Better Explorer An Explorer replacement with Windows 8 style ribbon toolbar

A program that is integral to Windows operations is 'Windows Explorer', better known as file and folder manager. It provides detailed information on your files and folders and we use it to rename, move, manage and organize our files and folder The explorer.exe has been greatly improved upon in Windows 7. But if you are looking to enhance and add more features to your Windows 7 Explorer, you can check out freeware  Better Explorer.

Explorer with Windows 8 style ribbon toolbar

Better Explorer, aka BExplorer is an open-source explorer replacement which looks quite similar to Windows' own in-built explorer.exe, but differs in a way that it features a Windows 8 style ribbon toolbar, tabs and more! The toolbar gives access to many useful tools and options.

As shown in the screen-shot above, the main window of the program includes two more tabs besides 'File' tab i.e. 'Home' and 'View'. The 'Home' tab gives access to:

• Cut
• Copy
• Paste
• Rename
• Clone tab
• Close tab options

On the other hand, 'View tab' provides sorting options to sort items by

• Type
• Size
• Date
• Format

At the top of the file-finder window, the program adds options that behave much as the Ribbon at the top of Microsoft Word's newest layout does. This lets you more easily ar-range, copy, move, and delete files. For devices, such as tablets which do not support 'Right-click' function you get a button for ac-cessing any file's properties.

Besides, Better Explorer provides a tabbed interface that makes it extremely convenient to work with several folders without cluttering up the taskbar and speed up the process of copying files between various locations at the same time.

Better Explorer features

1. Adds Ribbon Control UI like in Windows 8
2. Adds tab functionality together with use of standard explorer browser control (Implemented)
3. Adds additional features like:

• Changing Library icons (conditional tab for Libraries)
• File operation with files and folders
• Synchronized command promt
• Change of folder icons (conditional tab for folders)
• Extended Jump list support (Windows 7)
• Extended search conditional tab like extended search pane in Vista (Windows 7)

Please note that Better Explorer is designed for use with Windows 7 32-bit (On x64 systems it may not run, since the most of the dlls are x32 - and even if it does - expect it to run slow). Plus, it is currently in the alpha stage and therefore has some shortfalls that need to be handled effectively.

To download this explorer alternative, visit its home page.

Go here if you are looking for more Windows explorer replacement free software.