NC help index
You can get help on these subjects:

How to...

menu choices

screen objects

use of the mouse

use of the keyboard

desktop menu icon

control panel menu icon

about Nico's Commander


About Nico's Commander

Nico's Commander is a Norton Commander like file manager for Windows 95 and Windows NT. Besides basic file management capabilities it offers several useful additions:

 	ten or twenty application buttons you can configure to start your favourite applications with a mouse click, and at the same time feed a selected file to the application

 	configure function keys as you like it

 	zip and unzip with a few mouse clicks

 	also support for RAR, CAB, TAR, GZIP and TZ archives

 	search for files and for text strings in files

 	compare directories

 	compare (text) files

 	built-in viewer for text(-like) files and popular graphics formats: JPEG, GIF, TIFF, BMP, PCX

 	built-in editor for text files

 	built-in hex editor

 	Explorer like context menus

 	reach your desktop icons with one click of the mouse, even when the desktop is cluttered with windows

 	reach your Control Panel applets with one click of the mouse

 	use FTP sites as local disks, with proxy/firewall support

 	print ASCII files one or two page on a sheet

 	command prompt with command history

 	show the current date and time in the title bar of the current application

 	minimize by right clicking on empty space in the main window

 	Esc key instantly activates your screen saver

 	a button ExitWin to log off and on, to exit and restart Windows or reboot the machine.

Nico's Commander is shareware. You may try in for 30 days. After that you have to register. See the READ.ME file for details about how to register.

Any suggestion? Found a bug? Please contact the author:

Nico Cuppen

E-mail: nico.cuppen@icu.nl

Check for new versions on http://www.nico2000.com


How to ...

How to copy files

How to move files

How to change directory

How to sort a directory

How to synchronize directory contents

How to open a command prompt at a specified folder

How to start a Control Panel applet from Nico's Commander

How to save the way Nico's Commander looks now

How to change the way a file appears in print

How to adjust the size of the columns to the width of the entries


How to copy files

Three ways to copy files:

 	select the files and drag them to the directory of choice in the other file window

 	select the files, press the  Copy function key and specify the destination

 	select the files, right click on them, choose  SendTo from the context menu and choose the destination. This is particularly efficient when you have Microsofts Windows Power Toys installed.

If you did select an FTP site in one of the file windows, it's important what type of FTP data transfer will be used: binary, ASCII or L8. If you drag the files the transfer type you selected in Settings - FTP settings will be used. If you use the  Copy function key you can select another transfer type.


How to move files

Select the files, press the Move function key and specify the destination.


How to change directory

You must have found the four obvious ways to change to another directory:

 	double click on a directory name

 	select a directory name and press the Enter key

 	choose Directory - Change from the menu

 	press Ctrl+H to get the directory history. Navigate to the directory of your choice and press Enter.

But there is another, less obvious way: use an application button. Specify a button title and a working directory but no executable to start. Pressing that button will bring you to the directory you specified!


How to sort a directory
How to sort directory

The headers above the columns in the two file windows function as buttons: click on one of them and the directory will be sorted on that column. Click again and the sort order will be reversed.

In the header is indicated on what column the file window is sorted and in what direction.


How to synchronize the contents of two directories

Open one directory in the left file window and the other directory in the other file window. Make the file window with the newest files the active window. Choose Directory - Compare from the menu. Newer files and files that don't exist in the other window will now be selected. Click the Copy function key to copy these files to the other window.

Now make the other window the active one. Choose Directory - Compare again. Click the Copy function key.

After this copy step the two directories contain the same files.


How to open a command prompt at a specified folder

The answer is: use an application button.

Right click on the application button, specify a button title, "command.com" as program name (or "cmd.exe" if you run Windows NT), and "&ap" as working directory. Forget the " of course.

Then, make sure the folder where you want to go to is the current directory in the active file window and click the application button.


How to run a control panel applet

You can of course start a Control Panel applet from the Control Panel menu icon in the task bar. But there's another way. Here's how to start a Control Panel applet from an application button.

Right click on the application button, specify a button title, "rundll32.exe" as program name and something like "shell32.dll,Control_RunDLL mycontrol.cpl,@1" as parameter. Forget the ".

The "mycontrol.cpl,@1" specifies the name of the Control Panel and its subfunction.

