FAQ

📚 Frequently Asked Questions

🔷 Why clifm?

People often asks how does clifm compare to other file managers. The answer is simple: it doesn't. And here's why.

Clifm is not so much about features (though it provides quite a lot of them), but about design, about the way in which you interact with your file system.

Most terminal file managers out there (if not all) are built using the TUI design principles, much like Midnight Commander and Ranger. But clifm is built rather based on the CLI design principles: do not navigate through a big menu of files, but just type it!, exactly as you do in your shell, but easier and faster.

For this reason, clifm does not need to be better: it's just different! 😉

For more information see the introductory section of our Wiki.

🔷 What's the meaning of those numbers in the interface?

interface

ELN: It stands for Entry List Number. Each entry in the files list has its own number, which can be used as a shortcut to corresponding file. For example, to print file properties of the file whose ELN is 12 you can enter p 12 (the actual file name will be suggested next to the ELN; press Right to accept the suggestion). In the same way, to change to a directory or to open a file (with the default associated application) enter its ELN.

Files counter: The amount of files contained by a given directory

Workspace indicator: Clifm provides up to 8 workspaces, each with its own independent path. To switch workspaces use the ws command. Example: ws 2 (to switch to the second workspace). Alt-[1-4] is also available.

🔷 How do I create files?

Files creation, for both regular files and directories, is performed by the n (or new) command. A few examples:

Command	Description
`n file`	Create an empty regular file named `file`
`n dir/`	Create a directory named `dir` ¹
`n file dir/`	Both of the above at once

¹ If a file name ends with a slash, it is created as a directory, otherwise, as an empty regular file.

Parent directories are created automatically if they don't exist. For instance, if you run the command n dir/file on an empty directory, the directory dir will be automatically created before the regular file file.

🔷 How do I clear the screen?

To clear the screen enter rf (. will also do the trick). You can also press Enter (on an empty line) or Ctrl-l.

🔷 How do I bookmark a directory?

Use the bm command as follows: bm add FILENAME BOOKMARK_NAME, say

bm add important_dir/ dir

in which case the directory important_dir will be bookmarked as dir. Then you can access your bookmark either as follows:

bm dir
# or
b:dir

Note that you can operate on your bookmarks as if there where any other file. For example, to select the bookmark named dir use the s command:

s b:dir

To list available bookmarks enter bm or type b:<TAB> (or bm <TAB>).

For more information consult the bookmarks section.

🔷 Can I filter files?

Absolutely. You can filter files by name, MIME type, and file type. A few easy examples:

Command	Description
`=<TAB>`	List all file types in the current directory
`=l<TAB>`	List all symbolic links in the current directory
`@<TAB>`	List all MIME types in the current directory
`@image<TAB>`	List all files whose MIME type matches `image` in the current directory
`*.pdf<TAB>`	List all file names ending with `.pdf`
`/file*`	Print a list of all file names starting with `file` in the current directory

For more information consult the file filters and the files search sections.

🔷 How do I select files?

Easy. Just use the s command. Examples:

Command	Description
`s *.c`	Select files with `.c` extension
`s 1-12`	Select files whose ELN's are 1 through 12 (the first 12 files)
`s t:pdf`	Select all files tagged as `pdf`
`s *.c 1-12 t:pdf`	All of the above at once

List selected files as follows: enter sb or type s:<TAB>.

To deselect files use the ds command: ds * to deselect all files, or ds <TAB> to deselect selectively.

To operate on selected files use the sel or s: keywords. For example: p s: to print file properties of all selected files. Type s:<TAB> to operate on selected files selectively.

See the files selection page for more information.

🔷 What is the difference between selected and tagged files?

Both selected and tagged files are marks set on files. However, and unlike selection, when you tag a file you place it under a specific category (or tag), say, docs, important, or work (you can create as many tags as you like, and you can place as many files as you want under any of these tags).

A few basic tag operations:

Command	Description
`tag new test`	Create a new (empty) tag named `test`
`tag add *.xlsx :docs`	Tag all spreadsheet files as `docs` (the tag will be created if it doesn't exist)
`t:docs<TAB>` (or `tag list docs`)	List all files tagged as `docs`
`p t:docs`	Print properties of all files tagged as `docs`
`p t:work<TAB>`	Selectively print properties of files tagged as `work`
`tag untag :docs <TAB>`	Selectively untag files tagged as `docs`
`tag del work`	Delete the tag `work` (i.e. untag all files tagged as `work` and remove the tag itself)

For more information consult the tagging files section.

🔷 How do I change opening applications?

Let's say you want to open PDF files with Okular. The procedure is quite straightforward:

Open the Mimelist file, where opening applications are defined: mm edit (or F6).
Search for the PDF section and place Okular as the first opening application: X:.*/pdf$:okular;...

For more information see the resource opener section.

🔷 How do I change the color scheme?

Contributed by theRoboxx

Either via the command line (--color-scheme=NAME), permanent via the ColorScheme option in the main configuration file, or temporary for preview purposes using the cs command, for instance,