When comparing jFileProcessor vs PCManFM, the Slant community recommends PCManFM for most people. In the question“What are the best file managers for UNIX-like systems?” PCManFM is ranked 10th while jFileProcessor is ranked 26th. The most important reason people chose PCManFM is:
General use, and most operations, are snappy and responsive.
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Pros
Pro Easy to run commands on selected files
Find/select files in sub-folders. run touch %f or cp %f /somefolder (this is a way to copy selected files in different levels, into 1 folder, flattening out the copy).
Pro Easy rename files script
Select files. regex to match pieces of filenames, rename adding, leaving out, and reusing saved pieces.
Pro Groovy scripts to watch and act on files that get created/put into a folder.
So you can watch a folder and process files that come into it.
Pro You can make your own file associations. You can make 3 types, per suffix, per filename, per exact file.
With exact file you can create a folder of job or desktop icon names. Double-click that file to run the job since it is tied to just that specific file.
Pro Can make sftp connections
Pro You can write a script to modify your list
Your script can modify contents in the list window it is working on.
Pro Plugin scripts
Just put groovy scripts in menu-scripts folder and they will automatically run using currently selected files.
Pro Run any groovy scriptable command on a list
Run commands on your lists: grep files to find stuff, delete/copy/move files, etc.. Even copy a file to a remote host and execute it.
Pro Create and work with lists of filenames or any string
Search files and save to another file or a list window. Add or subtract one list from another.
Pro Can do count only
Just count matching search criterion.
Pro Good search
Search on modified time, file size, glob/regex name, folder depth; and/or on these and can do range.
Pro Cross-platform
Available for Linux, Windows, macOS - just needs java 7+ (written with 8).
Pro Lightweight
General use, and most operations, are snappy and responsive.
Pro Simple
PCManFM is a very lightweight and simple file manager.
Pro Can open folder as root
PCManFM can open different folders as root, this way you don't have to use the terminal to move around files for which you need root permission.
Pro Auto mounts drives
PCmanFM automatically detects and mounts available drives.
Pro Supports "quick-directory" typing
While in a PCManFM window, typing either a "~" or a "/" will automatically start typing into the location bar, allows for tab completion, and pressing Enter goes straight to the typed directory.
Pro More RAM is available for other processes, and the system uses less swap
Overall, the system becomes faster.
Pro Uses tabs instead of new windows
Tabs can practically be managed just as in a browser, so you don't end up with windows open all over your desktop. New tabs automatically start in the same location.
Pro Fastest starup
PCmanFM is the fastest GUI file manager to start.
Pro No back seat driver
Does not obstruct professional work by engrossing root warnings.
Pro Compact
Supports fast failure resolving in bulky configuration and log folders.
Cons
Con Does not see attached phone files
No mtp:/ connected phone files.
Con Can't extend with scripts
Unlike Nautilus and Caja, this can't extend with scripts. If script extension is added it can become a really good FM.
Con Some operations are slow
Because it tries to be as lightweight as possible and tries to use very little RAM. This can unfortunately lead to it being slow sometimes.
Con Right-click option choice limitation
You can only choose one option in the right-click menu instead of being able to select multiple at once.
Con Uses a bit more RAM than thunar
Thunar uses less RAM but you pay in slower startup and stability.
Con Directory trees can be confusing
Starts you off in a directory tree that is your home folder as if that is the very top. (Just use a single tree as it actually is and expand appropriately).