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How Do I Find/Move/Copy/Delete Files?

This section contains details on using the File Manager functions of Universal Explorer. For a summary of such functions - please see the Major Features - File Manager section.

Universal Explorer is designed to replace the rather restricted features of the standard Window's Explorer file management program. It is fully featured and offers many advantages to Window's Explorer.

By default, when first launched, UE will display the standard File Manger windows (one on the left for drives/directories and networks, one on the right to display individual folders or files of the selected drive/directory). The UE File Manager system offers almost identical right-click options as you would have using Window's Explorer.

In addition, you can view a second set of File Manager windows on the same screen by using the View - Double Panel menu option. This second panel will appear directly under the first. All windows in File Manager are resizable to better fit your screen resolution. Adding the second panel can make it easier to move or copy files between drives or directories because you can have different targets open in the separate sets of panels.

Again, by default, the File Manager panels will take up approximately 30% of the horizontal UE screen leaving the remainder for Viewing/Editing windows that will be launched when you single-click on any individual file. You may resize the File Manager panels with your mouse or you may extend them to full screen by using the View - Maximize File List menu item. You may return the panel to its original size by unchecking that option.

This section will cover the basics of Finding, Moving, Copying and Deleting files using your mouse and keyboard. There are many other options for working in File Manger available via the Menu and/or main Toolbar.  Please see those sections of this manual for details.

Finding Files: Navigating through the File Manger windows is identical to Window's Explorer. Simply double-click on any Drive/Folder/Subfolder in the left panel to expand it to view the contents. Individual files will be displayed in the right panel. Single-clicking on an individual file will launch it into the associated Viewing/Editing window. Double-clicking on an individual file will launch it into its associated Window's application. For example, a single-click on a .txt file will launch the UE Text Viewing/Editing window, while a double-click on the same file will launch it into Notepad, Wordpad or whatever you have associated with that file type in Windows.

Universal Explorer also offers many Special Tools to help you locate a file when you are unsure of its name or location.  Please see the sections on Find Files, Search Text, Graphics Thumbview and Slide Show.

Auto-Refresh: By default, UE will automatically refresh the listings on any open panel when a change takes place within the displayed content.

Moving Files: The default action when dragging files in UE File Manager depends on the Source and Destination Drives. If you highlight a file(s) or folder and left-click, hold, drag and release to another location on the SAME DRIVE - the selected file(s) will be MOVED to the new location. If you highlight a file(s) or folder and left-click, hold, drag and release to another location on a DIFFERENT DRIVE - the selected file(s) will be COPIED to the new location.

To manually MOVE the desired file(s) or folders when working with different drives use the following procedure:

To manually COPY the desired file(s) or folders when working within the same drive use the following procedure:

Copying Files: This is the default action when dragging files in UE File Manager (see above). You may also use the Copy & Paste options of the right-click menu.

Deleting Files: This function works identically to Window's Explorer. Simple selected the desired file(s) and hit your keyboard Delete key or right-click on the selected file(s) and choose the Delete option. The "Move to Wastebasket" dialog box will appear.

Again, there are many other options for working in File Manger available via the Menu and/or main Toolbar. Please see those sections of this manual for details.