Total Commander

It's important to show the power of TC to the user right at the start. But there is a downside. It's really crowded which really leads to an overcharge. There must be a reason why TC opens the list of all layout elements at first startup.

So which elements should be displayed at first startup? What is the best way to show the powert of TC without overcharching the user?


Of course more than one answer is allowed!

I use them almost all, so can't help you to minimize number of default items. Show two drive bars and hide column headers ('cause I'm using brief view) - the rest of your list is enabled.

Well the question is not 'what do you use'? Instead the questions is which elements would be a good mix for new users?

I don't think we can hide something. Every item is useful somehow. I would enable two drive button bars by default. Maybe command line may be hidden but user may miss it...

I don't think TC does a very good job at showing the "power" to a new user. And anyone unfamiliar with TC or it's predecessors will likely be turned off by the awkward Menu organization.

If the idea is to promote and emphasize TC's ability, I would think at least a new-user page in the help-file that might point out things like:
SubDir-Branch-View, Multi-Rename-Tool (ability to edit filenames auto-loaded into an editor). QuickSort/FilterSort, and point out where they are in the GUI.

A number of those horizontal toolbars I never have enabled, as they just waste too much vertical space.

I wouldn't change anything here. It seems to me that it's either small things that would not make any difference (first-time users simply don't notice them at first) or they are bigger but too important to hide them.