# How webMAN MOD Implements Its File Manager for PS3 Filesystem Access > Discover how webMAN MOD's file manager accesses and manipulates the PS3 filesystem. It uses a unified HTML generator and HTTP endpoints to control XMB operations. - Repository: [Aldo Vargas/webman-mod](https://github.com/aldostools/webman-mod) - Tags: how-to-guide - Published: 2026-02-24 --- **webMAN MOD implements its file manager as a unified HTML generator that serves both web and VSH-Menu interfaces, routing all filesystem operations through HTTP endpoints that ultimately invoke the PS3's explore-plugin callbacks to manipulate the XMB.** The webMAN MOD plugin for PlayStation 3 provides a comprehensive file management system capable of browsing local storage, NTFS volumes, and network shares. According to the aldostools/webman-mod source code, the implementation centers on a shared `add_list_entry` routine that generates directory listings for both the web interface and the on-screen VSH-Menu display. This architecture ensures consistent behavior across all entry points while leveraging the PS3's native `cellFsReaddir` API and explore-plugin interface for actual filesystem operations. ## Architecture: Three Entry Points to the Same Core webMAN MOD exposes its file manager functionality through three distinct interfaces that converge on the same backend logic: 1. **Web Interface** – Accessible via `http:///fm.ps3?`, generating HTML directory trees with mount, copy, and install actions 2. **VSH-Menu UI** – Activated by pressing **START** in the VSH-Menu, providing controller-driven navigation with cut, copy, paste, and delete operations 3. **Explore-Plugin API** – Internal XMB integration via `exec_xmb_command` that performs actions directly from the XMB browser or VSH-Menu selections All three paths ultimately call the same `folder_listing()` dispatcher and `add_list_entry()` HTML builder found in [`include/file_manager.h`](https://github.com/aldostools/webman-mod/blob/main/include/file_manager.h). ## Web Interface Implementation When the embedded web server receives a request for `/fm.ps3`, it forwards the call to `folder_listing()` (defined at line 6012 in [`include/www/www_page.h`](https://github.com/aldostools/webman-mod/blob/main/include/www/www_page.h)). This function opens the requested directory—whether local, network, or NTFS—and iterates over entries using `cellFsReaddir()` or NTFS equivalents. For each directory entry, `folder_listing()` invokes `add_list_entry()` (lines 40-120 in [`include/file_manager.h`](https://github.com/aldostools/webman-mod/blob/main/include/file_manager.h)) to construct a single HTML table row: - **File type classification** via `set_file_type()` (lines 18-38) assigns CSS classes (`ps3`, `ps2`, `psx`, `psp`, `dvd`, `rom`) based on file extensions - **Metadata formatting** converts raw sizes to human-readable `B/KB/MB/GB` units and appends optional **PARAM.SFO** and **ICON0** links for game directories (lines 56-99) - **Action link generation** creates contextual hyperlinks (`/mount.ps3…`, `/copy.ps3…`, `/install.ps3…`, `/view.ps3…`) depending on the file type and current view (lines 190-260) The resulting HTML follows this structure: ```html Game Folder 4.2 GB01-Jan-2024 12:34 ``` After collecting all rows, the system applies `qsort` according to the requested sort parameter and concatenates the results into the HTTP response using `_concat(&sout, TABLE_ITEM_PREFIX)`. ## VSH-Menu File Manager UI The VSH-Menu file manager view (triggered from XMB via SELECT + hold) renders a scrollable on-screen file list using `draw_frame()` (lines 6728-6776 in [`_Projects_/vsh_menu/main.c`](https://github.com/aldostools/webman-mod/blob/main/_Projects_/vsh_menu/main.c)). The current directory contents are stored in the global arrays `items[]` and `items_isdir[]`. Controller input handling occurs in `do_file_manager_action(curpad)` starting at line 628 of [`_Projects_/vsh_menu/main.c`](https://github.com/aldostools/webman-mod/blob/main/_Projects_/vsh_menu/main.c). The function maps button combinations to specific filesystem operations: - **Cross Button**: Mounts ISOs or PS3_GAME directories, installs PKG files, or opens images/text files by building URLs like `/mount_ps3` or `/install.ps3` and sending them via `send_wm_request()` - **Square Button**: Initiates copy/cut/paste operations by encoding paths with `urlenc()` and dispatching `/cpy.ps3`, `/cut.ps3`, or `/paste.ps3` requests - **L2 + Square**: Deletes files or folders recursively using `del(tempstr, true)`, which internally calls `cellFsUnlink` and `cellFsRmdir` - **Triangle**: Navigates up one directory level by adjusting the `curdir` variable and reloading the list All VSH-Menu actions generate HTTP requests to the internal web server, ensuring that the same `folder_listing()` validation and mount logic (`mount_game()`, `mount_ps_disc_image()` at line 5140 in [`main.c`](https://github.com/aldostools/webman-mod/blob/main/main.c)) executes regardless of whether the user interacts via browser or