cryopublic beta

Documentation

cryo is an unusual file manager, especially the visual bookmarks and peer to peer file transfer features. This page describes the basics for common use cases.

Node view

The node view is graph based and lets you bookmark various items.

Bookmarks

The nodes in the right view represent bookmarks to quickly jump between locations.

Screenshot of cryo node view with draggable items

Create bookmarks

In the screenshot above all the green marked items can be dragged in to the view to create bookmarks. This works for:

To give a node a color select it and click on the color swatches at the bottom of the node view.

Remove bookmarks

The quickest way to remove a bookmark is to select it and press Backspace.
Note: This will only remove the bookmark not the actual location e.g. the real folder won't be removed.

As alternative a bookmark can also be removed via its context menu.

Screenshot of a node context menu

Multiple views

In order to not clutter the node view with dozens of bookmarks, multiple node views can be created, each with its own set of bookmarks. For example one view per project. Views work very much like tabs.

Screenshot of creating a node view

The screenshot shows three views: Main view, cryo homepage and cryo on top. The currently active view is cryo homepage and indicated by a blue dot.

Create views

To create a view right click on the empty space in the node view and select Add new node view from the context menu.

Remove views

To remove a view open the context menu of it and select Delete... this will also pop-up a confirmation dialog to prevent deleting a view accidentally.

Dual-pane mode

Screenshot of dual-pane mode

The dual-pane mode lets you quickly copy and move items between different locations and computers, either by drag and drop or keyboard shortcuts.

It supports tabs and common dual-pane shortcuts like F5, F6, F7 and F8 — see Keyboard shortcuts →

Toggle dual-pane / node view

Switching between these two modes can be done in multiple ways:

  1. Click on the top-right corner icons for dual-pane and node view
  2. ⌥+Down / Ctrl+Down keyboard shortcut
  3. Middle mouse click on a bookmark to opens the respective location in the right file pane
  4. Mouse gestures by far the fastest way — see Mouse gestures →

Keyboard shortcuts

File operations

macOS

Win/Linux

Description

⌘+DownReturnOpen file in default applicationSpaceSpaceOpen in Preview⌘+CCtrl+CCopy⌘+XCtrl+XCut⌘+VCtrl+VPasteF2F2Rename⌘ ⌫DelMove to trash⌘ ⌥ ⌫Shift+DelDelete permanently⌘+Shift+NCtrl+Shift+NCreate new folder⌘+TCtrl+TCreate a tab⌘+WCtrl+WClose a tab-Ctrl+TabCycle between tabs

Navigation

macOS

Win/Linux

Description

⌘+UpAlt+UpGo to parent folderBackspaceGo to parent folder-Alt+LeftGo back

Dual-pane mode

macOS

Win/Linux

Description

TabTabSwitch focus between left and right pane⌥+DownCtrl+DownToggle dual-pane mode / left pane + node view⌘+RightCtrl+RightOpen current folder in right pane⌘+LeftCtrl+LeftOpen current folder in left paneF5F5Copy to other file paneF6F6Move to other file paneF7F7Create new folderF8F8Move to trash

Mouse gestures

These let you navigate very fast by mouse without reaching out for a keyboard shortcut.

To invoke a mouse gesture:

  1. Press and hold the right mouse button
  2. Drag the mouse in the direction for a given action (distance like 2 cm)
  3. Release the mouse

Left and right file panes

Up
Go to parent folder
Left
Go back

Node view and right file pane

Down
On a bookmark node enables dual-pane mode and opens the location in the right pane.
Down
On the node view empty space opens the right file pane with its last location.
Down
Anywhere in the right file pane toggles back to node view.

File sharing

cryo supports free file sharing between computers over local network and Internet.

The following section describes how file sharing in cryo works and gives an overview of the process. More background details can be found under Technology →

Connect computers via invitation

In order to share files between two computers they first need to be connected. This is done by using secure invitations. In the following example an invitation is created on a Windows 10 laptop named MPI XPS-13 and accepted on a remote Linux computer named skůll.

1. Create an invitation

Menu > Remote > Create invitation...

Screenshot of cryo create invitaion dialog

2. Accept the invitation (remote computer)

Menu > Remote > Add by invitation...

Screenshot of cryo accept invitaion dialog

The computers can be in the same local network or in remote locations, in which case both computers need to be connected to the Internet.

3. Connecting...

Right after accepting an invitation the remote computer is shown in the network list, but not yet connected.

Screenshot of cryo network tab, new device not connected

4. Computers are connected

As soon as the connection is established, the remote computer will be shown as active.

Screenshot of cryo network tab, new device connected

Depending on the network conditions connecting might take 1–2 minutes given that both computers are online. If either of the computers isn't online, the process will be resumed automatically as soon as both are online.

Sharing files

When computers are connected file shares can be created in the files pane.

1. Share a file or folder

Select Share with and the remote computer from the context menu.

Screenshot of cryo share with context menu

2. Specify access rights

In the dialog select either Can view for read only access, or Can edit for write access.

Screenshot cryo create new share dialog

3. Viewing the share on the remote computer

New shares become visible right away.

Screenshot of cryo remote computer panel