Nautilus File ManagerThis chapter describes how to use the Nautilus file manager.Introduction to Nautilus File Managerfile managerintroductionThe Nautilus file manager provides
an integrated access point to your files and applications. The file manager
enables you to do the following:Display your files and folders.Manage your files and folders.Run scripts.Customize your files and folders.Open special URI locations.Write data to a CD.Nautilus also manages the desktop. The desktop
lies behind all of the other components on your visible desktop. The desktop
is an active component of the user interface. File manager windows enable you to display and manage your files and
folders. You can open a file manager window in any of the following ways:Double-click on the Home object on the
desktop. Choose ApplicationsHome Folder.Right-click on the desktop to open the Desktop
menu. Choose New Window.The file manager window displays the contents of your home location
in the view pane.File Manager Windowsfile managerwindowsFile manager windows enable you to display and manage your files and
folders. shows a file manager window that
displays the contents of a folder. describes the components of file
manager windows.
File Manager Window ComponentsComponentDescription MenubarContains menus that you use to perform tasks in the file manager.ToolbarContains buttons that you use to perform tasks in the file manager.Location barContains the following elements:Location field or Go To
field: Enables you to specify a file, folder, or URI that you want to view.Zoom buttons: Enable you to change the
size of items in the view pane.View as drop-down list: Enables you to
choose how to show items in your view pane.Side panePerforms the following functions:Shows information about the current file or folder. Enables you to navigate through your files. The side pane contains a drop-down list that enables
you to choose what to show in the side pane. You can choose from the following
options:InformationEmblemsHistoryNotesTreeView paneShows the contents of the following:Particular types of filesFoldersFTP sitesLocations that correspond to special URIsStatusbarDisplays status information.
You can also open a popup menu from file manager windows. To open this
popup menu right-click in a file manager window. The items in this menu depend
on where you right-click. For example, when you right-click on a file or folder,
you can choose items related to the file or folder. When you right-click on
the background of a view pane, you can choose items related to the display
of items in the view pane.View Panefile managerview paneview paneview paneintroductionThe view pane can display the contents
of the following:Particular types of filesFoldersFTP sitesLocations that correspond to special URIsviewer componentsThe file
manager contains viewer components that enable you
to display particular types of file in the view pane. For example, you can
use a text viewer to display text files in the view pane.
shows a text file displayed in the view pane.Displaying a file in the view pane provides the following benefits:Uses less system resources than when you launch an application.Takes less time than when you launch an application.However, you cannot edit a file in the view pane.The file manager also includes views that enable
you to display the contents of your folders in different ways. For example,
you can display the contents of a folder in the following types of view: Icon view: Shows the items in the folder as icons. List view: Shows the items in the folder as a list. Audio view: Shows only the audio items in the folder.Use the View menu to choose how to display a folder.
For more information on views, see .Side Panefile managerside paneintroductionside panefile managerTo display the side pane,
choose ViewSide Pane. You can choose what information you want to view in the side
pane. You can choose to display one of the following:InformationDisplays an icon that represents the current file or current folder.
Also displays information about the current file or current folder. If a file
is displayed in the view pane, buttons appear in the side pane. The buttons
enable you to perform actions on a file, other than the default action.EmblemsContains emblems that you can add to a file or folder. For more information
on emblems, see the next section.HistoryContains a history list of files, folders, FTP sites, and URIs that
you have recently visited.NotesEnables you to add notes to your files and folders.TreeDisplays a hierarchical representation of your file system. You can
use the Tree to navigate through your files.To close the side pane, click on the X button
at the top right of the side pane.Icons and Emblemsfile managericonsintroductionfile manageremblemsemblemsemblemsintroductionIn icon
view, the file manager displays your files and folders as icons. You can add
emblems to your file icons and folder icons. An emblem is a small icon that
you can add to an item to visually mark the item. For example, to mark a file
as important, you can add an Important emblem to the
file icon to create the following visual effect: File icon with Important emblem.For more information on how to add an emblem to an icon, see .The following table describes the structure of the file icon:ComponentDescriptionImportant emblem.Emblem. This emblem is the Important emblem.Text file icon.Icon that represents the file.
This icon mioght contain a preview of the contents of the file.Icon caption.Icon caption. You can modify what items of information are displayed in the
icon caption.The file manager includes default emblems for the following types of
item:Symbolic linksItems for which you have the following permissions:permissionsand emblemsRead permission only No read permission and no write permissionThe following table shows the default emblems:Default EmblemDescriptionSymbolic link emblem.symbolic linksand emblemsSymbolic
linkRead permission only emblem.Read permission onlyNo read permission and no write permission emblem.No read permission and no write permissionNavigating Your Computerfile managernavigatingEach file manager window displays the contents of a single
file, folder, FTP site, or special URI location. This section describes the
following:How to display items in file manager windows.How to open files from file manager windows.How to navigate the files and folders in your file system.How to navigate to FTP sites.How to access special URI locations.To Display Your Home LocationHome location icon.file managerHome locationHome locationHome locationdisplayingTo display your home location,
perform one of the following actions: Double-click on the Home object on the
desktop.On a file manager window, choose GoHome. On a file manager window, click on the Home
toolbar button. The file manager window displays the contents of your home location.
To reload the display, click on the Reload button.To Display a Folderfile managerdisplaying foldersYou can display the contents of a folder in any of the following
ways: Double-click on the folder in the view pane.In the Location field, type the path
of the folder that you want to display, then press Return.
The Location field includes an autocomplete feature.
As you type a path, the file manager reads your file system. When you type
enough characters to uniquely identify a directory, the file manager completes
the name of the directory in the Location field.Use the Tree in the side pane. For more
information, see .Use the Back toolbar button and the Forward toolbar button to browse through your navigation history.To change to the folder that is one level above the current folder,
choose GoUp. Alternatively, click on the Up toolbar
button.To reload the display, click on the Reload button.If you cannot find the folder that you want to display, you can use Search Tool. To start Search Tool,
choose ActionsSearch for
Files.Using the Tree From the Side Panefile managerTree, using Tree, usingThe Tree displays a hierarchical representation of your file system.
The Tree provides a convenient way to navigate your file
system. To display the Tree in the side pane, choose Tree from the drop-down list at the top of the side pane. In the Tree, folders are represented as follows:Folder StateGraphic
Representation Closed folderRight arrowOpen folderDown arrow describes the tasks that you can
perform with the Tree, and how to perform the tasks.
