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== What is “Directory HotList” and how can it be accessible ==
The '''directory hotlist''' (also called directory menu) provides [[easy access to your favorites]] via a menu. The directory hotlist is primarily intended to quickly access your favorite folders, but it can be used to open folders, network folders, folders on ftp servers, file system plugin folders, websites, internal functions, programs or documents.
The directory hotlist allows quick switching between multiple directories. The directory hotlist can be opened in four different ways:
# Through the Commands menu.
# By double clicking on the title bar of the file windows (display of the current path).
# By pressing Ctrl+D.
# From the * button above the tabstop header as shown of the following screenshot:


[[image:directory_hotlist_gui_access.png|frame|center|Figure 1 - Accessing Directory HotList via the GUI]]
== Usage ==
The directory hotlist can be opened in different ways. These are:
* By clicking on the directory hotlist button (button with star image, see figure 1).
* By double clicking anywhere on one of the title bars of the file windows (display of the folder name).
* By pressing CTRL+D.
* By selecting menu option Commands/Directory Hotlist.
* By typing "cm_directoryhotlist" at the [[command line]].


You can selectively deactivate the display of the * button for the Directory HotList as shown on the screenshot on the right. Just access TC’s configurations and under the Layout section you will see an option that reads: “Show buttons for history list and hotlist”. Uncheck this option if you wish to deactivate the display of the hotlist button. By doing so, you do not deactivate the feature itself but just the display of the hotlist button. You can still access the hotlist via the first three ways mentioned above. 
[[image:directory_hotlist_gui_access.png|frame|center|Figure 1 - The directory hotlist button]]


[[image:directory_hotlist_layout.png|frame|center|Figure 2 - Activating/Deactivating the * Button]]
Once the directory hotlist is opened a menu is displayed containing your favorites. Simply select the menu entry of the favorite you want to open.


The displayed directory hotlist menu contains a list of previously added directories, plus two additional commands (refer to Figure 5):
At the bottom of the menu two additional entries are listed to change the menu. These are:
* Add/Remove current dir: This option allows to add the currently displayed directory to the list, or to remove it, respectively.
#* Add current dir - This option adds the currently displayed folder to the menu. This option is not shown when the folder is already listed in the menu.
#* Remove current dir - This option removes the currently displayed folder from the menu. This option is not shown when the folder is not listed in the menu.
# Configure - This option opens a menu editor which allows to add, modify, move and remove menu entries.


* Configure: Opens a configuration dialog, which allows to sort the menu entries, and which allows to modify, add or remove entries. The dialog box is built like the dialog box to change the start menu.
== External links ==
* [http://ghisler.ch/help/totalcmd/directory_hotlist.htm Total Commander's Online Help - Directory hotlist]
* [http://www.totalcmd.net/plugring/Mastering_HotList_Doc.html Document at www.totalcmd.net about using directory hotlist effectively.]


== Change directory menu (dialog box) ==
{{Backlink|List of internal functions|List of internal functions}}
 
[[Category:Internal functions]]
The directory menu is invoked with Ctrl+D, or a double click on the current path header. To move menu items to a different line, put the cursor bar on the desired entry, hold down the Shift key and move it using up and down arrow keys. You can also drag items using the mouse.
 
[[image:directory_hotlist_configuration.png|frame|center|Figure 3 - Configuring the Directory HotList]]
 
The following table describes elements of the Dialog Box: Change Directory Menu:
 
{| border="1"
| # || Field || Meaning
|-
| 1 || Directory menu: || Shows the existing entries of the directory menu. If you select an entry, the command line and parameters belonging to it are shown.
|-
| 2 || Add item... || Creates a new entry in the directory menu. Asks for a menu title first. A & sign causes the letter behind it to be underlined. Enter a single dash '-' to create a separator line.
|-
| 3 || Add submenu... || Creates a new submenu. Asks for a menu title first. Submenus are shown with a dash in front of the name. The end of the submenu is shown with two dashes.
|-
| 4 || Delete Item || Deletes the selected menu entry. Choose CANCEL to cancel all changes.
|-
| 5 || Change Title... || Changes the title of the menu entry.
|-
| 6 || Command: || This box contains the command to change the source directory. It looks like this:
                  cd Drive:\Directory
It is also possible to run programs from the menu by providing a full path to the executable, e.g. "c:\tmp\myprogram.exe", or even
run a DOS command by specifying e.g. "cmd /c del c:\tmp\*.*" which in this example deletes all the files in c:\tmp.
 
