DC - Basic Help

# 2.1. Basic Help

## Content

1. Presentation
  1.1. Origin
  1.2. Usage
2. Interface
  2.1. Menu bar
    2.1.1. "Files"
    2.1.2. "Mark"
    2.1.3. "Commands"
    2.1.4. "Network"
    2.1.5. "Tabs"
    2.1.6. "Favorites"
    2.1.7. "Show"
    2.1.8. "Configuration"
    2.1.9. "Help"
  2.2. Button toolbar
  2.3. Drives button bar
  2.4. Drives list
  2.5. Tabs bar
  2.6. Current directory bar
  2.7. Tabstop headers bar
  2.8. Status bar
  2.9. Command line
  2.10. Terminal window
  2.11. Function key buttons bar

## 1. Presentation

Welcome to Double Commander!

## 1.1. Origin

Double Commander — is a project started by Russian programmer Alexander Koblov (Alexx2000@mail.ru), as a fork of Sexi Commander (author — Radek Cervinka, radek.cervinka@centrum.cz).

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## 1.2. Usage

On the Sourceforge download page you can see several versions of DC available for download.

First, you must choose which operating system (Windows, Linux, Mac, FreeBSD), whether 32 or 64 bit and then you may select the version to download.

For Windows there is an executable file `.exe` or an archive `.zip` (which is the so-called portable version).

For Linux there are versions for most popular Linux distributions and desktop environments.

You can download compiled `deb` packages for Debian-based distributions (e.g, Ubuntu) and/or `rpm` for Linux Mandriva.

Also available is a portable version of the archive `tar.xz`, it is the same source from which you can build the program yourself.

For various DE there are versions, based on GTK2 toolkit and based on Qt.

On the first launch Double Commander will automatically detect the system language, and set it for the interface. DC is translated into many languages. The language can be changed in the menu via Configuration > Options... > Language.

Also Double Commander determines and uses the current system theme. It looks like this (Ubuntu, two themes and two icon sets):

As can be seen from the figure, there are left file panel, a command line and a lower window that is a log viewer (it shows all the actions from the file manager).

The Windows version of Double Commander is compatible with more than half of the many plugins from Total Commander (TC). The Linux version has no such compatibility.

DC does comes pre-installed with some WCX-type (archiver) plugins to work with cpio, deb, rpm, bz2, rar, zip, tar, gz, tgz archives as directories (virtual file system, VFS), WFX plugin for FTP access, some content plugins (WDX), also a search plugin (DSX) and a lister videoplayer plugin (WLX) for Linux. Other plugins can be installed manually.

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## 2. Interface

Double Commander's interface.

## 2.1. Menu bar

The Menu Bar provides access to all the features of Double Commander. But do not forget that the majority of actions can be performed in other ways: by using hot keys or buttons on the toolbar.

## 2.1.1. "Files"

This menu contains almost all the actions that can be made on files. Please consider all the items:

Create Hard Link... (internal command `cm_HardLink`). With this item, Double Commander creates a hard link to the file under the cursor, and places it in a folder, open on the adjacent panel.

Link name — here is the path to the link and its name. The name is the last word after the last slash in the line.

Existing destination — the object, on which the link is created.

Create Symbolic Link... (internal command `cm_SymLink`). All like the hard link above, but link is symbolic.

Create Directory (internal command `cm_MakeDir`) — creates a new subdirectory in the current directory, the file name under the cursor will be offered.

Create Shortcut (Windows only) — Double Commander creates a shortcut (Microsoft Windows .lnk file) to the file under the cursor, and places it in a folder, open on the adjacent panel.

Change Attributes... (internal command `cm_SetFileProperties`) — allows to change timestamps and attributes (Windows) or file permissions (Linux and other Unix-like systems), including subfolders or not.

Show file properties... (internal command `cm_FileProperties`) will show the default "Properties" dialog (Windows) or Double Commander own dialog (Linux and other Unix-like systems) like this:

which indicates the file or folder name, size, write and last access time, and also owner and group. On the "Attributes" tab you can change the access to the file (if you have the rights to do so). The "Plugins" tab is optional and is only available if you have a suitable content plugin (in this case it was `deb.wdx`).