Tree TasksTaskActionOpen the Tree.Choose Tree from the drop-down
list at the top of the side pane.Close the Tree.Choose another item from the drop-down list at the
top of the side pane.Open a folder in the Tree.Click on the arrow next to the folder in the Tree. Close a folder in the Tree.Click on the arrow next to the folder in the Tree.Display the contents of
a folder in the view pane.Select the folder in the Tree.Display the contents of a file in the view
pane.Select the file in the Tree.
You can set your preferences so that the Tree does
not display files. For more information, see . Opening Filesfile manageropening filesWhen you open a file, the file manager performs the default
action for that file type. The default action can be one of the following: Use a viewer component to display the file in the view pane.Launch an application that opens the file.The file manager checks the contents of a file to determine the type
of a file. If the first lines do not determine the type of the file, then
the file manager checks the file extension.If you cannot find the file that you want to open, you can use Search Tool. To start Search Tool,
choose ActionsSearch for
Files.Viewing Files in the View Panefile managerviewing files in view
paneview paneviewing files inviewer componentsThe file manager contains viewer components that
enable you to display particular types of file in the view pane. For example,
you can display the following types of files in the view pane:Plain text filesPNG filesJoint Photographic Experts Group (JPEG) filesTo reload the contents of the view pane, choose ViewReload. To stop
loading an item in the view pane, choose ViewStop.When you display a file in the view pane, the viewer component might
add menu items to the file manager menus. The menu items relate to the file
type that is displayed. For example, when you display a PNG file, the Edit menu contains flip and rotate menu items. Also, when you display some types of file in the view pane, you can
use the file manager zoom buttons to change the size of the item.To Execute the Default Actionfile managerexecuting default actions
for filesTo execute the default action for a
file, double-click on the file. For example, if the default action for plain
text documents is to display the file in a text viewer. In this case, you
can double-click on the file to display the file in a text viewer.You can set your file manager preferences so that you click once on
a file to execute the default action. For more information, see .To Execute Non-Default Actions Using the Open With Submenufile managerexecuting non-default
actions for filesTo execute actions other than
the default action for a file, perform the following steps:In the view pane, select the file that you want to perform
an action on. Choose FileOpen With. The Open With
submenu opens. The items in this submenu correspond to the contents of the
following parts of the File Types and Programs
preference tool:Default action drop-down list in the Edit file type dialogViewer component drop-down list in the Edit file type dialogChoose an action from the Open With
submenu.To Execute Other Actions When Displaying a Filefile managerexecuting other actions
for filesWhen you display a file in the view
pane, the side pane might contain buttons.
shows the buttons in the side pane when a text file is displayed in the view
pane.The buttons represent any actions that are defined in the File Types and Programs preference tool. The actions are defined
in the Default action drop-down list in the Edit file type dialog in the File Types and Programs preference tool. Click on a button to execute an action. For
example, if an action defined for plain text documents is to open the file
in gedit. If this action is defined, an Open with gedit button is displayed in the side pane. To open
the file in the gedit application, click on the Open with gedit button.A button that represents the action does not appear in the side
pane if the actions are excluded in either of the following dialogs:Open with Other ApplicationOpen with Other ViewerUsing the Start Here LocationStart Here icon.file managerStart Here locationStart Here locationStart Here locationusingThe Start
Here location enables you to access the following functions:ApplicationsDouble-click on Applications to access your key
GNOME applications. You can also access the Applications
menu through the Main Menu and the Menu Bar.Desktop PreferencesDouble-click on Desktop Preferences to customize
your desktop environment. You can also access the desktop environment preference
tools through the Applications menu. Applications that enable you to configure your system as a
server, and to choose other system settings.You can access the Start Here location in the following
ways:From a file manager windowChoose GoStart Here. The contents of the Start Here
location are displayed in the window.From the desktopDouble-click on the Start Here object on the desktop.
The contents of the Start Here location are displayed
in a file manager window.To Access FTP SitesFTP sitesaccessingfile managerFTP sitesFTP sitesYou can use the file manager to access
FTP sites. To access an FTP site, enter the URL for the site in the field
on the location bar, then press Return. The contents of the
site are displayed in the view pane. To copy a file from the FTP site, drag
the file to the new location.To access an FTP site that requires a username and password, you can
enter the URL in the following form: ftp://username:password@hostname.domainTo reload the FTP site in the view pane, choose ViewReload. To stop
loading the FTP site, choose ViewStop.To Access Network Serversnetwork serversaccessingfile managernetwork serversnetwork serversIf your desktop environment
is configured to access servers on a network, you can use the file manager
to access the network servers. To access network servers, choose ApplicationsNetwork Servers. A file
manager window is displayed. The window displays the network servers that
you can access. Double-click on the network server that you want to access. Samba serversWindows sharesTo access Windows shares, double-click on the Network
Neighborhood icon. A list of the Windows shares available to you
is displayed in the file manager window.LocationURINetwork serversnetwork:///NFS serversnfs:///Shares on Windows serverssmb:///To Add a Network ServerTo add a network server, choose ApplicationsNetwork Servers. A file
manager window is displayed. Double-click on the New Server
object. A New Server dialog is displayed. Enter the name
of the server in the dialog, then click OK.Accessing Special URI Locationsspecial URI locationsaccessingfile managerspecial URI
locationsURI, specialspecial URI locationsThe GNOME Desktop contains
special URI locations that enable you to access particular functions from
the file manager. For example, to access the preference tools, you can access
the preferences:/// URI in a file manager window. The following
table lists the special URI locations that you can use with the file manager:URI LocationDescriptionapplications:///Displays
a list of the applications in your desktop environment. The applications are
the same as the applications in the Applications menu.
