Universal Viewer - Lister alternative

[Alextp]

Universal Viewer is an alternative for Total Commander Lister (stand-alone). All Lister's view modes are implemented: Text, Binary, Hex, RTF etc.

Advantages over Lister:

• Built-in functions of several popular plugins: images, multimedia, webpages view
• Support for text converters
• Support for user tools
• Toolbar, status bar, other interface improvements
• Auto-reloading of file on changing, "Follow tail" option
• Displaying of line numbers
• Displaying of non-printable characters
• Combined Unicode/Hex mode (call Unicode mode twice)
• More modern RegEx search library
• Print preview
• EXIF viewer

Links:

• Homepage
• FAQ - Frequently asked questions
• Known issues with Lister plugins
• Lite version, starts faster
• Beta versions

[TucknDar]

Out of curiousity, what is the advantage over Lister?

[Alextp]

There is advantage over Lister without WLX plugins.
Over Lister+plugins - the main adv. is Unicode support.

[Clo]

2Alextp

Hello Alexeï !

• Nice tool anyway ! Thank you !

<SWEET>
- I appreciate especially the good display of *.ico files, where the real size is shown, and the other features too !
- Also the animation for the GIFs (which has never been supported by the original Lister, either embedded or standalone…)
- I have to test further about the images display, but all looks already promising !
</SWEET>

<BITTER>
• Currently, the programme has not any LNG file… Do you plan some localization ?

• There is an issue for the Next¦Previous file in the following case :
- In TC : Sort by extensions (so, then by name in each type-group),
- A folder in wich there are various images types like below :

1.BMP
2.BMP
*.BMP
…
1.GIF
2.GIF
3.GIF
*.GIF
…
1.JPG
2.JPG
3.JPG
*.JPG
…

- If you begin to display images from 1.GIF or 2.GIF, it's impossible to get the Next¦Previous !
The image stays on the window.
- Same if you start with 1.JPG or 2.JPG !
- That works only when you start from file #3, for any type, as well text files, or if you begin with the very first file of the very first extension-group.
- It works from the first file too if I choose "Sort by names" in the TC-panels, but this is not convenient at all for me…
</BITTER>

• Accuracies :
- I Drag & Drop the first file to display to the tool icon in a button-bar, this is my usual way to work…
- The tool doesn't care the current sort order in TC, it applies always "By names".
- Win XP-Pro - SP1 (French)
- In TC : SortUpper=3

 Kind regards,
Claude
Clo

[Alextp]

- I appreciate especially the good display of *.ico files, where the real size is shown, and the other features too !
...

Thank you...

• Currently, the programme has not any LNG file… Do you plan some localization ?

Not now, later, when program will be wider used.

• There is an issue for the Next¦Previous file in the following case :
- In TC : Sort by extensions (so, then by name in each type-group),
- A folder in wich there are various images types like below :

Hmm.. It's Stange.
Next|Previous feature works indep-ly of sort order in TC.
All it requires that passed name in commandline must exist. And that it's long, not 8.3 name. So, if it works for 3.jpg, it must work for 1/2.jpg...
I can make logging of this operation so we'll find the bug. I'll mail you later.

[Clo]

2Alextp

Hello !

Forgotten, Unicode support in <SWEET>, indeed !

{ About localizations } Not now, later, when program will be wider used.

- Well, I'll attempt a workaround

Next|Previous feature works indep-ly of sort order in TC. …

- I seems you are using the Win default order, and AFAIK, it's corresponding to the SortUpper=2 of TC, so not a wonder… and only by names. This causes annoyances in several programmes using that too, i.e. in XnView…
- IMHO, the current sort order of TC for the viewed dir. might be supported
(detected then used, even if that takes ¼ second…)

• The names shown here are just for examples and convenience, I have not 8.3 names in the test-directory !
- I guess that my way to work via D & D does matter in the case… Just a feeling, though.

I can make logging of this operation so we'll find the bug. I'll mail you later.

• This should be nice ! Thanks !

 Kind regards,
Claude
Clo

[Alextp]

Forgotten, Unicode support in <SWEET>, indeed !

