Ranger: console file manager with VI key bindings
Ranger is a great terminal-based file manager written in Python, with very useful features like file previews, common file operations, multi-column display, batch renaming and more.
Installation
Ranger is available on most distros. Install it using your system package manager (apt
, dnf
, pacman
). Optional dependencies can be installed to enable some features.
Usage
Just run ranger
to open Ranger on your current folder. Ranger is divided in three columns: the first column shows the parent folder, the second column the current folder and the third one the file preview.
You can navigate through the listing with the traditional Vi/Vim key bindings: h
, j
, k
, l
or the arrow keys. These are some of the most useful shortcuts:
- SPACE: select files individually.
- V: select a range of files (‘visual mode’). To unmark all marked files, type
uv
. - d: open cut/delete panel.
:delete
: delete a file.- y: open copy panel.
yy
to copy a file. - p: open paste panel.
pp
to paste a file. - o: open sort panel.
- ESC: exit from one of the previous panels.
- i: full screen file preview. Press i again to quit from this mode.
cw
: rename a file.- q: quit from Ranger.
:filter <search>
: filter the listing (e.g.::filter pdf
). Run:filter
to reset the filter.:set show_hidden true
: show hidden files/directories. Type:set show_hidden!
for the opposite.- ?: open the man page.
File previews work with:
- Text files (including ODT files).
- ODS spreadsheets.
- PDFs with OCR.
- Contents of an archive (ZIP, TAR,…).
- You can add more previews with plugins.
Check https://github.com/ranger/ranger/wiki/Official-user-guide for more info.
If you have any suggestion, feel free to contact me via social media or email.
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