Xfile Review
If its developer is to be believed, Xfile is some sort of magical application: “The standard setter,” “1/100 the size of comparable products” and “by far the fastest file browser.” How does Xfile manage these amazing feats? Let’s take a look, shall we?The first thing we notice about the application is a familiar file-manager scheme: a source list of folders on the left (in this case, every folder of the drive in a heirarchy) and a list of the folder contents on the right. The text of this right-hand view is fairly tiny, so we may be tempted to change it. And that’s when we realize:
There’s no View menu.
Well, that’s weird, but I’m sure it’s in the Preferences, right?
There are no Preferences.
And the reason behind the small size of Xfile begins to become oh-so-painfully clear.
There are no features in this application.
We scan furiously across the window, through the menus, and into the documentation; surely there is more to this app than a window with two views! But we search in vain.
Maybe the developer’s site will help us! Surely it can explain why all icons are either a generic white “file” of blue “folder.” Or why all dot files are forcibly displayed, or why there is no search of any kind. And it must be able to explain why we can’t assign shortcuts to folders we want or open the app at anywhere other than Home. Of course it can tell us why there is no installer, and we had to move the framework to the proper place manually.
Aha, a FAQ! And I was getting worried there for a second. Let’s see…
“Q. Why doesn’t Xfile include the functionality of Xfind and Xscan? It would be a lot more convenient with search capabilities in the same program.
A. Because it’s bad design. The design you speak of will only be optimal for precisely the situation you have in mind. Keep the programs separate and they’re more flexible. Besides, smaller more finite bodies of code mean more rugged bug-free crash-proof programs. The difference in how one works with these programs is almost non-existent.”
Oh, so the $50 file manager doesn’t include a basic function of every other file manager because it’s “more flexible” that way. Makes perfect sense. And I bet it saves space, too.
“Q. How can I get Xfile to open at other than my home directory?
A. Xfile is a ‘Cocoa document-based application’, even though it doesn’t edit documents per se. Put the directory you’re after on a command line in a shell script. Xfile will always open new windows at the directories dropped on its Dock icon: drop one and see. This also works interchangeably with Xfind and Xscan.”
Silly me, I forgot to write a shell script just to open the directory I wanted on startup. Thank goodness Rixstep saved space in the application by not programming this in!
“Q. I’d like to add my favourite applications to the Xfile menu. How do I do that?
A. You don’t have to. The system automatically knows where all applications are at all times. You never need to supply a full path to an application, nor do you need to suffix the ‘app’ extension. Just use the ‘Open’ sheet in Xfile and put in the name of your application in the second field. If AOL users can type keywords instead of clicking links, you can do the same.”
Oh, so I just had to enter every folder and file name manually instead of having the software keep track of what I use the most? Why didn’t I just think of that in the first place?
“Q. I can’t drop files from the Finder onto Xfile.
A. This is by design. You can do it the other way around, as Xfile must export the common file dragging format. But the Xfile message to the Finder is otherwise clear: ‘hands off!’”
Oh, Rixstep. You’re always looking out for the customer’s desire to fight your personal battles against the Finder for you. How considerate.
“Q. Can I turn off display of hidden files? Can’t you mark them in a different colour?
A. There are no hidden files in Xfile. The program is counting on you to be intelligent and to use discretion. Live up to its expectations. They’re not in a different colour because they’re not really hidden - they’re only hidden in the Finder.”
Because allowing people to hide dot files insults their intelligence.
And finally, the question of all questions:
“Q. How can you make the Xfile System programs so compact?
A. That’s classified. We could tell you, but then we’d have to kill you. We’re selling something valuable here, Bubba - we’re not about to give it or the secrets away.”
How is that app so small? It’s still a mystery.
I could go on and on about the interface’s usability flaws or how the testimonies on the websites lack sources, but ultimately, reviewing Xfile is like catching smoke. There’s no substance at all to this application. It’s a window with two fixed views for files and nothing else. By design.
Buy it now for $50, or for $90 you can also get all those other apps that were complimentarily downloaded to your computer when you tried out Xfile. Distinguishable icons not included. Users with Gmail, .mac, or anything that isn’t strictly plain text need not apply.