An (incomplete) list of Control Panel applets:

 	access.cpl to start the Accessibility applet

 	access.cpl,,1 to start the Accessibility/Keyboard applet

 	access.cpl,,2 to start the Accessibility/Sound applet

 	access.cpl,,3 to start the Accessibility/Display applet

 	access.cpl,,4 to start the Accessibility/Mouse applet

 	appwiz.cpl,@0,2 to start the Add/Remove Programs applet

 	desk.cpl,,0 to start the Display/Background applet

 	desk.cpl,,1 to start the Display/Screen Saver applet

 	desk.cpl,,2 to start the Display/Appearance applet

 	desk.cpl,,3 to start the Display/Settings applet

 	inetcpl.cpl to start the Internet Settings applet

 	intl.cpl to start the Regional Settings applet

 	main.cpl to start the Mouse Settings applet

 	main.cpl,@1 to start the Keyboard Settings applet

 	main.cpl,@2 to start the Printers applet

 	main.cpl,@3 to start the Fonts applet

 	mmsys.cpl to start the Multimedia applet

 	timedate.cpl to start the Date/Time applet

 	no applet name to start Control Panel itself.


How to save the way Nico's Commanders looks now

Some settings will be saved automatically, when you exit Nico's Commander: the screen location and dimensions of its main window, whether this window was maximized or not, the width of the columns in the two file windows.

Other settings are saved when you explicitly press the OK button in a settings dialog.  Examples of these: properties of the application buttons and function keys, font and colors of the two file windows, the way files are printed.

When you press Settings - Save current paths the current path in the two file windows is saved, and will be used when you start up Nico's Commander the next time. Furthermore which one of the two file windows is active will be saved, and used at the next start up.

When you press Settings - Save current sort order the current sort order (which column, ascending or descending) is saved in the registry so that it can be used the next time Nico's Commander is started.


How to change the way a file appears in print

You can change how a file appears on paper in these ways:

 	the number of pages printed on a sheet of paper (one page portrait or landscape, or two  pages in landscape)

 	what character set to use, ANSI or OEM. ANSI is the default Windows character set. OEM resembles old DOS: line drawing characters will be printed correctly with this character set.

 	in how many spaces a Tab character should result

 	whether or not to print line numbers in front of the lines

 	whether or not to truncate long lines.


How to adjust the size of the columns in the file windows to the width of the entries

There are two ways to adjust the size of a column so that the largest entry fits:

 	double click on the smaal divider between two adjacent column headers to adjust the size of the left column. The column will size so that the largest entry on screen will be completely visible

 	choose Settings - Adjust column widths from the menu to adjust the size of all columns in the active file window.


Available menu choices
Click on a menu choice to get help

File

Attributes

Search

Associate

Create shortcut

Compare

View

Edit

Edit new

Edit hex

Copy

Rename/Move

Delete to bin

Delete

Filter

Select file

Deselect file

Select all

Deselect all

Invert selection

Open archive

Zip

Zip to self extracting

Print

Printer setup

Directory

Swap file windows

History

Change

Attributes

Copy

Rename/Move

Make

Delete to bin

Delete

Print current directory

Print directory tree

Save current directory to file

Save directory tree to file

Compare

Calculate diskspace

Refresh

Disk

Disk Properties

Format Disk

Disk Copy

Connect over network

Disconnect over network

FTP Sites

Settings

Adjust column sizes

Save current paths

Save current sort order

General settings

Function key definition

Choose font for file windows

Choose colors for file windows

Other settings for file windows

Print settings

Confirmations

File compare

FTP settings


File attributes and time stamp
File - Attributes (and time stamp)

In this window you can change the attributes and the time stamp of a file or a range of files.

Attributes are:

 	archive (file is modified since last backup)

 	read only

 	system

 	hidden.

If you select only one file then its attributes are shown. If you select more than one file, you can select the attributes to be modified on all files.

Normally hidden and system files are not shown. You can change the behaviour of Nico's Commander in this respect in Settings - Other settings for file windows.

The time stamp can be changed to the current date and time, or to the date and time you choose.


File search
File - Search

To start the search you specify:

 	a file mask, specifying what files to search. The use of wildcards is supported. Mandatory.

 	a file path, specifying where to start the search. Mandatory.

 	an optional text string to be searched for in the specified files. Drop down to use a search string from the history list.

 	whether or not to search through subdirectories

 	whether or not to do a case sensitive search

 	size of files to be found

 	timestamp of files to be found.

Found files appear in a listbox.

Use the Previous search button to recall the parameters and results of your previous search request, with a maximum of 100 files.

Use the Execute, Edit and View buttons to run, edit or view one of the files. Specify the path to the editor to be used in Settings - General settings.

The Go there button makes the file that was found the selected file in the active file window.

The To file window button copies the list of found files to the active file window. From there all normal actions can be performed on the found files.


