File browsing, transfers and editing

The current development build of eShell uses a two-pane file sidebar: local files on the left and the selected SSH tab's remote directory on the right. BranchTerm retains its existing local Files interface. This page describes new source changes; older installations need an update. Full native-desktop and real-server acceptance is still pending.

Browse both filesystems

After connecting SSH, click Files or choose File transfer… in the terminal context menu. Each pane has an editable address bar: press Enter or Go to navigate. Use Parent, Refresh, double-click directories and Ctrl+click for multiple selection. Resize the sidebar or drag the middle divider. Remote paths are remembered per SSH tab during this run. Navigation does not follow shell cd commands.

The server must provide SFTP. Local browsing remains available without a connection. Background tasks retain their original connection and paths when you switch tabs.

Upload and download

Select local files or directories and Upload into the remote pane's current directory. Select remote entries and Download into the local pane's current directory. Multiple selections and recursive directory transfers are supported, with byte/item counts, a queue and cancellation of the current task.

Existing files require Skip, Overwrite, a new name or Cancel. Skip/Overwrite can apply to remaining conflicts in the batch. Directories merge; file/directory type conflicts fail. Symbolic links are skipped and counted, never followed recursively.

Create, rename and delete

Both panes offer new files and folders. Context menus provide Rename and Delete. Rename does not overwrite an existing target. Deletion requires confirmation of the location and selected items; it is permanent, includes directory contents and does not use the recycle bin.

Edit text

Double-click a regular file or select Edit text. The built-in editor supports UTF-8 files up to 5 MiB and preserves BOM and line endings. Download binary files or other encodings for external handling. Save or Ctrl+S writes back to the original location.

External changes are checked before saving. Conflicts offer explicit overwrite, Save as local file, or closing and reopening to reload. Unsaved edits require confirmation before closing. Disconnection preserves the draft; Save as local file creates a new file without silently overwriting an existing one.

Failures and limitations

Writes use a temporary file before replacement. Remote replacement prefers the server's atomic rename extension, otherwise retaining a backup and attempting recovery if replacement fails. Disconnection may leave .eshell-*.part or .eshell-*.bak; errors report paths where possible. Cancellation preserves completed files. This is not a directory transaction, automatic synchronization or resumable transfer. Network operations have a 30-second timeout.

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