To open an application, double-click on the application.burn:///Copy files and folders that you
want to write to a CD to this location. You can write the contents of this
location to a CD.fonts:///Displays all the fonts that are
available in your desktop environment. To preview a font, double-click on
the font. You can also use this location to add fonts to your desktop environment.network:///Displays network servers, if
your desktop environment is configured to access servers on a network. To
access a network server, double-click on the network server. You can also
use this location to add network servers to your desktop environment.nfs:///Displays NFS network servers,
if your desktop environment is configured to access NFS servers. To access
an NFS network server, double-click on the NFS network server.preferences:///Displays
a list of the preference tools in your desktop environment. The preference
tools are the same as the preference tools in the Desktop Preferences menu. To open a preference tool, double-click on the preference
tool.server-settings:///Displays
a list of applications that you can use to configure your system as a server.smb:///Displays Windows servers, if
your desktop environment is configured to access Windows servers. To open
a Windows server, double-click on the Windows server.start-here:///Displays
a list of applications and preference tools in your desktop environment. Also
displays applications that you can use to configure your system as a server,
and to modify your system settings.system-settings:///Displays
a list of applications that you can use to modify your system settings.themes:///Displays all the themes that
are available in your desktop environment. To preview a theme, double-click
on the theme. You can also use this location to add themes to your desktop
environment.Using Your Navigation Historyfile managernavigating history listThe file manager maintains a history list of
files, folders, and FTP sites. You can use the history list to navigate to
files, folders, and FTP sites that you have recently visited. Your history
list contains the last ten items that you viewed. The following sections describe
how to navigate your history list.To clear your history list choose GoClear History.To Navigate Your History List Using the Go MenuTo display a list of previously-viewed items, choose the Go menu. Your history list is displayed in the lower part of the Go menu. To open an item in your history list, choose the item from
the Go menu.To Navigate Your History List Using the ToolbarTo use the toolbar to navigate your history list, perform one of the
following actions:To open the previous file, folder, or URL in your history
list, click on the Back toolbar button.To open the next file, folder, or URL in your history list,
click on the Forward toolbar button.To display a list of previously-viewed items, click on the
down arrow to the right of the Back toolbar button.
To open an item from this list, click on the item.To display a list of items that you viewed after you viewed
the current item, click on the down arrow to the right of the Forward toolbar button. To open an item from this list, click
on the item.To Navigate Your History List Using History in the Side Panefile managerHistoryTo display the History list in the side pane, choose History from the drop-down list at the top of the side pane. The History list in the side pane displays a list of your previously-viewed
items.To display an item from your history list in the view pane, click on
the item in the History list.To Bookmark Your Favorite Locationsfile managerbookmarksTo access an item in your bookmarks, choose the item from
the Bookmarks menu. You can add your favorite locations
to your Bookmarks menu. You can add bookmarks to files
and folders in your file system, or to FTP sites.To Add a BookmarkTo add a bookmark, display the item that you want to bookmark in the
view pane. Choose BookmarksAdd Bookmark.To Edit a BookmarkTo edit your bookmarks perform the following steps:Choose BookmarksEdit Bookmarks. An Edit Bookmarks
dialog is displayed. To edit a bookmark, select the bookmark on the left side of
the Edit Bookmarks dialog. Edit the details for the bookmark
on the right side of the Edit Bookmarks dialog, as follows:Dialog ElementDescription NameUse this text box to specify the name that identifies the
bookmark in the Bookmarks menu.LocationUse this field to specify the location of the bookmark.To delete a bookmark, select the bookmark on the left side
of the dialog. Click Delete. Managing Your Files and Foldersfile managermanaging files and foldersThis section describes how to work with your
files and folders.Drag-and-Drop in the File Managerfile managerdrag-and-dropYou can use drag-and-drop to perform several tasks in the
file manager. When you drag-and-drop, the mouse pointer provides feedback
about the task that you perform. describes
the tasks that you can perform with drag-and-drop. The table also shows the
mouse pointers that appear when you drag-and-drop.
Drag-and-Drop in the File ManagerTaskActionMouse PointerMove an itemDrag the item to the new location.Move pointer.Copy an itemGrab the item, then press-and-hold Ctrl. Drag the item to the new location.Copy pointer.Create a symbolic link to
an itemGrab the
item, then press-and-hold CtrlShift.
Drag the item to the location where you want the symbolic link to reside.Symbolic link pointer.Ask what to do with the
item you dragGrab the item, then press-and-hold Alt. Drag the item to
the location where you want the item to reside. Release the mouse button.
A popup menu appears. Choose one of the following items from the popup menu:Move hereMoves the item to the location.Copy hereCopies the item to the location. Link hereCreates a symbolic link to the item at the location.Set as BackgroundIf the item is an image, sets the image to be the desktop background.
You can use this command to set the desktop background and the view pane
background.CancelCancels the drag-and-drop operation.Ask pointer.
To Select Files and Foldersfile managerselecting files and foldersYou can select files and folders in several
ways in the file manager. describes how
to select items in file manager windows and on the desktop.
Selecting Items in the File ManagerTaskActionSelect an itemClick on the item.Select a group of contiguous
itemsIn icon view,
drag around the files that you want to select.In list view, click
on the first item in the group. Press-and-hold Shift, then
click on the last item in the group.Select multiple itemsPress-and-hold Ctrl.
Click on the items that you want to select.Alternatively, press-and-hold Ctrl, then drag around the files that you want to select.Select all items in a folderChoose EditSelect All Files.
To perform the default action on an item, double-click on the item.