New (v5.51): You can also choose the [[Internal command|Internal Commands of Total Commander]] from the dropdown combobox, e.g. cm_OpenDesktop to switch to the Desktop.
New (v6.00): You can use appendtabs and opentabs commands to load folder tab arrangements saved to files.
|-
| 7 || Target path: || Then the path given in this edit box is set in the target window. This allows to set both paths (source and target) at the same time. You can either specify only the path, or the command cd Drive:\TargetDirectory
|-
| 8 || OK || Saves the changes made to the file wincmd.ini in the Windows directory.
|-
| 9 || Cancel || Closes the dialog box without saving.
|-
| 10 || Help || Opens Windows Help with this page.
|}
 
Table 1
Elements of the Directory Menu configuration
 
== Tips on how to effectively organise your own Directory HotList ==
Here is a list of what you should consider when you edit and organise your directory menu:
* It is useful to make an entry for the Control Panel by using the corresponding internal command. In this way you have fast access to the Control Panel which is used frequently by the majority of users. 
*It is useful to make an entry for your Desktop by using the corresponding internal command to eliminate the delayed processes you usually follow to access your desktop.
*Use any other internal command you find useful but make sure that TotalCmd’s core functionality isn’t actually better in those cases than using Directory Hotlist. Some internal commands can be executed with their assigned shortcut which is faster than having to press Ctrl+D first and then select the desirable entry either by keyboard or with your mouse.     
*Make extensive use of the “&” character to create keyboard shortcut. For your own ease you should practically use it on every single entry you have. You should try to avoid duplicated use of the character as your shortcuts won’t function properly. Using an already assigned letter as shortcut to a sub-menu entry does not lead to duplication.
For example, having two root entries one called Multimedia and one called Music using “M” as your shortcuts for both will not work properly. In this case, pressing “M” will switch from one entry to the other but TC will not enter the corresponding directory immediately; you will have to press Enter. On the other hand, having a sub-menu entry sourced from Music called MP3s using “M” as well as shortcut is acceptable. You can then access it by pressing Ctrl+D+M+M which will bring you directly inside the MP3s folder. 
* Visually separate drives and network location by using the “-” character as an entry to create a divider. Follow the same approach to separate internal commands also or any logical groups you have in your mind based on your needs.
* When adding the current directory to the hotlist use the “Also save the target dir” tick box on your locations where moving and/or copying around files is planning for frequent use. The example shown on the following screenshot (Figure 4) illustrates the tight relation between the Downloads folder and the adding entry for the MP3s folder. [[image:Directory hotlist new title.png|frame|right|Figure 4 - Saving the target directory]]
* The Directory HotList feature is also capable of storing FTP addresses. Different FTP server types have different notations of those addresses as well as different notation of users’ account details embedded within the addresses. As a result of that, it is advisable to add these paths us-ing the “Add current dir” option and avoid manually inserting an address if you do not know the syntax (Section 4.1 of this document describes, with the aid of examples, some differences in these notations).
Save also the target path where you usually download/upload data for your ease. You can then easily synchronise folders and/or compare them. For one more time, separate your FTP section with network/local drives and internal commands for a clean and functional outcome.   
* Total Commander is also capable of storing FileSystem Plug-ins within the Directory HotList. FileSystem Plug-ins can be found under the Network Neighborhood icon in the drive button bar of TC. Again, separate this section from network, local, FTP and internal commands en-tries. It is extremely useful to save the destination folders you usually work with for your corresponding favourite FileSystem Plug-ins.
If, for example, you use an external FTP plug-in or an e-mail client or an HTTP browser, it is functional to save each of these FileSystem plug-ins in your directory menu with a corresponding local folder to increase your working reliability.           
*Define the drive letter or network location before each of your entries as you might have com-mon path names on different physical or logical locations and it might be confusing. You can skip this approach for sub-menu entries where normally everything included belongs to the root entry logically or physically. 
* Try to use sub-menus only for rarely accessible locations as you need to press more keys or use the mouse extensively slowing you down as a result. It is a good technique to use sub-menus to organise a complex list of paths but you should rather place in the root all your frequent loca-tions for faster access. 
* If more than one user has access on a specific machine and you perform management tasks for those users, it is a good technique to also include a separate section with the individual users’ folders within Documents & Settings. It is also advisable to include an entry for All Users and the administrator folder if you have admin rights.     
* If more than one user is using TC on the same machine it is advisable to create entries with the names of the individual users and then let the directory tree unfold separately according to the needs of the individual users. Common entries can be placed in the root of the menu for speed.   
* It is also a good technique when using sub-menus to also include an entry for the root path of a specific location as you may not always need to go to a direct location. 
* It is nice to also include just the root paths of your favourite physical and network drives but since this can be reliably performed by using other features of TotalCmd the suggestion only relies on personal taste.
* In general use the “Add current dir” option whenever and wherever file and/or folder synchronisations and comparisons are planned. It will speed up your functionality. 
* Version 5.51 of TC introduced the ability to define internal commands for your hotlist. Since v6.00 of TC you can also use appendtabs and opentabs commands to load folder tab arrangements saved to files. An Easter Egg feature you can say that not many users are aware of. 
* Finally, it is efficient to map the left-hand side keys for your frequent paths, if possible, since you will be using Ctrl+D to call the function itself anyway. Don’t follow though this tech-nique if it leads to confusing shortcut for the titles of the entries. It is logical to assign the first letter of every entry as a shortcut but eventually you will reach a point where a duplicate is unavoidable. So, use first letter for your frequent selections. Have them in capital case as well. It is easier to locate them in this way. 
You probably have realised by now that in some cases there is no such thing as the best solution due to practical and/or logical conflicts! You know your own needs better than anyone else so apply the above suggestions and tips to your own needs and working behaviour. Following the aforementioned tips you can have a result similar to the one shown on the following captured screenshot (Figure 5).
 