File associate
File - Associate

You can associate a file extension with a program. This program will be executed for the file if you double click on it a file window.

In this dialog window you can specify the path to the program to be executed. The path should be followed with %1 which stands for the name of the file on which you will double click.


Create shortcut
File - Create shortcut

A shortcut is created on the desktop to the selected file in the active file window.


File compare
File - Compare

The two selected files in the two file windows are compared. A report is shown, in which the differences are indicated in red. With buttons you can navigate to the next/previous match/difference. There is also a button to start the editor for one of the files. There are settings that influence the way of comparing.


View button
File - View

The viewer is started for the selected file in the current file window.

In Settings - General settings you can select which viewer to use: the internal viewer of Nico's Commander or an external viewer. The path to that external viewer can be specified there as well.

If you use the internal viewer and the selected file has a graphics format supported by Nico's Commander the graphical viewer is used. If it seems to be a text file the text viewer is used.

The internal viewer supports the graphic formats JPG, PNG, TGA, TIF, BMP, PCX and GIF. It will let you copy the image to the clipboard, you can start the application associated with the file format, or you can save the file in another format supported by Nico's Commander.

Error codes the internal graphical viewer can give:

-1      Range error

-2      Digitizer board not detected

-3      Disk full, file not written

-4      Filename not found

-5      Non-dimensional variable out of range

-6      Unreadable TIF format

-8      TIF bits per sample not supported

-9      Unreadable compression scheme

-10     Cannot create file

-11     Unknown file format

-12     Device independent bitmap is compressed

-13     Invalid video mode

-14     Insufficient memory for function

-15     Not PIW format

-16     Unreadable PCX format

-17     Unreadable GIF format

-18     Print error

-19     Scanner error

-20     Conventional memory handle overflow

-21     Expanded memory manager not found

-22     Expanded memory manager error

-23     Expanded memory manager not found

-24     Expanded memory manager error

-25     Unreadable TGA format

-26     Bits per pixel not supported

-27     Unreadable BMP format

-34     Function timed out

-37     Bits per pixel of TIGA mode not 8

-38     Could not allocate enough GSP memory

-39     Could not load TIGA extended primitives

-41     Printimage() is busy

-42     Invalid image buffer addr

-43     Unreadable JPEG format

-44     Image is too complex to complete operation

-50     Function not available due to missing module

-51     TIF page not found

-52     Pointer does not point at readable/writable memory

-53     LZW functionality disabled

-62     File contains invalid data

-63     Unreadable PNG format

-64     PNG compressor error

-65     No ACK from digitizer

-68     Handle not valid

-69     Can't append an Intel-type TIF to a Motorola-type TIF

For PNG format:

-100    Unknown critical chunk

-101    Not enough IDATs for image

-102    Invalid IHDR chunk

-103    Invalid bit depth in IHDR

-104    Invalid color type in IHDR

-105    Invalid color type/bit depth combo in IHDR

-106    Invalid interlace method in IHDR

-107    Invalid compression method in IHDR

-108    Invalid filter method in IHDR

-109    Invalid image size in IHDR

-110    Bad PNG signature

-111    Bad CRC value

-112    Extra data at end of file

-113    Unexpected End Of File

-114    Memory error

-115    Decompression error

-116    Compression error

-117    Out of disk space

For JPEG format:

-100    Sample precision is not 8

-101    Unexpected End Of File

-102    Reset marker could not be found

-103    Invalid marker found in the image data

-104    Error reading data from the file

-105    Invalid data found in JPEG file

-106    Component info out of bounds

-107    Blocks in an MCU is > 10

-108    Bits per sample is not 8

-109    Invalid number of components

-110    File type not SOF0 or SOF1

-111    Unexpected End Of Image

-112    File is not JPEG JFIF

-113    Bad progressive JPEG scan parameter

-114    Out of memory

-115    Out of disk space

For TIFF format:

-100    Invalid data found in TIF file

-101    Error reading data from the file

-102    Unexpected End Of File

-103    Trans point arrays not large enough


Edit button
File - Edit

The editor is started for the selected file in the current file window. In Settings - General settings you can select which editor to use: the internal editor of Nico's Commander or an external editor. The path to that external editor can be specified there as well.


Edit new file
File - Edit new

Within the current directory of the current file window a new file will be created. You will be prompted for a file name. Next the editor will be started for the file. In Settings - General settings you can select which editor to use: the internal editor of Nico's Commander or an external editor. The path to that external editor can be specified there as well.


Edit hex
File - Edit hex

The editor is started for the selected file in the current file window.

