Norton Commander
Encyclopedia
Norton Commander was a prototypical orthodox file manager (OFM), written by John Socha
and released by Peter Norton Computing
(later acquired by the Symantec
corporation). NC is a file manager which provides a text user interface
on top of DOS
. It was officially produced by Symantec between 1986 and 1998. The last DOS version of Norton Commander, 5.51, was released on July 1, 1998.
A related product, Norton Desktop, a graphical shell for DOS and Windows, succeeded Norton Commander. It came in two variants, Norton Desktop for DOS (NDD) and Norton Desktop for Windows (NDW).
Norton Commander is considered easy to use based on its constant view of two file manipulation objects at once. After starting the program the user sees two panels with file lists. Each panel can be easily configured to show information about the other panel, a directory tree, or a number of other options. At the bottom of the screen, Norton Commander displays a list of commands that are extended on demand by the CTRL
and ALT
keys. Thus, without heavy use of the mouse (although mouse functionality was integrated around version 3.0), the user is able to perform many file manipulation actions quickly and efficiently. Additionally, it also includes a built-in text file viewer (invoked with F3 key) and text file editor (invoked with F4 key).
included a new graphical shell called Windows Explorer
, while the operating system itself introduced Long filename
s (LFN).
Symantec released Norton Commander 5.51 to support long filenames using the standard Windows APIs
. In order to preserve LFNs while working in real mode
, Norton Commander 5.51 required the use of a Terminate and Stay Resident
(TSR) utility. Norton Commander did not have native support for LFNs in real mode and would truncate them.
Despite the decline in its use Norton Commander was very popular during the DOS era and it has been extensively cloned.
This version fully integrated with Windows features such as the Recycle Bin and Quick View
. Quick View feature was supported via the included basic Quick View Plus.
Version 1.02 added Windows 98 support.
Network Utilities allow for viewing devices and systems on network, connect with remote system, map network drive, monitor the network and more.
The Norton Commander is little changed from previous versions, and includes file compression/de-compression of various formats, network utilities access, disk cleanup, compare files and folders, manage FTP connections, and more.
The last Windows version of Norton Commander was 2.01.
or FAT file system.
It does not include command prompt found in other versions of Norton Commander.
In June 1993, Symantec lowered the price of Norton Commander for OS/2 to $49, but that did not prevent it from end of life.
There are also other non-OFM software inspired by NC's look and feel, such as archivers, viewers, hexadecimal editors and more. Mostly these are DOS tools. Examples are:
John Socha
John Socha-Leialoha is a software developer best known for creating Norton Commander, the first orthodox file manager. The original Norton Commander was written for DOS...
and released by Peter Norton Computing
Peter Norton Computing
Peter Norton Computing, Inc., was a software company founded by Peter Norton. The first and most notable software package it produced is the Norton Utilities. Another very popular software was Norton Commander, especially the DOS version. In 1990, the company was acquired by Symantec. The...
(later acquired by the Symantec
Symantec
Symantec Corporation is the largest maker of security software for computers. The company is headquartered in Mountain View, California, and is a Fortune 500 company and a member of the S&P 500 stock market index.-History:...
corporation). NC is a file manager which provides a text user interface
Text user interface
TUI short for: Text User Interface or Textual User Interface , is a retronym that was coined sometime after the invention of graphical user interfaces, to distinguish them from text-based user interfaces...
on top of DOS
DOS
DOS, short for "Disk Operating System", is an acronym for several closely related operating systems that dominated the IBM PC compatible market between 1981 and 1995, or until about 2000 if one includes the partially DOS-based Microsoft Windows versions 95, 98, and Millennium Edition.Related...
. It was officially produced by Symantec between 1986 and 1998. The last DOS version of Norton Commander, 5.51, was released on July 1, 1998.
A related product, Norton Desktop, a graphical shell for DOS and Windows, succeeded Norton Commander. It came in two variants, Norton Desktop for DOS (NDD) and Norton Desktop for Windows (NDW).