[[image:directory_hotlist_use.png|frame|center|Figure 5 - The magic of Directory HotList]]
 
Remark: The shortcuts are not case sensitive which means your available options become slightly limited. Avoid, if possible, special characters as it can be confusing.
 
Remark: New shortcuts are added on the same level as the last existing shortcut. This means that if the last (latest) item is a submenu item, the newly created one will also be a submenu item. To see which item is the latest see [[#Manually Editing Directory HotLists|Manually Editing Directory HotLists]]. The item with the highest number in the DirMenu section is the latest.
 
== Manually Editing Directory HotLists ==
 
'''Power Users'''
The folder information is saved within the wincmd.ini file that is located in your Windows directory (your INI file can be located in another directory if you have specified one during the [[installation]] or afterwards using the INI Relocation Tools from www.ghisler.com. Go to the “Help” menu and point to the “About” section to view the location of your own INI files). You can find the section with all the information related to the Directory HotList under the [[Ini-settings#Dirmenu|[DirMenu]]] entry of your INI file. Here is an extract example of were you should look for additional information within the INI file for manual modifications:
 
'''wincmd.ini extract:'''
[DirMenu]
menu1=CONTROL &PANEL
cmd1=cm_OpenControls
menu2=-
menu3=&DESKTOP
cmd3=cm_OpenDesktop
menu4=-
menu5=-C: Documents and &Settings
menu6=&Root
cmd6=cd c:\Documents and Settings
menu7=-
menu8=&Administrator
cmd8=cd c:\Documents and Settings\administrator
menu9=All &Users
cmd9=cd c:\Documents and Settings\All Users
menu10=-
menu11=&Panos
cmd11=cd c:\Documents and Settings\Panos
menu12=&Nick
cmd12=cd c:\Documents and Settings\Nick
menu13=&Claire
cmd13=cd c:\Documents and Settings\Claire
menu14=&Zoe
cmd14=cd c:\Documents and Settings\Zoe
menu15=--
menu16=-
menu17=C: Total&Cmd
cmd17=cd c:\Program Files\totalcmd
menu18=-C: &Windows
menu19=&Root
cmd19=cd c:\WINDOWS
menu20=&Common Files
cmd20=cd c:\Program Files\Common Files
menu21=Pr&oductivity
cmd21=cd c:\Program Files\Productivity
menu22=Program &Files
cmd22=cd c:\Program Files
menu23=&Microsoft Office
cmd23=cd c:\Program Files\Microsoft Office
menu24=MutiM&edia
cmd24=cd c:\Program Files\MutiMedia
menu25=&Utilities
cmd25=cd c:\Program Files\Utilities
menu26=--
menu27=-
menu28=D: Down&loads
cmd28=cd D:\Downloads
menu29=-D: &Software
menu30=&Internet
cmd30=cd D:\Software\Internet
menu31=&Multimedia
cmd31=cd D:\Software\Multimedia
