FreeCommander

Activating the menu item "File → Delete" or the shortcuts "Del" or "Shift+Del" opens the dialog "Delete".

In the menu item "Tools → Settings → File/folder operations" can be defined under "Delete" what program should run the deletion process. One of the following options can be selected there:

• Use Windows
  If the deletion process should be handled by Windows, the Windows standard delete function is opened.
• Use FreeCommander
  FreeCommander's delete function is described below.
• Use external program
  If the deletion process should be handled by an external program, dialog and proceeding depend on this program, defined under "delete" in the menu item "Tools → Settings → File/folder operations".

Example for using two different delete programs

Like described above, "Use FreeCommander" can be started with "File → Delete" or the shortcut "Del".

To still allow to use the Windows delete function (this may be useful/necessary, if administrator rights are required for the target folder) one or several of the following functions: 

• "Delete permanently (Win)"
• "Delete permanently (FC)"
• "Delete to recycling bin (Win)"
• "Delete to recycling bin (FC)"
• "Delete to recycling bin (FC) - no dialog"

can be:

• added to a toolbar under the menu item "Tools → Customize toolbars..."
• and/or a shortcut can be defined for it under the menu item "Tools → Define keyboard shortcuts...".

Delete using the FreeCommander delete function

If "Use FreeCommander" is selected (under the menu item "Tools → Settings → File/folder operations" in the section "Delete"), the FreeCommander delete process is started after the activation of the menu item "File → Delete" or the shortcuts "Del" or "Shift+Del".

The "Delete" dialog window has the following titles:

• Send to Recycle Bin

Initially, if the menu item "File → Delete" or the shortcut "Del" was activated. Furthermore, if the operation "Send to Recycle Bin" was selected in the dialog.

• Delete permanently

Initially, if the shortcut "Shift+Del" was activated. Furthermore, if the operation "Delete permanently" was selected in the dialog.

• Wipe the files

Initially, if the menu item "File → Wipe..." or the shortcut "Shift+Ctrl+Del" was activated. Furthermore, if the operation "Wipe the files" was selected in the dialog.

The "Delete" dialog contains the tabs

• Operation
• Files
• Settings

the information bar

• ...files, ...folders

and the buttons

• Queue
• Run
• Cancel

Tab Operation

Selected item(s)

The content displayed under "Selected item(s)" differs according to the number of items to be deleted:

• One item to be deleted
  If only one file (or folder) is selected, the name of the file (or folder) is displayed under "Selected item(s)".
• Several items to be deleted

If several files (and/or folders) are selected, the number of files (and/or folder) is displayed under "Selected item(s)".

from

The folder from where the items are to be deleted is displayed under "from".

Operation

Under "Operation" one of the following delete operations can be selected:

• Send to Recycle Bin
  The delete operation "Send to Recycle Bin" does not delete items (files and folders), it moves them to the recycling bin, from where they can be copied or moved back at any time.
• Delete permanently
  The delete operation "Delete permanently" deletes items (files and folders). The deleted items are not overwritten. Therefore they can be restored in serious cases (using suitable tools).
• Wipe the files
  The delete operation "Wipe the files..." deletes items (files and folders) and overwrites them according to the settings defined in the tab "Settings". Therefore they can not be restored in serious cases. If this operation is selected, the background color in the tab "Operation" switches to yellow.

Include only files of this type:

• Input field "Include only files of this type"
  The content of the input field "Include only files of this type" allows to limit (filter) the number of items selected in the active panel of the FreeCommander main window. This reduces the number of items to be deleted. Wildcards and regular expressions are accepted in the input field. As soon as a filter is entered and the tab "Files" or the button "Run" are activated, the contents of the information bar "...files, ...folders" is refreshed.
• Button
  After activating the button a selection list is shown, with the last inputs (filters) in this field and the text "<RegExp>:" (to enter regular expressions). Clicking a row in this selection list overwrites the contents of the input field with the contents of the clicked row.
• Button
  After activating the button a selection list with filters (defined under the menu item "Folder → Filter → Set filter") is shown. Selecting a filter overwrites the contents of the input field with "<Filter>:" + "contents of the filter".

Delete read only items

This option is applied when the file (to be deleted) has the attribute "read only".

If this option is checked, these files are treated the same way as other files, concerning deleting.

If this option is not checked, the following "Confirm deleting" dialog is shown:

Use Windows delete method (Vista and later)

If this option is checked and the operating system is Windows Vista or later, items are deleted with the Windows delete method. E.g. if a folder is deleted, the recycle bin shows only the deleted folder.

