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:
-
jEdit Commander again tries to save the window geometry on jEdit exit,
only this time a NullPointerException is intercepted
-
Improved JEditCommanderFile structure, optimized JEditCommanderCellRenderer
and JEditCommanderTableModel - scrolling and selecting is now much faster
-
You now how to press CONTROL in order for keyboard shortcuts to work
-
File filtering
-
Fast switching combo box improved: you can now switch between root filesystems
and parent directories
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:
-
Opening files in jEdit by selecting them and choosing Edit or EditView
(which opens selected files in a new jEdit View)
-
Appending the contents of the selected files to an (already open) jEdit
Buffer
-
Displaying information about a file (such as file size, date, path and
other properties) in a jEdit Buffer and/or Commander's info area
-
Copying, renaming, deleting files and directories (please note that in
the current version directories are not being handled recursively), creating
new directores
-
Sorting files/directories by several categories
-
Selecting, deselecting files, inverting selections
-
Fast switching between root filesystems (which, of course, makes sense
only when running jEdit on Windows) and parent direactories
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:
-
jEdit version 2.5pre5 or higher
-
EditBus plugin version 0.9.4 or higher
-
Sun JDK version 1.2.2 or higher (compatible JDKs should work as well)
-
a fair amount of RAM and reasonably fast computer
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:
-
the first item displays a tip
-
all the items before '-' are root filesystems
-
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:
-
'*txt' - displays only the files that end with 'txt'
-
'A' or 'A*' - displays all files that start with an A
-
'a*b' - displays the files that start with an 'a' and end with a 'b'
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:
-
name
-
type (file vs. directory) - name
-
size - name
-
date - name
The Commander can only sort in ascending order for now. There are two ways
to sort files:
-
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
-
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:
-
Directory Up - changes to parent directory (shourtcut: CONTROL BACKSPACE)
-
To Root - displays all root filesystems (shortcut: CONTROL R)
-
Change To Home Directory - uh, changes to user's home directory (Amazing,
huh?) (shortcut: CONTROL H)
-
Refresh - rescans and redisplays current directory. Uses a filter if applied.
(shortcut: CONTROL F)
-
Fast Switch Combo Box - select a root filesystem or a parent directory
and switch to it instantly
-
Filter Text Box - contains the current filter. See
Filtering section above
-
Filter Check Box - toggles filtering on and off. See
Filtering section above
-
Select All Files/Directories - selects all the files and directories in
current directory (shortcut: CONTROL *)
-
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 +)
-
Deselect All - deselects all selected files (shortcut: CONTROL /)
-
Deselect By Filter - deselects all currently selected files that match
criteria (shortcut: CONTROL -)
-
Invert Selection - selects all currently unselected files and deselects
currently selected ones. (shortcut: CONTROL I)
Buttons
The bottom button pane contains the following buttons:
-
Edit - opens all currently selected files (but not directories) in jEdit
-
EditView - same as Edit, but opens the files in new View
-
Append - appends all selected files (but not directories) to a jEdit Buffer
of choice
-
Info - displays information about selected files in a jEdit Buffer
-
Copy - copies selected files (but not directories) to a destination of
choice. A dialog pops up, indicating the progress of the copy operation
-
RenMov - renames or moves the first selected file or directory (directory
must be empty) to a specified destination
-
Mkdir - creates a new directory
-
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
-
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:
-
Initial directory: jEdit Commander will position itself in this directory
on every launch. If you leave it alone, the home directory will be used
-
Sort types: sorts the file by selected category
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.