menu32=&Productivity
cmd32=cd D:\Software\Productivity
menu33=&Unsorted
cmd33=cd D:\Software\Unsorted
menu34=Utiliti&es
cmd34=cd D:\Software\Utilities
menu35=&Various
cmd35=cd D:\Software\Various
menu36=--
menu37=D: &Images
cmd37=cd D:\Images
menu38=D: &Games
cmd38=cd D:\Games
menu39=D: Ci&nema
cmd39=cd D:\Cinema
menu40=D: &MP3s
cmd40=cd D:\MP3s
menu41=D: &Temp
cmd41=cd D:\Temp
menu42=-
menu43=-&X: Server\Prg
menu44=&Root
cmd44=cd X:\
menu45=&Applications
cmd45=cd X:\Applications
menu46=&Graphics
cmd46=cd X:\Graphics
menu47=&Internet
cmd47=cd X:\Internet
menu48=&Multimedia
cmd48=cd X:\Multimedia
menu49=&Productivity
cmd49=cd X:\Productivity
menu50=&Utilities
cmd50=cd X:\Utilities
menu51=&Various
cmd51=cd X:\Various
menu52=--
menu53=-&Y: Server\Drivers
menu54=&Root
cmd54=cd Y:\
menu55=&Modem
cmd55=cd Y:\Modem
menu56=Mother&Board
cmd56=cd Y:\MotherBoard
menu57=&Printer
cmd57=cd Y:\Printer
menu58=&Scanner
cmd58=cd Y:\Scanner
menu59=So&und
cmd59=cd Y:\Sound
menu60=&Display
cmd60=cd Y:\Display
menu61=--
menu62=-&Z: Server\Users
menu63=&Root
cmd63=cd Z:\
menu64=&Admin
cmd64=cd Z:\Admin
menu65=&Power
cmd65=cd Z:\Power
menu66=A&cademic
cmd66=cd Z:\Academic
menu67=Teaching &Staff
cmd67=cd Z:\Teaching Staff
menu68=&Trainee
cmd68=cd Z:\Trainee
menu69=&Guest
cmd69=cd Z:\Guest
menu70=--
* The above code (previous page) will have to outcome shown in Figure 3 (page 6). For every entry you usually see a pair of commands one corresponding to the title of the entry (e.g. menu58) and one for the command to be executed (e.g. cmd58). In those cases where the target path is also stored, you will see a third entry (e.g. path58) which will include the saved destination folder. 
* A sub-menu starts with the “-” character before its title and a double dash “--” specifies its end. A single divider as has been mentioned before is just the “-” character.
* Please, note the extensive use of the “&” character in order to create keyboard shortcuts for fast access of the corresponding entries.
* The only situations that do not follow the pair configuration are the divider and the notation of the beginning and end of a sub-menu. Of course, as it has been mentioned before, saving the target path will produce a three command configuration. 
* Total Commander also allows manually disabling parts of the user interface. To disable the Directory HotList enter the value 32 in the entry RestrictInterface under the section [Configuration] of your INI file. Your corresponding line should read:
 
RestrictInterface=32 
 
This will partially block any changes to the Directory HotList.   
 
