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Without denying that file explorer is fast and reliable for the most basic tasks you want to accomplish, it lacks numerous features that an advanced or power-user could count on. Luckily there are dozens of alternatives for Explorer out there that can suit any need and preference.

ChromaFiler is an interesting tool that replaces the standard explorer with column views that can be further expanded and manipulated.

The program comes with an unique interface that you can add in various locations that can be accessed quickly, such as the Context menu, Start menu and toolbar. The app allows you to specify whether you want it in context menus for files, folders or start menu during the setup. As far as usage goes, the tool employs the same hotkeys and does the same actions as the classic explorer.

As previously mentioned, the GUI consists of columns that you can expand based on the contents of the directories. It is worth mentioning that the columns can be grouped and moved as well as made big or small, so you can customize them based on your needs and work style. If you happen to close the main column by mistake or forget the folder structure, then you can use the arrow on the upper left corner to get the columns back in order.

According to the developer, the application can replace Notepad to a certain degree as well. Since you can preview the contents of the file, you can also make some modifications to them. To further customize the text editor, you can access the Settings and specify the font size and style along with whether you prefer to have Word Wrap enabled.

ChromaFiler is an overall reliable alternative for file explorer that can be especially appealing to users who prefer to have as few opened windows as possible.