Using item Edit comment... (internal command `cm_EditComment`) you can create or change file comments, which stored in a file `descript.ion`. Supports UTF, ISO, KOI and ANSI encodings.

Comments only work with normal files on the local file system, but not on remote or virtual file systems (e.g. on FTP server, in archive, etc.).

Calculate Occupied Space (internal command `cm_CalculateSpace`) item calculates the size of selected objects in rounded units and in bytes.

Compare by Contents (internal command `cm_CompareContents`) shows a window with two panels with the files to compare (usually text).

It's a simple visual comparison and merging tool with a typical features: navigation between differences (next, previous, first or last), copying blocks of text from right to left and from left to right, editing files in-place, undo and redo the last changes, saving with a different name and other.

Options:

- Auto Compare — Automatic comparison when changing the Ignore Blanks and Ignore Case parameters. And also when selecting a new file.

- Ignore Blanks — If enabled, multiple spaces will counted as one.

- Ignore Case — If enable, uppercase and lowercase will not be distinguished.

- Line Differences — If enabled, differences within the lines will also be shown.

- Binary mode — result is presented in binary form.

- Keep scrolling — allows synchronized scrolling (vertical and horizontal).

Also see description of `<Added>`, `<Deleted>` and `<Modified>` parameters here.

The two files will be chosen as follows

- If two files are selected in the active panel, they will be opened in the compare tool.

- If only one file is selected, it will be compared with the selected file in the inactive panel.

- If only one file is selected, and nothing is selected in the inactive panel, it will be compared with a file in the second panel, having the same name (if it exists) or with a file under the cursor.

- If nothing is selected, the file under the cursor will be compared with a file in the other panel, having the same name (if it exists) or with a file under the cursor.

Multi-Rename Tool (internal command `cm_MultiRename`)

Allows renaming any files by defined mask. For example, some files with different names could be renamed into Picture1, Picture2, Picture3, etc. First, select files to be renamed and then start this tool (see figure above). There you can see the old and new names for your files.

See this page for detailed descriptions.

By selecting item Pack files (internal command `cm_PackFiles`) we call a standard dialog to pack files to the zip, tar and other archive formats: the list of supported formats depends on the added packer plugins and external archivers.

Also we can unpack files via Extract Files (internal command `cm_ExtractFiles`). The same dialog is called when you copy files from the archive.

In the Extract files matching file mask line, you can specify a mask, determining which files will be unpacked. The history of masks can be found in the drop-down list. The next line specifies the destination directory (where the archive will be unpacked). It can be changed manually or by clicking on the browse button at the far right.

Checkbox Unpack each archive to a separate subdir (name of the archive) creates a folder in the destination with the same name as the archive and extracts the files into that folder. You can extract several archives at once with this option and each will be extracted into its own folder in the destination. By default it is unchecked and its state is not saved for the next call of the extract command.

Unpack path names if stored with files — If checked, the directory structure in the archive will be kept. Otherwise, all files will be extracted without re-creating the directory structure.

Checkbox Overwrite existing files disables confirmation of overwriting existing files.

Test Archive(s) (internal command `cm_TestArchive`) will validate the integrity of the content of selected archive files or file under cursor. If archive content is corrupted, error message will be reported. The list of supported formats depends on the added packer plugins and external archivers.

Items Split file and Combine files (internal commands `cm_FileSpliter` and `cm_FileLinker`)

Split the file to directory — specifies destination folder for the split files.

File size — select size of split parts. You can also enter your own value. Presets are:

- 1457664 B — 3.5" — Floppy drive 3.5;

- 98078 KB - ZIP 100 MB — ZIP drive;

- 650 MB - CD 650 MB — CD drive size;

- 700 MB - CD 700 MB — CD drive size;

- 4482 MB - DVD+R — DVD drive size.