Background
Control key
In computing, a Control key is a modifier key which, when pressed in conjunction with another key, will perform a special operation ; similar to the Shift key, the Control key rarely performs any function when pressed by itself...
and ALT
Alt key
The Alt key on a computer keyboard is used to change the function of other pressed keys. Thus, the Alt key is a modifier key, used in a similar fashion to the Shift key. For example, simply pressing "A" will type the letter a, but if you hold down either Alt key while pressing A, the computer...
keys. Thus, without heavy use of the mouse (although mouse functionality was integrated around version 3.0), the user is able to perform many file manipulation actions quickly and efficiently. Additionally, it also includes a built-in text file viewer (invoked with F3 key) and text file editor (invoked with F4 key).
Long filenames
Windows 95Windows 95
Windows 95 is a consumer-oriented graphical user interface-based operating system. It was released on August 24, 1995 by Microsoft, and was a significant progression from the company's previous Windows products...
included a new graphical shell called Windows Explorer
Windows Explorer
This article is about the Windows file system browser. For the similarly named web browser, see Internet ExplorerWindows Explorer is a file manager application that is included with releases of the Microsoft Windows operating system from Windows 95 onwards. It provides a graphical user interface...
, while the operating system itself introduced Long filename
Long filename
Long filenames , are Microsoft's way of implementing filenames longer than the 8.3 filename, or short-filename, naming scheme used in Microsoft DOS in their modern FAT and NTFS filesystems. Because these filenames can be longer than an 8.3 filename, they can be more descriptive...
s (LFN).
Symantec released Norton Commander 5.51 to support long filenames using the standard Windows APIs
Application programming interface
An application programming interface is a source code based specification intended to be used as an interface by software components to communicate with each other...
. In order to preserve LFNs while working in real mode
Real mode
Real mode, also called real address mode, is an operating mode of 80286 and later x86-compatible CPUs. Real mode is characterized by a 20 bit segmented memory address space and unlimited direct software access to all memory, I/O addresses and peripheral hardware...
, Norton Commander 5.51 required the use of a Terminate and Stay Resident
Terminate and Stay Resident
Terminate and Stay Resident is a computer system call in DOS computer operating systems that returns control to the system as if the program has quit, but keeps the program in memory...
(TSR) utility. Norton Commander did not have native support for LFNs in real mode and would truncate them.
Despite the decline in its use Norton Commander was very popular during the DOS era and it has been extensively cloned.
End of life
According to former Peter Norton Group developer Mark Lowlier, after Symantec had acquired Peter Norton Computing, Symantec had speculated Microsoft Windows would be a success, so the key PNC resources had been diverted, while new programmers for Windows platform were hired. Enrique Salem (who eventually became Symantec's CEO) lead the development of a File Manager and Program Manager released as Norton Desktop for Windows.Norton Commander for Windows
Norton Commander for Windows was a Windows 95 variant of the classical DOS file manager.1.0
Version 1.0 was first released in 1996. It supported both Windows 95 and Windows NT.This version fully integrated with Windows features such as the Recycle Bin and Quick View
QuickView
QuickView is a file viewer application in Windows 95, Windows 98 and Windows NT operating systems. With some workarounds the viewer can be used to view practically any file...
. Quick View feature was supported via the included basic Quick View Plus.
Version 1.02 added Windows 98 support.
2.0
Version 2.0 was released in 2000. It supports Windows 2000 and functions under Windows XP, Windows Vista, and Windows 7. Installer included Network Utilities, Norton Commander Scheduler, and the Norton Commander.Network Utilities allow for viewing devices and systems on network, connect with remote system, map network drive, monitor the network and more.
The Norton Commander is little changed from previous versions, and includes file compression/de-compression of various formats, network utilities access, disk cleanup, compare files and folders, manage FTP connections, and more.
The last Windows version of Norton Commander was 2.01.
