Overview of the user interface - File panels


The (file) panels are the cardinal point of FreeCommander. In a file panel all items (files and sub-folders) of a folder are shown.

The position of the file panels in the main window is shown in chapter "Overview of the user interface".

Under the menu item "Tools → Settings → View → File/folder list" numerous settings concerning look and behavior of the file panels can be defined.

Single/dual panel view

Activating the menu item "ViewDual/one panel" or the "F10" key switch between the to view types of panels.

  • If actually two panels are shown, only the active panel will be shown.
  • If actually one panel is shown, to panels will be shown.

Changing the folders whose contents is shown

  • Main menu item "Folder"
    Under the main menu item "Folder" commands are offered to change the folder whose contents is shown in a panel.
  • Edit the folder path
    After right-clicking the free space of the address bar and activating the menu item "Edit path" (or the shortcut "Alt+G") an other folder path be edited or chosen.
  • History
    For each tab a history of opened folders is provided. Clicking a folder in the history opens this folder in the active tab. The history can be opened as follows:
    • Clicking the free space of the address bar
    • Activating one of the two buttons in the actions toolbar or .
    • Activating the button in the "Address bar - actions toolbar" or the shortcut "Alt+↓".
      The shortcuts "Alt+←" and "Alt+→" make it possible to scroll the history folders forwards/backwards without opening the pop-up menu.
  • Tabs
    The tabs in the "tab area" enable fast switching between different folders. After clicking a tab the contents of the folder assigned to the tab is opened (in the panel that contains the tab).
  • File system tree panel
    From the "File system tree panel" an other folder can be opened in the active panel, according to the settings under the menu item "Tools → Settings → View → Tree".
  • Favorite items tree panel
    Activating the "Enter" key opens the favorite folder (selected in the "Favorite items tree panel") in the active panel. See menu item "Favorites → Favorites tree".

Apply commands for items

Commands can be activated by:

  • Choosing a main menu item
  • Clicking a button (icon) in a toolbar
  • Choosing a context menu item

Most commands are affecting the items (files and folders) selected in the active panel.

Select items

  • One item
    Clicking an item in a panel activates this panel and selects and highlights this item.
  • Multiple adjacent items
    Clicking the first item, press and hold the "Shift" key and click the last item, selects multiple adjacent items.
  • Multiple not adjacent items
    Clicking the first item, press and hold the "Ctrl" key and click further items, selects multiple not adjacent items.
  • Main menu item "Edit"
    Under the main menu item "Edit" additional commands are offered to select or deselect items according to different criteria.

Under the menu item "Tools → Settings → Select items" settings for selecting items (and visualizing selected item) can be defined.

The file panel menu

The file panel menu can be opened by right-clicking:

  • the free space of the panel
  • (in the view type "Details") a column header, except the column header "Name" (there the menu "View types" is opened).

The file panel menu contains the following menu items:

  • Add/Remove columns...
    This menu item is shown only, if the view type "Details" is active.
    After activating this menu item a dialog is opened listing all possible FreeCommander and Windows columns. Each checked column is shown in the active panel in the active column profiles view (after activating the button "OK"). Adding or removing columns changes the active column profile.
  • Column profiles
    If the cursor is over the menu item "Column profiles, a sub-menu is shown with the menu items of the main menu item "View → Column profiles".
  • Auto resize columns
    This menu item is shown only, if the view type "Details" is active.
    After activating this menu item or the shortcut "Shift+Ctrl+(+ on numeric keypad)" the column width in the active panel is automatically adjusted.
  • View
    If the cursor is over the menu item "View" a sub-menu with the following view types is shown:
    • Details                (Shortcut "Ctrl+F1")
    • List                (Shortcut "Ctrl+F2")
    • Small icons
    • Large icons
    • Thumbnails        (Shortcut "Ctrl+I")

The active view type is identified by a frame around the icon in front of the name of the view type.
After clicking a view type (or activating the corresponding shortcut) the view type is applied to the panel where the menu was opened.
The individual view types are described at the main menu chapter "View".