But it seems that TC cannot pass to viewer correct Unicode names. See near thread in English forum about it.

I seems you are using the Win default order, and AFAIK, it's corresponding to the SortUpper=2 of TC, so not a wonder… and only by names. This causes annoyances in several programmes using that too, i.e. in XnView…
- IMHO, the current sort order of TC for the viewed dir. might be supported

But how to determine it?

And note: this utility is not a plugin for TC, it cannot use TC settings at all! It's just standalone utility. It uses its own sort order, always by name.

• The names shown here are just for examples and convenience, I have not 8.3 names in the test-directory !

So please tell me what real names were. Full path of directory and full filenames.

[Clo]

2Alextp

Ok, I do below. I used only the root-part of the dir., and not any file in some sub-dir.

Directory :
K:\Images\

--------------

Files (those I tested with) :

K:\Images\000.bmp
K:\Images\EXIF.BMP
K:\Images\olive_avt.bmp
K:\Images\PopClo.bmp
K:\Images\icon.dds
K:\Images\A_lire_de_près.gif
K:\Images\after6beers.gif
K:\Images\Agree.gif
K:\Images\ah-hello_green.gif
K:\Images\ANAN.GIF
K:\Images\applaudir.gif
K:\Images\asleeping.gif
K:\Images\bee-eater.gif
K:\Images\bi_soleil.gif
K:\Images\biggerGrin.gif
K:\Images\bocul.gif
K:\Images\bowdown.gif
K:\Images\byebye.gif
K:\Images\Carte des langues de France.gif
K:\Images\censored.gif
K:\Images\ComptePersonnages.gif
K:\Images\cul.gif
K:\Images\Dancing.gif
K:\Images\Dernier_mot.gif
K:\Images\dist_plus_sc.gif
K:\Images\eusa_think.gif
K:\Images\fume.gif
K:\Images\honte.gif
K:\Images\interdit aux cons.gif
K:\Images\langue.gif
K:\Images\lol-green.gif
K:\Images\Malade.gif
K:\Images\MéchanteHumeur.gif
K:\Images\motus-et-bouche-cousue.gif
K:\Images\my-bum---.gif
K:\Images\nice.gif
K:\Images\no-no.gif
K:\Images\Nounours1.gif
K:\Images\Nounours2.gif
K:\Images\nouveau_sport.gif
K:\Images\ordidort.gif
K:\Images\Pas-content.gif
K:\Images\PinoBush.gif
K:\Images\planisphere.gif
K:\Images\pleure-dur.gif
K:\Images\Pop-clo-af.gif
K:\Images\Prions.gif
K:\Images\prof.gif
K:\Images\ratzi1.gif
K:\Images\ratzi2.gif
K:\Images\rem.gif
K:\Images\romance.gif
K:\Images\sifflotte.gif
K:\Images\sm-animl.gif
K:\Images\Smil-poivrots.gif
K:\Images\Smil-wc.gif
K:\Images\Stop-troll.gif
K:\Images\tetomur.gif
K:\Images\Tortue-non-opt.gif
K:\Images\Tortue-optim.gif
K:\Images\tristounet.gif
K:\Images\Vous-êtes ici !.gif
K:\Images\warning-troll.gif
K:\Images\7-zip-GF.ico
K:\Images\Edit-colonnes.ico
K:\Images\descript.ion
K:\Images\2 Ouistiti.jpg
K:\Images\album_pic.jpg
K:\Images\AntiVir.jpg
K:\Images\Apologize.jpg
K:\Images\Bearz_Eyes___1024x768_by_ckit.jpg
K:\Images\Ben-petrol.jpg
K:\Images\bonne_langue---.jpg
K:\Images\charcuteriefb.jpg
K:\Images\Chez-Appi.jpg
…

• Hoping this helps…

But how to determine it?

• Just read it in <wincmc.ini> !

…this utility is not a plugin for TC, it cannot use TC settings at all! It's just standalone utility. …

• Most certainly, but here, we are in the TC-forum, and talking of its use with¦from TC, are we not ?

