Review: Filecenter file management

An alternative to the Windows Explorer method of file management

Lucion Technologies is a provider for file management systems aimed at small businesses and home users, offering what is effectively a modern version of Windows Explorer.

Filecenter creates what it calls cabinets for specific folder sets on your computer.

For example if you choose to cabinet My Documents, each of the folders inside is then given its own cabinet, with the remaining files placed in a cabinet of their own. You might think that this isn’t radically different from the folders in Explorer, and you’d be right, but it’s the additional tools that give the software some appeal.

Scan-It, for instant document scanning, Move It, for quick moving and Open It, to start applications, are handy, but more powerful additions such as Find It allow you to search for words of phrases in collections of files.

In addition a Convert It tool helps you instantly create pdf files from text documents or images while Secure It offers AES encryption and file shredding options for piece of mind.

You’ll also find a tool called File Agent installed, which sits in your system tray helping Filecenter to maintain accurate records of your system. File cabinet views integrate into various applications, such as Microsoft Word, allowing you to automatically save files to this structure rather than the standard Windows folders.

Despite how it sounds, the software doesn’t make widespread changes to your system, instead overlaying the Windows interface to provide you with a non-intrusive alternative. You can switch back to the Explorer view at any time or disable various parts of the software to give it more or less control over your system.

This Lucion package is most suited to business use, or those who spend a long time manipulating and managing large numbers of files.

Its Cabinet system is innovative but not enough of an improvement over Explorer in itself, the advantages lying more in the convenience of the tools that are provided with it. And with the enhanced file-handling tools featured in Windows Vista just around the corner, it’s difficult to recommend to those who plan to upgrade from XP.

Also consider:
Vcom Partition Commander Professional 10
Take full control of your hard disks

Deslock+ 3.2.4 encryption software
Protect your personal data using industrial-strength encryption algorithms

Versomatic file versioning software
Back up documents on the fly with this useful utility

All file and disk management reviews