OFM - Definition and Overview

OFM (Orthodox File Managers), also known as Commander-like file managers, are the family of file managers based on the old Norton Commander interface.

Common features include:

• Two-panel directory view;
• Close integration with a command line;
• Extensive availability of keyboard shortcuts;
• Compressed archive handled like directories;
• FTP;
• Quick-view application;
• Have (almost always) the word commander in the name.

All orthodox file managers have similar user interfaces. Interface varies among operating systems and graphic, text background. The orthodox file manager has two windows called panels where one is active (colored blue) and the other inactive (red). The idea is to manipulate files from active to inactive panel or within active panel. This gives user the ability to use only the keyboard, which makes the process much faster. Each panel shows information about the path (disk, folder, remote address...) and files with usually customizable columns that show relevant file information. Panels can be switched using <tab> key. Main sections of user interface are:

1. path: shows the source/destination location of the directory in use
2. information about directory size, disk usage and disk name
3. panel with information about file name, extension, date and time of creation, last modification, permissions (attributes) and other
4. info panel with number of files in directory, sum of size of selected files..
5. tabbed interface (usually GUI file managers)
6. function keys: F1–F8 have all the same functions under all OFM's: Example F5 always copies file(s) from active to inactive panel, while F6 moves the file.

Most functions are always available through shortcut keys. The introduction of tabbed panels to some managers made it possible to manipulate more than one action at the time. Most used feature is synchronization where multiple destinations can be updated from the same source. The ability to support many different archives, file sistems and remote addresses made this file managers popular among administrators. The standard behind its idea made it possible to switch to any platform and be able to do the same work without much effort.

Examples

• Total Commander (f. Windows Commander) — Windows
• Servant Salamander — Windows
• Krusader — KDE 3.1+
• Midnight Commander — any OS with a CLI
• Norton Commander — MS-DOS
• Volkov Commander — MS-DOS
• FAR Manager — Windows (console application)

External Links

• Home of the OFM standard (http://www.softpanorama.org/OFM/index.shtml)

OFM is also an acronym for Office of Foreign Missions, a department within the US State Department.