On click OK button you get several files with the extension ".split" in the target directory. To combine the file again, select all ".split" parts and click Combine files (`cm_FileLinker`). You also need to specify the order of split parts to combine.

This function is very useful, if you have small drives and large files. It is possible to move the file parts.

Item Calculate check sum... (internal command `cm_CheckSumCalc`) is used to calculate the checksum to check files integrity. The following checksums are available: BLAKE2 (BLAKE2s, BLAKE2sp, BLAKE2b, BLAKE2bp), BLAKE3, CRC32, HAVAL, MD4, MD5, RIPEMD128, RIPEMD160, SFV, SHA, SHA2 (digest sizes 224, 256, 384 or 512 bits), SHA3 (digest sizes 224, 256, 384 or 512 bits), Tiger/192.

Save checksum file(s) to: — line specifies name and path to the calculated checksum.

Create separate checksum files for each file — if checksum calculates for multiple files, this option allows to create separate checksum files for each target file.

Choose your preferred checksum and — select algorithm which will calculate checksums.

Item Verify Checksum... (internal command `cm_CheckSumVerify`) will start verification the list of checksums from the checksum file under the cursor. Also you can run this command by double mouse clicking on the checksum file (or using the `Enter` key).

Double Commander can check files one by one: select the file, run this command, now enter its checksum (or paste from the clipboard) and select the algorithm.

You can use checksum files, which generated by other programs, but first make sure Double Commander supports their algorithm and format.

Item Wipe (internal command `cm_Wipe`) for secure deletion (shortcut `Alt+Del` by default): before deleting from the hard disk, the selected file will be renamed with a random name, and its contents will be overwritten with zeros, ones or random data. You can set number of wipe passes in Configuration > Options... > File operations. Directories and links will just be renamed before deleting.

Item Delete (internal command `cm_Delete`) — will delete the selected files or the file under the cursor to trash (recycle bin) or permanently. By default, Double Commander moves files to trash, you can change this in Configuration > Options... > File operations. Deleting to trash can might not be available for all platforms.

To delete files inside archive (in this case the files will be deleted directly), you need to add a suitable WCX plugin or configure an external archiver, also the archive format must support the delete operation.

Item Exit (internal command `cm_Exit`) — closes Double Commander.

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## 2.1.2."Mark"

There are some commands in this group with which you can select files in different ways.

First and second items Select a Group and Unselect a Group (internal commands `cm_MarkPlus` and `cm_MarkMinus`). These commands select groups of files by a mask. With this mask you can specify file names or extensions.

E.g. select all files that have the extension `.txt`. Also there is a drop down list with masks history.

Third and fourth items Select All (internal command `cm_MarkMarkAll`) and Unselect All (internal command `cm_MarkUnmarkAll`). They make it possible to select or unselect all items from the panel quickly.

Fifth item is Invert Selection (internal command `cm_MarkInvert`). It makes currently selected files unselected and vice versa.

Sixth and seventh items Select All with the Same Extension (internal command `cm_MarkCurrentExtension`) and Unselect All with the Same Extension (internal command `cm_UnmarkCurrentExtension`). These functions help to select and unselect files with the same extension as the file under the cursor.

Eighth and ninth items Save Selection (internal command `cm_SaveSelection`) and Restore Selection (internal command `cm_RestoreSelection`). The first command will save in internal buffer current selected items. Then later, the second command could be use to re-select again the same items that were selected before.

Tenth and eleventh items Save Selection to File (internal command `cm_SaveSelectionToFile`) and Load Selection from File (internal command `cm_LoadSelectionFromFile`). Like the previous commands, but using a plain text file (one filename per line).

Twelfth item is Load Selection from Clipboard (internal command `cm_LoadSelectionFromClip`). Will select files and folders by the list from the clipboard (one filename per line).

Thirteenth and fourteenth items Copy Filename(s) to Clipboard (internal command `cm_CopyNamesToClip`) and Copy Filename(s) with Full Path (internal command `cm_CopyFullNamesToClip`). First command copies the selected file list to the clipboard, second copies too, but with full file paths.