You can set your file manager preferences so that you click once on a file
to execute the default action. For more information, see .To Move a File or Folderfile managermoving files and foldersThe following sections describe the ways that
you can move a file or folder.Drag to the New Location in a View PaneTo drag a file or folder to a new location in a view pane, perform the
following steps:Open a file manager window. Choose FileNew Window to open a second
file manager window.In one window, select the folder from which you want to move
the file or folder. In the other window, select the folder to which you want
to move the file or folder.Drag the file or folder that you want to move to the new location
in the other window.To move the file or folder to a folder that is one level below the current
location, do not open a new window. Instead, drag the file or folder to the
new location in the same window.Cut and Paste to the New LocationYou can cut a file or folder and paste the file or folder into another
folder, as follows:Select the file or folder that you want to move, then choose EditCut File.Open the folder to which you want to move the file or folder,
then choose EditPaste
Files.To Copy a File or Folderfile managercopying files and foldersThe following sections describe the ways you
can copy a file or folder.Drag to the New Location in a View PaneTo copy a file or folder perform the following steps:Open a file manager window. Choose FileNew Window to open a second
file manager window.In one window, select the folder from which you want to copy
the file or folder. In the other window, select the folder to which you want
to copy the file or folder.Grab the file or folder, then press-and-hold Ctrl. Drag the file or folder to the new location in the other window.To copy the file or folder to a folder that is one level below the current
location, do not open a new window. Instead, grab the file or folder, then
press-and-hold Ctrl. Drag the file or folder to the new location
in the same window.Copy and Paste to the New LocationYou can copy a file or folder and paste the file or folder into another
folder, as follows:Select the file or folder that you want to copy, then choose EditCopy File.Open the folder to which you want to copy the file or folder,
then choose EditPaste
Files.To Duplicate a File or Folderfile managerduplicating files and
foldersTo create a copy of a file or folder
in the current folder perform the following steps:Select the file or folder that you want to duplicate in the
view pane.Choose EditDuplicate. Alternatively, right-click on the file
or folder in the view pane, then choose Duplicate.A copy of the file or folder appears in the current folder.To Create a Folderfile managercreating foldersTo create a folder perform the following steps:Select the folder where you want to create the new folder.Choose FileNew Folder. Alternatively, right-click on the background
of the view pane, then choose New Folder.An untitled folder is added to the view pane. The
name of the folder is selected.Type a name for the folder, then press Return. To Rename a File or Folderfile managerrenaming foldersTo rename a file or folder perform the following steps:Select the file or folder that you want to rename in the view
pane.Choose EditRename. Alternatively, right-click on the file
or folder in the view pane, then choose Rename.The name of the file or folder is selected.Type a new name for the file or folder, then press Return.To Move a File or Folder to Trashfile managerTrashTrashTrashmoving
files or folders toTo move a file or folder
to Trash perform the following steps:Select the file or folder that you want to move to Trash in the view pane.Choose EditMove to Trash. Alternatively, right-click on the
file or folder in the view pane, then choose Move to Trash.Alternatively, you can drag the file or folder from the view pane to
the Trash object on the desktop.When you move a file or folder from a removable media to Trash, the file or folder is stored in a Trash
location on the removable media. To remove the file or folder permanently
from the removable media, you must empty Trash.To Delete a File or Folderfile managerdeleting files or foldersWhen you delete a file or folder, the file or
folder is not moved to Trash, but is deleted from your
file system immediately. The Delete menu item is
only available if you select the Include a Delete command that bypasses
Trash option in the File Management Preferences
dialog. To delete a file or folder perform the following steps:Select the file or folder that you want to delete in the view
pane.Choose EditDelete. Alternatively, right-click on the file
or folder in the view pane, then choose Delete.To Create a Symbolic Link to a File or Folderfile managercreating symbolic linksymbolic linkto file or folder, creatingA symbolic link is
a special type of file that points to another file or folder. When you perform
an action on a symbolic link, the action is performed on the file or folder
to which the symbolic link points. However, when you delete a symbolic link,
you delete the link file, not the file to which the symbolic link points.To create a symbolic link to a file or folder, select the file or folder
to which you want to create a link. Choose EditMake Link. A link to the
file or folder is added to the current folder. Alternatively, grab the item to which you want to create a link, then
press-and-hold CtrlShift. Drag the item
to the location where you want to place the link.By default, the file manager adds an emblem to symbolic links.The permissions of a symbolic link are determined by the file
or folder to which a symbolic link points.To View the Properties of a File or Folderfile managerviewing propertiesTo view the properties of a file or folder, perform the
following steps:Select the file or folder whose properties you want to view. Choose FileProperties. A properties dialog is displayed.Use the properties dialog to view the properties of the desktop
object. Click Close to close the properties
dialog.To Change PermissionspermissionsintroductionPermissions are settings assigned to each file and folder
that determine what type of access users can have to the file or folder. The
following table lists the permissions that you can set for files and folders,
and the effect of the permission on files and folders:PermissionFileFolderReadPermission to read the file.Permission to list the contents of the folder.WritePermission to make changes to the file. Permission to create and delete files in the folder.ExecutePermission to run the file as a program. This is only relevant if the file
is a program or script.Permission to access files in the directory.You can set permissions for different types of user. The following table
lists the types of user that you can set for which you can set permissions:User CategoryDescriptionOwnerThe user that created the file or folder.GroupThe group to which the owner belongs.OthersAll other users who are not in the group to which the owner belongs.file managerchanging permissionspermissionschanging file and folderTo change the permissions
on a file or folder perform the following steps:Select the file or folder that you want to change. Choose FileProperties. A properties dialog is displayed.Click on the Permissions tab. In the Permissions tabbed section, use the drop-down lists and check boxes
to change the permissions for the file or folder. The following table describes
the dialog elements on the Permissions tabbed section: ElementDescriptionFile ownerTo change the owner of the file or folder, select
the owner from the drop-down list. File groupTo change the group to which a file or folder belongs,
select the group from the drop-down list. OwnerSelect the permissions that you want to apply to the owner
of the file or folder.GroupSelect the permissions that you want to apply to the group
to which the owner of the file or folder belongs.OthersSelect the permissions that you want to apply to
all other users who are not in the group to which the owner belongs.Text viewDisplays the permissions that you select from the Read, Write, and Execute
options, in text format.Number viewDisplays the permissions that you select from the Read, Write, and Execute
options, in text format.Last changedDisplays the date and time that the file or folder
was last modified.Click Close to close the properties
dialog.Adding Notes to Files and FoldersYou can add notes to files or folders. You can add notes to files or
folders in the following ways:From the properties dialogFrom Notes in the side paneTo Add a Note Using the Properties Dialognotesadding to files and foldersfile managernotesaddingTo add a note
to a file or folder, perform the following steps:Select the file or folder to which you want to add a note. Choose FileProperties. A properties dialog is displayed.Click on the Notes tab. In the Notes tabbed section, type the note.Click Close to close the properties
