Looking for Explorer replacement

My biggest complaint with Windows Explorer is the lack of dual-panes. However, if you have Windows 7 here's a fast way to get dual explorer windows:

Press and hold Windows key (don't need to let go of it until done)
Then press: E, left arrow, E, right arrow

 

Do any of these have an option to directly replace Windows Explorer? Say you open up My Documents. Instead of opening in WE it opens in the explorer replacement automatically.

 

Directory Opus certainly handles that, and more...

 

Last time I checked you had to edit a bunch of Windows files to get it to natively take over.

 

The more I use XYplorer the better I like it. Above I wrote that I wished I could have file sizes reported os MB rather than bytes and guess what, I can (I can even have them reported as gigs if I want), also I am able to set the font size (and font) to my preference and can even (to a moderate degree) control what colours different sections of the interface are. No doubt I will discover more as I use the program more but I must say I am really pleased with XYplorer.

 

It's good that you find new useful features.I use the default size view,but there are also different views available in Opus and Total Commander.One ex in opus
http://img684.imageshack.us/img684/8053/20091221064611t.jpg

Regarding the image behaviour if i understand correctly ,you described a feature that is common in most file managers.Double click an image in the viewer launches it in full screen
The Opus viewer is configured to fit to page http://img64.imageshack.us/img64/1744/20091220162124.jpg ,double click launched the standalone viewer .Here are the viewers settings
http://img64.imageshack.us/img64/2064/20091220162215.jpg
http://img64.imageshack.us/img64/6432/20091220162225.jpg
Anyway is good that you find xyplorer to fit your needs,i trailed opus for 3 monts,as it had a generous trial.

 

You can also adjust the font size of tree and list items on the fly by holding CTRL and scrolling with your mouse wheel inside XYplorer. XYplorer has a powerful scripting language too. You can define User Buttons that execute your own scripts for example.

 

I figured that DO would probably have this too but I was reporting about finding it in XY.

As to the image size my previous and (as you say) most if not all programs have the ability to show images full size if you double click them,,,,,but XY has it if you just hold the left mouse down on the preview image. As soon as you let go of the left mouse the image disappears. And, as noted above you can change how large the expanded view is using the right click menu that appears when you right click on the actual preview image. This is a feature that I have not come across anywhere else, but thats not to say its unique to XY of course. Just that if its available in another program I am not aware of it.

 

Thank you for this (info re font size).

As to the buttons I noticed them but have no idea how to write the code to make a button work. Could you (or someone else) suggest somewhere I can find out how to create such code? When I first came across the feature I thought/hoped it would be some sort of macro (as in it records mouse clicks and mouse movement),,,,,but its not.

 

These are my simple scripts.
More about XY's scripting here:
http://88.191.26.34/XYwiki/index.php/Scripting

#1 Teracopy integration


You can download the script at XY's forum:
http://www.xyplorer.com/xyfc/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=2596&p=31998#p31998

#2 Extracting selected files into separate folders using Winrar



#3 Calling Notepad++ with all selected files



#4 User Button for already existing XYplorer menu command



Command IDs can be found under Tools->Customize Keyboard shortcuts.

 

I have tried PowerDesk Pro several times and liked it but did not want to go through the learning curve. It has a lot of good features.

Not sure if it is still available in a modern version.

 

Thank you, I will spend some time studying what you have provided and see if I can make sense of it.

EDIT: ye gads, I have a headache already and I just read the first few paragraphs of the page you linked to. This will be interesting if slow work. Interesting on 2 fronts, the first, interesting if I can make any headway in understanding this at all, I don't know even the basic terms being used,,,,on the 2nd, assuming the first is accomplished,,,,,interesting as to what I might be able to do. ----- thanks,,,,,I think.

PS: thanks for providing your scripts, they may/should help me understand what you have done by seeing how you have done it.