Fifteenth item is Copy all shown columns (internal command `cm_CopyFileDetailsToClip`). Will copy file information of selected items onto the clipboard: one file per line and the contents of the columns will be tab-delimited.

The last item is Compare Directories (internal command `cm_CompareDirectories`). Will select the items, in both active and inactive panels, that are not present in the opposite panel (by default only files will be selected).

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## 2.1.3. "Commands"

First item is Search (internal command `cm_Search`). This tool is designed to search for files and folders at the specified criteria. Can also be used to search by file content. See this page for detailed descriptions.

New search instance... (internal command `cm_AddNewSearch`) — opens a new instance of Search dialog window with default settings. It will also allow to launch a new search instance to search something else while a long search is in progress.

View current search instances (internal command `cm_ViewSearches`) — will show a window with a list of search instances with brief information (status, number of files found, if finished, and file mask) and the ability to switch to one of them.

Fourth item is Directory hotlist (internal command `cm_DirHotList`). This command is the same as pressing the "*" button.

Selecting this item we get a popup menu with the Directory Hotlist, in which we can choose:

- switch current path of active frame to a pre-configured directory from a list your made;

- add new bookmark: current directory, selected directory (more than one if needed) or directory under cursor;

- configure existing bookmarks.

Please see the dedicated Directory Hotlist help page about how to use and configure it.

Synchronize dirs... (internal command `cm_SyncDirs`) open the directory synchronization tool: the directories of the left and right panel will be scanned, you will see the differences in their content and you can make them the same.

Run Terminal (internal command `cm_RunTerm`) opens a terminal at the current directory (settings at Tools).

Execute internal command (internal command `cm_DoAnyCmCommand`) opens a window with a list of all internal commands and their description. Commands are grouped by category, quick filter and sorting are available: you can execute the selected command, copy its name, or open the Internal commands page (some commands support parameters).

Flat view (internal command `cm_FlatView`) will scan all the directories of panel to show all content in one single panel.

Open VFS List (internal command `cm_OpenVirtualFileSystemList`) will open a list of added file system plugins (WFX plugins) that use their own file systems or provide access to other file systems and devices (local or remote).

Swap Panels (internal command `cm_Exchange`) swaps left and right file panels with all opened tabs.

Target = Source (internal command `cm_TargetEqualSource`) opens the same directory in the inactive file panel.

Show Occupied Space calculates and shows the total size of all files in the sub-folders of the current directory. The <DIR> text in the Size column of the active panel is replaced with the total size.

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## 2.1.4. "Network"

Network Connect — will open a list of added file system plugins (WFX plugins), as the Open VFS List command in the "Commands" menu.

Network Disconnect — will close the active network connection.

The next items are for Windows only.

Map Network Drive and Disconnect Network Drive — will call the Windows system dialogs to connect and disconnect network drives.

Copy names with UNC path — will copy the full file name on the network to the clipboard: server name, share name, and relative file path.

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## 2.1.5. "Tabs"

This group manages the tabbed file panels.

New Tab (internal command `cm_NewTab`) — adds a new tab on the active panel (with the current path) and switches to it.

Rename Tab (internal command `cm_RenameTab`) — allows to change the title of the current tab.

Open Folder in a New Tab (internal command `cm_OpenDirInNewTab`) — opens a new tab for the directory under the cursor, but does not switch to it (i.e. in the background).

Close Tab (internal command `cm_CloseTab`) — closes the active tab and switches the panel to the next tab (or the previous tab, if you close the last tab).

Close All Tabs (internal command `cm_CloseAllTabs`) — closes all inactive tabs. If they consist of locked tabs, it will prompt for confirmation.

Close Duplicate Tabs (internal command `cm_CloseDuplicateTabs`) — Double Commander will check the list of opened tabs and close duplicate tabs (separately for each panel!), only the first of them will be saved (counting from the left).

Tab Options — Using this submenu you can change the state of the tab:

- Normal (internal command `cm_SetTabOptionNormal`) — will make the tab normal: the usual tabs that Double Commander creates by default.