The Tab key lets you switch from entering hexadecimal digits (0 through 9, A through F) to entering normal characters.

The Ins key lets you switch from Overwrite to Insert mode and back.


Copy files and directories
File/Directory - Copy

Files and directories selected in the current file window are copied. You will be prompted for a destination path. Default is the current directory of the other file window. If you specify a non existent directory it will be created. If you don't specify a drive/directory the copy will take place in the current directory. If you have an FTP connection active and you want to copy there preceed the path with [FTP].

In the same dialog window you can choose to copy only newer files.

If you're copying to or from an FTP site you can also specify here which type of data transfer should be used.

Files and directories can also be copied using drag-and-drop.


Move/rename files and directories
File/Directory - Move

If you specify a destination (drive and/or directory) files and directories selected in the current file window are moved to that destination. Default is the current directory of the other file window. If you specify a non existent directory it will be created. If you have an FTP connection active and you want to move to that site preceed the path with [FTP].

If you specify a filename or directory name rather than a destination drive/directory the selected file or directory is renamed.


Delete files and directories
File/Directory - Delete to bin

Files and directories selected in the current file window are deleted (put in the Windows Recycle Bin).


Delete files and directories
File/Directory - Delete

Files and directories selected in the current file window are deleted without being put in the Windows Recycle Bin.


Filter files
File - Filter

A dialog window pops up, asking you for a file specification. From then on only files conforming to this specification will be shown in the two file windows. The default filter is *.*.


Select files
File - Select

A dialog window pops up, asking you for a file specification. Files conforming to this specification will be added to the current selection. With this choice you can extend the number of selected files.


Deselect files
File - Deselect

A dialog window pops up, asking you for a file specification. Files conforming to this specification will be removed from the current selection. With this choice you can decrease the number of selected files.


Invert selection
File - Invert selection

Files and directories in the file window that are selected will be deselected, and files and directories that are not selected will be selected, ie. the selection will be inverted.


Select all
File - Select all (All button)

All files and directories in the file window are selected. Only selected files and directories can be candidate for copy, delete and other actions.


Deselect all
File - Deselect all (None button)

Nothing will be selected in the file window.


Unzip files

Choose File - Open archive or double click a filename with a zip extension to show  a list of files contained in the archive.

You can extract all files, or only the ones you selected.

A zip file can contain path information for the files it contains. If it does you will be asked if NC should use this information during unzipping.

An example: the current target directory is C:\DOS. The archive contains a file MOUSE.COM with MOUSE31 as path information. If you choose not to use this path information then MOUSE.COM will be unpacked to C:\DOS. If you choose to use the path information MOUSE.COM will be unpacked to C:\DOS\MOUSE31.

Of course you can override the destination. If you specify a non existent directory it will be created.

Besides unpacking you can also select one file and have it run, or opened in the viewer or editor.

The zip facility of NC supports long file names.


ZIP files
File - Zip

The selected files in the current file window are packed in a zip type archive.

The selected file in the non active file window will be the output zip file. Files to be zipped will be added to that archive.

If no output zip file is selected the current path in the other file window is used as destination and the name of the output file is composed from the directory name of the current file window and a .zip extension.

Of course you can override both name and destination. If you specify a non existent directory it will be created.

If a file to be zipped already exists in the ZIP file, it is replaced in it.

You can also zip complete subdirectories.

A zip file can contain path information for the files it contains. That can be useful if you want to recreate the directory structure during unpacking.

Before the zipping starts you will be asked if path information should be stored. You can choose to have no path information, relative path information or absolute path information.

An example. Suppose the source directory is C:\DOS. You selected its subdirectory MOUSE31 which contains the file MOUSE.COM.

If you choose relative path information this file will be stored with MOUSE31 as path  information.

If you choose absolute path information the file will be stored with DOS\MOUSE31 as path  information.

The zip facility supports long file names.

Creation of an archive on a removable medium (for instance floppy) supports disk spanning:  when the floppy is full you will be asked to insert a new floppy, and writing continues on this new floppy. In the end the archive will span several floppies.


ZIP files, self extracting
File - Zip to self extracting file

The selected files in the current file window are packed in a zip type archive, which is then made self extracting.

The current path in the other file window is used as destination and the name of the output file is composed from the directory name of the current file window and a .EXE extension.

Of course you can override both name and destination. If you specify a non existent directory it will be created.

You can also zip complete subdirectories.

A self extracting zip file can contain path information for the files it contains. That can be useful if you want to recreate the directory structure during unpacking.

