Using the Browser

With the ACDSee Browser, you can browse, sort, manage, manipulate, and share your files and images. You can combine different tools and panes to perform sophisticated searching and filtering operations, and view thumbnail previews of images and media files.

The Browser panes are fully customizable, and can be moved, resized, hidden, docked, or closed. You can also stack the panes together for easy reference and accessibility, and to maximize your screen space.

About Browser panes

The ACDSee Browser consists of the following panes:

File List	This pane displays the contents of the currently selected folder, the results of your latest search, or the files and folders that match your selective browsing criteria. The File List pane is always visible, and cannot be hidden or closed. You can customize the File List pane by changing the way the files are displayed, or the size of the thumbnails.
Folders	This pane displays the directory structure of your computer, much like the directory tree in Windows Explorer. You can use the Folders pane to browse through the folders and display their contents in the File List pane.  You can also display the contents of multiple folders in the File List by clicking the Easy Select box opposite each folder, on the left side of the pane.
Calendar	This pane displays a calendar that you can use to organize and browse your files according to their associated dates. For more information about the Calendar pane, as well as a description of the toolbar buttons, see Using the Calendar pane.
Favorites	This pane stores shortcuts to your favourite images, files, folders or even applications. Dragging an image, file, or folder into the Favorites pane creates a shortcut to the original without affecting it in any way.
Search	This pane provides access to ACDSee’s powerful search utility. You can specify the type of search you want to perform, and enter your search criteria into the fields provided in the Search pane.
Preview	This pane displays a thumbnail preview of any image or media file currently selected in the File List pane. You can adjust the size of the thumbnail by resizing the Preview pane, and also specify whether you want the Preview pane to play media files or just display the first frame.
Selective Browsing	This pane combines input from the Folders, Organize, and Calendar panes to limit the list of files in the File List pane to those that match a specific set of criteria. You can include or exclude files by adjusting the different criteria in the Selective Browsing pane.
Organize	This pane lists the categories and ratings to which you can assign your files to help sort and manage them more easily. You can also use auto categories to search for files with specific properties. You can use the options in the Special Items area to quickly view all of the images on your computer and any uncategorized files in the current folder.
Task	This pane displays menus of commonly-used buttons and commands from the menus and toolbars. The menus change dynamically based on your current location and selections in ACDSee.
Properties	This pane displays file properties and database information for any file or folder you select in the File List pane. You can use the Properties pane to view and edit database information for your files, and the EXIF metadata included in digital photos.
Image Basket	While browsing through your files and folders, you can place images in the Image Basket to hold them temporarily. You can then edit, print, or share those images without moving them all into a single folder.
Burn Basket	This pane provides the tools you need to group and organize files and then burn them to CDs and DVDs from within ACDSee.

Working with Browser panes

You can open and close panes in the Browser to suit your preferences, and move, float, or stack any of the panes to customize the layout of the Browser window.

To open or close a Browser pane:

Click View and select the pane you want to open or close.

Moving panes

You can move a pane from a docked or floating position to a new location. You can move one pane at a time, or several stacked panes.

To move a pane:

1. Drag the pane's title bar and hold your mouse pointer over any of the arrows of the Docking Compass.

2. When the shaded marquee displays the position of the pane you want, release the mouse button.

3. To return a pane to its previous location, double-click its title bar.

To move a docked or floating pane:

Do one of the following:

• Drag the pane's tab to a new location. Only one pane moves.

• Drag the pane's title bar to a new location. Any panes stacked beneath it also move.

Docking panes

When you select a pane in the Browser, the Docking Compass activates to help you place the pane precisely. The Docking Compass consists of an outer and inner ring of arrows. When you hold your mouse pointer over any of the arrows, a shaded marquee displays the potential position of the pane.

To dock a pane in the Browser window:

1. Drag the pane's title bar or tab to activate the Docking Compass.

2. To dock a pane around the outer edge of the Browser window, hold your mouse pointer over any of the outer arrows of the Docking Compass, and then release the mouse button.

3. To dock a pane around the outer edge of the File List pane, or another Browser pane, hold your mouse pointer over the inner arrows of the Docking compass, and then release the mouse button.

Stacking panes

You can stack panes and reorder their tabs to suit your needs.

To stack panes:

1. Do one of the following:

2. Drag one pane's title bar onto the title bar of another pane until the shaded marquee appears, and then release the mouse button.

3. Drag one pane inside another, hold your mouse pointer over the center of the Docking Compass, and then release the mouse button.

2. To reorder the panes, drag a tab to the left or right in the tab order.

3. To separate a tabbed pane, drag the pane’s tab to another location on the screen.

Resizing panes

You can resize all the panes in the browser, whether they are docked or floating.

To resize a docked pane:

1. Hold your mouse pointer over the edge of the pane until the pointer changes to arrows and lines.

2. Drag the edge of the pane to the size you want.

To resize a floating pane:

Hold your mouse pointer over the edge or corner of the pane and then drag the pane to the size you want.

Resetting the Browser layout

You can return all of the Browser panes to their default positions at any time.

To reset the Browser layout:

Click View | Reset Layout.

Related topics

• Setting Browser options