dialog. A note emblem is added to the file or folder.notesdeletingfile managernotesdeletingTo delete a note, delete the note text from the Notes tabbed section.To Add a Note Using Notes in the Side PaneTo add a note to a file or folder, perform the following steps:Open the file or folder to which you want to add a note in
the view pane.Choose Notes from the drop-down list
at the top of the side pane. To display the side pane, choose ViewSide Pane. Type the note in the side pane. A note emblem is added to
the file or folder in the view pane, and a note icon is added to the side
pane. You can click on this icon to display the note.To delete a note, delete the note text from Notes
in the side pane.Using TrashTrash icon, empty.TrashintroductionYou can move the following items to Trash:FilesFoldersDesktop objectsIf you need to retrieve a file from Trash, you
can display Trash and move the file out of Trash. When you empty Trash, you delete the
contents of Trash permanently. To Display TrashTrashdisplayingYou can display the contents of Trash in the following
ways:From a file manager windowChoose GoTrash. The contents of Trash are displayed in
the window.From the desktopDouble-click on the Trash object on the desktop.To Empty TrashTrashemptyingYou can empty the contents of Trash in the following
ways:From a file manager windowChoose FileEmpty
Trash.From the desktopRight-click on the Trash object, then choose Empty Trash.Modifying the Appearance of Files and Foldersfile managermodifying appearance
of files and foldersThe file manager enables
you to modify the appearance of your files and folders in several ways, as
described in the following sections.To Add an Emblem to a File or Folderemblemsadding to fileemblemsadding to folderTo add an emblem to an item perform the following
steps: Select the item to which you want to add an emblem.Right-click on the item, then choose Properties. A properties dialog is displayed.Click on the Emblems tab to display the Emblems tabbed section.Select the emblem to add to the item.Click Close to close the properties
dialog.To Add a New Emblememblemsadding newTo add a new emblem, perform the following steps:Choose EditBackgrounds and Emblems. Click on the Emblem button, then click
on the Add a New Emblem button. A Create
a New Emblem dialog is displayed.Type a name for the emblem in the Keyword
text box.Click on the Image button. A dialog is
displayed. Choose an emblem from the dialog. Alternatively, to choose an emblem
from another directory, click Browse. When you choose
an emblem, click OK. Click OK on the Create a
New Emblem dialog.To Change the Icon for a File or Folderfile managericonschangingTo change the icon that represents an
individual file or folder, perform the following steps:Select the file or folder that you want to change.Choose FileProperties. A properties dialog is displayed. On the Basic tabbed section, click on
the Select Custom Icon button. A Select an
icon dialog is displayed. Use the Select an icon dialog to choose
the icon to represent the file or folder. Click Close to close the properties
dialog.To restore an icon from a custom icon to the default icon specified
in the File Types and Programs preference tool,
right-click on the icon then choose Remove Custom Icon.
Alternatively, click on the Remove Custom Icon button
on the Properties dialog.To change the icon that represents a file type, use the File Types and Programs preference tool. To Change the Size of Items in a Viewfile managerzooming in and outYou can change the size of items in a view. You can change
the size if the view displays a file or a folder. You can change the size
of items in a view in the following ways:To enlarge the size of items in a view, choose ViewZoom In.To reduce the size of items in a view, choose ViewZoom Out.To return items in a view to the normal size, choose ViewNormal Size.You can also use the zoom buttons on the location bar to change the
size of items in a view. describes how
to use the zoom buttons.
Zoom ButtonsButtonButton Name DescriptionZoom Out button.Zoom Out buttonClick on this button to reduce the size of items in a view.Normal Size button.Normal Size
button Click on this button to return
items in a view to normal size.Zoom In button.Zoom In buttonClick on this button to enlarge the size of items in a view.
The file manager remembers the size of items in a particular folder.
The next time that you display the folder, the items are displayed in the
size that you selected. In other words, when you change the size of items
in a folder, you customize the folder to display the items at that size. To
return the size of the items to the default size specified in your preferences,
choose ViewReset View
to Defaults.Using Views to Display Your Files and Foldersviewer componentsfile managerviewsintroductionThe file manager provides several ways to display the contents
of your files. The file manager includes viewer components that enable you
to display particular types of file in the view pane. For example, you can
use a web page viewer to display HTML files in the view pane. You can use
a text viewer to view plain text files in the view pane.You can also use the file manager to open a file in an appropriate application.
For more information, see .The file manager includes views that enable you to show the contents
of your folders in different ways. For example, you can show the contents
of a folder in the following types of view: Icon viewShows the items in the folder as icons.
shows a folder in icon view.List viewShows the items in the folder as a list.
shows a folder in list view.Audio viewShows the audio items in the folder only, and displays controls that
enable you to play the audio files. shows
a folder in audio view.Use the View menu to choose how to display a file
or folder. You can also use the View as drop-down list
to choose how to display a file or folder. When you display a folder, you
can specify how you want to arrange or sort items in the folder. You can modify
the size of the items in the view pane. The following sections describe how
to work with icon view, list view, and views of files.To Choose a View in Which to Display a File or Folderfile managerviewschoosingChoose the type of view in which to display
the contents of a file or folder from the View menu. Alternatively, to choose a view, choose ViewView as. Select the view
that you want to use from the Open with Other Viewer
dialog, then click on the Choose button. You can also choose the type of view from the View as
drop-down list. The View as drop-down list is located
at the right side of the location bar.You can display different folders in different views. The file manager
remembers the view that you choose for a particular folder. The next time
that you display the folder, the file manager displays the folder in that
view. To return the view for the folder to the default view specified in your
preferences, choose ViewReset View to Defaults.To Arrange Your Files in Icon Viewfile managericon viewarranging files inWhen you display
the contents of a folder in icon view, you can specify how to arrange the
items in the folder. To specify how to arrange items in icon view, choose ViewArrange Items.
The Arrange Items submenu contains the following
sections:The top section contains an option that enables you to arrange
your files manually.The middle section contains options that enable you to sort
your files automatically.The bottom section contains options that enable you to modify
how your files are arranged.Choose the appropriate options from the submenu, as described in the
following table: OptionDescription ManuallySelect this option to arrange the items manually.
To arrange the items manually, drag the items to the location you require
within the view pane.By NameSelect this option to sort the
items alphabetically by name. The order of the items is not case sensitive.
If the file manager is set to display hidden files, the hidden files are shown
last.By SizeSelect this option to sort the
items by size, with the largest item first. When you sort items by size, the
folders are sorted by the number of items in the folder. The folders are not
sorted by the total size of the items in the folder.By TypeSelect this option to sort the
items alphabetically by object type. The items are sorted alphabetically by
the description of their MIME type in the File Types and Programs preference tool. The MIME type identifies
the format of a file, and enables applications to read the file. For example,
an email application can use the image/png MIME type to
detect that a PNG file is attached to an email.By Modification
DateSelect this option to sort the items by the date the items were last modified.
