Usage

Here is a simple example, a button (in the screenshots: the smiley with eyes like hearts) that works like a railway switch. JPEG files dropped on this button are copied to folder "Country", all other files are copied to folder "Western". Note that these target folders don't have to been open or visible in XYplorer, and that you can drag files even from other applications onto this button.

This is the script. It's defined within the user button (right-click the button and select Edit... from the menu). (Click to see the full screenshot)

Drag the file "Mars.gif" onto the button... (Click to zoom)

It worked: The file has been copied to "Western". (Click to zoom)

Now drag "folder.jpg" onto the button. Voilà! The file has been copied to "Country". (Click to zoom)

For example, U+202E (Right-to-Left Override): If you insert U+202E at the 2nd position of the file Htxt.exe it will be shown as Hexe.txt (in *every* Unicode-compliant software), an apparently harmless TXT file which in reality is a potentially dangerous executable. When you double-click this "TXT" file the executable will be run.

XYplorer is the only file manager to date that can protect you from this exploit. If you tick Directional formatting codes protection (in Configuration | Menus, Mouse, Safety | Safety Belts) then Hexe.txt is shown as H*!*txt.exe, i.e. the U+202E character is not resolved but replaced by *!*, and the file is clearly recognizable as executable.

Directional Formatting Codes (DFC) protection is implemented in the following places:

Screen Shots

Two text files with the same name in the same folder?! But different icons! Different extensions! Different name length! What's going on here? (Click to see the full screenshot)

Let's open of them by dbl-click to see what's inside... BANG!!! ... In Explorer and other file managers you now would have run an executable file disguised as a text file! Not so in XYplorer: A warning is popped and you have a last chance to think twice before disaster strikes. Now you see that it is actually an *.exe file. (Click to see the full screenshot)

Now lets tick "Directional formatting codes protection" in Configuration to get even better protection. (Click to see the full screenshot)

The same listing as above, but now the potentially dangerous file is unmasked. The U+202E character is not resolved but replaced by *!*. You won't dbl-click this one, right? (Click to see the full screenshot)

Further Remarks

Further Information

6 Key Navigation: It's possible even one-handedly.

The Keys: These keys and their functions is all you need to know to become a master in 6 Key Navigation (which works in the Address Bar, but also in the Go to and Copy To dialogs):

6 Key Navigation in the Address Bar

Always:
  Left:       Move caret to left.
  Right:      On right end (if folder): Append backslash (opens match list).
              Else: Move caret to right.
  Ctrl+Left:  Move caret to parent folder component.
  Ctrl+Right: Move caret to child folder component.
  Ctrl+Down:  Open/Update match list at caret position.
  Enter:      Go to item or open file (if "Open files from Address Bar" is ON).
              Close match list if it is open.
  Ctrl+Enter: Like Enter, but Goto/Open inverted.

On the dropped match list:
  Up:         Move up in match list (to last item if none selected).
  Down:       Move down in match list (to first item if none selected).
  Ctrl+Up:    Close match list (no action).

The crucial parts of 6 Key Navigation (6KN), the innovative elements, are the following:

As another nicety you can pop a drives listing simply by emptying the Address Bar, or type a single letter into the Address Bar to browse that drive in the dropdown list:

Type "c" to browse "C:\". (Click to see the full screenshot)

6KN is, of course, a keyboard user's dream. But there is also something for the mousy man:

Click the Address Bar icon to show a list of all folders (and files if you want) contained in the current folder. (Click to see the full screenshot)

In Configuration | Controls and More | Auto-Complete Path Names you now have a dropdown Filter where can choose whether the Auto-Complete match list should contain "Folders Only", "Files Only", or "Files and Folders".

Additionally you may tick Configuration | Controls and More | Miscellaneous | Open files from Address Bar to open files right from the dropdown:

Pressing Enter will directly open the file selected in the dropdown list (and displayed in the edit field) without going to its location. Note the small icon overlay which marks that this functionality is enabled. (Click to see the full screenshot)

4 Key Navigation. The power user's approach to the file system.

The Keys: These keys and their functions is all you need to know to become a master in 4 Key Navigation (which works in the Address Bar, but also in the Go to and Copy To dialogs):

4 Key Navigation in the Address Bar

On closed match list:
  Ctrl+Tab:       Open match list at caret position.
  Ctrl+Shift+Tab: Open match list to parent of current Address Bar item.

On the dropped match list:
  Tab:        Move down in match list (to first item if none selected).
  Shift+Tab:  Move up in match list (to last item if none selected).
  Ctrl+Tab:   Update match list to current list item.
              If no list item selected: close match list.
  Ctrl+Shift+Tab: Update match list to parent of current list item.

Mouse Click Navigation in the Address Bar

On closed match list:
  Left Click on icon: Open match list at caret position.
  Right Click on icon: Pop a breadcrumb menu for the current Address Bar
                       contents.

On the dropped match list:
  Left Click on Address Bar icon: Close match list (no action).
  Left Click on file: Perform the default action for that file (open or go to).
  Left Click on folder icon: Browse that folder (right in the dropdown!).
  Left Click on folder name: Go to that folder.
  Right Click on file: Pop a context menu that lets you open or go to the file.
  Right Click on folder: Pop a context menu that lets you browse (right
                         in the dropdown!)or go to the folder.

For the mousy man this is probably the slickest access to the file system ever designed.