- Locked (internal command `cm_SetTabOptionPathLocked`) — makes the tab locked, trying to change to another directory within this tab will prompt to open in a new tab.

- Locked with Directory Changes Allowed (internal command `cm_SetTabOptionPathResets`) — if you lock a tab with this method, you can change to another directory within this tab, but after switching to another tab (or Double Commander is restarted) the tab will revert to the locked tabs original directory.

- Locked with Directories Opened in New Tabs (internal command `cm_SetTabOptionDirsInNewTab`) — When you try to enter in any directory inside the panel, that one will be opened in a new tab.

The rest of the items of this submenu will do the same, but for all tabs at once.

Note: By default, Double Commander will not allow to close a locked tab without confirmation (item Confirm close locked tabs in the folder tabs settings section).

Switch to Next Tab (internal command `cm_NextTab`) and Switch to Previous Tab (internal command `cm_PrevTab`) — respectively switches to the tab on the right (next) and to the tab on the left (previous).

Save Tabs to File (internal command `cm_SaveTabs`) and Load Tabs from File (internal command `cm_LoadTabs`) — The names of the current tabs and their associated directories can be saved in a .tab file and loaded from such a file.

Save current tabs to a New Favorite Tabs (internal command `cm_SaveFavoriteTabs`) — will save in the set of Favorite Tabs the current opened tabs. Later on, on request, you may reload these saved setup using the next menu item.

Load tabs from Favorite Tabs (internal command `cm_LoadFavoriteTabs`) — will show a popup menu with the ability to select one of the previously saved sets of tabs.

The last two items are for quick jump to the folder tabs and Favorite Tabs settings sections.

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## 2.1.6. "Favorites"

This menu contains a list of your saved Favorite Tabs and some commands for working with them.

Save current tabs to a New Favorite Tabs (internal command `cm_SaveFavoriteTabs`) — will save in the set of Favorite Tabs the current opened tabs.

Resave on the last Favorite Tabs loaded (internal command `cm_ResaveFavoriteTabs`) — will resave the current tabs configuration over the last loaded Favorites Tabs entry.

Reload the last Favorite Tabs loaded (internal command `cm_ReloadFavoriteTabs`) — reload again the last Favorite Tabs setup that was loaded, i.e. this command is used to restore a saved set "as is".

The next item Configuration of Favorite Tabs is for quick jump to the Favorite Tabs settings section.

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## 2.1.7. "Show"

Manages the displayed contents of the file panels.

The first three items allow to switch the view of the file list:

- Brief view (internal command `cm_BriefView`) — Just the name of the files. If possible, more than one column. Options are available in Configuration > Options... > Files views > Brief.

- Full (internal command `cm_ColumnsView`) — One file per line, with default or user defined columns. Options are available in Configuration > Options... > Files views > Columns.

- Thumbnails (internal command `cm_ThumbnailsView`) — Files shown as small images. If possible, in more than one column.

Quick View Panel (internal command `cm_QuickView`) — opens file in viewer program, but content of selected item shown in opposite panel. As we navigate to next items, displayed content is updated.

Tree View Panel (internal command `cm_TreeView`) — shows the directory tree for the active file panel. Internal command `cm_FocusTreeView` switches focus between current file list and tree (shortcut `Shift+Tab` by default).

The next five items: Sort by Name (internal command `cm_SortByName`), Sort by Extension (internal command `cm_SortByExt`), Sort by Size (internal command `cm_SortBySize`), Sort by Date (internal command `cm_SortByDate`), Sort by Attributes (internal command `cm_SortByAttr`) — allows to choose different sorting orders for the files. Also you can click the left mouse button on the column headers to change the sort order.

Reverse Order (internal command `cm_ReverseOrder`) — invert the sort order for the active panel.

Refresh (internal command `cm_Refresh`) — makes Double Commander refresh the panels.

Show Hidden/System Files (internal command `cm_ShowSysFiles`) — controls the display of files and folders, which have the "hidden" or "system" attribute (Windows) or the name with a dot character in the beginning (Linux and other Unix-like systems). Same as the setting in the configuration — Show system and hidden files.