…It uses its own sort order, always by name.

… And this is pretty annoying !

  KR
Claude
Clo

[Alextp]

• Hoping this helps…

I replied in e-mail...

• Just read it in <wincmc.ini> !

We have 2 pborlems with it:
- No setting for wincmd.ini path at all
- I tested: TC saves "SortOrder" wincmd.ini key only when exiting, not "on-the-fly". So this key becomes meaningless...
Any suggestions?

[Clo]

2Alextp

Hello Alexeï !

• I got you mail, thanks.

- Here, the file-names themselves do not matter in that issue, I think.
All are ANSI Latin I (1252). Not any file or dir names as Unicode of any kind, this is useless in French.
• To catch alright how the issue occurs, please watch THIS VIDEO.
The video shows how is the file-list in the TC panel, and what occurs when you carry by D & D the first file of an extension group which is not the first group of extensions.

…- No setting for wincmd.ini path at all…

• Just for a test : No problem here, it's always %COMMANDER_PATH%\wincmd.ini

…TC saves "SortOrder" wincmd.ini key only when exiting, not "on-the-fly". So this key becomes meaningless...

• No problem again for a test : here it's almost always "By extension" for all image-dirs. (and others) when I need to view them…
- Moreover, I'm in the habit to close TC the most times when working with another soft, so the <wincmd.ini> is often refreshed !

• Further, sorting by date might be considered, I use this also when I draw icons… and the viewer behaves the same than “Extensions” in the case…

 KR
Claude
Clo

[Alextp]

As I replied in e-mail, the problem is: you run Viewer with *short* filename in commandine. So it cannot find filename in dir, it looks only for *long* filenames.
So Clo: can you setup TC so that TC will run Viewer with long filenames in commandline?

If you setup Viewer as additional program for Atl+F3, no problems will be.

I may fix this also, so that Viewer will look for short names too, but let's setup TC first.

[Clo]

2Alextp

I didn't set parameters for 8.3 names in the button bar !
- With images softs, I do the same, and I can see the next¦previous files without any problem from D & D any file at any position with any sort order in TC……

- I have added %N %P as parameters for the button of the viewer.
- Now, it no longer tells that the name is not found, but I can see only 3 pictures / 134 : the viewer says it's the first pic, and asks to jump to last one of the dir. >> OK >> The opposite ! Instead to open the next or previous one as expected…

 KR
Claude
Clo

[Alextp]

- With images softs, I do the same,

Sorry, what is "images softs"?

- I have added %N %P as parameters for the button of the viewer.

I did the same, now Viewer gets long filenames.
So the problem is gone here.

Now, it no longer tells that the name is not found, but I can see only 3 pictures / 134 :

Strange. If you hold down Ctrl-PgDn/PgUp, will you see only 3 files, or 134?

asks to jump to last one of the dir. >> OK >> The opposite ! Instead to open the next or previous one as expected…

That's normal, because filelist order differs from TC's list order.

[Clo]

2Alextp

Hello Alexeï !

Sorry, what is "images softs"?

• I meant : Images viewers programmes, of course !

- I wonder to know what is the default when you set a button without any parameter, about the name type of the called files !
- Till today, I never had any problem for this : I didn't set any parameter !
- I'll have to ask for an accuracy to Ch. Ghisler, 'cause I didn't test with the current version of TC

¤ Else :
- I ought put a damper on the icon-display…
- All icons - any size- up to 32² (included) are nicely displayed as the real size; unfortunately, the sizes larger than 32² are not, they are shown as 32² still… and truncated, only the upper-left corner is shown up to 32², the rest is missing
- You can see two samples for a 48²-icon and a 64² test icon that you can save to test…

Any idea ?

 Kind regards,
Claude
Clo

[Alextp]

About Next|Previous:
so, now, with %P%N params, feature works correctly?
You only suggest that TC sort order should be considered?

¤ Else :
- I ought put a damper on the icon-display…
- All icons - any size- up to 32² (included) are nicely displayed as the real size; unfortunately, the sizes larger than 32² are not, they are shown as 32² still…

OK, I'll see where is the problem...