3. Konqueror File Manager

Abstract

File managers have grown to become multi-tasking applications, which do not only take care of basic tasks such as copying and moving files around. In fact, with Konqueror you are able to manage your files, browse a LAN, play MP3s, surf on the web , and more.

In this section, we take for granted that you have used a file manager before, and that it is not necessary to describe elementary features. We will talk about Konqueror which is KDE's default file manager.

3.1. Main Window

You access your file manager by clicking on the Home icon located on the top left of your desktop.

Figure 10.7. Konqueror

Konqueror

The lower part of the window displays the current folder's contents (by default, what your home directory contains). Each file or sub-directory is represented by an icon, although you can change that view through the View->View Mode menu . That main view may also contain a sidebar (refer to Section 3.2, “Sidebar”).

3.2. Sidebar

A sidebar may appear on the left side of the main view. The first time you launch Konqueror you will not see it. To show or hide it, select Window->Show Navigation Panel (or use the F9 key.

Here are short definitions of the icons in Konqueror's sidebar:

Table 10.2. Konqueror Sidebar Icons

IconMeaning
Show Navigation Panel. This icon lets you change the sidebar view, add new folders, and more.
Bookmarks. Where you can store your preferred web and FTP sites.
Devices. Gives you access to the CD-ROM, Floppy, and removable devices (such as USB keys under the Hard disk entry), and Remote Shared folders, such as NFS or SMB shares (see Section 5, “Allowing Users to Share Folders”).
History. A list of the folders and network (web, FTP, etc.) sites you have visited during the current session.
Home Directory. Represents your personal folder in which you organize your personal files.
Network. Gives you access to FTP archives as well as to Mandrakelinux- and KDE-specific web sites (of course, you can add or delete entries too).
Root Folder. Lets you access your whole tree structure. Usually, you do not have sufficient rights to manipulate files outside your home directory. Only the system administrator (root) possesses the rights to do so.
Services. Gives you access to the Audio CD Browser, Devices, Fonts, the LAN Browser and the Print System Browser.

3.3. Copying, Moving, Linking and Deleting Files

Copying Files. Let's imagine you want to copy test.png to the Documents folder. With Konqueror, you first need to access the Window->Split View Left/Right (or press the Ctrl-Shift-L keys) menu or the Window->Split View Top/Bottom (or press the Ctrl-Shift-T keys) menu. Your window will be duplicated and you will be able to drag'n'drop the test.png image file into the Documents folder. Once you let go the file on the folder, a pop up menu will ask you whether you want to move, copy or link the file.

[Note]Note

There are many ways to manipulate files within your file manager. Drag'n'drop, keyboard shortcut combinations, opening two file managers, etc. Choose the method you prefer (check out the Edit menu).

Moving Files.  The same principle applies to moving files around. Instead, select Move Here from the pop-up menu once you release the file.

Linking Files. Linking files allows you to access them without actually copying them all around your home directory. Let's imagine one of your files is deeply buried into the /home/queen/Music/Artists/FavoriteArtist/ directory and you want to access it quickly. Here's how to proceed. With Konqueror simply drag it to the desired location, release the mouse button and select Link Here.

Deleting Files. There are “safe” and “unsafe” ways to delete files. The safe way would be to move it to the Trash, while the unsafe one would be to delete it for good directly. To delete a file, select it and press the Del key. To restore it, double-click on the Trash icon on your desktop and drag the file(s) back into your browser. To delete trashed files, simply Empty Trash Bin by right-clicking on the Trash icon. To delete a file directly, right-click on it and select Delete.

3.4. Browsing Web Pages

If you frequently browse through directories containing HTML files, for example your distribution's documentation, these directories generally contain a file called index.html.

Let's take the /usr/share/doc/mandrake/en/Drakxtools-Guide.html/ directory as an example.Click on index.html and Konqueror will display that file's contents, and you can browse through the documentation, as if you were on the web.

Browsing the web with Konqueror is as easy as using a “real” web browser (please see Chapter 9, Surfing the Web with Firefox). Just type in the URL of the site you want to visit in the location bar and surf.

3.5. File Sharing

Abstract

This feature allows you to share your documents with other people on the local network and access documents other people share. It also enables system administrators to provide users with common repositories where everyone can add, modify and consult files.

3.5.1. Sharing Files

If file sharing is activated through the Mandrakelinux Control Center (please see Section 5, “Allowing Users to Share Folders”) you can right-click on folders in your Konqueror window and choose Share. It allows you to share one or as many folders as you like through NFS[8] or Samba[9].

3.5.2. Browsing Shared Files with Konqueror

[Note]Note

For LAN browsing to work, make sure the lisa package is installed. If not, you will have to start the lisa service after installing it.

You can browse all available shared files on the network by opening the LAN Browser section in the Services sidebar. All machines offering shared files will appear as folders under this section. Inside the host name folder appears one folder per protocol supported by this machine. Those may be:

FISH

This protocol relies on ssh communications. So every local machine having an ssh server running on it will allow you to connect to it (providing proper authentication) and browse all the folders you have access to.

NFS

Under this Remote Share folder the shares provided by UNIX® machines will be displayed (see Section 4, “Importing Remote NFS Directories”).

SMB

Shares provided by Windows® or SMB-enabled machines (see Section 3, “Importing Remote SMB Directories”) will show up under this Remote Share folder.



[8] NFS (Network File System) allows you to share, export or import files to or from your computer in a networked environment. Although the NFS setup is easier than the Samba one, it can only be used within a UNIX®-based system (like GNU/Linux). Moreover, NFS is an insecure protocol and should be used exclusively in a secure local environment.

[9] SMB is a protocol by which PCs share resources such as files and printers. Windows® and GNU/Linux (through Samba) and OS/2 operating systems, among others, support the SMB protocol. It can be considered an alternative to Netware and NFS.