Before the zipping starts you will be asked if path information should be stored. You can choose to have no path information, relative path information or absolute path information.

An example. Suppose the source directory is C:\DOS. You selected its subdirectory MOUSE31 which contains the file MOUSE.COM.

If you choose relative path information this file will be stored with MOUSE31 as path  information.

If you choose absolute path information the file will be stored with DOS\MOUSE31 as path  information.

The zip facility supports long file names.

Self-extracting archives do not support disk spanning: a self-extracting archive must fit on one floppy.


Print files
File - Print (Print button)

Files selected in the current file window are printed on the default Windows printer.

Choose from different formats: one page on a sheet in portrait or landscape, or two pages on a sheet in landscape.

Choose from two character sets, ANSI or OEM. ANSI is the default Windows character set. OEM resembles old DOS: line drawing characters will be printed correctly with OEM.

Make these choices in Settings - Print settings.


Printer set up

Pick this menu item to make one of the installed printers the default printer, and to set the properties of the default printer.


Swap file windows
Directory - Swap file windows

The two file windows are swapped.


Change to recently used directory
Directory - History

A list is shown of directories you have used recently. You will be asked to select one that should become the current directory in the active file window.


Change to another directory
Directory - Change

You will be asked for the name of the directory that will become the current directory in  the active file window.


Create a directory
Directory - Make

Within the current directory of the current file window a new directory is created. You will be prompted for a directory name.


Print current directory
Directory - Print current directory

Makes a print of the current directory in the active file window.

Choose from different formats: one page on a sheet in portrait or landscape, or two pages on a sheet in landscape.

Choose from two character sets, ANSI or OEM. ANSI is the default Windows character set. OEM resembles old DOS: line drawing characters will be printed correctly with OEM.

Make these choices in Settings - Print settings.


Print directory tree
Directory - Print directory tree

Makes a print of the current directory in the active file window, and all its subdirectories.

Choose from different formats: one page on a sheet in portrait or landscape, or two pages on a sheet in landscape.

Choose from two character sets, ANSI or OEM. ANSI is the default Windows character set. OEM resembles old DOS: line drawing characters will be printed correctly with OEM.

Make these choices in Settings - Print settings.


Save current directory
Directory - Save current directory

Saves the contents of the current directory in the active file window to a file.


Save directory tree
Directory - Save directory tree

Saves the contents of the current directory in the active file window, and all its subdirectories, to a file.


Compare directories
Directory - Compare

Pick this menu item to compare the directories in the two file windows. Note: directories are compared here, not the contents of the files in those directories! (See File - Compare for that.)

A file that is not present in the other directory is marked.

If a file is found in both directories the most recent one is marked.


Calculate disk space
Directory - Calculate disk space

Make this choice to calculate to total amount of disk space occupied by the files in the selected directory and its subdirectories.


Refresh directory
Directory - Refresh

Make this choice to force Nico's Commander to rebuild the information in the current file window from disk. Normally, Nico's Commander takes care of this itself, but sometimes after a disk action in another program, the file windows and the situation on disk are out of sync.


Disk properties
Disk - Disk Properties

Shows the properties of the selected disk.


Format disk
Disk - Format Disk

Formats the disk in your floppy drive.


Copy disk
Disk - Disk Copy

Copies the disk in your floppy drive.


Connect over network
Disk - Connect over network

You can make a connection between your computer and a shared directory on another computer.


Disconnect over network
Disk - Disconnect over network

Make this choice if you want to disconnect your computer from a shared directory on another computer.


FTP Sites
Disk - FTP Sites

Make this choice to add or delete FTP sites, and to make an FTP connection.

In the list on the left in the dialog window all defined FTP sites are shown. One of them is selected. On the right in the dialog window are shown the site's properties. The window title bar will show you if you have an active connection.

Steps to take to move data to or from an FTP site:

 	make sure an Internet connection exists. You can't use Nico's Commander to do that!

 	add the FTP site to the list (Disk - FTP Sites - Add). Specify as site address an IP number or a DNS address like FTP.MICROSOFT.COM. If you specify an IP number make it easier for yourself to remember what site this was by specifying also a nick name. Choose the way to login (anonymous or not), specify a directory to become the current one after login, and provide firewall/proxy information if necessary.

 	make an FTP connection to the FTP site of your choice (Disk - FTP Sites - Connect)

 	if the connection is made the FTP site is added to the list of diskstations. You can now do file management as if the FTP site were a local disk.

 	when you're ready stop the connection with the FTP site (Disk - FTP Sites - Disconnect).

