FileMan Version 1.1 =================== What is FileMan? ================ FileMan is a (yet another) file manager for UNIX. However, this X11 product is, (IMHO), more configuration and powerful than most others which are currently available. This version is currently available for Linux, though a AIX 4.1 version is available on request. This version has many bug fixes over the previously released version 1.02. It uses tcl8.0 to offer improved performance, and other extensions for additional features. This version should be stable and fix most bugs found in earlier versions. It all offers more functionality and a much improved manual, covering installation and general day-to-day useage. If you do happen to find a bug, please could you send details to: filem@bongo.demon.co.uk I will do my best to resolve all bugs ASAP. Send any other general comments (praise, critisisms, support etc.) to the above address. Why use FileMan? ================ This file manager aims to be more flexible, more powerful, and easier to use, and have a more professional interface than any other free offering. An email of acknowledgment of use would be nice if possible. Note that the package does not contain any source code - for two reasons: 1. To encourage problems to be reported, rather than simply fixed. 2. Some of the code was originally developed commerically, and so I cannot actually make it publically available! (Sorry) Its FREE!!! =========== Note that this product will always be free for Linux. Features ======== A very basic list of features include the following: 1. Multiple window support (one for each partition) 2. Drag-n-drop between windows for copy/moving and deletion 3. Managed trashcan available for each user. 4. Files can be dropped on the desktop 5. Event logging and error logging if required. 6. Maximum flexibilty allows the following items to be fully configured: * Menus * File types * Double clock operations * Application toolbox * Button bar * Window view characteristics. 7. Security - all commands run are mapped to a control file - ensuring user's can not run any other commands. 8. A single package offering a graphical installation and configuration for all environments. (Note in 'lite' distribution) 9. Single directory structure for all supported architectures for ease of cross-platform implementation and management. 10.Comprehensive set of built-in menu options to graphically manage: * Spliting files * Encode/decoding files * Compressing and uncompressing * Spell checking * Word counting * Copy/Move/Delete files * File viewing * File editing * program running * Archive creation/extraction 11. Some HTML based help and NEW postscript manual 12. Requester level help now available. 13. "Web" symbolic-links now implemented. 14. Customisable pixmaps for directory structure also. 15. Filesystem partition information available in main screen. New in Version 1.1 ================== 16. Archive Manager for .tar and .cpio files. 17. Thumbnail image support. 18. 3D filesystem utilisation representation. 19. A much more complete manual! For more information, and a few screen shots, point you web browser at the FileMan home page: http://www.bongo.demon.co.uk/fileman Requirements for FileMan ======================== Less than 10MB for the full product are required. If you wish to uncompress the Postscript copy of the manual, please allow at least another 10MB! A display offering 256 colours is recommended, but the program will run with as few as 16 colours. When using more than 256 colours, true colour will be utilised. Due to the contents of the display, the minimum resolution is 800x600, but the product will make use of ALL the available screen real estate. Image thumbnails use a palette of around 150 colours to minimise drain on colours on lower quality displays. Installation ============ 1. Copy the main file into /tmp. 2. Make a directory called /usr/local/fileman 3. Run "cd /usr/local/fileman; tar xvzf /tmp/fileman-1.1.linux.tgz" 4 See the file called INSTALL in the /usr/local/fileman/Docs directory of the package . OR Download the postscript manual (which includes installation instructions) from the Web page: (This will need to be unzipped before viewing or printing.) http://www.bongo.demon.co.uk/files/manual.ps.gz FileMan 1.1 : Corrections & known Bugs ======================================= Well, it's much better than Version 1.0, but we still have a few bugs that I am aware off: 1. Parsing of menu options not inteligent First addressed: 1.01 A problem with this version is now fixed. 2. No drag-n-drop on to applications toolbox. First addressed: 1.01 The initial implementation is made drag-n-drop aware, though this basically appends the selected files to the end of the command line to run. No change in version 1.1. Finally resolved: 1.2 3. Can not leave files on the 'desktop' for easy reference First addressed: 1.01 A basic option to the 'file' menu will be added and functionality to handle 'desktop' icons has been added - though limited functionality at this stage. This is still unchanged for version 1.1 - not sure what changes to make as yet... Finally resolved: 1.2 4. Trashcan usage include directory sizes First addressed: 1.01 A mention will be made in the manual, but no action will be taken as yet. Finally resolved: 1.1 5. Window view should be set to same if update occurs (if valid) First addressed: 1.1 (Resolved) The partition windows remember the position, (vertically), and so after an update in the current directory, this position is automatically moved to. 6. Selected files should still be selected after a view change First addressed: 1.01 This is now working correctly in version 1.1. Finally addressed: 1.1 7. Lazy update feature should be given, to ensure that when making a lot of changes to the directory, it will only be updated less frequently. First addressed: 1.01 Functionality and options have been added, and it works, though currently lacking a hook to the delete routines to ensure that if a file is deleted, so is the entry from the window. Also, the trashcan is not updated, so it can become overful! Not really having a big impact, so moving this back to version 1.2. Finally addressed: 1.2 8. Program names with spaces are not dealt with correctly at all.. This includes them not appearing in the directory view at all, and it is not possible to do anything at all once a file has been selected. First addressed: 1.1 More files with spaces are visable, but still not parsed correctly. Inherient problem due to the may the parser and shells deal with files containing spaces. Finally addressed: 1.3 9. Remove Directory: Works fine, but if a paritition window contains this as the current directory, a core dump ensues!! First addressed: 1.01 Although this appears to work, the next time an update occurs, the program will still dump core! Investigating... Finally addressed: 1.2