Multi Commander 5.0 Excellent Free Windows File Manager.

Published on February 8, 2015 By DrJBHL In Personal Computing

If I had known about this file manager and if it had been as advanced as Directory Opus was back in 2008 (when I invested in it), I might not have gone with Directory Opus.

Well, from what I can see, it now is, and can do pretty much everything I need DOpus to do…and for free.

It has so many features, I really don’t know where to begin. So I’ll use their list.

Layout

Dual Panel
Tabs
Commander styled keyboard/mouse setup
Windows Explorer styled keyboard/mouse setup
Customizable colors
Customizable keyboard
Customizable mouse
Clickable crumbbar
Command line field for quick commands
Quick launch bar
Alias
Button panel
Log window

File System Browser

Fast Selection/Deselection of multiple files using filters
Set view filter to minimize files that should be shown.
Go to next/previous sibling folder with ctrl+pgup/pgdn
Load/Save current selection to memory or file
Restore previous copy/move selection with num+/
Compare panel and select Duplicates, Missing, Newest
Hotpath to fast go to user defined paths
Back/Forward to go to location in previously visited
History button to show the latest location you been at for fast access
Command line command to fast go to path
Edit path field to change path
Disconnect usb/remote device from inside Multi Commander
Quick search window to do search in place for file/folders
Show files and folder in detailed or list or thumbnail list mode

File System

Browse local hard drives
Browse network servers/shares
Plug-ins expands the file system.
FTP (with SSL/TLS Support)
Browse the Registry as a file system
Browse archives (Zip, 7-Zip, Rar, Tar, gz, bz2 )
Show file properties as columns

File Operations

All file operations are run in background. Do not hang/block the main window.
Delete files and folder
Delete to recycle bin
Delete files inside archives (eg. Zip)
Copy
Move
Rename
Multi-Rename

Copy / Move File Operations

Filters to include or exclude files and folders.
Tweak read/write strategy (buffers,chunks, read/write option, Async/sync, ... )
Keep broken/unfinished files.
Keep file and folder date
Copy/Move Plugins like Auto Sort, Auto Unpack, Content copy
Preset
Auto load of preset based on path

Unpack

Unpack (Zip, 7Zip, Rar, tar,gz,bz2, tar.gz, tar.bz2 )
Unpack filter
Unpack archives into individual folders

Pack

Pack (Zip, 7Zip, tar,gz,bz2, tar.gz, tar.bz2 )
Using filters
Pack folders into individual files

File Viewer

Can view files of any size with minimal memory usage.
Highlighing
Line numbers
Wordwrap, both dynamic and fixed
Auto load if file is changed.
Customize colors and background
View as Ascii, UTF8, Unicode, Binary , Hex
Find substring in text
Copy selection to clipboard or save to file
Clickable web links
Keyboard navigation ( ctrl+n )

Tools / Misc

Find opened/locked files. Find what process has a specific file open.
Change the date and time of a folder so it gets the time of the latest file in that folder.
Change file attribute , date and time
Show folder size in file system browser.
Rename multiple files by replace substring in name
Run Multi Commander from Portable/USB device
Backup and restore of Multi Commander settings
Multi Update automatically updates Multi Commander to latest version
Portable. Can be installed on USB device. Will not save anything on the host computer.

Clipboard

Send file name with or without full path to clipboard
Send comma separated list of all selected files to the clipboard
Image information in clipboard (screen capture) can be save as JPG/PNG/BMP with ctrl+v (paste)
Text information in clipboard can be save to text file with ctrl+v (paste)

Convert Files

Convert text file to/from Unix/Windows/Mac format
Reformat or compact xml files.
Base64 encode/decode files.

