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/designed using the TUI principles, much like Midnight Commander or Ranger. But clifm is built based on the CLI principles: do not navigate through a big menu of files, just type it!, exactly as you do in your shell, but easier and faster.

Clifm does not need to be better. It's just different! 😉

For more information see our introductory section.

🔷 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; just 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) just 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 clear the screen?

To clear the screen just 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 via 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 just enter bm or type b:<TAB> (or bm <TAB>).

🔷 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.

🔷 How do I change opening applications?

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

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,