=== Path Syntax Notation ===
 
There are four main syntax configurations according to the type of path you have stored in your directory menu, as follows:
 
1. The typical and well know local drive paths. The syntax is as follows:
 
cd driveLetter:\dirName\subDir1Name\subDir2Name\...\subDirNName
 
e.g. cd D:\Downloads\Music\MP3s\Jazz
 
 
2. The notation of LAN machines and/or elements with the following syntax:
 
cd \\remoteLocationOrMachineName\FolderName1\...\FolderNameN\O$
 
Where O is an optional value that denotes a local, to the remote machine, element that can have assigned to it a logical or physical element’s name. The path actually can continue from that point on with the folder names of the remote machine’s local paths.
 
e.g. a. cd \\nserver\printers 
  cd \\nserver\Scheduled Tasks\*.*
          cd \\nserver\faxes\
 
b. cd \\ns_finance_dep1\c$
  cd \\ns_finance_dep1\d$\FreeTime\MP3s
 
Remark: If you have previously mapped remote machines they will now have a drive letter assigned to them and the syntax will be similar to the one in configuration 1.
 
 
 
Cont’d…
 
 
3. The notation of FTP addresses with the users’ directory area. How the syntax and the directory structure will look like depends here on the type of the FTP server. Here is a typical syntax with an example:
 
a. cd ftp://prividersName@userLogonName/Path1/Path2/.../PathN
 
    e.g. cd ftp://PowerNet@JackDanniels/html/images 
b. cd ftp://username:password@ftp.domain.com/any/path/
 
    e.g. cd ftp://johnny:P82X3fG-P@ftp.mozilla.org/dev/stable/
 
Notice the use of forward slashes which denotes that this is probably a UNIX server.
 
 
4. The notation of TC’s FileSystem Plug-ins. In this case you should follow configuration number 2 with the only difference that now the prefix consists of three back slashes. Here is an example:
 
e.g. cd \\\Event Log\*.*
 
 
Remark: You cannot modify the commands’ section to include commands other than path locations (physical or logical) and internal commands of TotalCmd.
 
== Related Applications/Plug-ins ==
===Wincmd Directory Menu Customizer (Widimec)===
Wincmd Directory Menu Customizer (Widimec) is a tool (freeware) you can use only to customize the Directory Menu of Total Commander. It allows you to drag and drop folders and menu items. The following screenshot illustrates how Widimec looks like.
 
[[image:directory_hotlist_wincmd_directory_menu_customizer.png|frame|center|Figure 6 - The interface of Wincmd Directory Menu Customizer]]
 
You can easily add a button on your “Button Bar” of TotalCmd so that you can easily call this useful tool. As this document concentrates over TotalCmd features we will not analyse Widimec’s functionality here. For more information use the corresponding help file of Widimec. To download the tool from the direct author’s web site, follow the following link:   
 
http://www.danish-shareware.dk/soft/widimec/
widimec.zip v1.2 (284 kb; help file included).
===Ultra TC Editors===
Ultra TC Editors is a collection of GUI-based editors for configuring various aspects of TC. The collection includes an editor (Ultra TC Start and Directory Menu Editor) specially designed for modifying the Directory Hotlist and resembles much of the structure of the built-in Hotlist configuration but with additional flexibility, configurability and better looks. It will also edit your TC Start Menu. The following screenshot illustrates the main working window of the tool.
 
[[image:directory_hotlist_ultra_editor.png|frame|center|Figure 7 - The interface of Ultra TC Start and Directory Menu Editor]]
 
Author: Taher Salem from Egypt (aka [[ts4242]]), utcmedit@yahoo.com
 
Official URLs:
 
http://www.geocities.com/utcmedit/ultra_tc_editors.htm
 
http://www.geocities.com/utcmedit/start_overview.htm 
 
Note: The editors are also available here for download:
 
http://www.totalcmd.net/plugring/ultra_tc_editors.html
 
ultra_tc_editors_5.10.rar, 1182 Kb, as of 20/06/2005
 
 
=== AutoHotkey: TC Fav Menu ===
 
[[AutoHotkey: TC Fav Menu]] from [[User:Majkinetor|Majkinetor]]
 
TC FavMenu is standard Open/Save dialog enhancer and application launcher.It uses ini file to store information about your favorite folders and applications.Format of the menu ini file is compatibile with directory menu, and was originaly written to work as addon for this file manager but it can be used without it. All features of the directory menu are supported, including plugins and pseudovariables. Furthermore, TC doesn’t need to be started.
 