File Security

Take ownership of files/folders
Remove file permission for all users on files/folders
Add permission to user/group for files/folders

Audio Tools

Remove ID3 meta data from mp3
Export ID3 data to text file.
Show MP3 ID3 Information
Show ID3 data as columns in the file system browser
Show aggregated genre column of folders ( will scan 3 folders down)

Picture Tools

Convert pictures to JPEG/PNG/BMP
Rotate/Flip pictures
Auto rotate pictures according to EXIF information
Lossless rotation of jpg
Preserve file dates.
Strip EXIF Information from pictures
Export EXIF information from pictures to text file
Adjust EXIF Date information in pictures by changing the time -/+ X minutes.
Adjust Pictures file date to the date of the EXIF date information
Show EXIF data column in the file system browser
GPS Exif column is clickable and will show location in Google Maps.

Video Tools

Show Movie Information like rating, genre (and more) as columns on movie files
Get Movie Information from IMDB and RottenTomato

Search

Exclude folders from search
Search by looking for file content, file attributes, file size, file time
Limit subfolder search levels.
Minimize you search result by searching in the result.
Remove items or group of items from search result with context menu
Save/load search criteria
Save/load search result
Delete/Copy/Move/View from search result
Multiple search tabs

File Verifier

Verify .SFV (crc32), MD5 files
Create SFV / MD5
Verify CRC/MD5/SHA1 code against a file.
Option to rename all bad files to *.bad
Option to delete all bad files
Auto start verify if double click on .sfv file in the file system browser

Plugin and extensions

File System plugin ( eg., Registry , FTP, Zip, Rar )
File Properties plugin (for showing file properties in columns ), (Eg Showing EXIF or ID3 meta information)
Copy/Move File Operations Plugins ( eg. Auto Unpack, Auto sorting files )
Application extensions. Expand Multi Commander with new utilities/tools.

And much more…

I’d put up screen shots, but you can find them here: http://multicommander.com/

Multi Commander works on Windows XP / 2003 / Vista / Server 2008 (R2) / Windows 7 / Windows 8.x / Server 2012 (R2)

The software is available as a portable version or setup version.

Download: http://multicommander.com/

Source:

http://www.ghacks.net/2015/02/03/file-manager-multi-commander-5-0-is-out/?_m=3n%2e0038%2e1508%2ehj0ao01hy5%2e1k93

Comments (Page 3)

DrJBHL

on Feb 16, 2015

How does downloading a free app [no wrapper nor home page switcher] support a rip off?

Not at all clear.

Jafo

on Feb 16, 2015

I think Snow's saying that Multi Commander is a 'badge engineered' copy of Total Commander...

Bit like how a Healey Sprite is just a badge engineered MG Midget....[or vise versa] ...

DrJBHL

on Feb 16, 2015

Jafo

reply 32

I think Snow's saying that Multi Commander is a 'badge engineered' copy of Total Commander...

Not being a code writer (can't compare the coding of each) and not having any experience with "Total Commander" (sorry, SD doesn't reimburse me) I wouldn't know. gHacks certainly didn't say anything about it being a 'clone' or 'rip off'. I suppose there are however those who know better.

Not that I'd put anything with the name "Norton..." on any computer of mine, anyway.

I set out here to let folks know there's a free file utility. Downloading it doesn't support it in any way, but so what?

I regret having done so, and won't repeat the folly, no matter how many are happy with it.

Jafo

on Feb 16, 2015

DrJBHL

reply 33

Not that I'd put anything with the name "Norton..." on any computer of mine, anyway.

Me too...

"Once bitten...." as they say...

Snowman

on Feb 16, 2015

DrJBHL

reply 33

Not being a code writer

One doesn't have to be to know that MC is a 'copy' of TC.
All the key commands for the basic fucntions, like copy, move, search are exactly the same.

DrJBHL

reply 33

Not that I'd put anything with the name "Norton..."

Norton Commander was a DOS application and had nothing what so ever to do with Symantec or Norton AV.
It's 100% safe to use.

DaveBax

on Feb 16, 2015

DrJBHL

reply 33

I regret having done so, and won't repeat the folly, no matter how many are happy with it.

Now that wouldn't help anybody that thinks it's a good find and are using it. If this post has enabled 20 people to be happy with it, that is all that matters. If other people like and use something else that is their right. I will never understand the bashing however. People bash WindowBlinds, Start 8 and other programs. I have had no problem with any of them. If people mess around with an OS then sometimes other things aren't going to function correctly. Sad part is it's always the programs fault for not working. If people didn't complain and say what they are using is better they would have nothing else to do that day. Bottom line is if someone likes a certain problem use and enjoy it. That doesn't make a program that does the same or comes close to doing the same no good.