Norton Commander for OS/2
Version 1.0 was released in December 1992. It supports OS/2 2.0 with HPFSHPFS
HPFS or High Performance File System is a file system created specifically for the OS/2 operating system to improve upon the limitations of the FAT file system...
or FAT file system.
It does not include command prompt found in other versions of Norton Commander.
In June 1993, Symantec lowered the price of Norton Commander for OS/2 to $49, but that did not prevent it from end of life.
Norton Commander inspired software
There are several programs that follow the style of Norton Commander. Examples are:- A2Command for Apple //e, Apple //c, Apple IIgsApple IIGSThe Apple , the fifth and most powerful model in the Apple II series of personal computers produced by Apple Computer. The "GS" in the name stands for Graphics and Sound, referring to its enhanced graphics and sound capabilities, both of which greatly surpassed previous models of the line...
- Altap Salamander for Windows (formerly known as Servant Salamander)
- Beesoft Commander for Linux
- CBM-Command for Commodore 64Commodore 64The Commodore 64 is an 8-bit home computer introduced by Commodore International in January 1982.Volume production started in the spring of 1982, with machines being released on to the market in August at a price of US$595...
, Commodore 128Commodore 128The Commodore 128 home/personal computer was the last 8-bit machine commercially released by Commodore Business Machines...
, Commodore VIC-20Commodore VIC-20The VIC-20 is an 8-bit home computer which was sold by Commodore Business Machines. The VIC-20 was announced in 1980, roughly three years after Commodore's first personal computer, the PET...
, Commodore Plus/4Commodore Plus/4The Commodore Plus/4 was a home computer released by Commodore International in 1984. The "Plus/4" name refers to the four-application ROM resident office suite ; it was billed as "the productivity computer with software built-in"... - Demos CommanderDemos CommanderDemos Commander is an Orthodox File Manager for Unix-like systems and a clone of Norton Commander. The project started by Sergey Vakulenko in 1989 while working at the DEMOS ISP and is considered one of the first orthodox file managers for the Unix-like systems.- Interface :Demos Commander is a...
for Unix and Linux - Directory OpusDirectory OpusDirectory Opus is a popular file manager program, originally written for the Amiga computer system in the early to mid 1990s...
for Amiga (1990) and Windows (2001) - GUI based from first release - Dos Command Center for DOS
- Dos NavigatorDos NavigatorDos Navigator is a free orthodox file manager for DOS and Windows.- Influence of Dos Navigator :Dos Navigator is an influential early implementation of Orthodox File Manager . By implementing three additional types of Virtual file system : Xtree, Briefcase and List-based, DN opened a new generation...
for DOS - Double CommanderDouble CommanderDouble Commander is a cross-platform open source file manager with two panels side by side. It is inspired by Total Commander and features some new ideas. Double Commander aims to be compatible with Total Commander plugins and have similar interface and functionality.Double Commander is written in...
for Linux, Windows, and Mac - Eie-manager cross platform JavaJava (programming language)Java is a programming language originally developed by James Gosling at Sun Microsystems and released in 1995 as a core component of Sun Microsystems' Java platform. The language derives much of its syntax from C and C++ but has a simpler object model and fewer low-level facilities...
based with web interface - FAR ManagerFAR ManagerFAR Manager is an orthodox file manager for Microsoft Windows and a clone of Norton Commander...
for Windows - File CommanderFile CommanderFile Commander is a text mode orthodox file manager for Microsoft Windows, OS/2 and Linux operating systems created and maintained by Brian Havard. It is a enhanced clone of Norton Commander, originally developed for OS/2 but later ported to Microsoft Windows and in 2011 to Linux platforms...
for Windows and OS/2OS/2OS/2 is a computer operating system, initially created by Microsoft and IBM, then later developed by IBM exclusively. The name stands for "Operating System/2," because it was introduced as part of the same generation change release as IBM's "Personal System/2 " line of second-generation personal... - Foltyn Commander for DOS
- FreeCommanderFreeCommanderFreeCommander is a freeware Orthodox File Manager for Windows . Some features include a built-in FTP client, archive file navigation, folder comparison and synchronization, and a multi-file renaming tool....
for Windows - GNOME CommanderGNOME CommanderGNOME Commander is a 'two pane' graphical file manager for GNOME. It is built using the GTK+ toolkit and GnomeVFS. GNOME Commander aims to fulfil the demands of more advanced users who like to focus on file management, their work through special applications and running smart commands.- Features :*...
for Linux (Best used with GNOMEGNOMEGNOME is a desktop environment and graphical user interface that runs on top of a computer operating system. It is composed entirely of free and open source software...
