Freedom251 › File Manager Software
File Commander/2
What File Commander/2 is
File Commander/2 is a 32-bit text-mode file manager and shell for locating, copying, moving, deleting, viewing, editing and executing files. Its dual panels can show source and destination locations, directory trees, drive statistics or command output. File Find combines wildcard filename filters with content scanning and can search and replace text in matching files. Archive handling supports nested archives and formats including ZIP, ARJ, RAR, LZH, ACE, HA, TAR, GZip, 7ZIP and BZIP2. The viewer offers hex display and syntax highlighting; the editor provides undo, redo, syntax highlighting and clipboard cut, copy and paste. The maker states full Unicode filename support and files and volumes up to 2^63 bytes. It can browse network servers and shares. Version 2.50 adds scripting for some functions, while remote control is intended for SSH and requires a local SSH client plus fc-remote remotely. Builds are listed for OS/2, Windows and Linux, with the Linux AppImage marked experimental. Configuration includes filename colorization, filtering and user-defined menus.
Who it suits
It suits users who prefer a text-mode file manager with dual-pane navigation, archive handling and network browsing. It is available through listed OS/2, Windows and Linux builds.
What it does well
- Dual-pane text-mode interface
- Searches filenames and file contents
- Handles nested archives and many formats
- Supports Unicode filenames
- Includes scripting and SSH remote control
What to know first
- 32-bit application
- Linux AppImage is experimental
- Development builds may contain broken functions
- No current price is stated
Plans
| Plan | Billed and limits | Price |
|---|---|---|
| File Commander/2 | OS/2 shareware; no current price stated on maker’s pages | On request |
As storch.dk lists them, read 12 Oct 2026. The maker's own page has the final word.
Verdict
File Commander/2 offers extensive file operations in a text interface, including archives, search, scripting and SSH-oriented remote control. Review the platform build and development-status warnings before use.
Facts from File Commander/2's own pages
- Archives
- Built-in archive support includes nested archives and ZIP, ARJ, RAR, LZH, ACE, HA, TAR, GZip, 7ZIP, and BZIP2 formats. · storch.dk, 12 Oct 2026
- Archive support
- Yes · storch.dk, 24 Sept 2026
- Authorship
- The official mirror identifies Brian Havard as the author and Klaus Storch as the mirror maintainer in Denmark. · storch.dk, 12 Oct 2026
- Automation
- Version 2.50 adds a built-in scripting language for automating some File Commander functions. · silk.apana.org.au, 12 Oct 2026
- Customization
- The product offers configuration options, boolean-expression filename colorization, flexible filename filtering, and user-definable menus. · storch.dk, 12 Oct 2026
- Development build limitation
- The maker warns that unstable branch snapshots may contain bugs, broken functions, and partially implemented features, and says to use them at the user's own risk. · silk.apana.org.au, 12 Oct 2026
- Dual-pane view
- Yes · storch.dk, 24 Sept 2026
- Editing and viewing
- The built-in viewer supports hex view and syntax highlighting; the editor supports undo and redo, syntax highlighting, and global clipboard cut, copy, and paste. · storch.dk, 12 Oct 2026
- File size support
- The maker says it supports files and volumes up to 2^63 bytes. · storch.dk, 12 Oct 2026
- File support
- The maker’s page states full Unicode filename support and support for files and volumes up to 2^63 bytes. · storch.dk, 12 Oct 2026
- Interface
- Its main display has dual directory panels that can show source and destination locations, directory trees, drive statistics, or command output. · storch.dk, 12 Oct 2026
- Network access
- The feature list includes browsing network servers and shares. · storch.dk, 12 Oct 2026
- Network browsing
- The feature list says File Commander can browse network servers and shares. · storch.dk, 12 Oct 2026
- Operating systems
- The maker’s development page lists OS/2, Windows, and Linux builds, including Debian and RPM packages; it labels the Linux AppImage experimental. · silk.apana.org.au, 12 Oct 2026
- Package integrity
- The development page provides public keys for verifying package integrity in Debian-based and RPM-based systems. · silk.apana.org.au, 12 Oct 2026
- Platforms
- The development page lists OS/2 and Windows builds, plus Linux AppImage and distribution packages. · silk.apana.org.au, 12 Oct 2026
- Pricing and registration
- The maker’s page links to BMT Micro registration options for OS/2 and Win32 but does not state a price. · storch.dk, 12 Oct 2026
- Purpose
- File Commander is a 32-bit text-mode file manager and shell for locating, copying, moving, deleting, viewing, editing, and executing files. · storch.dk, 12 Oct 2026
- Release status
- The maker warns that the development branch may contain bugs, broken functions, and partially implemented features, and says to use it at the user’s own risk. · silk.apana.org.au, 12 Oct 2026
- Remote access
- The maker describes a remote control feature intended to run over SSH and says the local machine needs an SSH client. · silk.apana.org.au, 12 Oct 2026
- Remote control
- Version 2.50’s remote-control feature is intended to run over SSH and requires an fc-remote executable on the remote machine and an SSH client locally. · silk.apana.org.au, 12 Oct 2026
- Search
- File Find combines wildcard filename filters with file contents scanning and can search and replace text in matching files. · storch.dk, 12 Oct 2026
- Support
- The maker lists a bug report database and gives Brian Havard’s email address for contact. · storch.dk, 12 Oct 2026
- What it does
- File Commander is a text mode file manager and shell for locating, copying, moving, deleting, viewing, editing, and executing files. · storch.dk, 12 Oct 2026
Where File Commander/2 stands on Freedom251
- File Manager Software#98 of 100