DrJBHL

on Feb 16, 2015

Be my guest...use it to your heart's content. The interface is far more functional (at least appears to be) and the only 'real' minus in my eyes is that it doesn't have a native viewer/player.

When one says it's a rip off though, one should look 'under the hood'...at least in my view.

No matter.

starkers

on Feb 16, 2015

I'm not going to get into the copy/rip argument here, and I certainly hope I didn't start it with my comparison questions, but if Multi Commander were an illegal copy I would imagine the copyright holders would have commenced some kind of action by now. However, there appears to be no such action and I shall continue to use Multi Commander until such time as there is proof to the contrary or somebody sells me on Total Commander or Opus Directory.

Yes, I like to use freeware if it serves my needs, but I'm not opposed to purchasing software if it serves my needs and is a good investment... eg: Acronis True Image; Winstep Xtreme; Paintshop Pro and Stardock products. In fact, I have several purchased programs from Ashampoo as well, so if Total Commander or an equivelant comes highly recommended and is worth the investment, I'd be more than happy to pay the asking price.

Oh, and Doc, please keep doing what you do so well, your software/freeware discoveries have helped many a member, as well as myself, and I believe you should continue to do so, despite the turn of events here. And again, I hope that I'm not responsible for the change of tone this thread took. That was not my intention when I posed questions regarding the 'pay-for' alternatives.

Gaspershooters

on Feb 16, 2015

starkers

reply 29

Given Multi Commander has an extensive array of tools and functions, does Total commander have any distinct advantages with these 'free' plugins?

Watching clips,listening music,reading all of MS documents (.doc,xls,..........),Opendocuments,Autocad,Adobe,3D,Fonts files......much much more if you know what you're looking for.

Wizard1956

on Feb 16, 2015

Jafo

reply 32

Bit like how a Healey Sprite is just a badge engineered MG Midget....[or vise versa]

Auston Healy, oh yhe memories. Both of those auto makers and Triumph Motorcycles and many otherwise fine cars suffered under Joe Lucas, "The Prince Of Darkness." (Inventor of things that went pOOf in the night)

Daiwa

on Feb 16, 2015

Please don't take offense, Doc. At least not enough to inhibit your contributions to these forums. It's not, and shouldn't be, personal. Opinions are just that.

It's great of you to share what you find that might be of interest to others. Hate to see that stop.

DaveRI

on Feb 16, 2015

Thanks for posting all the things you post Doc. I try not to post replies unless I think I have something worth the bytes, which admittedly in my case isn't very often. That doesn't mean I don't appreciate your posts.

moshi

on Feb 16, 2015

Snowman

reply 35

All the key commands for the basic fucntions, like copy, move, search are exactly the same.

isn't exactly that (same keyboard shortcuts as Norton Commander) one of the main features of all Norton Commander clones?

Jafo

on Feb 16, 2015

moshi

reply 43

Quoting Snowman,

reply 35

All the key commands for the basic fucntions, like copy, move, search are exactly the same.

isn't exactly that (same keyboard shortcuts as Norton Commander) one of the main features of all Norton Commander clones?

I still use the 32bit ver of XTGold ....ZTreeWin .... and I bet lots of KB shortcuts used by Norton were 'borrowed' from the originals that led to XTG....

I still have them all somewhere...yep....Xtree looks like it dates to '85 ....30 years ago...

StevenRLynchAbundanceThatIAM

on Feb 16, 2015

I would like to thank you Doc for all the hard work you do to bring new information and software to our attention. I appreciate it, and look forward to your posts.

Thanks.

-Steven.

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Layout

File System Browser

File System

File Operations

Copy / Move File Operations

Unpack

Pack

File Viewer

Tools / Misc

Clipboard

Convert Files

Links

File Security

Audio Tools

Picture Tools

Video Tools

Search

File Verifier

Plugin and extensions