Category Archives: Software

How to open .docx and .xlsx files from Far Manager

Software

If you try to open Office 2007 document (.docx or .xlsx) in Far Manager it will simply open them as a ZIP archive. Clearly, that’s not what you want. Here’s how to fix it:

  1. Go to Commands › File association.
  2. Create a new association by pressing Ins.
  3. Enter *.doc;*.docx;*.xlsx;*.pptx as a mask.
  4. Enter @"!.!" as Execute command (used for Enter).

File associations in Far Manager

You can still open docx file as an archive by pressing Ctrl+PgDn.

Middle-click in Far Manager 2

Software

In Far Manager 1.70 you could browse folders with mouse wheel. Rotating wheel would scroll up and down. Middle-click would open a folder. But version 2.0 disables middle-click. Boo! Never take away features from users.

Mouse wheel

Fortunately it’s very easy to restore this functionality:

  1. Launch [C:\Program Files\Far2\Addons\Macros\MiddleClickAsEnter.reg]. If you don’t have this folder re-install Far and add Addons » Macros feature.
  2. Restart Far Manager.

How to add context menu to Far Manager

Software

Sometimes I need to do something with file that Far Manager can’t help me with. Good example is changing file permissions. In these cases Windows Explorer context menu comes handy:

far-context-menu

If you want context menu in Far Manager you need EMenu plugin. Fortunately, it is included with Far by default. Here’s how to set it up:

  1. Execute [C:\Program Files\Far\Plugins\EMenu\Hotkey.reg]
  2. Restart Far Manager
  3. Open Options menu, then Plugins configuration. Select EMenu in the list.
  4. Uncheck “Show message after execution”.

Now Menu key should invoke context menu. Nice trick is to select Send To – Mail Recipient to quickly open new email with the file attached.

How to run PowerShell scripts from Far Manager

Software,

Let’s say you use Far Manager and want to launch PowerShell script. With default installation pressing Enter on PowerShell script in Far Manager will open the script in Notepad. Not very helpful.

Here’s how to configure Far Manager to launch PowerShell script by pressing Enter key:

  1. Open Commands menu, select File associations.
  2. Press Ins key to add new association.
  3. Enter *.ps1 as file mask.
  4. Enter the following as execute command: 
    powershell.exe -file "!.!"

Bonus: how to change colour of PowerShell scripts to green:

  1. Open Options menu, select Files highlighting.
  2. Locate *.exe,*.com,*.bat entry, press Enter to edit.
  3. Add *.ps1 to the list, select Ok to save.

See also: Running Windows PowerShell Scripts

Update: there is an enhancement that allows passing arguments to the script and launch script in a separate window.

How to enable links in Windows Messenger 5.1

Software

I use classic Windows Messenger. The latest Windows Live Messenger (version 2008) is way too fancy for me. Compare:

I don’t like anything moving on the screen and I don’t like screen space to be wasted.

The only problem with classic Windows Messenger 5.1 (you can download it here) is that links are non-clickable. They are blue, when you type them (http://www.google.com) but they become black in the main chat window:

messenger-no-links.gif

To fix this problem, open regedit and create HKLM\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Messenger\Client key (it might be already there). Create DWORD value EnableURL under that key. Set it to 1. Restart Windows Messenger.

How to turn off animations in Firefox

Software

I can’t bear having something moving on a web page. It just distracts my attention while I’m reading. Here’s how to disable most of animations in Firefox:

  1. Open about:config page, set image.animation_mode to none. This will disable gif animation.
  2. Disable blinking. On about:config page, set browser.blink_allowed to false. Now <blink> tag doesn’t blink anymore.
  3. Disable Flash but not completely. Flash animations seldom carry useful information but most often are used for ads. I installed Adblock and added .swf to filter list. If some site doesn’t work without Flash I add it to white list.
  4. Some sites use JavaScript to display animation. For example: xe.com. In these cases NoScript extension might help but more and more sites now rely heavily on Ajax and hence on JavaScript so it’s too much trouble to white-list sites as you surf the Web.

How I configure Windows XP

Software

Here’s how I configure Windows XP:

  1. Remove Internet and E-mail from Start menu. Right click on Start menu, select Properties | Start Menu tab | click Customize button, uncheck Internet and E-mail. I use keyboard to start web browser and email client.
  2. In Customize Start Menu dialog select Advanced tab. Turn off My Music, My Network Places, My Pictures, Set Program Access and Defaults. I use Far Manager for file navigation so these items just clutter start menu.
  3. Add Administrator to Welcome screen. In Registry Editor, open
    HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon\SpecialAccounts\UserList. Create DWORD entry Administrator, set value 1. Normally I’m running as normal user; to install new programs I log in as Administrator.
  4. Turn off search with the dog. Open Explorer, click Search button. Select Turn off animated character. Whee! The dog is gone.
    dog.jpg
    Click Change Preferences, then Change files and folders search behavior. Select Advanced and click OK.
  5. Use Windows classic folders. Common tasks pane is too fancy for me.
  6. Set List view as default mode in Explorer. Select View | List menu. Then go to Tools | Folder Options | View tab and click “Apply to All Folders” button.
  7. Set advanced Explorer settings:
    • Display the contents of system folders – on
    • Hide extensions for known file types – off
    • Use simple file sharing (Recommended) – off. I know how to share folders, thank you very much.

How I configure Far Manager

Software

far.gif

Far Manager is console-based file manager. I like it very much. Here’s how I configure it to get the maximum out of it:

  1. Set raster font, 10 x 18. Set window size 80 x 26. Turn off selection with mouse (QuickEdit mode).
  2. Turn on “Clear R/O attribute from CD files”: go to Options | System Settings. I never need files to be read-only when I copy them from CD or DVD to hard drive.
  3. Turn on displaying hidden ($) shares: Options | Plugins configuration | Network browser | Show hidden shares. Now I can type net:computername and see C$, D$, etc.
  4. Options | Confirmations. Turn off confirmations for:
    • Delete non-empty folders
    • Exit
  5. Copy these command line archivers to C:\Program Files\Far folder:
    • pkzipc.exe
    • rar.exe
    • MsCab.exe
    • tar.exe

    Unfortunately Far Manager is not bundled with any archiver so you need to get them manually, from various web sites. Update: see below.

  6. Options | Panel Settings | turn on “Select folders”. This allows using NumPad Star to select folders.
  7. Go to Options | Interface Settings. Turn off “Clock in panels”. I already have a clock in lower right corner. There is no need for extra clock.Turn on “Show total copy progress indicator”. Otherwise I have absolutely no clue when operation is going to finish when I have lots of files to copy.
  8. Go to Options | Editor Settings. Check “Del removes blocks”. Set tab size to 3. Default 8 is way to much.
  9. Switch to Wide Mode. Press Left Ctrl + 4. I prefer this mode because I can see long file names and file sizes. Go to Options | File panel modes | Wide mode. Set Column Types to N,SC and Status line column types to NR,SC,D,T. This adds comma to file sizes:
    far-delimeters.gif
  10. Install EMenu plugin. Go to C:\Program Files\Far\Plugins\EMenu folder and execute Hotkey.reg. Now I can press Context Menu key to get Explorer menu for selected file or folder.
  11. Can you read gray text on green background? I can’t.
    far-grey.gif
    Go to Options | Colors | Dialogs | Unchanged text input. Set Foreground to black.

Update: Download pkzipc.exe, Rar.exe, MsCab.exe, gzip32.exe and tar.exe:
far_archivers.zip
Extract far_archivers.zip to C:\Program Files\Far folder.