Spatial Orientation

In a spatial file manager (such as the classic Mac OS Finder), there is a one-to-one relationship between windows, icons, and files -- they are all conceptually the same "object". Files and folders are given "physical" properties, preserving the position of both their icon and window, and allowing the user to easily recognize them by their spatial characteristics (and avoid keeping track of file paths).

ChromaFiler is not strictly spatial, since it's possible to open multiple windows for the same file/folder. However it still attempts to have a stronger link between files, icons, and windows compared to other browsers:

• A ChromaFiler window always displays the same file/folder. A child folder will always open in a new window, either attached to the right (single-click) or floating (double-click, when set as default browser)
• When files are moved or renamed, any windows displaying the file will be automatically updated to the new location.
• When a file is deleted, any windows displaying the file will be closed immediately
• Windows remember their position and size, and restore it the next time the same file is opened (this is not perfectly reliable at the moment)
• Each folder remembers its view settings
• When auto-arrange is turned off in a folder, you can position icons freely just like on the desktop and they will remember their positions.
• Files can be manipulated by proxy using the proxy icon in the window header, exactly like the icon in the parent folder.

ChromaFiler is designed to be a useful hybrid between spatial and Miller column approaches, which means it currently breaks some of the rules of both. I am still experimenting with this design.