Plugin

From TotalcmdWiki
Jump to navigation Jump to search

A plugin is a dynamically linked library that can be added to Total Commander in order to extend or improve Total Commander's functionality. Thus a plugin can be considered an addon. Most plugins are third party software, though Christian Ghisler did create several plugins himself.

Plugin types

Total Commander currently supports four plugin types:

  • Packer plugins (.wcx files) - Packer plugins are used to pack/unpack/modify specific file types, usually archive formats.
  • File system plugins (.wfx files) - File system plugins are used via the Network Neighborhood. They usually access some remote system or a certain part of your PC which cannot be accessed via drive letters.
  • Lister plugins (.wlx files) - Lister plugins display special file types in the built-in lister as well as in the quick view panel (Ctrl+Q).
  • Content plugins (.wdx files) - Content plugins have several purposes: searching for specific file properties and contents, displaying of these properties in file lists, and using them in the multi-rename tool to add them to the file name.

Where to find plugins?

Several lists of plugins can be found in this wiki:

Links to other plugin resources are listed at:

Plugin installation

There are several ways to install plugins:

Installation using Total Commander's integrated plugin installer

Often a plugin can be installed by simply opening the plugin installation archive from within Total Commander. Simply double clicking the plugin installation archive will launch Total Commander's built-in plugin installer. This only works if the following conditions are met:

  • You are using Total Commander version 6.5 or later.
  • The plugin installation archive supports installation by the integrated installer (i.e. it contains a valid pluginst.inf file).
  • The option "Configuration" -> "Options..." -> "Packer" -> "Treat archives like directories" is enabled.
  • The parameter AutoInstallPlugins=0 is not set in the [Configuration] section of the wincmd.ini file.
  • The plugin archive has not been opened in order to view its contents (for example with Ctrl-PgDn). In this case open and close another archive in the same file panel - this will re-initiate auto-installation for the wanted plugin archive, so that double clicking it once again should start the auto-installation.

Installation using the plugin's own installer

Some plugins come with there own installer. Launch this installer in order to install the plugin.

Manual installation of plugins

Some (older) plugins need to be installed manually. The basics steps to install such plugins are:

  • Unpack the plugin archive to a folder.
  • Add the plugin to Total Commander using Total Commander's configurations options.

Plugin management

These tools were created to make the plugin installation and management easier:

You might need a tool for managing your plugins when:

  • You want to install plugins by double-clicking plugin files
  • You want to install zipped plugins pack (archive that contains several plugins)
  • You want to install a bunch of plugins located in a folder and all its subfolders
  • You want to install two different plugins for the same extension
  • You want to temporary disable some plugins
  • You want to change the loading order of Packer plugins


Information for developers

See Developer's corner.



Back to Main Page