XTree
XTree is a file manager software originally designed for use under DOS. It was published by Executive Systems and first released on 1 April 1985, and became highly popular.[1] The program used a character mode interface which had many elements typically associated with a graphical user interface.
The program filled a required niche in the market, as DOS shipped with only a command-line file manager, until the generally unsuccessful DOS shell that was provided with MS-DOS 4.0. Even at this point, the speed and features of XTreeGold were superior (specifically support for the ZIP compression format and ability to undelete files). The program also had the benefit of requiring very little memory, essential at a time when less than 640 kB of memory was available for programs to run.
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[edit] History
Even in its earliest version XTree contained features like listing all files of a branch including subdirectories, listing of all files on a disk,[2] or viewing a file's contents in text or hexadecimal format (regardless of its file extension),[3] that the Windows file manager is not capable of even in its latest Windows 7 version.
XTree was supplemented by the enhanced XTreePro in 1988, which added features for working with multiple disk drives, speed improvements, and brought the keyboard commands more in line with other common DOS programs.[1] A version of XTreePro with Novell Netware connectivity debuted in late 1988.[4] XTreeProGold/XTreeGold suceeded Xtree Pro in 1989, adding pull-down menus to enhance the interface, additional file viewers, and the choice of a Norton Commander-style split pane between locations on different disks.[5] The first GUI-enabled XTree product was XTreeMac, also launched in 1989, which brought the XTree interface metaphors to the Macintosh System as a Finder replacement. While the Macintosh System software already had competent file management, XTreeMac made it easier to move and copy files and added undelete and enhanced file finding tools.[6]
Also in 1989, the company ran a four month 'Software Amnesty for Everyone' allowing users of pirated copies of XTree to register them for a small fee. 5,000 licenses sold for $20 each.[7]
XTree suffered a terminal decline after the widespread adoption of Microsoft Windows. The built in Windows file manager had a vaguely similar appearance to XTree, and while it lacked the speed, keyboard shortcuts and power, it did benefit greatly from being included with Windows.
In 1992 XTree for Windows was released. The product dropped many of the features liked in the DOS versions, with undeletion and file editing particularly noticeable by their absence. The program also took considerably longer to load than both DOS Xtree and other Windows file managers, and operations like viewing files were slower. Despite this, features like native support for file compression and a wide range of file viewers made it the most feature complete Windows file manager of that year.[8] It was not a success for the company. In 1993, the XTree Company was sold to Central Point Software,[9] which was in turn acquired by Symantec in 1994,[10] and in 1995 production of XTree products was halted.
[edit] Clones
The popularity of the program has led many enthusiasts to develop clone versions that work with modern operating systems. Known clones include XFile, ZTreeWin, Unixtree and Ytree.
The authors and users commonly view these clones as a tribute to the original XTree program rather than a competitor (especially since XTree is no longer commercially available).
[edit] References
- ^ a b John Walkenbach (18 January 1988), "Product Comparison: DOS Shells", InfoWorld: p. 46-47, http://books.google.ca/books?id=Dz8EAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA92674
- ^ Don Berliner, Chris DeVoney (1986). Managing your hard disk. Que Corp. pp. 396–397. ISBN 0880222654.
- ^ The Software catalog: Microcomputers, Part 2. Elsevier. 1986. p. 35.
- ^ "Netnotes", Network World: p. 19, 23 May 1988, http://books.google.ca/books?id=UBMEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA19
- ^ Michael J. Miller (11 December 1989), "My Favorite DOS Shells, and Why One Is Just Not Enough", InfoWorld: p. 76, http://books.google.ca/books?id=czAEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PT99
- ^ Tracey Capeh (3 July 1989), "Xtree Mac Makes the Mac Desktop More Powerful", InfoWorld: pp. 8,10, http://books.google.ca/books?id=izAEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PT31
- ^ Larry Blasko (4 January 1990). "Software Piracy Is Tempting". Durant Daily Democrat. Associated Press: p. 3. http://news.google.ca/newspapers?id=5_hDAAAAIBAJ&pg=3185,167617.
- ^ Patrick Marshall (12 October 1992), "XTree for Windows looks good, runs slow", InfoWorld: pp. 133-134, http://books.google.ca/books?id=n1EEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA134
- ^ "Pipeline: Acquisitions- Central Point finishes merger with XTree", InfoWorld: p. 19, 15 November 1993, http://books.google.ca/books?id=DDsEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA19
- ^ "Symantec to Buy Central Point Software in Stock Deal". New York Times. 5 April 1994. http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C01E2DC1E3FF936A35757C0A962958260.
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
- What happened to XTreeGold ?
- XTree fan page
- XFile – XTree for Windows
- ZTreeWin File Manager, and ZTreeBold for OS/2
- Unixtree File Manager
- Ytree; a UNIX Filemanager also in many Linux Distributions
- Servant Salamander
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