Level 2

New

• Install plugins from folder, pluginst.inf, plugin file, ZIP, RAR or 7z (TC's own DLLs, separate process, protection against zip slip, links, encrypted entries and archive bombs); uninstall or disable
• Check Lister: all Lister plugins for one file in TC's order with reasons and the key 4 cycle; set a view mode by file type or move a plugin forward
• [ListerModes] read like TC (stops at the first gap); finding "gap" with "Close the gap"
• Detect strings over ~2 KB reported and never written (TC cuts them)
• 32-bit helper PlugExtDet32.exe for 32-bit-only plugins
• Command line /lister "%P%N" and /install "%P%N", forwarded to a running instance
• Yellow search highlight, key bar, dark mode with eggshell text
• New help (German and English): tasks, reference, background, terms A–Z

v.1.2.2

New
Packer capabilities as checkboxes: In the Packer tab, F4 now shows the 10 capabilities as checkboxes, each with its value, for example “Can pack in memory (32)”. Checkboxes and number stay in sync both ways. Values above 512 are kept. A button takes over the number the plugin reports.
New subtitle: “Check, understand and manage plugins”. The tool does more than handle names and descriptions now.
Fixed
Field references with text around them: References like [=" ("tc.size")"] are now read correctly. Before, PlugExtDet showed a wrong finding for them, even though TC accepts this syntax.
Help
Packer chapter: new section about the checkboxes (German and English).

v.1.2

PlugExtDet 1.2

The final version after 14 internal test builds (1.1.1–1.1.14). Thanks to everyone in the Total Commander forum who helped!

New

• Preview with sidebar – all content plugins at a glance; the one that knows most about the file opens on the right
• tc (pseudo) – TC's own basic fields read from Windows, with the real [=tc.…] reference
• How Lister chooses a plugin – block lists, view mode by file type, plugins that take every file
• Findings in plain language and "Used in" for content plugins

Improved

• Saving restarts exactly the TC that was running (32/64 bit)
• Plugins that only run inside TC are shown as such, not as errors
• Shorter tooltips, wrapping legend, new icon

Languages

One file per language in Language\, shipped as xxx_example.lng – remove _example to use it. Updates never overwrite your own translation.

Details: help (F1), chapter "Versions". Support: ko-fi.com/native2904

v.1.1.7

Changes since 1.1

Why Lister picks a plugin – or doesn't

• PlugExtDet now follows TC's own selection order: NoMediaFileTypes → NoPluginFileTypes → view mode by file type ([ListerModes]) → plugin order.
• Each extension shows whether the plugin really gets it, or is blocked, overruled by a rule in TC, or passed over because TC shows the file itself (images and media need MULTIMEDIA).
• Plugins that match (almost) every file are highlighted in blue; new extra column Reach.
• New help chapter "How Lister chooses a plugin" (behaviour verified in TC 11.58 x64).

Findings in plain language

• Every finding now has: a short line, What is going on, Remedy and In PlugExtDet. Technical terms only appear as pointers at the end.
• New findings: rule pointing to an unregistered plugin, catch-all plugin with the number of plugins behind it, duplicate keys in a section, fields of a missing plugin (TC shows <?>).
• Content plugins get their own texts instead of Lister wording.

Where content plugins are used

• For each content plugin: the column views, tooltips, thumbnails, searches and rename templates that use its fields.
• Shown as symbols with counts in the extra column Used in, in the detail field and in the plugin info (Alt+Enter).

New "Preview" tab

• Pick a file and see what every content plugin delivers: field, value, readable type, where it is used, and the ready field reference [=plugin.field].
• Only plugins whose detect string matches the file are queried (optionally all). Each runs in its own short-lived process with a time limit; nothing is ever written.
• Call it from TC: PlugExtDet.exe /preview "%P%N" (a running instance receives the file).

Smaller changes

• Detect strings: one shared parser; every syntax error is reported; confirmation before applying a faulty string; note on the 8192-byte limit of FIND/[n].
• INI changed from outside while running → offer to read it again.
• "Open folder in TC" works without folder tabs (DirectoryTabs=0); custom parameters possible.
• Long paths are shortened in the middle; tooltip in the "Check" column; dark mode for the preview.
• New program icon.
• Translations: Danish (petermad), Ukrainian (BEB), Czech updated.

v.1.1.0

Covers everything since 1.0.0

New

• Not installed plugins in Findings – plugin files in the plugins folder that are in no INI (nothing is deleted)
• File › Clean up – old backups and logs to the recycle bin
• Extra columns via right-click on the column headers (description, company, bits, build date, capabilities …)
• Edit entry (F4) – live syntax check and Tab completion, inspired by zsh; path suggestions
• "Already with: …" for "new in plugin" extensions – shows which plugins handle them already
• Packer: differing INI numbers broken down, with the difference to the plugin

Improved

• Single instance; window appears before loading
• Cell tooltip stays on screen at the monitor edge
• Grey dot for "no information in the file" (Version and extra columns)
• Bottom field lines up long entries under each other
• Open folder in TC without entering archives (/O /T /A /S); Open folder in Explorer as a second way
• Width of the last column is kept; Apply in the settings takes effect immediately
• Note for FIND=

Translations

• Danish, revised Ukrainian, Russian updated

SHA256 PlugExtDet.exe: 8d51177adefa56ccfe3a7985cc327005df529fca121e4d0caa405521bb8f8f48
VirusTotal: 0 detections · Freeware · Windows 7 or later, 64-bit

v.1.0.1

Bug-fix release based on feedback from the Total Commander forum.

Fixed

• Single instance – starting PlugExtDet a second time brings the running window to the front instead of opening another one.
• Start-up – the window is fully drawn first ("Reading the configuration and plugins …"), loading starts afterwards. With many plugins on a slow machine it no longer looks frozen.
• Tooltips – only one tooltip per truncated cell (Windows' own one is suppressed); it now stays inside the monitor at the right and bottom edge.
• Last column – a width you set yourself is kept when switching plugins or resizing the window, and it is saved.
• Settings › Apply – takes effect immediately (language, colors …), not only on OK.
• Open folder – TC is started with /A, so plugin files that another plugin treats as archives (e.g. .wcx with Total7Zip) are no longer entered.

v.1.0.0

Add files via upload

v.0.9.8

• FORCE in front of the brackets works like MULTIMEDIA now.
• The list inside MULTIMEDIA & !( ... ) is editable: checked = excluded. The last exclusion can't be removed – I chose the safe way for now.
• Values without quotes like ext=JPG are reported as an error – that's what causes TC's "Plugin detect string error".
• lang_name= is supported, the language can be switched without restart, and buttons size themselves to the text.
• Ukrainian and Czech are included; 8 new lines are still English – I'll post them.
• Small icons on the tabs.
• New texts that aren't translated yet show up at the end of your section in PlugExtDet.lng, in English with a ";" in front – just translate them and remove the ";".

v.0.9.7

Initial commit

v.0.9.6

Initial commit