Best free file manager for managing retrogaming files on Windows

[Leandro Jardim]

Hi,

Which do you think is the best free file manager for managing retrogaming files on Windows 10? I am looking for a free alternative to Total Commander, which I don't want to buy now. It's a pain to extract ADF's and D64's from the TOSEC and to copy them to the hard disk with Windows 10...

Thanks,
Leandro

EDIT:
I am looking for a file manager with the following features:
* Only need to know how to copy, rename, move, delete, makedir, etc, only the most basic operations, without any form of "preparation" like Windows 10 does;
* Only need to know how to extract complete ZIP and 7Z archives to HD without slowing down the system;
* One that multitasks well with other programs;
* One that do not freeze when performing a long operation in no way.

[ptyerman]

The one I have used for years is called UltraExplorer. Unfortunately development stopped on it a few year ago but it's still advanced at what it does and can be setup and customised in almost every way. It is still my favourite!
It runs fine in Windows 7 x64, don't use 10 so haven't tried it there, but don't see why not.
Another one that is still developed that I use on occasion is NexusFile, that is also very customisable.

[-Acid-]

Windows Explorer?

[Amiga68k]

AMIGASYSTEM mentioned Multi Commander in this thread.

I am a fan of Total Commander myself, but this looks pretty good too.

[Foebane]

Windows 10's own File Explorer does me fine, thanks.

I did have issues with it at first, namely navigating the hierarchy on the left folders panel, but I've sorted it now.

[AMIGASYSTEM]

Originally Posted by Amiga68k

AMIGASYSTEM mentioned Multi Commander in this thread.

I am a fan of Total Commander myself, but this looks pretty good too.

Yes, of free you are also FreeCommander XE and Q-Dir

[Dan]

FreeCommander is pretty good, i'm using it now here.
With small effort you can set up a pretty nice environment for working with files.

Atached is a screenshot of how i have setup the freecommander to look:

You can setup your own tools and batch programs as buttons, and simply click on them (while files are selected), or drag'n'drop files over the buttons to perform the desired action.

For example i have setup IzArc with a batch script (on the screenshot the button named: Extract2R) to unpack files to a Ram drive R:.

If you have, ever, acidentaly moved files or directories with drag'n'drop action, you can setup FC to ask you, if you really want to do it, and if you want to move or copy the files.

[emufan]

FreeCommander looks good indeed. the view -> quick view panel is nice.
but I'm missing an "undo last changes" function. so if you move something, you want revert it.
is there such option?

#1) FC faq says no - workaround using windows explorer.

[DamienD]

Can you not set shortcut combinations to button? i.e. <Ctrl> + <Z>.

[Leandro Jardim]

Impressive screenshot, @Dan!

Thanks everybody, I will test the various options now on my laptop.

[happymondays]

I suggest Total Commander Ultra Prime, which has support for all the Amiga disk files, so you can even check what's inside ADF, DMS etc. files, if they are not NDOS. My favourite.

[ma693541]

Originally Posted by happymondays

I suggest Total Commander Ultra Prime, which has support for all the Amiga disk files, so you can even check what's inside ADF, DMS etc. files, if they are not NDOS. My favourite.

I use it and I love it.

[Leandro Jardim]

Originally Posted by happymondays

I suggest Total Commander Ultra Prime, which has support for all the Amiga disk files, so you can even check what's inside ADF, DMS etc. files, if they are not NDOS. My favourite.

It should really be the dream of all Amiga emulator users. I think the majority of the people here at EAB are using it. But for a while, I will be using FreeCommander XL because this new version looks much more mature than the earlier versions.

[Dan]

Here is a batch file, which i'm using to extract the folders into Ram Disk.
It is nice, because it can extract multiple zip files.
It is using the zip name as a destination folder on the drive R:

Save the below code as izarcextract.bat (or any other name) and setup a favorite toolbar button to call it.
Then simply drag'n'drop files onto the button.

@echo OFF
Echo extracting to r:\
wbox "IzArc" "Press ok to extract or Cancel to stop" "Ok;Cancel"

goto Action_%errorlevel%

:Action_1
FOR %%A IN (%*) DO (
     rem Now your batch file handles %%A instead of %1
     echo "%%~fA" "r:\%%~fA"   

     "C:\Program Files (x86)\IZArc\IZArc.exe" -ef r:\ %%A         
)

Wbox "Information" "Check the console window" "Ok"

goto :action_0

:Action_2

Wbox "Information" "Operation Cancelled by User !" "Ok"

:action_0

if you want to change the location of extracted files, then change the r:\ to match the drive and the folder which you want to use.

     echo "%%~fA" "r:\%%~fA"   

     "C:\Program Files (x86)\IZArc\IZArc.exe" -ef r:\ %%A

The Wbox tool you can download from http://www.horstmuc.de/w32dial.htm#wbox - it needs to be somewhere, where windows can find it easily. (environmental variable path)

It displays a message window, in which you can setup and click buttons, to perform some actions.

And the IzArc is required for this batch script, (because it can extract many formats) but it can be changed to use 7z or any other extracting program.(if you know the commandline parameters)

If you do not want to do confirmation clicks (wbox.exe) , then save only this in the batch file:

FOR %%A IN (%*) DO (
     rem Now your batch file handles %%A instead of %1
     echo "%%~fA" "r:\%%~fA"   

     "C:\Program Files (x86)\IZArc\IZArc.exe" -ef r:\ %%A         
)

[Leandro Jardim]

Thanks for the script, Dan. I think I'll modify it, can I?

PS. What an interesting page with software!

[Leandro Jardim]

I am posting this because only this morning I discovered that FreeCommander XE can use the same plugin system that Total Commander uses, so it can also open ADF and HDF disk images, as it were a real disk device!

FreeCommander seems to support only "packer" plugins. You must manually copy the .WCX plugin to the FreeCommander folder and configure it through the GUI.

On this link you can download the ADF plugin, and follow the instructions of it's readme file in the same way it's done for Total Commander.

[Foul]

Dopus PC ?

https://www.gpsoft.com.au/

[Leandro Jardim]

No thanks, but if anyone feel interested in donating an original copy, I will accept it.

I'm really sorry if I was a little rude before. I did not quite understand what other users answered me and I thought it was some kind of joke, as it has happened before in other places.

[McTrinsic]

Originally Posted by Foul

Dopus PC ?

https://www.gpsoft.com.au/

Is that correct?

I only remember DOpus for Windows to _not_ be able to open adf.

[AMIGASYSTEM]

Originally Posted by Leandro Jardim

On this link you can download the ADF plugin, and follow the instructions of it's readme file in the same way it's done for Total Commander.

There are also plugins for LZX e LHA but I do not know if they are supported by FreeCommander XE ???