The most recently modified item is first.By EmblemsSelect this option to sort the
items by any emblems that are added to the items. The items are sorted alphabetically
by emblem name. Items that do not have emblems are last. Compact LayoutSelect
this option to arrange the items so that the items are closer to each other.Reversed OrderSelect this option to reverse the order of the option
by which you sort the items. For example, if you sort the items by name, select
the Reversed Order option to sort the items in reverse
alphabetical order.The file manager remembers how you arrange the items in a particular
folder. The next time that you display the folder, the items are arranged
in the way that you selected. In other words, when you specify how to arrange
the items in a folder, you customize the folder to display the items in that
way. To return the arrangement settings of the folder to the default arrangement
settings specified in your preferences, choose ViewReset View to Defaults.To Resize an Icon in Icon Viewfile managericonsresizingIn icon view, you can change the size
of the icon that represents an item that is displayed. To change the size
of an item in icon view, perform the following steps:Right-click on the item that you want to resize, then choose Stretch Icon. A rectangle appears around the item, with a handle
at each corner.Grab one of the handles, then drag the icon to the size that
you want.To return the icon to the original size, right-click on the icon, then
choose Restore Icon's Original Size. You can also resize objects on the desktop.To Modify the Behavior of a Viewfile managerviewsmodifying behaviorYou can modify the behavior
of a view in the following ways:Specify that the view is the default view for a particular
file or folder.Specify that the view is the default view for a file type
or all folders.Specify that the view is an item in the View as submenu for a particular file or folder.Specify that the view is an item in the View as submenu for all of a particular file type or for all folders.Specify that the view is not an item in the View
as submenu for a particular file or folder.To modify the behavior of a view perform the following steps:Choose ViewView as. An Open with Other Viewer
dialog is displayed.Select the view that you want to modify from the table in
the dialog.Click on the Modify button. A Modify dialog is displayed. The following table describes the options
on the Modify dialog:OptionDescription Include in the menu for item-name itemsSelect this option to include the view in the View as
submenu for this type of item.Use as default for item-name itemsSelect this option to use the view as the default for this type of item.Include in the menu for item-name onlySelect this option to include the view in the View as
submenu for this item only.Use as default for item-name onlySelect this option to use the view as the default for this item only.Don't include in the menu for item-name itemsSelect this option to exclude the view from the View as
submenu for this type of item.Click OK, then click Cancel to close the Open with Other Viewer dialog.You can also modify the actions that are associated with a file
type in the File Types and Programs preference
tool. To open the File Types and Programs preference
tool, click on the Go There button. Assigning Actions to Filesfile managerassigning actions to
filesWhen you open a file, the file manager
performs the default action for that file type. The File Types
and Programs preference tool contains a table of file types,
their associated file extensions, and their default actions. This table specifies
what happens when you double-click on a file in the file manager. You can also use the file manager to modify the actions that are associated
with a particular file or file type. You can use the File Types and Programs preference
tool to perform the following tasks:Specify the default action for a file type. You can also change
the default action for a file type in the file manager. Associate a file type with one or more applications. The default
action might specify to open the file in an application that is associated
with the file type.Associate a file type with one or more viewers. The default
action might specify to open the file in a viewer that is associated with
the file type.Associate a file extension with a MIME type. The MIME type
specifies the format of the file so that Internet browsers and email applications
can read the file.To Modify Actionsfile managermodifying actionsYou can modify the actions associated with a file or file
type. You can do the following:Specify that the action is the default action for a particular
file. Specify that the action is the default action for a particular
file type.Specify that the action is an item in the Open
With submenu for a particular file.Specify that the action is an item in the Open
With submenu for a particular file type.Specify that the action is not an item in the Open With submenu for a particular file type. To modify the actions associated with a file or file type, perform the
following steps:In the view pane, select the file for which you want to modify
an action. If you want to modify an action associated with a file type, select
a file of that type.Choose FileOpen With. Perform either of the following steps:Choose Other Application. An Open with Other Application dialog is displayed. Choose Other Viewer. An Open with Other Viewer dialog is displayed. From the table in the dialog, select the application or viewer
for which you want to modify the behavior.Click on the Modify button. A Modify dialog is displayed. The following table describes the options
on the Modify dialog:OptionDescription Include in the menu for filetype itemsSelect this option to include the application or viewer in the Open With submenu for this file type.Use as default for filetype itemsSelect this option to use the application or viewer as the default action
for this file type.Include in the menu for filename onlySelect this option to include the application or viewer in the Open With submenu for this file, and not for other files of this
type.Use as default for filename onlySelect this option to use the application or viewer as the default action
for this file, and not for other files of this type.Don't include in the menu for filetype itemsSelect this option to exclude the application or viewer from the Open With submenu for this file type.Click OK, then click Cancel to close the dialog. You can also modify the actions that are associated with a file
type in the File Types and Programs preference
tool. To open the File Types and Programs preference
tool, click on the Go There button. Customizing the File Managerfile managercustomizingYou can customize the file manager to suit your requirements
and preferences. This section describes how to customize the file manager.Setting Your Preferencesfile managerpreferencesintroductionpreferences,
file managerfile manager preferencesUse the File Management Preferences dialog to set preferences
for the file manager. To display the File Management Preferences dialog, choose EditPreferences.You can set preferences in the following categories: The default settings for views.The behavior of files and folders, executable text files,
and Trash.The information that is displayed in icon captions.Preview options to improve the performance of the file manager.To Set Views Preferencesfile managerpreferencesviewsYou can specify a default view,
and select sort options and display options. You can also specify default
settings for icon views and list views. To specify your default view settings,
choose EditPreferences. Click on the Views tab in
the File Management Preferences dialog to display the Views tabbed section. lists the views settings that you
can modify.
Views PreferencesDialog ElementDescriptionView new folders usingSelect the default view for folders. When you open
a folder, the folder is displayed in the view that you select.Arrange itemsSelect the characteristic by which you want to sort
the items in folders that are displayed in this view.Sort folders before filesSelect this option to list folders before
files when you sort a folder.Sort in reverseSelect this option
if you want to reverse the order by which items are sorted in this view. If
you select this option, the order of the characteristic you select in the Arrange Items drop-down list is reversed. For example, if you select By Name, the items are sorted in reverse alphabetical order.Show hidden and
backup filesSelect
this option to display hidden files and backup files in the view pane. The
first character in a hidden filename is a period (.). The last character in
a backup filename is a tilde (~).Default zoom levelIcon
view and list view. Select the default zoom level for folders that are displayed
in this view. The zoom level specifies the size of items in a view.Use compact layoutSelect
this option to arrange the items in icon view so that the items in the folder
are closer to each other.Text beside iconsSelect this option to place the icon captions
for items beside the icon rather than under the icon.Use manual layoutSelect this option if you want to arrange
the items in icon view manually.Show only foldersSelect this option to display only folders
in the Tree in the side pane.
