View Window
The "Tree View" or view window displays the directory structure of the currently connected server. The window is blank unless FTP Explorer is connected to a server, or a server's cached directory information is displayed. Navigating through the server's various folders or directories is accomplished by clicking individual folders with the mouse. As the example below displays, the folder icons change depending on their status. Here are the general guidelines that explain the individual icons displayed in the Tree View:
- If a directory has been chosen, and its contents displayed in the File View Area, the folder will be represented by a yellow icon.
- The current folder is represented by an open folder icon.
- Folders that have not been listed are gray in color.
- Folders that are being refreshed are green. These folders turn yellow once FTP Explorer finishes downloading the content listing from the server.
- Folders with a "+" symbol next to the folder name mean that there are sub-directories beneath the folder.
Conversely, a "-" symbol next to a folder icon means that there are no further directories beneath, although there may be files in the directory.
Non-viewed (gray) directories will not have the "+", or "-" symbols next to their icons since the program has not attempted to display the contents of the folders, and it is only during the listing process that FTP Explorer determines the contents of each folder.
FTP Explorer handles all user commands intelligently by placing each command in a virtual "queue". The individual commands in this command queue are then carried out sequentially until all have been completed. This feature allows the user to select or "flag" several directories at the same time, and continue to upload or download files while the program completes downloading the file listings of the chosen directories. This speeds the navigation of servers by downloading only the directories that the user selects without disabling the user interface, or restricting the navigation functionality of the program while displaying the contents of those directories.
Using The Keyboard To Navigate
For users more accustomed to keyboard navigation, FTP Explorer has been designed to make every feature available via the keyboard. The tree view area of the main screen can be fully exploited with the Tab, Page-Up, Page Down, and various Arrow keys. Use the up and down arrow keys to select individual directories to display. Enlarge or collapse directory trees with the right and left arrow keys respectively. Press the tab key to move from the tree view to the File View Area. |