) and other Unix-like systems - KrusaderKrusaderKrusader is an advanced orthodox file manager for KDE and other desktops in the *nix world, similar to GNOME Commander or Midnight Commander , or Total Commander...
for LinuxLinuxLinux is a Unix-like computer operating system assembled under the model of free and open source software development and distribution. The defining component of any Linux system is the Linux kernel, an operating system kernel first released October 5, 1991 by Linus Torvalds...
(Best used with KDEKDEKDE is an international free software community producing an integrated set of cross-platform applications designed to run on Linux, FreeBSD, Microsoft Windows, Solaris and Mac OS X systems...
) and other Unix-likeUnix-likeA Unix-like operating system is one that behaves in a manner similar to a Unix system, while not necessarily conforming to or being certified to any version of the Single UNIX Specification....
systems - Midnight CommanderMidnight CommanderGNU Midnight Commander is a free cross-platform orthodox file manager and a clone of Norton Commander originally created by Miguel de Icaza.Midnight Commander is licensed under the terms of the GNU General Public License.-Design:...
primarily for Unix-like systems, but also works on Windows and Mac OS XMac OS XMac OS X is a series of Unix-based operating systems and graphical user interfaces developed, marketed, and sold by Apple Inc. Since 2002, has been included with all new Macintosh computer systems... - muCommanderMuCommandermuCommander is a cross-platform file manager that will run on any operating system supporting Java. It features a Norton Commander style interface to allow easy manipulation of files with many keyboard shortcuts. Pre-compiled builds are available for Mac OS X, Windows, Linux, Solaris, *BSD, etc.In...
cross platform JavaJava (programming language)Java is a programming language originally developed by James Gosling at Sun Microsystems and released in 1995 as a core component of Sun Microsystems' Java platform. The language derives much of its syntax from C and C++ but has a simpler object model and fewer low-level facilities...
based - Speed Commander for Windows
- Total CommanderTotal CommanderTotal Commander is an Orthodox File Manager software for Windows, Windows CE, and Windows Mobile. Some features include a built-in FTP client, file compare, archive file navigation, and a versatile multi-rename tool with regular expression support....
for Windows, formerly Windows Commander - Tux Commander for Unix and Linux
- Volkov CommanderVolkov CommanderVolkov Commander is an orthodox file manager for DOS, in the close tradition of Norton Commander. The Volkov Commander was completely written in assembly language, and is thus very small and fast....
for DOS
There are also other non-OFM software inspired by NC's look and feel, such as archivers, viewers, hexadecimal editors and more. Mostly these are DOS tools. Examples are:
- Commandline ACE archiver for DOS and Windows, and is the only existing OFM compressor that supports LFN
- HiewHiewHiew is a popular console hex editor for Windows written by Eugene Suslikov .Amongst its feature set is its ability to view files in text, hex and disassembly mode....
hexadecimal editor - PksmartPksmartthumb|Pksmart for [[DOS]]Pksmart is an executable file compressor written by Alexandr Puchkov and Sergey Puchkov from Dnipropetrovsk, Ukraine. It allows compressing single and multiple executables both in executable and overlay formats. Program features simple Norton Commander-like interface, with...
EXE packer for DOS - RAR archiver for DOS and Windows
External links
- The History of Development of Norton Commander (Softpanorama)
- 21st Century Nostalgia A Tribute to Norton Commander 5.0
- Norton Desktop for Windows 1.0 A graphical review in the GUI Gallery