FileViewer

Needless to say that it’s important to know where important files are on your computer so you don’t spend too much time looking for them. In case you’re not really fond of File Explorer, there’s the possibility to rely on third-party alternatives like FileViewer which can enlist files and folders inside a given path.

One of the application’s main advantages is that you don’t have to go through a setup process to make it work, which means it can be carried around on a thumb drive to use on other computers as well. Just make sure that the PC you use it on is fitted with Java Runtime Environment, otherwise it doesn’t work.

The main window is split into two sections, one to show folders, and one to display files. Additional info fields let you know the total number of items in each section. As for the upper part, it holds the input field, as well as the process button you need to press to have the target directory scanned.

Unfortunately, you need to go through a bit of trouble to specify the directory you want to scan, and this is because there’s no browse dialog to easily pick it. You need to manually write down the path of the target folder, or paste it from clipboard. Hitting the only button puts the process in motion.

It can take quite the while to have the two lists built, especially if you choose to scan an entire drive. What’s more, you can’t interact with any item on the list to at least have the source directory brought up, or open inside the default viewer or editor. The list is purely for info purposes, with no option to save it to file.

All things considered, we can state that FileViewer is heavily underprepared for what it wants to deliver. The list is devoid of options, and you can’t even export the list in case you need it in other projects. Given its long scan time, practicality has a lot to suffer.