Classic AmigaOS is very basic once it is installed. You have the most basic text editor and the most important settings. But AmigaOS in all flavors can do so much more. In this guide, I go through the most important file managers that improves the use of AmigaOS a lot.
MorphOS is a nextgen AmigaOS compatible OS that includes a lot of features missing in Classic AmigaOS. MorphOS got Ambient which is the MUI version of Workbench that has taken lots of features from Dopus Magellan and it is so rich with options.
So, what can you do to improve the file listings in the Classic and even the Nextgen AmigaOS environment? You can change the entire look and feel of AmigaOS for the better or you can keep AmigaOS as it is. Here I am looking at the file managers that open its app on its own window or screen.
#1 – Filer
What is it?
It is a tiny file manager done back in 2002 in full GUI that is easy to understand is available on Aminet. It is tiny and so you can copy it to the C: drawer of your Workbench partition in AmigaOS.
What does it do?
You can use Filer for copying, deleting, and renaming files or creating
directories. You can create, list, and extract archives with it or use
it as a universal viewing tool. You can run Filer on its own screen or on Workbench, Ambient. It is also worthy to mention that it works nicely on MorphOS too as you can see from the screenshot.
The best part is that Filer can be started on a startup without startup-sequence boot. Once placed in C: you don’t even need to enter Workbench to load it up.
What’s the requirement?
- AmigaOS 2.04 or newer is required on Classic Amiga
- MorphOS compatible
- No need for MUI or ReAction to be installed
#2 – DiskMaster
What is it?
A huge file manager in full GUI that is loved by many. It is available on Aminet in versions both for 68k and also for AmigaOS 4. It does require ReAction to be installed.
What does it do?
You can use DiskMaster for copying, deleting, and renaming files or creating
directories. You can create, list, and extract archives with it or use
it as a universal viewing tool.
You can run DiskMaster2 on its own screen or on Workbench, Ambient.
What’s the requirement?
- AmigaOS 1.x or newer is required on Classic Amiga
- ReAction is Required for the Newest version
- You can get the ReAction libraries on Aminet
- MorphOS compatible if ReAction libraries are found!
- AmigaOS 4 compatible as seen in the video below
#3 – Dopus
What is it?
This is the all-time file manager from GP Software that is available for AmigaOS. Now it is open source and so it is for free. It is a huge file manager with GUI that is loved by many. It is available on Aminet in versions both for 68k and also for AmigaOS 4. It does require ReAction to be installed.
What does it do?
You can use Dopus 4.16 for copying, deleting, and renaming files or creating
directories. You can create, list, and extract archives with it or use
it as a universal viewing tool. You can configure it a lot to do things you want it to do.
You can run the Dopus file manager on its own screen. Dopus 4.12 is the last version that works on AmigaOS 1.x! I didn’t get it to work in window mode when testing the version on Aminet.
What’s the requirement?
- AmigaOS 1.x or newer is required on Classic Amiga
- MorphOS compatible
- AmigaOS 4 compatible
- No need for MUI or ReAction to be installed
- Get a unzip archiver for unpacking Dopus 4.12
#4 – MCAmiga
What is it?
Do you remember Norton Commander back in the days? Back in 2020, this MS-DOS file manager was made available for AmigaOS. It is a file manager with lots of features and it doesn’t require much. But you need to know how Norton Commander did work as this one is not as intuitive but it is powerful.
What does it do?
You can use MCAmiga as a Norton Commander clone for copying, deleting, and renaming files or creating directories. You can create, list, and extract archives with it or use it as a universal viewing tool. You can configure it a lot to do things you want it to do.
MCAmiga doesn’t follow the GUI but relies on shortcuts. You need to know the NC shortcuts to use all of its functions.
What’s the requirement?
- AmigaOS 1.x and 4MB RAM required on Classic Amiga
- MorphOS compatible
- AmigaOS 4 compatible
- No need for MUI or ReAction to be installed
#4 – RO
What is it?
This is one of the working MUI File Managers on Aminet. It offers everything that a file manager should support.
What does it do?
You can use RO the MUI File Manager as a clone for copying, deleting, and renaming files or creating directories. You can create, list, and extract archives with it or use it as a universal viewing tool. You can configure it a lot to do things you want it to do.
You can run RO on its own screen or on Workbench, Ambient.
What’s the requirement?
- Needs MUI 3.8 or higher is required on Classic Amiga
- Needs to be installed for some reason
- MorphOS compatible
- AmigaOS 4 compatible
#5 – Ordering
What is it?
This is a file manager that doesn’t require much. It does have locale support though. When I tested it on MorphOS, Norwegian text shows up. Thanks to readers of Amitopia Amiga Magazine for giving me info about this file manager.
What does it do?
You can use Ordering for copying, deleting, and renaming files or creating directories.
Ordering can only be opened on its own screen.
What’s the requirement?
- Needs AmigaOS 2.x or higher is required on Classic Amiga
- Uses reqtools.library, powerpacker.library, whatis.library and newicon.library
- MorphOS compatible
#6 – DirWork
What is it?
This is a file manager that doesn’t require much but is very configurable. It is one of the file managers for Amiga which allows that kind of optimization for the end-user. Thanks to readers of Amitopia Amiga Magazine for giving me info about this file manager.
What does it do?
You can use DirWork for copying, deleting, and renaming files or creating directories.
Ordering can be configured a lot. Just look at the GUI configuration settings above. The 1.62 package is very old. It is from 1992 and was uploaded to Aminet in .lzh format. LHA is backward compatible with .lzh
What’s the requirement?
- Needs AmigaOS 1.x or 2.x for full functionality is required on Classic Amiga
- DirWork 2.0 can be found on eab.abime.net and the updates to 2.1 on Aminet
FAQ regarding this article about File Managers
* = You don’t need to download these packages if you have them already installed!
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