Editing File manager (section)

===Features===
An orthodox file manager typically has three windows. Two of the windows are called panels and are positioned symmetrically at the top of the screen. The third is the command line, which is essentially a minimized command (shell) window that can be expanded to full screen. Only one of the panels is active at a given time. The active panel contains the "file cursor". Panels are resizable and can be hidden. Files in the active panel serve as the source of file operations performed by the manager. For example, files can be copied or moved from the active panel to the location represented in the passive panel. This scheme is most effective for systems in which the keyboard is the primary or sole input device. The active panel shows information about the [[current working directory]] and the files that it contains. The passive (inactive) panel shows the content of the same or another directory (the default target for file operations). Users may customize the display of columns that show relevant file information. The active panel and passive panel can be switched (often by pressing the [[tab key]]).

The following features describe the class of orthodox file managers.
* They present the user with a two-panel directory view with a command line below. Either panel may be selected to be active; the other becomes passive. The active panel becomes the working area for delete and rename operations, while the passive panel serves as a target for copy and move operations. Panels may be shrunk, exposing the terminal window hidden behind them. Normally, only the last line of the terminal window (the command line) is visible.
* They provide close integration with an underlying [[Operating System|OS]] shell via [[Command-line interface|command line]], using the associated terminal window that permits viewing the results of executing shell commands entered on the command line (e.g., via Ctrl-O shortcut in Norton Commander).
* They provide the user with extensive keyboard shortcuts.
* The file manager frees the user from having to use the mouse.
* Users can create their own file associations and scripts that are invoked for certain file types and organize these scripts into a hierarchical tree (e.g., as a user script library or user menu).{{Citation needed|date=August 2007}}
* Users can extend the functionality of the manager via a so-called ''User menu'' or ''Start menu'' and extensions menu.

Other common features include:
* Information on the "active" and "passive" panels may be used for constructing commands on the command line.  Examples include current file, path to left panel, path to right panel, etc.
* They provide a built-in viewer for (at least) the most basic file types.
* They have a built-in editor.  In many cases, the editor can extract certain elements of the panels into the text being edited.
* Many support virtual file systems ([[Virtual file system|VFS]]) such as viewing compressed archives, or working with files via an FTP connection.
* They often have the word ''commander'' in the name, after [[Norton Commander]].
* Path: shows the source/destination location of the directory in use
* Information about directory size, disk usage and disk name (usually at the bottom of the panels)
* Panel with information about file name, extension, date and time of creation, last modification, and permissions (attributes).
* Info panel with the number of files in directory, and the sum of the sizes of selected files.
* Tabbed interface (usually in GUI file managers)
* Function keys: F1–F10 have all the same functions under all orthodox file managers. Examples: F5 always copies file(s) from the active to the inactive panel, while F6 moves the file.

====Tabbed panels====
The introduction of tabbed panels in some file managers (for example [[Total Commander]]) made it possible to manipulate more than one active and passive directory at a time.

====Portability====
Orthodox file managers<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.softpanorama.org/OFM/index.shtml |title=Home of the OFM standard}}</ref> are among the most portable file managers.  Examples are available on almost any platform, with both command-line and graphical interfaces. This is unusual among command line managers in that something purporting to be a standard for the interface is published. They are also actively supported by developers. This makes it possible to do the same work on different platforms without much relearning of the interface.

====Dual-pane managers====
Sometimes they are called {{Anchor|dual-pane file manager}}dual-pane managers, a term that is typically used for programs such as the [[Windows File Explorer]] (see below). But they have three panes including a command line pane below (or hidden behind) two symmetric panes. Furthermore, most of these programs allow using just one of the two larger panes with the second hidden. Some also add an item to the Context Menu in Windows to "Open two Explorers, side by side".

Notable ones include:
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* [[Altap Salamander]]
* [[Commander One]]
* [[Demos Commander]]
* [[Directory Opus]]
* [[DOS Navigator]] (DN) and derivatives
* [[Double Commander]]
* [[emelFM2]]
* [[Far Manager]]
* [[ForkLift (File Manager)|ForkLift]]
* [[GNOME Commander]]
* [[IBM HandShaker]]
* [[Krusader]]
* [[Midnight Commander]] (MC)
* [[muCommander]]
* [[Norton Commander]] (NC)
* [[PathMinder]]
* [[ranger (file manager)|Ranger]]
* [[Total Commander]]
* [[Volkov Commander]] (VC)
* [[WinSCP]]
* [[XTree]]
* [[ZTreeWin]]
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