 
== References/Acknowledgments ==
 
 
* Total Commander Help file and Christian Ghisler himself.
 
* Widimec Help file and his creator (Finn@Ekberg.com).
 
* Ilya Gulko for his [http://digdug.cx/total/ Guide to Efficient Use of Windows Commander].
 
* A great number of users and members of the official forum for TotalCmd. More specific:
: Roman Korcek aka [[Hacker]], http://thehacker.host.sk,  thehacker@host.sk
: [[Djk]] from Poland
: Maxwish for making this file available online on his web site (www.clubtotal.tk)
: Andrey Pyasetskiy aka Ergo for hosting this file in his new site: http://www.totalcmd.net/
== Version History ==
 
Version # Release Date Corrections & Additions
v1.0 03/07/2003 Initial version.
v1.1 07/07/2003 - FTP address storing ability documented.
- Path syntax notation description.
- Introduced version number for this guide.
- Minor aesthetical tweaks.
- Added new acknowledgment in References section.
v1.2 19/07/2003 - File System plug-in storing ability documented.
- Code explanation on target path.
- Refined information related to target paths.
- Terminology usage note has been extended with more terms.
- Added a fourth entry in the syntax notation section defining that
  part of the document as a sub-section (4.1) as well. 
- Introduces description of version history.
- Documented on the possibility of disabling Directory HotList via a setting in TC’s INI file.
- Added new acknowledgment. 
v1.3 09/08/2003 - New entry in the References section.
- Added one more FTP example.
- Some minor aesthetical improvements and grammatical corrections.
V1.4 25/03/2004 - Just added a reference to the new (since v6.0 of TC) button for accessing Directory HotList and the corresponding configuration option for activating/deactivating the display of the button(s).
- Updated sections affected by the aforementioned addition.
- Documented about the ability to use appendtabs and opentabs commands since v6.00 of TC!   
- Added Andrey Pyasetskiy in the acknowledgment section. 
 
This document covers up to v6.02 of Total Commander
 
Author: Panos Davitidis,[http://ice.prohosting.com/inornate/ Total Commander Related Files], pdavit@hotmail.com
 
© Copyright July 2003 – March 2004
v1.4
 
 
<BR>
----
<BR>Back to [[Internal functions]]<BR>
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[[de:Verzeichnisliste]]

Latest revision as of 21:30, 7 May 2019

The directory hotlist (also called directory menu) provides easy access to your favorites via a menu. The directory hotlist is primarily intended to quickly access your favorite folders, but it can be used to open folders, network folders, folders on ftp servers, file system plugin folders, websites, internal functions, programs or documents.

Usage

The directory hotlist can be opened in different ways. These are:

  • By clicking on the directory hotlist button (button with star image, see figure 1).
  • By double clicking anywhere on one of the title bars of the file windows (display of the folder name).
  • By pressing CTRL+D.
  • By selecting menu option Commands/Directory Hotlist.
  • By typing "cm_directoryhotlist" at the command line.
Figure 1 - The directory hotlist button

Once the directory hotlist is opened a menu is displayed containing your favorites. Simply select the menu entry of the favorite you want to open.

At the bottom of the menu two additional entries are listed to change the menu. These are:

    • Add current dir - This option adds the currently displayed folder to the menu. This option is not shown when the folder is already listed in the menu.
    • Remove current dir - This option removes the currently displayed folder from the menu. This option is not shown when the folder is not listed in the menu.
  1. Configure - This option opens a menu editor which allows to add, modify, move and remove menu entries.

External links


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