controller. ## XMB Integration via Explore Plugin To synchronize file operations with the PlayStation 3's native interface, webMAN MOD utilizes the explore-plugin API defined in [`vsh/explore_plugin.h`](https://github.com/aldostools/webman-mod/blob/main/vsh/explore_plugin.h). When a mount or copy command completes, the code invokes: ```c explore_interface->ExecXMBcommand("open_list nocheck/...", NULL, 0); ``` The `explore_interface` pointer is obtained at runtime in [`include/init/vsh.h`](https://github.com/aldostools/webman-mod/blob/main/include/init/vsh.h) (lines 58-66) through the PS3's VSH system. This interface provides callbacks such as `DoUnk5` and `ExecXMBcommand` that instruct the XMB to refresh its view, focus specific segments, or launch mounted discs. Thus, any `/mount.ps3` or `/copy.ps3` command processed through the web or VSH-Menu ultimately triggers an explore-plugin callback, ensuring the XMB remains aware of filesystem changes and can launch games immediately after mounting. ## NTFS and Network Filesystem Support The file manager transparently handles non-native filesystems through conditional logic in `folder_listing()`. When a path begins with `/net` or references a mounted NTFS volume (`/dev_ntfs*`), the system activates NTFS helpers defined in [`include/scan/prepntfs.h`](https://github.com/aldostools/webman-mod/blob/main/include/scan/prepntfs.h) (lines 24-28). The same `add_list_entry()` routine processes these entries unchanged; only the underlying size and timestamp retrieval switches to NTFS-specific calls (`ps3ntfs_*`). This abstraction allows users to browse external USB drives with NTFS partitions or network shares via the same HTML interface and controller navigation used for the internal PS3 hard drive. ## Summary - **Unified Backend**: Both web and VSH-Menu interfaces rely on `add_list_entry()` in [`include/file_manager.h`](https://github.com/aldostools/webman-mod/blob/main/include/file_manager.h) to generate directory listings and action links - **HTTP Routing**: All file operations route through `/fm.ps3`, `/mount.ps3`, and `/copy.ps3` endpoints handled by `folder_listing()` in [`include/www/www_page.h`](https://github.com/aldostools/webman-mod/blob/main/include/www/www_page.h) - **Controller Mapping**: The VSH-Menu maps physical buttons to HTTP requests in `do_file_manager_action()` within [`_Projects_/vsh_menu/main.c`](https://github.com/aldostools/webman-mod/blob/main/_Projects_/vsh_menu/main.c) - **XMB Synchronization**: Filesystem changes propagate to the XMB via `explore_interface->ExecXMBcommand()` calls through [`vsh/explore_plugin.h`](https://github.com/aldostools/webman-mod/blob/main/vsh/explore_plugin.h) - **Extended Storage**: NTFS and network paths integrate transparently via [`include/scan/prepntfs.h`](https://github.com/aldostools/webman-mod/blob/main/include/scan/prepntfs.h) without requiring separate UI code paths ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How does webMAN MOD read directory contents from the PS3 filesystem? webMAN MOD uses the standard PlayStation 3 system call `cellFsReaddir()` to iterate over local directories, as implemented in the `folder_listing()` function at line 6012 of [`include/www/www_page.h`](https://github.com/aldostools/webman-mod/blob/main/include/www/www_page.h). For NTFS volumes, it substitutes NTFS-specific helper functions from [`include/scan/prepntfs.h`](https://github.com/aldostools/webman-mod/blob/main/include/scan/prepntfs.h) while maintaining the same iteration pattern. ### Can the webMAN MOD file manager delete files recursively? Yes. When the user presses **L2 + Square** in the VSH-Menu file manager view, the system calls `del(tempstr, true)` from [`_Projects_/vsh_menu/main.c`](https://github.com/aldostools/webman-mod/blob/main/_Projects_/vsh_menu/main.c). This function performs recursive deletion by combining `cellFsUnlink` for files and `cellFsRmdir` for empty directories, with the boolean parameter enabling recursive traversal. ### What is the relationship between the web interface and VSH-Menu file manager? Both interfaces generate identical HTTP requests to the internal web server. The VSH-Menu constructs URLs like `/mount_ps3` and sends them via `send_wm_request()`, while the web interface generates clickable links to `/mount.ps3/`. Both requests hit the same `folder_listing()` dispatcher in [`include/www/www_page.h`](https://github.com/aldostools/webman-mod/blob/main/include/www/www_page.h), ensuring consistent behavior across input methods. ### How does webMAN MOD mount games from the file manager? Mounting occurs through a chain starting at the user interface (web or VSH-Menu), proceeding through `folder_listing()`, and culminating in `mount_game()` or `mount_ps_disc_image()` in [`main.c`](https://github.com/aldostools/webman-mod/blob/main/main.c). After loading the disc image or game folder, the system calls `explore_interface->ExecXMBcommand()` to notify the XMB, making the mounted content appear as a playable disc in the system menu.