One-Pane (Merged) Synchronized Browsing

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metal450
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One-Pane (Merged) Synchronized Browsing

Post by *metal450 »

I’m trying to find a file manager for a very specific purpose – I tried out Total Commander & wasn’t able to determine if it supports this functionality, so I thought I’d reach out & ask :)

What I’m after is a way to navigate a directory structure in a single pane, where the listings come from two parallel sources. The goal is to split my data between internal storage & NAS, but view it all combined, just by browsing one directory structure. I envision it looking like a directory listing where "externally sourced" items are interleaved in the normal listing, perhaps indicated by a different color or something.

Note that this is very similar to Filezilla’s File->Synchronized Browsing & File->Comparison, except:

1) The results are shown interleaved in a single panel, not dual-pane, and

2) It should work even if the full identical directory structure isn't on both sides. In Filezilla, Synchronized Browsing only remains active as long as the identical paths remain available in both panes; if you navigate into a folder i.e. on the left where no such folder exists on the right, Synchronized Browsing gets disabled. In my usage, navigating into a folder that's "missing" on the other side would simply result in no supplementary file entries being taken from that side - but if you back up a level and then navigate into a folder that IS there on both sides, you’ll see files from both again.

Could something like that be possible?
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Re: One-Pane (Merged) Synchronized Browsing

Post by *petermad »

Well there is the cm_SyncChangeDir command, but it works for two panels, and also stops when the directories doesn't match any more..
Last edited by petermad on 2019-06-14, 08:41 UTC, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: One-Pane (Merged) Synchronized Browsing

Post by *metal450 »

So exactly like Filezilla - which isn't the functionality I'm looking for. Does that mean there's no way to do it in Total Commander?
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Re: One-Pane (Merged) Synchronized Browsing

Post by *petermad »

Does that mean there's no way to do it in Total Commander
I am afraid so.
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Re: One-Pane (Merged) Synchronized Browsing

Post by *metal450 »

Would it be possible if I wrote a plugin, or still no? I see there are 4 specific types of plugins listed here (http://www.ghisler.ch/wiki/index.php/Plugin), but it's not clear that any of them would actually be able to supplement with this type of behavior.
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Re: One-Pane (Merged) Synchronized Browsing

Post by *petermad »

Maybe with a file system plugin... ?
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Re: One-Pane (Merged) Synchronized Browsing

Post by *metal450 »

Is there some way to find out from the developer whether or not the FS plugin api would be able to provide this type of behavior? I had a look at the developer CHM and I'm pretty sure it would, but it would be nice to know for sure if it's something that would even be possible, before really digging into learning the whole system.
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Re: One-Pane (Merged) Synchronized Browsing

Post by *petermad »

You can wait until that ghisler(Author) reads and answers this...
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Re: One-Pane (Merged) Synchronized Browsing

Post by *metal450 »

That's what I've been hoping for, but does he actually read/respond on the forum? ;)
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Re: One-Pane (Merged) Synchronized Browsing

Post by *petermad »

2metal450
Mostly.
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Re: One-Pane (Merged) Synchronized Browsing

Post by *ghisler(Author) »

Maybe you can achieve it with the Windows "Libraries" - you can specify multiple directories to be shown in one library. They can be accessed from Total Commander too, via Alt+F11/Alt+F12, cursor down, "Libraries".
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Re: One-Pane (Merged) Synchronized Browsing

Post by *metal450 »

As I understand it, Windows Libraries are fundamentally not the same thing as Synchronized Browsing.

All libraries seem to do is create a single merged top-level folder containing the stuff you add. If each "source" has a subfolder of the same name, they are listed separately, and navigating into one shows just that subfolder's contents - aka as soon as you navigate one level down, it only shows the contents of one source, not both sources merged.

So...unless I'm misunderstanding how Libraries work, I don't really see how they would relate to the above functionality....?
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Re: One-Pane (Merged) Synchronized Browsing

Post by *ghisler(Author) »

Then maybe the plugin "Temporary panel" would help you? But you would have to add files/folders manually yourself.
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Re: One-Pane (Merged) Synchronized Browsing

Post by *metal450 »

As opposed to Virtual Panel (https://www.ghisler.ch/board/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=24293&hilit=temporary+panel#p188283) plugin?

I've spent some time trying to figure out how to actually use/configure it, but can't seem to find any information. Once it's installed...where its config actually appears in the UI...

Thanks,
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Re: One-Pane (Merged) Synchronized Browsing

Post by *petermad »

but can't seem to find any information. Once it's installed...where its config actually appears in the UI....
You usually configure file-system plugins by right-clicking the plugin name in the Network view (cm_OpenNetwork) and choose Properties...
License #524 (1994)
Danish Total Commander Translator
TC 11.03 32+64bit on Win XP 32bit & Win 7, 8.1 & 10 (22H2) 64bit, 'Everything' 1.5.0.1371a
TC 3.50b4 on Android 6 & 13
Try: TC Extended Menus | TC Languagebar | TC Dark Help | PHSM-Calendar
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