File Operations

Termix provides powerful file and directory operations with visual feedback and progress tracking. This guide covers all file management features, from basic operations to advanced techniques.

Overview

All file operations in Termix are designed to be:

• Safe: Confirmation prompts for destructive operations
• Informative: Clear feedback and progress indicators
• Efficient: Optimized for both small files and large directories
• Recoverable: Clear error messages with suggested actions

Creating Files and Directories

Create New Items

Press A to create new files or directories:

1. Press A to enter creation mode
2. Type the desired name
3. Press Enter to create

Creation Rules

Input	Result	Description
filename.txt	File	Creates a text file
script	script.txt	Auto-adds .txt extension
folder/	Directory	Trailing slash creates directory
path/to/file.md	Nested file	Creates directories as needed

Smart Path Creation

Termix intelligently determines where to create new items:

• Selected directory: If a directory is selected, create inside it
• Current directory: Otherwise, create in the current directory
• Nested paths: Automatically creates parent directories when needed

Examples

# Create a simple file
A → README.md → Enter

# Create a directory
A → src/ → Enter

# Create nested structure
A → docs/guide/setup.md → Enter

Renaming Files and Directories

Rename Operation

Press R to rename the selected item:

1. Select the file or directory
2. Press R to enter rename mode
3. Edit the current name (pre-filled)
4. Press Enter to confirm or Esc to cancel

Rename Features

• Pre-filled name: Current name is loaded for easy editing
• Extension preservation: Smart handling of file extensions
• Validation: Prevents invalid characters and duplicate names
• Atomic operation: Rename completes fully or not at all

Rename Examples

# Rename a file
Select old-name.txt → R → new-name.txt → Enter

# Change file extension
Select script.txt → R → script.sh → Enter

# Rename directory
Select old-folder → R → new-folder → Enter

Copy and Move Operations

Termix uses a clipboard-based system for copy and move operations:

Copy Files (C)

1. Select the file or directory
2. Press C to copy to clipboard
3. Navigate to the destination
4. Press P to paste

Move Files (X)

1. Select the file or directory
2. Press X to cut (move) to clipboard
3. Navigate to the destination
4. Press P to paste

Clipboard Features

• Visual feedback: Status bar shows clipboard contents
• Mode indicator: Shows whether item is copied or cut
• Smart pasting: Handles naming conflicts automatically
• Cross-drive support: Efficiently handles moves across different drives

Progress Tracking

For large files and directories, Termix shows detailed progress:

• Progress bar: Visual indication of completion
• Current file: Shows which file is being processed
• Cancellation: Press Q during operations to cancel

Paste Behavior

When pasting, Termix handles various scenarios:

Scenario	Behavior
Same location (copy)	Creates copy with different name
Same location (move)	Shows "source and destination are same"
Name conflict	Shows error, suggests resolution
Cross-drive move	Automatically converts to copy + delete

Delete Operations

Delete Confirmation

Press D to delete the selected item:

1. Select the file or directory
2. Press D to start delete operation
3. Confirm with y or cancel with n

Delete Features

• Confirmation required: All deletes require explicit confirmation
• Recursive deletion: Directories are deleted with all contents
• Clear feedback: Shows exactly what will be deleted
• Safe operation: Cannot accidentally delete without confirmation

Delete Examples

# Delete a file
Select file.txt → D → y

# Delete a directory
Select folder → D → y  # Deletes folder and all contents

# Cancel deletion
Select important.txt → D → n  # Operation cancelled

Advanced Operations

Batch Operations

While Termix doesn't support multi-select, you can efficiently handle multiple files:

1. Use search: Filter to show only target files
2. Operate sequentially: Work through filtered results
3. Use clipboard: Copy/move files one by one to same destination

Cross-Drive Operations

Termix intelligently handles operations across different drives:

• Same drive moves: Use native filesystem move (instant)
• Cross-drive moves: Copy then delete original (with progress)
• Automatic detection: Termix determines the optimal strategy

Large Directory Handling

For directories with many files:

• Size calculation: Pre-calculates total operation size
• Progress tracking: Shows overall and current file progress
• Interruption handling: Safe cancellation at any point
• Error recovery: Continues operation despite individual file errors

Error Handling

Common Error Scenarios

Error	Cause	Resolution
Permission denied	Insufficient file system permissions	Check file/directory permissions
File in use	Another process has file locked	Close other applications using the file
Disk full	Not enough space for operation	Free up disk space or choose different location
Invalid name	Name contains illegal characters	Use valid filename characters
Path too long	Exceeds filesystem limits	Use shorter names or shallower directory structure

Error Recovery

When errors occur, Termix provides:

• Clear error messages: Explains what went wrong
• Suggested actions: Tells you how to fix the issue
• Operation state: Shows what completed successfully
• Safe rollback: No partial operations left in inconsistent state

Status and Feedback

Status Bar Information

The status bar provides real-time information:

• Operation mode: Shows current operation (copy, move, etc.)
• Clipboard contents: Displays copied/cut items
• Progress information: Shows completion status
• Error messages: Displays problems and solutions

Visual Indicators

Termix uses various visual cues:

• Highlighted selection: Shows which item will be operated on
• Clipboard indicator: Shows items ready for pasting
• Progress bars: Visual progress for long operations
• Color coding: Green for success, red for errors, yellow for warnings

Tips and Best Practices

Efficient File Management

1. Use the clipboard effectively: Copy/cut multiple items to same destination
2. Combine with search: Filter first, then operate on results
3. Preview before operations: Check file contents before moving/deleting
4. Watch for conflicts: Pay attention to naming conflict warnings

Safety Practices

1. Double-check deletions: Verify you're deleting the right item
2. Test operations: Try with less important files first
3. Understand clipboard state: Know whether items are copied or cut
4. Monitor progress: Don't interrupt operations unnecessarily

Performance Tips

1. Same-drive moves: Prefer moves over copy+delete when possible
2. Batch similar operations: Group related operations together
3. Clean clipboard: Clear clipboard when done to free memory
4. Avoid deep nesting: Very deep directory structures can be slower

Keyboard Shortcuts Reference

Key	Operation	Description
A	Add	Create new file or directory
R	Rename	Rename selected item
C	Copy	Copy to clipboard
X	Move/Cut	Cut to clipboard
P	Paste	Paste from clipboard
D	Delete	Delete with confirmation
Esc	Cancel	Cancel current operation or clear clipboard

Next Steps

Now that you understand file operations:

• Learn about Search & Filter to find files efficiently
• Master Keyboard Shortcuts for faster operations
• Explore Tips & Tricks for advanced workflows

Power User Technique

Combine search with file operations: Use S to filter files, perform operations on the filtered set, then use B to return to search results and continue working!