Q-Dir – A Really Good Portable File Manager and Explorer
Posted by: Barry Cleave in Portable Freeware, tags: File Manager, Freeware, Programs, Software, Utilities, Windows, Windows Explorer, Windows Server, WIndows Vista, Windows XPQ-Dir is a multi-pane file explorer and manager based around the MS Windows Explorer core functionality and then has a lot of extra bells and whistles thrown in.
A ProReviewer Mini-me Review
This is an overview of the program and not a more detailed review
What Is It?
Q-Dir is a file explorer/file manager and acts as a replacement or alternative to Windows Explorer. It provides a single to multi-pane environment to work in and has the look and feel of Windows Explore plus many useful additions. It has a lot of useful functions built in and makes clever use of Explorer context menus built into the main menu bar which provides extra functions dependant on what additional software is installed and how it has been set up.
Why Would You Want It?
File and data management are two of the key elements of personal computing after the use of individual applications that generally create the files and manipulate the data. A really good, intuitive and easy to use program for this work is an absolute essential. Unfortunately Microsoft have never provide the tool for the job.
From my own point of view I have been trying different file managers for several years, always looking for an application that lives up to my requirements and expectations., In all that time I have yet to find the perfect solution, Q-Dir still falls short of the mark but is certainly one of the best implementations I have come across in quite a while. I have tried all the popular and highly rated freeware file mangers, most are quite good but none meet my needs in full.
As a quick idea of the essential items I am looking for the following list gives a good idea:
- Simple and Intuitive to use
- Windows Explorer look and feel (in part)
- Two (or more) panes (or tab implementation for drag and drop etc.)
- Good menus/context menus/toolbars
- File name filtering (Auto)
- User or task Profiles
- Robust file handling (Move/Copy/Paste/Delete)
What Does It Do – The Essentials?
Summary:
- Windows Explore Replacement
- Multi Pane Views
- Treeviews or substitute Dropdowns
- Colour coding of file types in display (User changeable)
- Handles
Pros: What’s Good?
- Freeware
- Portable (+ Installed option)
- Intuitive & Easy to Use
- Windows “Look & Feel”
- Extensive options and controls
- Good GUI
Cons:What’s Not So Good?
- Lacks advance tools (e.g. directory sync)
What the Developer Says:
The developers site gives the following information:
Q-Dir makes your files and folder easy to manage.
Fast and easy access, with an amazing Quadro-View technique.
You don’t have to renounce the usual, Drag and Drop, all Views, and other functions of your system.
No! Q-Dir gives you other nice functions, that make you happy.
One can save many hand moves and also time!
Q-Dir does not have to be installed and can be executed easily from the desktop.
Rename Q-Dir_Installer.exe to Q-Dir.exe and GO.
It’s a small famous utility for Windows PC-s and also an USB-stick friend.
More Information can be found here (the native language is German but English translations are provided):
Screenshots:
The Main Window
2 Pane View with Tree views to left
4 Pane View with Tree views to left panes only
View Controls etc. comprising:
- 10 Different settings for panes
- Information Dropdown
- Favorites
- Help
- Zoom
- Minimise to System Tray
Main Tool Bar (Left):
- Tree View (Toggle)
- Back and Forward buttons
- Up (Directory path)
- New Folder
- Views (as Windows Explorer plus additional items from context menus)
- Address Box
Main Tool Bar (Right)
- Address Box
- Desktop Dropdown Button
- My Computer Dropdown Button
Status Bar Tools
Each pane has its own status bar with tool icons:
- Filter Box Search (Toggled)
- Up/Down
- Run Program (Selected on Screen)
- Delete
- Cut
- Copy
- Paste
- Toggle Filter Box
- Quick Folder
What are the Technical Details & Compatibility?
| Name | Q-Dir |
| Software Version | 3.03 |
| Release Date | 13 April 2008 |
| Compatibility | Win98/2000/XP/2003 /Vista |
| Homepage |  … about Q-Dir |
| Download |  Q-Dir_Installer.zip |
| Download Size | 179Kb |
| OS Reviewed On | Windows XP Pro |
| Size on Disk | 388kB |
| Memory Use | 16,920K |
| Review Date | April 2008 |
| License | Freeware |
What is the My Free Review Experience?
Based on my brief experience with this utility over the past two days it will definitely be a keeper in my Portable Utilities set. So my initial rating (which may go up or down with further experience) is:
Useful with plenty of tools and options
What Other Posts are Relevant?
