XYplorer Beta Club
The participants in the newsgroup Alt.Comp.Freeware voted TrackerV3 "Pricelessware" (" The best of the best in Windows © Freeware") under File Utilities: File Managers last December (see pricelessware.org).
I use TrackerV3 and the supporting website as exemplars of good design. Few programs and sites provide so much functionality with such economy and clarity. The entire application (~ 1mb) installs in one directory and adds one program group. It does not add entries to the registry. A few users of older systems may need to follow the instructions to obtain a recent version of a common shared file (.DLL) from Microsoft.
TrackerV3 is still evolving "... and always will be. I cannot resist a good idea..." says the developer (personal correspondence). One unusual idea the developer apparently could not resist incorporating is font preview, an unexpected but useful feature for some in a file manager. Much less exotic inclusions: displaying text extracted from a binary file; an improved search (find); and several standard report formats (including CSV) for listing filenames, file information, or directory structure to file, printer, or clipboard. I look forward to the developer succumbing to the "good ideas" in the recently added "Wishes" forum.
The attention to detail shows in numerous small (and not so small) ways. For example Lessau is one of the few developers who provides a complete file manifest. Options include highlighting the sort column and selected row(s). Find (search) on date supports a time component. Help is concise and clear -- helped no doubt by the intuitive design that builds on our present knowledge of Windows Explorer.
Beta releases with small incremental changes are posted irregularly. One week may see two releases; the next month just one or even none. (See "What's New" in help for details.) Recent beta releases have proven to be quite stable -- which is more than can be said for production code from less conscientious developers. I can not address earlier releases.
With the addition of HTML preview in v3.50 (a very useful feature) and now a user forum, I have only four criticisms. First, the install does not recognize the current location of the program group nor of the install directory. Second, entering data in a blank search field does not automatically check the box to include that criterion in the search (now fixed). Third, both preview and file views of rich text files (.RTF) show embedded codes. I expected the preview to show the formatted results. Finally, unlike PowerDesk for example, zip file support is not integrated. A separate program such as 7-Zip or Zip Genius is still required to view zip file structure and contents (prior to Windows XP). Those interested in eye-candy may be disappointed as options are oriented toward optimizing functionality.
From personal experience, I can verify that the developer is quite responsive to bug reports and to a reasonable request consistent with the design philosophy of TrackerV3. Despite being in a 7 hour later time zone, I have even received some same day email replies. The few trivial problems I have identified have been rapidly repaired. Some have been posted the next day -- or even within the hour -- of being received. (I did say "trivial".) His response to the second criticism previously mentioned: "why didn't you tell me before, i'll correct that mini-bug in 10 seconds
") My request for HTML preview was the primary new feature in version 3.50. As a bonus, TrackerV3 is even free for home and personal educational use. Use "in a commercial, educational, or governmental environment" requires purchasing a "professional license" for a one-time fee of €29.95 (~US$35 - $40) (including future upgrades).
In summary, TrackerV3 is an efficient, effective, everyday application exemplifying good design principles. It is short on eye-candy and long on core functionality. Advanced beginners and programmers alike should consider adopting it for regular use.