jEdit Commander Documentation

For version: 0.1.5
Latest revision: 16. July 2000
Written by: Matija Kejzar

Contents:


New in version 0.1.5

Here are the improvements and additions for the latest released version:

Before we begin

Please try adjusting the size of the jEdit Commander's main window and any dialog boxes as appropriately. The geometry (size, position) does get saved when jEdit Commander exits.

License

This plugin is distributed under GNU General Public License. If you're unfamiliar with it, click here to read it before using this software.

Introduction

jEdit Commander is a file manager for jEdit, a programmers' text editor written by Slava Pestov and other developers. More information about jEdit can be obtained by visiting the project's website. jEdit Commander slightly resembles the well-known Norton Commander, especially as far the interface is concerned. Hence the name - jEdit Commander. The description of some of the jEdit Commander's features follows: You can also have a look at this informational HTML file which notes some of the possible changes for the future releases of the Commander. If you have any suggestions for new features/improvements or if you've found a bug, contact me.

System requirements

The following is required to run jEdit Commander properly: You can obtain EditBus from the same place you got jEdit Commander.

Using jEdit Commander

You launch jEdit Commander by selecting "Launch jEdit Commander" from jEdit's Plugin menu. A new frame is displayed. You can exit the Commander by selecting "Quit" from the bottom button pane or by closing it the same way you close any other anywindow (as appropriate for your operating system/window manager).

Rendering
The files are displayed in the table as follows:
First column displays the file's name, second file's size, third file's date of modification and fourth file's time of modification.
Directories are displayed in bold font, hidden files are rendered gray.
The directory where files are contained is displayed below the table.

Selecting files
Whatever you do in jEdit Commander has something to do with files. Obviously, to do something with a certain file, that file needs to be selected. You can select files with your mouse and certain modifier keys (such as Control and Shift) in the same manner you would select anything else in your OS. You can, naturally, select multiple files.

Information about files
Information about files are displayed in the info box to the right of the Commander's frame. If you select multiple files at once, the info box will display the list of selected files. You can copy from the box as desired.

Switching between root filesystems and parent directories
The toolbar combo box is for fast switching between root filesystems and/or currently displayed directory's parent directories. It's structured as follows:

  1. the first item displays a tip
  2. all the items before '-' are root filesystems
  3. all the items after '-' are current directory's parents
Select an item to go to that directory.

Filtering
Starting version 0.1.5, jEdit Commander has the ability to display only the files that match a criteria. You enter a criteria into the toolbar's text box. (If it is disabled, you need to check Filtering check box). Use '*' as the wilcard character. Examples:

You can apply a filter by typing it into the the box and pressing ENTER or clicking the Refresh button (CONTROL F)

Sorting files
jEdit Commander can sort the files by the following categories:

The Commander can only sort in ascending order for now. There are two ways to sort files:
  1. Select Utilities->Global Options... from jEdit's menu bar. Then click on Plugin Options and then on jEdit Commander. Select the desired sort type from the combo box
  2. You can achieve the same effect by clicking on the column headers: double click with left mouse button on the header to sort the files by the corresponding category (if you double click with left the name column header, the files will get sorted by name). Special clicks: double click with right mouse button on the name column header sorts files by type. Single right click on any other column header turns sorting off


Tool bar items
The description of the tool bar items from left to right:

  1. Directory Up - changes to parent directory (shourtcut: CONTROL BACKSPACE)
  2. To Root - displays all root filesystems (shortcut: CONTROL R)
  3. Change To Home Directory - uh, changes to user's home directory (Amazing, huh?) (shortcut: CONTROL H)
  4. Refresh - rescans and redisplays current directory. Uses a filter if applied. (shortcut: CONTROL F)
  5. Fast Switch Combo Box - select a root filesystem or a parent directory and switch to it instantly
  6. Filter Text Box - contains the current filter. See Filtering section above
  7. Filter Check Box - toggles filtering on and off. See Filtering section above
  8. Select All Files/Directories - selects all the files and directories in current directory (shortcut: CONTROL *)
  9. Select By Filter - adds to current selection all the files that match a specified criteria. (Please note that this doesn't deselect other selected files first) (shortcut: CONTROL +)
  10. Deselect All - deselects all selected files (shortcut: CONTROL /)
  11. Deselect By Filter - deselects all currently selected files that match criteria (shortcut: CONTROL -)
  12. Invert Selection - selects all currently unselected files and deselects currently selected ones. (shortcut: CONTROL I)
Buttons
The bottom button pane contains the following buttons:
  1. Edit - opens all currently selected files (but not directories) in jEdit
  2. EditView - same as Edit, but opens the files in new View
  3. Append - appends all selected files (but not directories) to a jEdit Buffer of choice
  4. Info - displays information about selected files in a jEdit Buffer
  5. Copy - copies selected files (but not directories) to a destination of choice. A dialog pops up, indicating the progress of the copy operation
  6. RenMov - renames or moves the first selected file or directory (directory must be empty) to a specified destination
  7. Mkdir - creates a new directory
  8. Delete - deletes all selected files and/or directories (directories have to be empty). Prompts before deletion. If the operation takes longer than one second, a progress dialog is displayes
  9. Quit - exits jEdit Commander
The same actions are also available in a pop-up menu. Select all the files you need to perform an action on, then click with the pop-up trigger mouse button somewhere in the file table. A menu with the actions should show up.


jEdit Commander Options

You can set jEdit Commander's options by selecting Utilities->Global Options->Plugin Options->jEdit Commander. Currently only two options are supported:

Author and contact information

Author: Matija Kejzar
Created in: 2000
Latest version: 0.1.5 (July 2000)
License: GNU General Public License
Contact address: matija.kejzar@kiss.uni-lj.si

You can use the above email address if you have any suggestions, patches, improvements, comments, bug reports etc.