You can create a list of files. Then you can save it. Then anytime, you can open it and operate on files. You can copy them, delete (from a list or really, from disk), and see in thumbnails’ view. You can do everything, as it was a normal directory, while it’s not.
The ACL –AC Browser List of files behaves almost like a directory, but the files aren’t really there. It’s only the information about – where there are.
Select List in main menu and then Create. This will open a new window, which looks a little differently to show that the files in there aren’t real. You can also start searching files with Alt+F7, and then push Create AC list button. Note, that as with directories, and temporary directories, you can immediately copy files (their locations) to the list, simply press Ctrl+F9. However, you cannot use Shift+F9 (immediately move files to created window), because you cannot move files to a list.
Copying. A list’s window looks similarly to the normal browsing window, but it behaves differently in some cases. First of all – when you add files to a list – in any way (by Dragging&Dropping or Ctrl+V) the files\directories aren’t really copied, because (as mentioned) the list doesn’t contain any files, only the information about them. So, the information will be copied. (Because of this reason you cannot ‘move’ the files to a list). However, if you will Drag&Drop files from a list to a real directory, files will be copied. From their destinations to the target directory. You can also Drag&Drop the files from one list to another – the information about them will be copied.
Moving. If you move files from a directory to a list, the information about the files will be copied. If you move file from a list to some real directory, the files will be moved from their destinations to the target.
Deleting. If you press delete on a file in the list – the entry in a list will be deleted, the real file will not be touched. If you want to
recycle a file, press alt+delete. You can see these shortcuts in a context menu.
Recycling. If you press shift+delete on a file in the list –
file will be really deleted. You can see these shortcuts in a context menu.
Checking status. You can check which files changed and which don’t exists any more. Then you can update the information about the files and delete the not existing ones. List\status.
Exporting. You can export the files to the text file. List\export. By the way, to create a text file, consisting the listing of certain files in the current directory, you can use ‘?’ (question tag) in the address bar to search files and create a list of them in one step. Then export the list using the fields you want. More about creating lists using ‘?’ read in Address Bar section.
Many possibilities. E.g. I have an ACL named "to copy
when publish AC Browser.acl". I just run this acl, move the files on the list to the FTP app – and… done, it’s on my website. I don’t have to select the concrete files every time I want to do this. They are on the
list…. Other example is using a list like a clipboard. A clipboard to which you can drop files, and delete files from. Then when you are finished collecting files - copy, or move them really to some place. Or, if you have many directories with images, and you would like to see all of them, or create another categories than you have now, create
AC lists….
ACL can contain both, normal files, and files which are
inside an archive. The rules are the same. You can copy those files\directories
to a directory, or other archive.
If you want to compress files from ACL, and you will press
Alt+F5 or Ctrl+F10 (Compress files to...) you will see a message saying that you
are not in a directory. So if you want to do this, you must first create an
archive in a directory, then Drag&Drop files from the ACL to this created
zip archive. About working with archives, read here.
You can use the
Editorial Renaming
tool on ACL's, note however, that after this operation, the ACL is not valid any
more.