Anonymous logins

Most FTP sites accept anonymous logins if you don't have a valid acount. Specify "anonymous" as your user-id for a anonymous login. The convention in that case is that you enter your e-mail address as your password.

If you want to login anonymous click the "anonymous login" box.

Use of a firewall or a proxy

When you are behind a firewall or proxy server you have to provide extra information to pass the firewall/proxy. Make sure the "Use firewall/proxy" checkbox is checked and provide this information:

 	the address of the firewall or proxy

 	the port number to use

 	user-id and password if necessary

 	the type of firewall/proxy.

Nico's Commander supports four types of firewall/proxy:

 	SITE hostname - requires a firewall address, a userid and a password. You are logged on to the firewall and the remote connection is established using the command "SITE remote_host".

 	OPEN hostname - requires a firewall address only; userid and password are ignored. The command "OPEN remote_host" is sent to the firewall upon initial connection.

 	USER with logon - requires a firewall address, a userid and a password. You are logged on to the firewall and the remote connection is established using the command "USER remote_userid@remote_host".

 	USER remote_userid@remote_host (USER with no logon) - requires a firewall address; userid and password are ignored. The command "USER remote_userid@remote_host" is sent to the firewall upon initial connection.


Save current paths
Settings - Save current paths

For each of the two file windows the current drive and current directory are saved in the registry so that they can be used the next time Nico's Commander is started. Which of the two file windows is current is also saved, so the next time Nico's Commander is started this window will again be the current one.


Save current sort order
Settings - Save current sort order

For each of the two file windows the current sort order (which column, ascending or descending) is saved in the registry so that it can be used the next time Nico's Commander is started.


Program paths
Settings - General settings

In this dialog window you can change these settings for Nico's Commander:

 	the title of Nico's Commanders main window

 	whether or not you want to use application buttons, and if yes, how much

 	whether or not you want the application buttons to contain application icons

 	whether or not you want to use the command prompt of Nico's Commander

 	whether or not you want to have buttons for the function keys

 	whether or not you want to show the "stop" and "menu" icons in the task bar

 	whether to show the current date and time in the title bar of the current window

 	whether or not the Esc key should instantly activate the screen saver.

 	whether you want to use the internal editor of Nico's Commander or an external editor, and where to find this external editor

 	whether you want to use the internal viewer of Nico's Commander or an external viewer, and where to find this external viewer.

Choose OK to save the settings in the registry so that they can be used the next time Nico's Commander is started.


Define function keys
Settings - Function key definition

In this dialog window you can assign functions to function keys 2 - 9 (function key 1 is always the help key, function key 10 ends Nico's Commander).

A function is assigned to a key by selecting it from each key's drop down list.


Font for file windows
Settings - Choose font for file windows

In this dialog window you choose the font to be used in the file windows.


Colors for file windows
Settings - Choose colors for file windows

In this dialog window you choose the colors to be used in the file windows. You can use different colors for files and directories, and for both you can specify a text color and a background color.

You can also choose the color of the rectangle that highlights the current file window (the focus rectangle).


Interface
Settings - Other settings for file windows

In this dialog window you can change these settings for Nico's Commander:

 	whether to show filenames in the file windows in upper case, in lower case, files in uppercase and directories in lower case, files in lower case and directories in uppercase, or in the case they are in on disk

 	whether to show files with the "hidden" or "system" attribute

 	whether to show directories with the "hidden" or "system" attribute

 	whether to show the Explorer like context menu on a right mouse click in the  file windows or a dialog box to change a files attributes, date and time.

Choose OK to save the settings in the registry so that they can be used the next time Nico's Commander is started.


Print settings
Settings - Print settings

In this dialog window you can change these settings for Nico's Commander:

 	the number of pages printed on a sheet of paper (one page portrait or two pages landscape)

 	whether or not to print line numbers in front of the lines

 	whether or not to truncate long lines.

 	what character set to use, ANSI or OEM. ANSI is the default Windows character set. OEM resembles old DOS: line drawing characters will be printed correctly with OEM.

Choose OK to save the settings in the registry so that they can be used the next time Nico's Commander is started.


Confirmations
Settings - Confirmations

In this dialog window you can change these settings for Nico's Commander:

 	whether or not Nico's Commander will ask you to confirm a deletion of files

 	whether or not Nico's Commander will ask you an extra confirmation before deleting a non empty directory

 	whether or not Nico's Commander will ask you to confirm an overwrite of files.

 	whether or not Nico's Commander will ask you to confirm a shut down when you click the stop icon in the task bar.

