Prime
1 Overview of the Prime console file manager
1.1 What is Prime?
1.2 Which keys are defined for which level?
1.3 Why should I use it?
1.4 What do I need?
1.5 How to use it?
2 Prime main window
2.1 Menu bar
2.2 Main Window
3 Working around with menus
3.1 File Menu (opened by pressing ALT+F):
3.2 Edit Menu (opened by pressing ALT+E):
3.3 Help Menu (opened by pressing ALT+H):
4 Using keyboard shortcuts
Appendix A GNU Free Documentation License
A.1 GNU Free Documentation License
Index
Prime
*****
This manual is for the Prime console file manager (version 2.1).
1 Overview of the Prime console file manager
********************************************
1.1 What is Prime?
==================
Prime is a GNU software, part of the GnuDOS package.
Prime is a file manager which works under the GNU/Linux console. It was
influenced by other file managers (like the well known XTree Gold which
was popular under MS-DOS). It provides a user friendly interface with
menus, shortcuts, and key navigation. It is distributed as part of the
GnuDOS package which was developed to help users coming from a DOS-like
environment feel ease when dealing with the GNU system.
Prime provides multi-level experience, the level of complexity can be
adjusted by the user: you want to use DOS-keys with a few basic GNU
ones? you want to go with the full power of the GNU system? All are
options that are provided by the six levels of experience of Prime:
1. Newbie: All DOS shortcut keys, no GNU keys yet
2. Novice: DOS shortcut keys, some of which are replaced with GNU's
3. Intermediate: DOS keys with a few more replaced with GNU keys
4. Advanced: ... And more GNU keys in
5. Expert: Very few DOS keys, most are GNU keys
6. Veteran: Only GNU keys, no DOS-like keys
You start with level 1 by default.
To set your level, call prime with the ''--level X'' or ''-l X'' option,
Where X is the level desired, for example:
$ prime --level 2
1.2 Which keys are defined for which level?
===========================================
Below is a table showing the DOS-like key combinations along with their
respective GNU key bindings. To the right is the level at which a
certain key is defined. Each key defined is recognized in higher levels
(e.g. level 2 keys are recognized in levels 3-4-5-6). Note that in
level 6 only GNU keys are defined, no DOS key will work at all at this
level!.
Keybindings:
In the table below, C-something means pressing down CTRL and then
pressing the other key. Note that '^' is the same as 'C', meaning
CTRL-key, it is just typed like this so DOS users can feel familiar with
the text.
The same goes for M-something, which means META or ALT.
Function DOS-like key GNU key GnuDOS Level
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
All DOS bindings and Newbie
no GNU bindings
Next Line Down C-n Novice
Prev. Line Up C-p Novice
Backward Left C-b Novice
Forward Right C-f Novice
Back One Word ^Left M-b Novice
Fwd One Word ^Right M-f Novice
Cancel ESC C-g Intermediate
Next Screen PgDn C-v Intermediate
Prev. Screen PgUp M-v Intermediate
Start of Line Home C-a Intermediate
End of Line End C-e Intermediate
Start of text ^Home C-< Intermediate End of text ^End C-> Intermediate
Del prev char BkSpc DEL (is Advanced
BkSpc)
Del next char Delete C-d Advanced
Del prev word ^BkSpc M-DEL (is Advanced
M-BkSpc)
Del next word ^Delete M-d Advanced
Select text SHIFT+Arrow C-Space Advanced
Cut (kill) BkSpc/Del C-w Advanced
Quit ^Q C-x C-c Expert
Paste (yanking) ^V C-y Expert
Del Line ^D C-k Expert
Undo ^Z C-/, C-_, Expert
C-x u
Open File ^O C-x C-f Expert
Save File ^S C-x C-s Expert
Find (Search) ^F C-s (forward Expert
search)
C-r (reverse Expert
search)
Help F1 C-h ? Expert
All GNU bindings and Veteran
no DOS bindings
1.3 Why should I use it?
========================
If you like using the console (like most GNU/Linux vintage users do),
and you come from a DOS background, having a nice and easy way to run
through your directory trees and moving files around will be an
important asset in your toolset, plus you will easily dive into the GNU
system key bindings.
1.4 What do I need?
===================
The program can be invoked from the GNU/Linux console or under GUI from
a terminal.
1.5 How to use it?
==================
Simply invoke the 'prime' executable from your shell:
$ prime
The components of the main window can be found under *Note Main
Window::. The description of the menus is in *Note Menus::. Shortcut
keys are detailed in *Note Shortcuts::.
If you want to reset the configuration file to it's default values,
invoke prime with one of the following options:
$ prime --reset-config
$ prime -r
You can export the directory tree of a given directory to a given
file without starting prime's main interface by typing:
$ prime -e|--export dirname filename
Note you will only type ''-e'' or ''--export'', not both.