Why You Want to Use Portable Freeware Applications
FlashFolder – Windows Explorer Extension Utility
TeraCopy – High Speed Copy and Move Files
TaskSwitchXP – So Much More Than a Task Changer
PortableApps Menu – Start All Your Portable Applications with 2 Clicks
Why I decided to Write this Blog
What are the Tags?
Popularity: 39% [?]
Entries (RSS)
Powered by FireStats
May 28th, 2008 at 5:11 am - Edit
[...] environment to work in and has the look and feel of Windows Explore plus many useful additions.http://proreviewer.com/2008/04/15/q-dir-a-really-good-portable-file-manager-and-explorer/The Portable Freeware Collection – Files – ManagersSynopsis: XYplorer is a file manager replacement [...]
June 26th, 2008 at 12:11 am - Edit
[...] [...]
April 3rd, 2009 at 2:59 am - Edit
I’ve been using Q-Dir for quite sometime now and I have to tell you, It certainly outperforms most of the other file managers. It has a really nice interface and the multiple panels are great to work on. Thanks for the information.Cheers
May 18th, 2009 at 11:24 am - Edit
Its interesting.. i never know about this q-dir file manager. Thanks for sharing.
May 27th, 2009 at 7:57 pm - Edit
I’ve tried a couple of the free file manager programs and was rather unimpressed. I agree that these programs do not fulfill my needs. I’m not sure if that’s because they are free programs or the fact is that file management software hasn’t become that prominent. Its almost like that need to build a custom database for my needs.
June 12th, 2009 at 12:03 am - Edit
It really is a great file management program. It makes great use of the Explorer plat form. Thanks for the hints.
July 19th, 2009 at 9:46 am - Edit
I have been using it for quite some time now, and I really like it because of its portability, and I really like its GUI
Regards,
Joe from Credit Card Claims
July 23rd, 2009 at 1:41 pm - Edit
Q-Dir is an awesome piece of software, I have been using it for a long time and have not faced any issues with it.
July 29th, 2009 at 10:50 pm - Edit
I’ve been using Q-Dir. quite often and now I have to say that certainly surpasses most other file managers. It has a nice interface and multiple panels are great for work. Thanks for the information.Cheers
August 21st, 2009 at 10:06 pm - Edit
Doing some research on Q-dir and found this article. Thanks for the review.
August 24th, 2009 at 9:48 pm - Edit
A Really Good Portable File Manager and Explorer
September 9th, 2009 at 10:09 am - Edit
Q-Dir makes your files and folders easy to manage. Fast and easy access, with an amazing Quadro-View technique. You don´t have to renounce the usual, Drag and Drop, all Views, and other functions of your system. No! Q-Dir gives you other nice functions, that make you happy. One can save many hand moves and also time!
September 15th, 2009 at 3:20 pm - Edit
nice review, i first time know about that !
September 16th, 2009 at 3:43 pm - Edit
Your review really hits the mark
October 22nd, 2009 at 5:01 am - Edit
tried lots of file manager and currently looking for some new 1, hmm…might give it a try. Thanks
November 6th, 2009 at 11:09 pm - Edit
I need to check this out. I am huge fan of freeware and I need a new file manager.
November 7th, 2009 at 3:31 am - Edit
I hate Windows explorer, so thank you for turning me on to this. I will certainly be using it, as just about anything is better than explorer!
November 17th, 2009 at 11:55 pm - Edit
From my experience, there are lots of free programs that can be just as good (if not better) than ones you pay for. I’ll give this one a try.
November 24th, 2009 at 6:45 am - Edit
I must say I was really pleasantly surprised with Q-Dir. Usually it’s never a good story when I try free things, but they really impressed me.
December 21st, 2009 at 9:20 am - Edit
The best part of QDir to quickly view large files. This helps when you have low disk space and want to clean space.
January 19th, 2010 at 5:32 am - Edit
Q-dir actually looks quite nice, I will have to try it out. I have been having a lot of problems with Windows Explorer crashing on me lately, says something like Windows Explorer needs to close we are sorry for the inconvenience or something. It is really annoying especially when I am in the middle of something.
Jay
February 4th, 2010 at 9:46 am - Edit
Q-Dir really outperforms most of the other file managers. It has a really nice interface and the multiple panels are great to work on. I like them and would definitely recommend t my friends.