Xmander supports file navigation using the Unix style: everything is a file and all files reside within the same filesystem tree. All other volumes are just mounts and can be found in the /Volumes directory.

Also, nothing is hidden from you (unless you don’t have access to the respective resource).

It’s advisable to use Xmander’s keyboard shortcuts to browse your files:

• Tab switches between panes.
• Backspace goes up one directory.
• Return dives into a directory.
• F4 show a directory in Finder.

Tip: You can sort files in a pane by clicking the column header once (twice for descending sort).

What is the RWX column?

RWX stands for Read Write eXecute and refers to the standard Unix permissions. The number is the octal value for the respective file/directory.

What is the Ext column?

Ext refers to the file extension (like .pdf in a PDF file). This is part of the file name and not all files may have it. It’s on a separate column to be able to easily sort by it when looking for a specific file type.

When the row represents a directory the Ext column will show the <DIR> to make it clear that’s actually a directory (it’s not always obvious since some of them may have a custom icon). Apps are normally directories, not files. For the symlinks that point to a directory, the Ext column will show <SYM> to make it clear that’s actually a symlink rather than a standard directory.

Tip: Use F9 (or click the F9 Reload button) to reload the contents of the current pane.

Xmander provides some basic file manipulation functions.

• Copy use F5 (or click the F5 Copy button) to copy the selected file/directory form the active panel to the other pane. If the selection is a directory, all subdirectories and files will be copied as well. Symlinks are treated as regular files and NOT dived in.
• Move use F6 (or click the F6 Move button) to move the selected file/directory to the other pane. Again, symlinks are treated as regular files and NOT dived in.
• Trash use F8 (or click the F8 Trash button) to trash the selected file/directory.
• Create directory use F7 (or click the F7 NewDir button) to create a new directory in the active pane.

To execute a file hit Return on it (or double click it). F4 Edit has a similar effect of files, except for those that the system has no associated program. They will be shown in Finder. Also the directories will be shown in Finder when using the F4 Edit function on them.

You can view any file in HEX mode. This is a mode where the actual bytes are shown in hexadecimal. Here nothing is hidden from you.

The hex viewer supports any file size (even gigs) because it doesn’t load all the bytes at once but instead it loads them as you scroll.

Use F3 (or click the F3 View button) to open the hex viewer for the selected file. It will not work for directories (or symlinks).

Tip: To quickly close the hex window, press Esc.