To Set Behavior Preferencesfile managerpreferencesbehaviorTo set your preferences for
files and folders, choose EditPreferences. Click on the Files and Folders tab in the File Management Preferences dialog
to display the Files and Folders tabbed section. lists the settings that you can
modify for files and folders.
Files and Folders PreferencesOptionDescription Single click to activate itemsSelect this option to perform the default action
for an item when you click on the item. When this option is selected, and
you point to an item, the title of the item is underlined. Double click to
activate itemsSelect this option to perform the default action for an item when you double-click
on the item.Open activated item in a new
windowSelect this
option to open a new window when you open a file or folder.Run executable
files when they are clickedSelect this option to run an executable file when you choose
the executable file. An executable file is a text file that can execute, that
is, a shell script.View executable files when
they are clickedSelect this option to display the contents of an executable file when you
choose the executable file.Ask each timeSelect
this option to display a dialog when you choose an executable file. The dialog
asks whether you want to execute the file or display the file. Ask before emptying the Trash
or deleting filesSelect this option to display a confirmation message before Trash is emptied, or files are deleted. Include a Delete
command that bypasses TrashSelect this option to add a Delete menu item to
the following menus:The Edit menu.The popup menu that is displayed when you right-click on a
file, folder, or desktop object. When you select an item then choose the Delete menu item, the item is deleted from your file system
immediately.
To Set Icon Captions Preferencesfile managericonscaption preferencesfile managerpreferencesicon captionsAn icon caption displays the name of a file or folder in
an icon view. The icon caption also includes three additional items of information
on the file or folder. The additional information is displayed after the file
name. Normally only one item of information is visible, but when you zoom
in on an icon, more of the information is displayed. You can modify what additional
information is displayed in icon captions. To set your preferences for icon captions, choose EditPreferences.
Click on the Files and Folders tab in the File Management Preferences dialog to display the Files
and Folders tabbed section. Select the items of information that you want to display in the icon
caption from the three drop-down lists. Select the first item from the first
drop-down list, select the second item from the second drop-down list, and
so on. The following table describes the items of information that you can
select:InformationDescription SizeChoose this option to display
the size of the item.TypeChoose this option to display
the description of the MIME type of the item from the File Types
and Programs preference tool.Date modifiedChoose
this option to display the last modification date of the item.Date accessedChoose
this option to display the date that the item was last accessed.OwnerChoose this option to display
the owner of the item.GroupChoose this option to display
the group to which the item belongs.Permissionspermissionsdisplaying as charactersChoose
this option to display the permissions of the item as three sets of three
characters, for example -rwxrw-r--.Octal permissionspermissionsdisplaying in octal notationChoose this option to display the permissions of the item in octal
notation, for example 764. MIME typeChoose this option to display
the MIME type of the item.NoneChoose this option to display
no information for the item.To Set Preview Preferencesfile managerpreferencespreviewThe file manager include some
file preview features. The preview features can affect the speed with which
the file manager responds to your requests. You can modify the behavior of
some of these features to improve the speed of the file manager. For each
preview preference, you can select one of the options described in the following
table:OptionDescription AlwaysPerforms the action for both local files, and files
on other file systems.Local Files OnlyPerforms the action for local files only.NeverNever performs the action. To set your preview preferences, choose EditPreferences. Click on the Preview tab in the File Management Preferences
dialog to display the Preview tabbed section. lists the preview settings that
you can modify.
Preview PreferencesDialog ElementDescription Show text in iconsSelect an option to specify when to preview the
content of text files in the icon that represents the file. Show thumbnailsSelect
an option to specify when to show thumbnails of image files. The file manager
stores the thumbnail files for each folder in a .thumbnails
directory that is one level below the folder.Only for files smaller thanSpecify the maximum
file size for files for which the file manager creates a thumbnail.Preview sound
filesSelect an option to specify when to preview sound files. Count number of itemsSelect an option to specify when to show the
number of items in folders.
Changing Backgroundsfile managerchanging backgroundsbackgroundschanging screen componentThe file manager includes
backgrounds that you can use to change the look-and-feel of the following
screen components: DesktopSide paneView panePanelsTo change the background of a screen component perform the following
steps: Choose EditBackgrounds and Emblems. The Backgrounds
and Emblems dialog is displayed. To display a list of patterns that you can use on the background,
click on the Patterns button. To display a list of
the colors that you can use on the background, click on the Colors button.To change the background to a pattern, drag the pattern to
the screen component. To change the background to a color, drag the color
to the screen component. Click Close to close the dialog.To reset the background of the view pane or side pane to the default
background, right-click on the background of the pane, then choose Use Default Background.When you change the background of the side pane or the view pane of
a particular folder, the file manager remembers the background that you chose.
