Tip #3639 - UltraExplorer
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UltraExplorer
First of all, let me start by apologizing for this week’s download.
I told everyone last week that I was going to run the Total Commander
file manger, but things have come up and I have decided to go with another
program. The replacement is a file manager as well and it has tons of
features, but it will not allow you to plug in the features from last
week’s download, which was a program called Universal
Viewer. Again, I apologize and the two programs will still complement
each other with their abilities and functionality. They just don’t
have the ability to join together as plug-ins or use the same interface.
Alright, enough about
that. This week’s download, which as I mentioned before, is another
file managing program and is called UltraExplorer. If
you are a little fuzzy on the whole file manger term I’m throwing
around, then allow me to explain. Windows, as you may or may not know,
uses an application called Windows Explorer to allow users complete management
over their files and folders. This works not only on that system, but
also throughout the network, if one is set up for it. Windows Explorer
can be reached by right clicking on the My Computer icon
on your desktop and then selecting Explore from the action
menu. Or, you can type the word “explore”
into the Run box located under the Start
menu.
Windows Explorer does
a good job, but as with most included Windows applications, it leaves
a little to be desired and is a little light in the area of tools and
functionality. Speaking for myself, I use Windows Explorer constantly,
so when I ran across a couple of alternatives, I decided to give them
a try. I personally don’t like knowing only one way of doing something,
especially if there are others available. It’s good for the industry
and it’s good for you, the user, to be a little diverse and not
pigeon hole to only one particular brand of software. It makes you more
flexible and dynamic, which allows you to more easily adapt to future
changes in an industry that is constantly changing.
With that said, I
went on a journey to find and test some different file management software
programs and this is what I came up with. I hope you guys find it as cool
as I do. (I am kind of a dork though, so keep that in mind!) : )
UltraExplorer is a
comprehensive application created by a company called Mustangpeak.
It is used as a test bed for Mustangpeak Delphi and CBuilder Components.
Mustangpeak claims in the product information that “it is designed
to be the ultimate file manager for Microsoft Windows.” What the
program does is give you options that you may have never thought of before
when navigating through your file system. The interface is completely
customizable too. You can add tools, hide or show as many windows as you
would like and move them around to create an environment that is conducive
to your needs.
Here’s a list
of some of the things UltraExplorer has that you won’t find in Windows
Explorer:
- Drop Stack
Window - Drop blocks of files into the drop stack for quick
access later.
- Favorites
Window - Build a favorites tree with any object you like from
the shell. The tree is fully aware of drag and drop and the clipboard.
Use the objects in the favorites tree just like the normal treeview
and listview controls.
- Command
Line Window - Can't give up DOS and a command line? Well, UltraExplorer
has a built in command line window that stays synced with the current
view of the application.
- Filter
Window - Too many files to find what you want? Use UltraExplorer's
filter window and create new filter arguments by:
- Dragging and
dropping objects to the window.
- Using the selected
objects in the active listview.
- Folder
Window - Ultra fast folder treeview that is positionable anywhere
in the application.
- History
Window - User defined level of previously browsed folders.
Objects in this window can be used just as in the treeview or listviews,
drag and drop and clipboard areas.
- Listview
Window - A secondary listview window that can be used identical
to the fixed listview. Allows for a dual listview display, if desired.
- Tabbed
Folders - There are several ways to create a new tab.
- Simply press
the Ctrl key when clicking on a folder and the
folder is browsed in a new tab.
- Ctrl
+ T creates a clone of the current tab. (Ctrl +
W closes the current tab).
- Use the menu
item in the Main Menu under File.
- Use the right
mouse click context menu while hovering over the tabs.
- Task Window
- The task window accepts plug-in DLLs to extend UltraExplorer beyond
its powerful built in capabilities. The DLL can be built in Borland
Delphi and distributed separately. All that is necessary is that the
DLL file is placed in the plug-in folder within the UltraExplorer install
folder. That way, the plug-in will be available to the user.
This really gives
you a good look at what Windows Explorer doesn’t have. If you are
like me and choose to use Windows Explorer to navigate and manage your
files, this may be something you'll want to try. It has everything Explorer
has, but so much more too!
You can download UltraExplorer
here.
~ Chad Stelnicki
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