Windows File Manager (WinFile) now available for download from Microsoft Store

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by Pradeep Viswav 

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Microsoft has now released Windows File Manager (WinFile) as a desktop app in Microsoft Store. The File manager app was originally released along with Windows 3.0 in the early 1990s. It was the first GUI-based file manager from Microsoft and it was succeeded by Windows Explorer in the latest Windows versions.

Last year, Microsoft released improved binaries of this app that can be used in Windows 10 and the source code of it in GitHub. This updated app now comes with following improvements over the original File Manager app.

  1. OLE drag/drop support
  2. control characters (e.g., ctrl+C) map to current short cut (e.g., ctrl+c -> copy) instead of changing drives
  3. cut (ctrl+X) followed by paste (ctrl+V) translates into a file move as one would expect
  4. left and right arrows in the tree view expand and collapse folders like in the Explorer
  5. added context menus in both panes
  6. improved the means by which icons are displayed for files
  7. F12 runs notepad or notepad++ on the selected file
  8. moved the ini file location to %AppData%\Roaming\Microsoft\WinFile
  9. File.Search can include a date which limits the files returned to those after the date provided; the output is also sorted by the date instead of by the name
  10. File.Search includes an option as to whether to include sub-directories
  11. ctrl+K starts a command shell (ConEmu if installed) in the current directory; shift+ctrl+K starts an elevated command shell (cmd.exe only)
  12. File.Goto (ctrl+G) enables one to type a few words of a path and get a list of directories; selecting one changes to that directory. Only drive c: is indexed.
  13. UI shows reparse points (e.g., Junction points) as such
  14. added simple forward / back navigation (probably needs to be improved)
  15. View command has a new option to sort by date forward (oldest on top); normal date sorting is newest on top

Download the app here from Microsoft Store. You can learn more about this project here on GitHub.

via: WalkingCat

Pradeep Viswav

Pradeep Viswav Shield

Software and Services Expert

Pradeep is a Computer Science and Engineering Graduate. He was also a Microsoft Student Partner. He is currently working in a leading IT company.

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