Horizontal Panels Mode (internal command `cm_HorizontalFilePanels`) — sets the position of file panels: two vertical ones disposed in left/right or two horizontal ones disposed in top/bottom.

Operations Viewer (internal command `cm_OperationsViewer`) — shows a window with a list of file operations. You can change the order of operations in the queue, stop or pause a task.

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## 2.1.8. "Configuration"

First item is Options (internal command `cm_Options`), it opens the "Options" window, see description on dedicated help page.

Other items: quick jump to some settings sections (Directory Hotlist, Favorite Tabs, file associations, folder tabs and archivers) and commands Save Position and Save Settings.

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## 2.1.9. "Help"

Here you can get help information (this documentation) and information about the program:

- Contents — opens help index page.

- Keyboard — opens keyboard shortcuts page.

- Visit Double Commander Web page — go to project homepage if you are online.

- About — shows information about the program version and the developers.

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## 2.2. Button toolbar

The toolbar is holding buttons to execute internal command and launch our applications.

A default configuration is propose but we will certainly each and every one configure it to our needs since it's probably the most configurable part of Double Commander.

That's why a dedicated page is made just for that under this link.

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## 2.3. Drives button bar

The Drives button bar helps you to change the drive quickly with one mouse click. Right click shows the context menu that contains operations such as mount/unmount, format, etc. (depends on the OS and drive type).

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## 2.4. Drives list

Helps to change drive, also contains additional information (size, free space) and navigation buttons — `« * \ .. ~ < »`.

Internal commands are `cm_LeftOpenDrives` for left panel and `cm_RightOpenDrives` — for right panel. Default shortcuts: `Alt+F1` and `Alt+F2`, but they won't work in most Linux Desktop Environments, just replace them.

Internal command `cm_SrcOpenDrives` will show this menu for active panel.

Additional navigation buttons:

`"*"` — shows the bookmarks hotlist, see the dedicated Directory Hotlist help page for details;

`"\"` or `"/"` — go to the system drive (Windows) or to the file system root (Linux and other Unix-like systems);

`".."` — go to the parent directory;

`"~"` — go to your home directory;

`"<"` and `">"` — commands cm_LeftEqualRight and cm_RightEqualLeft.

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## 2.5. Tabs bar

Display tabs. Click on tabs with left mouse or you can use the keyboard to navigate tabs (`Ctrl+Tab` and `Ctrl+Shift+Tab` by default). Locked tabs are marked with an asterisk (if Show locked tabs with an asterisk * is enabled).

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## 2.6. Current directory bar

Displays the name of the current directory. A left mouse click on this directory bar drops down a directories history (internal command `cm_DirHistory`) which allows to quickly navigate back to previous directories.

A right mouse click on the directory bar will allow to copy the pathname to the clipboard or enter a new path manually.

It is now also possible to click on parts of the directory bar to quickly navigate back in the directory structure. Very handy if you want to go to a parent directory back many levels. This is known as a "breadcrumb" navigation feature.

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## 2.7. Tabstop headers bar

Shows the column names. On left click sorts files by column. On right click shows a menu to change and edit custom column style set.

Default, File count — existing styles.

Configure custom columns — opens Files views > Columns > Custom columns section.

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## 2.8. Status bar

Shows size of selected items of the total size and also shows total items selected of total items in the panel.

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## 2.9. Command line

Use to enter commands manually. Path to active directory shows in line beginning (`C:\Program Files\Double Commander\` in screenshot). Right button opens history of commands.

Right mouse click will show the usual input box menu that contains standard commands Cut, Copy, Paste, Delete, Select All and submenu Insert Unicode Control Character.

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## 2.10. Terminal window

Shows output of console commands.

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## 2.11. Function key buttons bar

Displays F3 - F9 hotkeys. Enables you to select commands with a mouse click.

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Created by Rustem (dok_rust@bk.ru)

English version by Rod J (rodmac_shiels@hotmail.com)