Prime loads the directory tree of the current working directory by
default. To open prime with the directory tree of another location,
type:
$ prime dirname
Where 'dirname' is the path name which is to be loaded to prime on
program startup.
Currently there is partial wildcard support. That means for example
that you can specify '~' to indicate your home directory, and you can
use '*' inside the program (in the 'Find' dialog box) but no further
wildcards (like '?') are supported at that time. For example,
entering:
~/projects
In the find dialog box will search the subdirectory 'projects' of the
home directory
The following are examples of accepted ways to enter wildcard strings in
the Find file dialog box:
file*
*.c
a*.c
2 Prime main window
*******************
After running prime, you are faced with a window that has the following
components:
2.1 Menu bar
============
Located at the top of the window. Contains the menus: File, Edit, and
Help. The details of these menus can be found under *Note Menus::.
2.2 Main Window
===============
The rest of the main window is divided into three parts:
* Directory view (left side): you can navigate the directory tree of
the current working directory here
* File view (right side): navigate/select files in the current
directory
* Bottom view: shows the current working directory and the number of
selected items
3 Working around with menus
***************************
Menus are on the menu bar on the top of the *Note Main Window::. They
are:
3.1 File Menu (opened by pressing ALT+F):
=========================================
* Open Location: Opens a specific path to view its directory tree
* Export: Saves the directory tree into a file on disk
* Print: Prints the directory tree to printer (not currently
implemented)
* Exit: Exits Prime
3.2 Edit Menu (opened by pressing ALT+E):
=========================================
* Space bar: toggle selection. Selected items are marked with a "*"
* Cut selection (if no selection, cut current item). Cut items are
marked with a "^"
* Copy selection (if no selection, copy current item). Copy items
are marked with a "#"
* Paste: Pastes the list of cut/copied files and directories into the
current path
* Mark All: Mark all files/dirs with '*'
* Unmark All: Unmarks all files/dirs
* Clear selection: Clears all marks including items marked cut/copy
* Find: Finds a file
3.3 Help Menu (opened by pressing ALT+H):
=========================================
* View README: Displays the README file installed with the GnuDOS
package
* GNU keybindings: Displays the keybindings file installed with the
GnuDOS package
* Quick Referece: Shows a quick reference for Prime functions
* About Prime: Shows the About dialog box
4 Using keyboard shortcuts
**************************
Moving around with Shortcut Keys:
ALT+F: Open File menu
ALT+E: Open Edit menu
ALT+H: Open Help menu
(1) File menu shortcuts:
CTRL+N: Create new directory under the current working directory
CTRL+O: Open a path
CTRL+E: Export directory tree to external file
CTRL+P: Print current directory tree
CTRL+Q: Exit program
(2) Edit menu shortcuts:
CTRL+X: Cut selection (if no selection, cut current item).
Cut items are marked with "^"
CTRL+C: Copy selection (if no selection, copy current item).
Copy items are marked with "#"
CTRL+V: Paste cut/copy items in the current directory
CTRL+F: Find a file
CTRL+A: Select all items in the active dir/file window
CTRL+Z: Deselects all items in the active dir/file window
CTRL+W: Deselect all, including items marked for cut/copy
Space bar: Toggle selection. Selected items are marked "*"
Appendix A GNU Free Documentation License
*****************************************
A.1 GNU Free Documentation License
==================================
Version 1.2, November 2002
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ADDENDUM: How to use this License for your documents
====================================================
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Index
*****
* Menu:
* About Prime: Overview. (line 25)
* Bottom view: Main Window. (line 195)
* Command line export: Overview. (line 144)
* Directory view: Main Window. (line 191)
* Edit menu: Menus. (line 212)
* Exporting from the command line: Overview. (line 144)
* FDL, GNU Free Documentation License: GNU Free Documentation License.
(line 272)
* File menu: Menus. (line 203)
* File view: Main Window. (line 193)
* Help menu: Menus. (line 227)
* How to run Prime: Overview. (line 126)
* Key bindings: Overview. (line 53)
* Keyboard shortcuts: Menus. (line 238)
* Main window: Main Window. (line 175)
* Manu bar: Main Window. (line 181)
* Menus: Menus. (line 198)
* Overview: Overview. (line 23)
* Prime main window: Main Window. (line 174)
* Prime menu bar: Main Window. (line 180)
* Prime Overview: Overview. (line 22)
* Resetting the configuration file: Overview. (line 138)
* Running Prime: Overview. (line 127)
* Shortcut keys: Menus. (line 237)
* Shortcuts: Menus. (line 238)
* Start Prime with a specific directory: Overview. (line 151)
* Starting Prime: Overview. (line 127)
* What is Prime: Overview. (line 26)
* Why to use it: Overview. (line 111)
* Why to use Prime: Overview. (line 112)
* Working around with menus: Menus. (line 197)