PaneShift manual
Documentation
PaneShift is a dual-pane file manager for macOS, made for people who know Total Commander. This manual explains every panel, dialog and setting. If you are new, read Getting started and Coming from Total Commander first. They take about ten minutes together.
Total Commander notes
Boxes like this one compare PaneShift with Total Commander: where a feature lives now, which key replaced a Windows shortcut, and what works differently on the Mac.
How keys are written§
The manual uses the Mac's key symbols:
| Symbol | Key | Windows equivalent |
|---|---|---|
| ⌘ | Command | Usually Ctrl |
| ⌥ | Option | Alt |
| ⌃ | Control | Ctrl, where macOS leaves it free |
| ⇧ | Shift | Shift |
| ⌫ | Delete (backspace) | Backspace |
| Return | Return | Enter |
All default keys can be changed in Settings › Keys. The keyboard reference lists every command.
Start here§
Getting startedInstall PaneShift, grant disk access and learn the window.Coming from Total CommanderYour Total Commander habits on a Mac keyboard.
Everyday work§
Panels and navigationPanels, tabs, views, columns, sorting, hotlist and the command line.Selecting filesMarking with the keyboard, the mouse and masks.Copying, moving and deletingF5, F6, F7, F8, the operation queue, conflicts and drag and drop.Viewing and editingThe Lister, Quick View, Quick Look and editing files.
Tools§
Finding filesFind Files by name, content, size, date, Spotlight and text in images.Multi-Rename ToolRename many files with masks, counters, search and replace.Compare and synchronizeMark differences, synchronize folders, compare file contents.File toolsChecksums, split and combine, attributes, images and PDFs.ArchivesBrowse, pack, unpack and test ZIP, 7z, TAR and more.Servers and networkSFTP, FTP, FTPS, WebDAV, S3, SMB and web server folder listings.
Make it yours§
Customizing PaneShiftColors, columns, appearance, keys, the button bar, scripts and languages.Mac integrationQuick Look, tags, iCloud, Shortcuts, AppleScript, Services and Apple Intelligence.
Reference§
Keyboard referenceEvery command and its default keys.EditionsThe Direct and Mac App Store editions compared.TroubleshootingPermission prompts, server errors and other common questions.Version historyWhat changed in each version of PaneShift.Open-source licensesThe open-source software in PaneShift and the 7-Zip source code.