Beta Testers needed for new file manager

Hello, I an trying to find beta testers for a new file manager for Windows 10.(desktop only)
It is currnetly (poorly) named DrtFMngPreview (This is a temporary name), and it has the following key features:

Multi Column View. Thumbnails in details (last) column, up to 768x768.
Thumbnails View. Thumbnails up to 256x256.
Details View. All Windows property system is supported.
Themable. Theme Editor is built in.
Supports Icon Packs for files, folders, special folders. Icon Packager is built in.

It is stable, but there are things to be done, I need feedback from actual users.
If you are interested please take a look at:
GitHub - WilliamDrt/DrtFMngPreview: Beta testing for DrtFMngPreview

Thank You
William



P.S.
I hope I am not abusing this thread/category. I searched and I think that this is the right place to post, if not, can some admin please delete this post? Sorry

Hello, don't worry it is simple enough. The program is on windows store already, but it is visible only for a private audience (this is how beta testing works on windows store).
You''l have to become member of this private audience to see the program.
The way to do that is described in one of these .md files. Please read How_to_participate_in_beta_testing.md

Follow the instructions and as soon as you are whitelisted as member of the private audience, you will be able to see and install the program from windows store as usual.

If you need anything just let me know.

PS
GitHub account is needed for starting new issues (report something broken, suggest new features etc). If GitHub makes you feel uncomfortably and you want to report something, just use the email address provided in the md , instead.

WilliamDrt said:

Hello, don't worry it is simple enough. The program is on windows store already, but it is visible only for a private audience (this is how beta testing works on windows store).
You''l have to become member of this private audience to see the program.
The way to do that is described in one of these .md files. Please read How_to_participate_in_beta_testing.md

Follow the instructions and as soon as you are whitelisted as member of the private audience, you will be able to see and install the program from windows store as usual.

If you need anything just let me know.

PS
GitHub account is needed for starting new issues (report something broken, suggest new features etc). If GitHub makes you feel uncomfortably and you want to report something, just use the email address provided in the md , instead.

Hi there
trouble with these "invitation / registration" things is that you then get email bombed with spam. special offers or what !!!

If the product is any good IMO they would want to get it out to the largest possible audience as fast as possible 100% hassle free.

In any case I doubt that it still isn't using new features but just fiddling around with a better GUI so the chances are it still won't display long path/directory/file names (>266 chars).

I'm all in favour of developers pushing out new software and getting testers -- but we don't need "by invite", send an email or have to register.

Actually github is very good once you understand how it works --quite a complex learning curve though for those not used to CLI's or compiling / "making" modules.

Cheers
jimbo

CountMike said:

For me, Total Commander is the law !!

Hi there

@CountMike
It in common with all the current Windows file managers only changes the GUI and not the underlying code so it doesn't make use of the ability to display long paths and file names as it uses / calls current "file explorer" type API's.

I agree TC is much better than file explorer -- however a lot of programs that allow you to browse to select a file are still using current API's so again no long file name display -- you still get the 8.3 format when a file name can't be displayed properly (too long).

For example these sorts of files only get displayed in 8.3 format in Windows




Windows needs to change the browse API's -- support for long file names is currently allowable in 1903/1909 builds but I haven't seen any programs yet that use it.

(Actually one exception -- if you use WSL2 then you can access these files properly from a NAS -- but that's using the WSL and not file explorer or its replacements such as TC).

(I'm not renaming zillions of music file that display perfectly OK on my NAS !!!!!! -- KODI also displays those on a FireTV -- Android OS -- stick when I'm playing through that box too).

Cheers
jimbo

jimbo45 said:

Hi there
trouble with these "invitation / registration" things is that you then get email bombed with spam. special offers or what !!!

If the product is any good IMO they would want to get it out to the largest possible audience as fast as possible 100% hassle free.

In any case I doubt that it still isn't using new features but just fiddling around with a better GUI so the chances are it still won't display long path/directory/file names (>266 chars).

I'm all in favour of developers pushing out new software and getting testers -- but we don't need "by invite", send an email or have to register.

Actually github is very good once you understand how it works --quite a complex learning curve though for those not used to CLI's or compiling / "making" modules.

Cheers
jimbo

Hello jimbo
About spamming: There is a privacy policy on the GitHub page you, can read it.
-Why should anyone believe this privacy policy ? I don't know how to prove that I am not an elephant, I am just seeking feedback for my program, I have absolutely no reason or desire to spam anyone.

"If the product is any good.. etc"
If the program was ready I would surely wanted to get it out ASAP etc... but it isn't ready.
Beta testing is part of the process, there is no way around it
There is no way around "invitations" also. Program is on Windows Store, but not for public audience(it is not ready for that)

Having the app on the store is necessary for two reasons.
1. Program is tested by Microsoft for viruses etc. That gives user some peace of mind
2. Program calls some Store APIs that can NOT be tested if outside the store.

Promo codes could be a solution but, that would leave the store listing visible to the casual user. I don't want that.

" just fiddling around with a better GUI". Thank you for that
You have a point here, this program is GUI driven it does not have features that would appeal to "tech" people like filters, search etc. It is more oriented to photography/videography/design people, that can (maybe ?) appreciate miller's columns with huge thumbnail at last (details) column. I don't know, cant' be sure. (I personally have a photography background. Dumping 6000 photos on disk after an event, was a normal day for me)

I wrote the GUI from scratch. That is a huge undertake, but it has huge reward. I can do whatever I want with the GUI, I am not bound to some framework.

" still isn't using new features" What features? Join the beta, suggest something . May I can do it, may not. That's the whole idea

" display long path/directory/file names (>266 chars)" Hey!!! that would be a good feature request. That's exactly what I am looking. Good feature request.

Having said that, my program (like Explorer) uses the Shell APIs and there are plenty of functions in there that still have MAX_PATH limitation. That is why explorer doesn't implement this either. I could have a look to see if I can implement this, but I know that Microsoft is (slowly) removing these limitations from the Shell API, and I am afraid that I would do all this work for nothing at the end. I will give it a look though, just to see which API functions supports it and which not.

Finally
It is OK if you do not join this beta. I understand that 5000 people could view this thread and only 5 join.
That's perfectly alright. I totally get that. I really do. This isn't for everybody and that's fine.
I am not a spammer, I do not spam people. I am just seeking for input, just like yours about MAX_PATH limit. Thanks for that

Another TC registered user here. I still loathe Windows File Explorer for not having multiple tabs/panels.