XYplorer review

[Zekses]

Wanted to write this for some time. Finally had the time to do it.

Whoever that is, whose work means traversing complex directory structures on a daily(hourly) basis will, sooner or earlier, arrive to the conclusion that Microsoft Windows' default file browser leaves much to be desired. To say the least. It will be more accurate to say that it is, in fact, a disaster on pretty much the same scale as Internet Explorer. Another well known Microsoft failure. In XP version it lacked almost every single feature that makes file browsing simple and easy and although things improved somewhat in Windows 7 it was, alas, not by much. This means that to stay sane (or at least visibly sane) one has to repeat what most people(and thx god for that) did to Internet Explorer by now - scrap it and search for better alternative somewhere else.

At some time I, too, faced this dilemma and had to dedicate some of my free time to research what click reduction options are available out there.
There was, of course, my beloved Nautilus, but the thing is Linux only and at my workplace Linux was out of the question.

Now, lets define the software I was looking for. It had to have those features:
Small.
Dual panel.
Quick access to folders.
Search tools.
Nice looking (this one is important)

Now, I already knew at least two programs that satisfied most of these reqs (as pretty much everyone out there I suppose).
Total Commander and Far Manager.

The latter is the direct descendant of the good old Norton Commander. Which itself was, ironically, much better file browser than Windows Explorer.
It has its use ofc and I used it on numerous occasions but lets admit it - its just not user friendly enough and mainly keyboard oriented. Good but after you've used a good quality browser like Nautilus you just want more.

Total commander... now that is a beast. Literally. One thing I'll give it - it's ridiculously powerful. It has pretty much every feature one might want to have in a file browser and one more.(or at least that was what I thought at the time) At the same time though, imo, it's ridiculously overrated. And I mean it. Its main menu is complete and ugly mess of all features that could be squished in there in no sensible order. I tried using this a few times but it just didn't make sense to me after all, even though I somehow managed. But what REALLY turned me from TC is that it is just plain ugly. What I needed was a file browser I'd be looking at pretty much every 10 minutes of my work schedule and I couldn't bear looking at THIS that much. Hell, even default explorer is better looking than the ugly dump that TC is. So that was out of the question too. I was at the square one, was I?

After some browsing and messing around with whatever software surfaced I found only two other programs worth something. Those were Directory Opus and XYplorer.

The former... well I tried using it for some time but did not really like the experience. It has a lot of features, yes, but I just don't like the way it presents itself. It's not an ugly mess like TC is but it just looks... unrefined. Or maybe I just don't like its default orange-green color scheme. Whatever it is I didn't particularly enjoy the experience. Call me picky but... it just was not what I wanted.

Then came XYplorer. One thing that immediately struck me - it was pleasing to the eye. Of course different people like different things but for me - that was the second browser that I liked to look at.(the first one was Far Manager actually) The default color scheme, how interface elements looked and worked - everything was as I wanted. Big kudos to the author of this software for satisfying my visual tastes. Really. I appreciate it. But it turned out I was in for a greater shock. Features!

One thing I cannot stress enough, that I need in file browser, is folder navigation being easy. "Less clicks, dammit! : - I's what I always wanted to say to whoever was responsible for Windows Explorer.
Author of XYplorer really takes a step and a mile forward here by not only giving you quick access to your most used folders but even going as much as duplicating the functionality in a different but still nice way most of the time.

Lets count:
Suppose I have a folder e:\work\programs\projectA\src\moduleB that contains sources of the module I am currently working on and I have to visit this folder (along with some other) frequently.
You can imagine how will it go in Windows Explorer yourself. There are links ofc but I don't like filling my desktop with label garbage and Rocket dock is not a particularly good place to store folder acces shortcuts either.

Given XYplorer I will have access to it from:
1) Possible tab, left open from last session
2) Mini tree entry that I can relatively easy spot on the left
3) Catalog entry if the folder is important enough to make me catalog it
4) Hotlist popup menu
5) "Back" button history
6) Searching for it in search bar either by name OR by tag
7) Possibly it is a level of the "bread crumb" popup menu
SEVEN freaking ways to quickly access a needed folder. Probably more. (Most likely more, but I am lazy to research)
And of course, if I feel masochistic, I can still click my way to it.
Now THAT, is what I call quality software.

I will not go much further into the details of XYplorer interfaces because it has a rather nice manual bundled with it, but I will mention most notable features.
Can integrate itself into the system so that you wont even see the abomination that WE is most of the time.
Mini-Tree (a feature unique to XY and the one I probably love the most)
Easy to use search bar.
File highlighting based on the pattern in the command line.
File/folder custom colors.
New files and folders are easily spotable as they now have green background. (A relatively fresh, and a VERY nice addition)
You can tag, comment, color files AND search files by their color/tag.
Each of the panes can have multiple tabs open.
Fully customizable hotkeys.
Scripting language bundled with Pro version that makes a lot of features it is "missing" (as in - not added yet) available if you play with it a bit.
Frequent updates and new features.
Lifetime License.
...
A lot of things I forgot to mention or didn't notice yet.

I have to admit - my impression of the software changed greatly from what it was back then when I have first discovered it - now I love it way more XD
The only gripe I have with it is probably that it doesn't traverse archives, but I heard it is planned for the future release so I am not much worried.

My closing words are - buy XYplorer! It's worth every cent.It's much better than everything else out there and much much much much much MUCH better than Windows Explorer. You won't ever regret using it even as it is now. And the thing is - it keeps improving!

[j_c_hallgren]

Hi and welcome to the XY forums!

And as the 2nd most frequent poster here and a solid supporter of XY and Don, i would like to say THANKS! for that very nice complimentary review of XY!

Any chance that you could share that on some other web sites, esp those where XY is available for legit download?

[Zekses]

Any chance that you could share that on some other web sites, esp those where XY is available for legit download?

tbh I have no idea where as I don't frequent such sites

[admin]

Welcome and thanks a lot for the praise, Zekses! Much appreciated! It's always great to hear of people that actually understand what XY is about.

BTW, there are many more ways to access a folder in XY.

Don