Choose OK to save the settings in the registry so that they can be used the next time Nico's Commander is started.


File compare settings
Settings - File compare settings

In this dialog window you can change these settings for Nico's Commander:

 	whether or not to ignore white space during file comparisons

 	whether or not the compare should be case sensitive

 	in how many spaces a tab character must result when showing files.

Choose OK to save the settings in the registry so that they can be used the next time Nico's Commander is started.


FTP settings
Settings - FTP settings

In this dialog window you can change these settings for Nico's Commander:

 	whether or not to log FTP actions, and the file specification of the log file

 	the type of file transfer. Use ASCII for text files if the host uses a different end of line character than the PC does. Use L8 for the transfer of non-text files to or from a VMS host. Use binary in all other cases (nearly almost).

 	whether you want to confirm a temporary transfer to the local harddisk for edit or unzip actions

 	whether or not a temporary file transfer to the local harddisk for an edit action should always be done in ASCII mode, regardless of the general file transfer setting

 	whether or not a temporary file transfer to the local harddisk for an unzip action should always be done in binary mode, regardless of the general file transfer setting

 	whether or not to reread the directory of the FTP host after a file transfer. This takes time, especially on a slow link. The disadvantage of not rereading is that what is  shown on screen not always reflects the real situation.

 	the e-mail address to be used as password at anonymous log-ins.

Choose OK to save the settings in the registry so that they can be used the next time Nico's Commander is started.


Special keys
Use of the keyboard

 	use the TAB key or the left/right arrow keys to switch to the other file window

 	use the Esc key to instantly activate your screen saver (see also  Settings - General settings)

 	cursor up, cursor down, PgUp, PgDn, Home en End let you navigate in the file windows. Pressing Shift with these keys extends the selection of files/directories

 	press a character key to select the file whose name starts with that character. The selected file will be the first listed one in the file window.

 	use the space bar to select a file or directory

 	use the Ins key to select a file or directory, and go to the next line

 	the Enter key has the same effect as double clicking a directory or file name

 	the Del key has the same effect as the Delete button: files/ directories are deleted (to the Windows Recycle Bin)

 	Shift+Del deletes files/directories without sending them to the Windows Recycle Bin

 	Alt+F1 and Alt+F2 drop down the list of available disk drives. Make a choice with the cursor up and down keys and the Enter key

 	Num+ and Num- let you extend and decrease the current selection

 	use Ctrl+D to change to another directory in the active file window

 	use Ctrl+F to start searching for a file

 	 use Ctrl+H to drop down the directory history list

 	use Ctrl+P to switch from the file windows to the command prompt and back

 	use Ctrl+R to force a refresh of the file windows

 	use Ctrl+U to swap the two file windows

 	use Ctrl+Z to start packing files into a Zip archive

 	use Ctrl+Num+ and Ctrl+Num- to select all files or no files in the current file window

 	use Ctrl+PgUp to go up one level in the directory tree in the current file window

 	use Ctrl+\ to go to the root directory in the current file window

 	use Ctrl+F3 through Ctrl+F6 to sort the current file window on name, extension, file size or time stamp

 	Alt+F7 has the same effect as File Search

 	use Ctrl+Shift+Num+ to adjust the width of the columns in the active file window to fit the largest visible item.


Use of the mouse

A tip: filenames to long to fit in the file window are abbreviated. However, let the mouse pointer rest on the name for a few moments and a tooltip appears, showing you the complete filename!

Use the mouse to drag and drop files and directories.

In several circumstances the right mouse button has a special use:

 	right click on an application button or function key button to pop up the properties dialog for the button.

 	right click on a filename in one of the file windows to pop up its context menu or a dialog to change the attributes and the time stamp  of the file. Select what to display in Settings - Other settings for file windows

 	right click on empty space in Nico's Commanders main window to minimize the window.


Screen objects
Click on a screen object to get help


Change the title

The text in the title bar of Nico's Commanders main window can be changed. Use Settings - General settings.


Properties for application button

In this dialog window you set the properties of the application that this button starts:

 	application name, this will also be the button name

 	specification of the executable to start (use the Browse button)

 	command line parameters for the application

 	working directory: name of the directory to become the current directory at the start of the application

 	how to start the application (normal, maximized, minimized).

Tip: if you specify a working directory but no executable to start, the result will be that when you click the button the working directory you specified wil become the current directory in the active file window, and no program will be started.


File windows

Each of the two file windows shows the directories and files in the current directory for that file window. The current directory is shown just above the file window.

One of the file windows is the current window, marked by a square around it. Commands like print, copy, delete operate on files and directories in the current window.

