In the Folder Tabs section, tell Total Commander to open new tabs directly next to the current tab. In the Tabstops section, configure file extensions to be displayed directly after the filename.

In the Icons section, enable TC to show overlay icons which are used by many synchronization tools to indicate a file’s status: Also, make sure to disable TC putting square brackets around directory names: In the Display section, enable TC to show hidden and system files (you are an IT pro, right?). Ignore it – for now! Head straight to the options in the Configuration menu and make the following changes to the default configuration. Now you are looking at the application’s main window. When you start Total Commander for the first time, it will ask you for the type of icon library you want it to use. This is probably the best investment I ever made. I bought my personal license way back in 2001 – and it is still valid for the latest version today. Total Commander goes back to at least 1993 – and the current version (released 2019) still supports Windows 95, which is kind of scary. Midnight Commander on Linux), you can also use Total Commander – to a degree. If you can use Norton Commander or any of its modern clones (e.g. Also, basic keyboard shortcuts like F5 for copying have been kept. Total Commander’s two-window concept originates, of course, from Norton Commander. Ergonomics: keyboard trumps mouse every single time.

In addition to File Explorer being a horrible tool the following speak for Total Commander: Please read my earlier article on the subject for details. There are many reasons why you might want to take a look at a tool like Total Commander, but the most important reason for me is that File Explorer sucks big time, at least for IT pros. A future post will add some more advanced tips. This article explains how to get started with Total Commander. On top of that, it can probably replace half a dozen tools in addition to File Explorer.

It has keyboard shortcuts for everything and is super-configurable, fast and efficient. It not only replaces File Explorer it does so in a way that makes you wonder how you suffered Explorer for such a long time. Total Commander is one of those few magical tools that can boost your productivity as an IT pro significantly.

How to use total commander