Commander One Pro 2
a file manager more powerful than the Finder
Shortcuts are at the heart of what Commander One does
From £29.40 (single Mac) FROm Eltima Labs, mac.eltima.com needs OS X 10.10 or later; 64-bit processor
the Finder has improved greatly in macOS, starting with the introduction of tabs, and continuing in Mojave with the ability to perform Quick Actions on files. But it still lacks a few features, and that’s where Commander One comes in.
It’s available in two versions: free and Pro. The free version provides access to your Mac’s startup drive, as well as any directly attached or network storage. The Pro version adds the ability to manage files on FTP, SFTP, and cloud storage services, making it akin to a tool like Forklift or Transmit.
Version two of Commander One Pro can open and edit files in online storage locations, archives, and on iOS devices. (The Mac App Store version doesn’t mount iOS devices; there’s a full comparison of this version and the version direct from Eltima
at bit.ly/cmm1pro2cmpr.) It also adds support for Box.com and Backblaze, as well as Dropbox Business and Google Teams.
One thing that hasn’t changed much is the user interface. It still looks as it did in version one, and the choice of themes is still uninspiring – you can only substitute the default window background with one of a number of gaudy colours. However, it does now support Dark Mode on Mojave and Catalina. You can also now configure the look of the built-in Terminal and the preview.
Shorter cuts
Talking of previewing files, if you’re used to pressing the Spacebar in the Finder, you will need to learn to use F5 in Commander One. It takes a bit of getting used to, but it’s listed along the bottom of the window along with several other keyboard shortcuts. Shortcuts are at the heart of what Commander One does, allowing you to work with files by using the keyboard instead of reaching for the mouse. It also enables you to, for example, rename files as you copy or move them.
The line between file managers like Forklift and Transmit and Finder replacements like Commander One has become increasingly blurred. But if your main requirement is for a tool that allows you to manage both local and remote files from the keyboard, Commander One Pro 2 is worth a look. Kenny HempHill