYYYMMDD_hrminsec.

TheMystic · Dec 29, 2021

DigitalGoat said:
As to comments about tabbed file managers, am I just not understanding? You can open multiple folders/ drives at a time to transfer/ maintain files, Explorer has a vertical one click browser (quick access) that is also customisable.

Having multiple panes or tabs make going back and forth much easier and simpler. You can only have limited number of items pinned to quick access, so that may not always be as efficient as having multiple tabs.

Berton · Dec 29, 2021

TheMystic said:
Life would be much easier if those Cameras and Apple can implement the naming of files as Android does: YYYYMMDD_hrminsec.

Yeah, t'would be nice but then to make it fully nice all the countries and languages would have to agree to use the same date time format, not the regional settings now in use followed by the OS and program developers making changes to software and the many device that have clocks in them.

TheMystic · Dec 29, 2021

Bree said:
What is this 'Windows Explorer' everyone keeps talking about? It hasn't been called that since Windows 7. Microsoft renamed it File Explorer from Windows 8 onwards, up to and including Windows 11.

Where did that happen? I browsed through the comments quickly and found most people actually used File Explorer or File Manager.

TheMystic · Dec 29, 2021

Berton said:
Yeah, t'would be nice but then to make it fully nice all the countries and languages would have to agree to use the same date time format, not the regional settings now in use followed by the OS and program developers making changes to software and the many device that have clocks in them.

It would anyday be more convenient and practical to use than IMG_001, IMG_002...