The next time that you display the folder, the background that you selected
is displayed. In other words, when you change the background of a folder,
you customize the folder to display the background. To Add a Patternbackgroundsadding patternsTo add a pattern to the patterns that you can use on your
screen components, choose EditBackgrounds and Emblems. Click on the Patterns button, then click on the Add a New Pattern button. A dialog is displayed. Use the dialog to find the new
pattern. Click OK to add the new pattern to the Backgrounds and Emblems dialog.To Add a Colorbackgroundsadding colorsTo add a color to the colors that you can use on your screen
components, choose EditBackgrounds and Emblems. Click on the Colors button, then click on the Add a New Color
button. A color selector dialog is displayed. Use the color wheel or the sliders
to choose the color. Click OK to add the new color
to the Backgrounds and Emblems dialog.To Show and Hide Window Componentsfile managerwindow components, showing
and hidingYou can show and hide file manager
window components as follows: To hide the side pane, choose ViewSide Pane. To display the
side pane again, choose ViewSide Pane again. To hide the toolbar, choose ViewToolbar. To display the
toolbar again, choose ViewToolbar again. To hide the location bar, choose ViewLocation Bar. To display
the location bar again, choose ViewLocation Bar again.To hide the statusbar, choose ViewStatusbar. To display the
statusbar again, choose ViewStatusbar again. To remove a tab from the side pane, right-click in the side
pane. Choose the tab that you want to remove from the popup menu. To add the
tab to the side pane again, choose the tab from the popup menu again.Using Removable Mediaremovable mediaintroductionThe file manager supports all removable media that have
the following characteristics: The removable media has an entry in the /etc/fstab file. The /etc/fstab file describes the file
systems that the computer uses.The user option is specified in the entry
for the removable media in the /etc/fstab file.To Mount Mediaremovable mediamountingTo mount media is to make the file
system of the media available for access. When you mount media, the file system
of the media is attached as a subdirectory to your file system.To mount media, insert the media in the appropriate device. An object
that represents the media is added to the desktop. The object is added only
if your system is configured to mount the device automatically when media
is detected. If your system is not configured to mount the device automatically,
you must mount the device manually. Right-click on the desktop, then choose Disksdevice-name. For example, to mount a floppy diskette, choose DisksFloppy.
An object that represents the media is added to the desktop. You cannot change the name of a removable media object.To Display Media Contentsremovable mediadisplaying media contentsYou can display media contents in any of the
following ways: Double-click on the object that represents the media on the
desktop. Right-click on the object that represents the media on the
desktop, then choose Open. A file manager window displays the contents of the media. To reload
the display, click on the Reload button.To Display Media Propertiesremovable mediadisplaying media propertiesTo display the properties of removable media,
right-click on the object that represents the media on the desktop, then choose Properties. A dialog displays the properties of the media.To close the properties dialog, click Close.To Format a Floppy Disketteremovable mediaformatting floppy
disketteTo format media
is to prepare the media for use with a particular file system. You can use
the file manager to format floppy diskettes.When you format media, you overwrite any existing information
on the media.To format a floppy diskette, perform the following steps:Insert the diskette in the diskette drive. Mount the diskette.
For information on how to mount media, see .Right-click on the object that represents the diskette on
the desktop, then choose Format. A Format
a Floppy dialog is displayed.Select your format options in the Format a Floppy dialog. The following table describes the elements on the dialog:Dialog ElementDescriptionFloppy deviceDisplays
the name of the floppy device.Floppy densitySelect the density of the diskette. The density
is the amount of data that the diskette can store.File system typeSelect
the type of file system in which you want to format the diskette. Select one
of the following options:Linux Native (ext 2): Select this option
to format a diskette for use on Linux systems. Most non-Linux systems cannot
read diskettes with this file system type.DOS (FAT): Select this option to format
a diskette for use on Windows systems. Most UNIX-based systems can read
diskettes with this file system type.Volume nameType a name for the diskette in this text box.QuickSelect this option to create
only the file system on the diskette. A quick format does not check for bad
blocks. Select this option if the diskette has been formatted
before.StandardSelect this option to create the file system
on the diskette and format the diskette. A standard format does not check
for bad blocks. Select this option if the diskette has not been
formatted before.ThoroughSelect this option to create the file system
on the diskette, check for bad blocks, and format the diskette.Select this option if you want to verify that the diskette has not been damaged.Click Format to format the diskette. To Eject Mediaremovable mediaejectingTo eject media, right-click on the media object on the desktop,
then choose Eject. If the drive for the media is
a motorized drive, the media is ejected from the drive. If the drive for the
media is not motorized, wait until the desktop object for the media disappears,
then eject the media manually.You cannot eject media from a motorized drive when the media is mounted.
To eject media, first unmount the media. To remove a floppy diskette from
the drive, perform the following steps:Close all file manager windows, Terminal
windows, and any other windows that access the diskette. Right-click on the object that represents the diskette on
the desktop, then choose Eject. The desktop object
for the diskette disappears.Eject the diskette from the drive.If you eject the diskette from the drive before you unmount
the diskette, you might lose the data on the diskette.Writing CDsfile managerwriting CDsCDs, writingwriting CDsburning CDswriting CDsThe file manager provides
a special location where you can copy files and folders that you want to write
to a CD. You can write the contents of the location to a CD easily.To write a CD, perform the following steps:Choose GoCD Creator. The file manager opens a special location, burn:///, from which you can write CDs. Copy the files and folders that you want to write to CD into
the burn:/// location.Insert a writable CD into the CD writer device on your system.Choose FileWrite to CD. A Write files to a CD recorder dialog is displayed.Use the Write files to a CD recorder
dialog to specify how you want to write the CD, as follows:Dialog ElementDescriptionTarget to write toSelect the device to which you want to write the
CD from the drop-down list. To create an CD image file for the files and folders,
select the File image option.Write speedSelect the speed at which you want to write the
CD from the drop-down list.CD nameType a name for the CD in the text box.Erase CDSelect this option to erase the current contents
of the CD.Eject CD when doneSelect this option to eject the CD from the drive
when the CD is written.Reuse these files for another CDSelect this option if
you do not want to write the files and folders to another CD. If you select
this option, the files and folders are not removed from the burn:/// location after the CD is written. Click on the Write files to CD button. If you selected the File image option from the Target to write to drop-down list, a Choose a filename
for the cdrom image dialog is displayed. Use the dialog to specify
the location where you want to save the CD image file. By default, CD image
files have a .iso file extension.A Writing CD dialog is displayed. When the CD is
written or when the CD image file is created, a message to indicate that the
process is complete is displayed in the dialog.If you created a CD image file, you can write this file to a CD. To
write a CD image file to CD, right-click on the CD image file, then choose Write to CD from the popup menu.If you did not select the Reuse these files for another CD option, the files and folders are removed from the burn:/// location.Running Scripts From the File Managerfile managerrunning scriptsscripts, running from file managerThe file manager includes a special folder where you can
store your scripts. When you add an executable file to this folder, the file
is added to the Scripts submenu. To run a script
choose FileScripts, then choose the script that you want to run from the submenu. To run a script on a particular file, select the file in the view pane.
Choose FileScripts, then choose the script that you want to run on the file from
the submenu. You can also select multiple files to run your scripts on.To view the contents of your scripts folder, choose FileScriptsOpen Scripts Folder.