If this option is not checked, items are deleted with the FreeCommander method. E.g. if a folder is deleted, the recycle bin shows every deleted file.

Tab Files

The tab "Files" lists all files and folders to be deleted with their paths.

If on the "Operation" tab the option "Use Windows delete method (Vista and later)" is active: 

Button Plain view

The button plain view is visible only if the option "Use Windows delete method (Vista and later)" is checked.

If the "Plain view" is not activated, all folders and files selected in the main panel are listed.

If the "Plain view" is activated, all folders and files selected in the main panel and all their subfolders with their files are shown in one list, independent of their paths.

Button

Activating the button reloads all files and folders. This may be useful if they can be processed from various workspaces.

Quick filter bar

The quick filter provides the possibility to decrease the number of files to be deleted (it is not applied to folders).

• Input field
  The input field "Quick filter" allows to define a filter. (Example: ".bmp; .png; a*.htm")
  As soon as the focus is on this field and the first character is typed, the quick filter is activated and the button behind the input field is switched from to .
• Button

After activating the button a selection list is shown, with the last inputs (filters) in this field. Clicking the button activates the highlighted filter.

• Button
  Clicking activates the quick filter, changes the button to and refreshes the contents of the information bar " ... files, ...folders".
  Clicking deactivates it and switches the button back to .

Tab Settings

Under the tab "Settings" further settings for the deletion process can be defined.

Auto close for successful operation

If this option is checked, the "Delete" dialog is closed automatically, as as soon as all deletion processes are successfully completed.

Auto close for canceled operation

If this option is checked, the "Delete" dialog is closed automatically, after one deletion process was canceled.

Auto minimize when starting the operation

If this option is checked, the "Delete" dialog is minimized automatically, after the button was activated.

Show error messages

If this option is checked, an own error window with an error message is opened after the occurrence of some errors.

Wipe operation

In the input filed "number of overwrite runs" can be defined how often the following steps should be executed. A file is absolutely sure wiped out (unrestorable deleted) from 32 repetitions up. One overwrite run consists of the following steps:

• overwrite with #C1 (Hexadecimal value "C1")
• overwrite with #3E (Hexadecimal value "3E")
• overwrite with a random value
• random rename of file

Wipe operations are applied only to files stored on hard discs, not to files stored on USB sticks.

Information bar: ...files, ...folders

In the "Delete" dialog the information bar (lowest window line) "Waiting for starting operation on: ...files, ...folders" shows the information how many files and folders are to be copied. On opening the dialog the bar is invisible. Whenever the tab "Files" or the button "Run" are activated, the files and folders to be copied are loaded and their number is calculated and shown. The number of files and folders shown in the information bar can be different from the number shown under "Selected item(s)". The differences may result from:

• The input field "Include only files of this type" contains a filter
• Under "Selected item(s)" all selected files and folders are counted.
  In the information bar all subfolders and all files in selected folders and their subfolders are counted additionally.

Button Queue

Pressing the button adds the delete operation to the operations queue and starts the processing of the operations queue.

Activating the button in the operation queue bar opens the operations queue dialog.

File operations via the operations queue are described in the chapter Operations queue.

Button Run

After activating the button the delete process for all items to be deleted is started directly. The "Delete" dialog shows the following modifications:

The "Delete" dialog and its modifications is visible only, if the option "Auto minimize when starting the operation" (in the tab "Settings") is not checked. The tab "Settings" is invisible during the copy process.

Pause

Clicking this option checks it and suspends the deletion process. Clicking it again unchecks the option and continues the deletion process.

Cancel

After activating the button (during the deletion process) the request "Do you really want to cancel the operation?" is shown. After confirming the request, the deletion dialog is closed (without further deletion processes). Already completed deletions remain.

Deletion progress

The deletion progress is visualized as follows:

• The message "x% deleted" is shown in the title bar.
• A progress bar is shown below the item list.

Delete status of the items

In the item list each item is preceded by an icon that shows the delete status of the item:

•                Item not yet deleted
•        Item deleted successfully
•        An error has occurred during the deletion process of this item.
                 The item was not deleted.
                 An error message is shown in the column "Error message" in the row of the item.

The message bar shows the actually deleted item.

The items are deleted in the order in which they are listed in the tab "Files".

Button Cancel

Activating the button "Cancel", cancels the deletion process. Already completed deletions remain. The delete dialog is closed.