Directories have <DIR> printed behind their name. Change to a directory by double clicking on its name. Go up one level in the directory tree by clicking on the directory called [..] or click the button called CD... Go to the root directory by clicking on the button called CD\.

Change disk drives by selecting the disk drive in the drop down list.

There are a number of ways to select files and directories:

 	press the space bar

 	press the Ins key

 	left click on a file or directory

 	to select another file or directory: hold the Ctrl key and left click

 	to select a range: hold the Shift key and left click the first and the last of the range

 	to select all: File - Select all on the menu or the button called All

 	to deselect all: File - Deselect all on the menu or the button called None

 	to extend or decrease the selection: File - Select file or File - Deselect file on the menu.

Double click a file name to:

 	execute the file if it is a program or batch file

 	execute the program associated with the extension of the file and use the file name as command line parameter

 	show the contents of a ZIP file and give you the option to unpack, edit or execute files in the ZIP file.

Drag-and-drop between the file windows is supported.

You can sort the directories and files by clicking on the header of the column on which you want to sort. Default sort order is on file name.

The width of each column can be changed by dragging the divider between two columns in the header.

When you doubleclick on the divider the column width is adjusted to fit the largest string in the column.


Sorting file windows

A file window first shows the directories and then the files. Directories and files are by default sorted on name. Change the sorting order by clicking on the header of the column on which you want to sort. You can sort on name, extension, size and time stamp. Clicking the header another time will change the sorting order (from down to up, or from up to down).


Drag-and-drop

Drag and drop files and directories from the path in the current file window to the path in the other file window or one of its subdirectories. Proceed as follows:

1.	select one or more files and/or directories

2.	keep the left mouse button depressed

3.	drag the mouse pointer from the current file window to the other file window. Release the mouse button on a subdirectory (marked by a rectangle around its name) to copy the dragged files to that subdirectory. Release the mouse on another part of the file window to copy to the current path of that file window.

Drag-and-drop always implies a copy, never a move, of files and directories.


Current disk drive

Shows what the current disk drive is for this file window.  Pick another drive from the list to make that current.

On the next line the total number of bytes and the available number of bytes on the drive is shown.


Go to root directory
Go to root directory (CD \ button)

Press this button to go to the root directory on this drive.


Go to parent directory
Go to parent directory (CD .. button)

Press this button to go up one level in the directory tree. You can do the same by clicking on the [..] directory in the file window


Exit Windows
Exit Windows (ExitWin button)

If you press this button you can choose:

 	to log off the current user and log on a new user

 	to reboot the machine

 	to shut down the machine.

If you choose to reboot applications are killed, so they cannot for instance save open files. Therefore use this option with caution.

You can also shutdown the machine by clicking on the stop sign  [image]  in the taskbar.

Go to Settings - General settings to switch this feature off (and to let the stop sign disappear from the task bar).


Exit Nico's Commander
Exit Nico's Commander (the Exit button)

Use this button to exit Nico's Commander.


The desktop menu

Click on the desktop menu icon  [image]  in the task bar to activate the desktop menu. It contains the name of every icon on your desktop. Click on a name to activate the icon. A nice feature when your desktop is cluttered with windows.

Go to Settings - General settings to switch this feature off (and to let the icon disappear from the task bar).


The control panel menu

Click on the control panel menu icon  [image]  in the task bar to activate the control panel menu. It contains the name of every applet in your Control Panel. Click on a name to activate the panel.

Go to Settings - General settings to switch this feature off (and to let the icon disappear from the task bar).


The command prompt

Here you can type in commands, eg. the name of an executable program. An example: type calc to  start CALC.EXE (the Windows calculator). You can also give command line parameters. Example: type notepad c:\autoexec.bat to start NOTEPAD.EXE and have it open the file C:\AUTOEXEC.BAT.

Besides executables you can type in the name of a file. The program associated with the extension of the filename (if any) is started, and the file is opened in it.

Where a filename can be used in the command you can also specify one of these symbolic parameters:

 	&as or &bs: will be replaced by complete path specification of current source or target file

 	&ap or &bp: will be replaced by drive and directory specification of current source or target file

 	&ad or &bd: will be replaced by drive specification of current source or target file

 	&an or &bn: will be replaced by filename of current source or target file

 	&ae or &be: will be replaced by extension of current source or target file

If one of these parameters is used, and more than one files are selected, the command is executed for every selected file.

A history of commands you typed in is maintained. Drop down the list box to search for and re-execute such a command.

In front of the command prompt window the path is printed that will be the current path when executing the command.