  • Sort by
    If the cursor is over the menu item "Sort by" a sub-menu with sort options that can be applied to the panel where the menu was opened.
    The sub-menu items (sort options) are described in chapter "View → Sort by".
  • Filter
    If the cursor is over the menu item "Filter" a sub-menu is shown with the following filter options that can be applied to the panel where the menu was opened:
    • Set filter
      After activation of the sub-menu item "Set filter" or the shortcut !Alt+Y" the dialog "Set filter" is opened.
    • Filter off
      After activation of the sub-menu item "Filter off" the active filter is deactivated.
    • Choose filter
      The menu filter lists the names of all reusable filters below the menu items "Set filter" and "Filter off". Clicking one of these filter names activates the corresponding filter.
  • Favorites
    If the cursor is over the menu item "Favorites" or the shortcut "Alt+↑" is activated, the main menu item "Favorites" is opened as a pop up menu. See main menu item "Favorites".
  • Refresh
    If the cursor is over the menu item "Refresh" or the shortcut "Ctrl+R" is activated the contents of the panel, where the menu was opened, is refreshed. If the shortcut "Shift+Ctrl+R" is activated the contents of both panels is refreshed.
  • Paste
    After activating the menu item "Paste" or the shortcut "Ctrl+V" the items copied to the clipboard (via the main menu items "Edit → Cut" or "Edit → Copy", or the menu item "Context menu...") are pasted to the active folder in the panel where the menu was opened.
  • Paste shortcut
    After activating the menu item "Paste shortcut" the items copied to the clipboard (via the main menu items "Edit → Cut" or "Edit → Copy", or the menu item "Context menu...") are pasted to the active folder as LNK-file in the panel where the menu was opened.
  • New
    If the cursor is over the menu item "New", the Windows standard menu "New" is opened.
  • FTP new connection...
    This file panel menu item is active only if the list of configured SFTP/FTP connections is opened in the file panel.
    After activating the menu item "FTP new connection..." the window "FTP connection" is opened, where a new FTP connection can be configured.
  • SFTP new connection...
    This file panel menu item is active only if the list of configured SFTP/FTP connections is opened in the file panel.
    After activating the menu item "SFTP new connection..." the window "SFTP connection" is opened, where a new SFTP connection can be configured.
  • Context menu...
    After activating the menu item "Context menu..." the Windows standard menu "Context menu" is opened.
  • Properties...
    After activating the menu item "Properties..." the Windows standard menu "Properties" is opened.

The context menu

The Windows standard menu "Context menu" can also be opened by the keyboard shortcut "Ctrl - right-click" on the free space of the panel.

The view types menu

After activating the shortcut "Shift+F1" or (if the view type "Details" is active) right-clicking the column header "Name", a menu with the following menu items is opened:

  • List
    After activating this menu item or the shortcut ""Ctrl+F1" the view type "List" is activated.
  • Details
  • After activating this menu item or the shortcut ""Ctrl+F2" the view type "Details" is activated.
  • Thumbnails
  • After activating this menu item or the shortcut ""Ctrl+I" the view type "Thumbnails" is activated.
  • Column profiles
    If the cursor is over the menu item "Column profiles, a sub-menu is shown with the menu items of the main menu item "View → Column profiles".
  • Add/Remove columns...
    This menu item is shown only, if the view type "Details" is active.
    After activating this menu item a dialog is opened listing all possible FreeCommander and Windows columns. Each checked column is shown in the active panel in the active column profiles view (after activating the button "OK"). Adding or removing columns changes the active column profile.
  • Auto resize columns
    This menu item is shown only, if the view type "Details" is active.
    After activating this menu item or the shortcut "Shift+Ctrl+(+ on numeric keypad)" the column width in the active panel is automatically adjusted.

Quick search

It is sufficient to type a few characters of a search string to quickly locate a file or folder name in the active panel. After typing the first character:

  • A quick search field containing the up to now typed characters appears on the left of the status bar of the active panel (see "Overview of the user interface").
  • The first item matching the search string will be highlighted in the file/folder list.

The keys ↓ or ↑ will skip to the next or previous matching items. As long as no arrow key is activated, the search can be narrowed by typing (adding) more characters.

After clicking a panel or activating the "Esc" button the quick search is canceled and the quick search field is removed.

Under the menu item "Tools → Settings → Quick search/filter/starter" settings for the quick search can be defined.