11.2. Nautilus: GNOME's File Manager

11.2.1. Getting Started

  GNOME's default file manager is Nautilus. With it, you can manage your files, browse the web and even your LAN through Samba and NFS. It was originally developed by Eazel but the latter unfortunately ceased its operations. However, since it is an open-source project, many developers still maintain and enhance it.

Note

Since Nautilus' main features function in a similar manner to those of Konqueror, we will only describe functionalities specific to Nautilus. Please refer to Konqueror: KDE's File Manager if you need more information.

Figure 11-20. Nautilus' Main Window

11.2.1.1. Exploring the Left Side of Nautilus

The left part of the window gives you a few options. In fact, you can have a single folder showing you where you are in your tree structure. It includes basic information such as the file type, the number of items it holds and the last access date.

The other options are located in the sidebar (which is the left side of the window):

  • standard tree structure. You can access it through the Tree tab.

  • notes. It allows you to write notes directly in the yellow window. Click on the Notes tab to try it out.

  • history. This option allows to see a history of the folders visited. Hence, by clicking on the History tab, you will get something like this:

    Figure 11-21. Nautilus' History Window

  • news. With this function, you can add news web sites such as Linux Today and access them directly through hyperlinks.

    In our example, we added Linux Today and Linux Weekly News. After this operation is over, you get a resume of these sites in your sidebar:

    Figure 11-22. Nautilus News

    To add news sites, simply click on the Select Sites tab. You will get a list of popular Linux news sites. Simply click on the check box or site name to add them to the news you wish to view. When you are finished, click on the Done button.

    Figure 11-23. Adding News Web Sites

    If the news site you wish to add is not in the site list, you may add it by choosing Edit and this window will appear:

    Figure 11-24. Editing News Web Sites

  • help. If you need more information about Nautilus or GNOME, click on the Help tab where you will find useful information. This Help tab replaces the GNOME Help Browser (the question-marked applet on your panel) which use to hold all of GNOME's help center. It is not fully maintained anymore and should disappear when GNOME 2.0 is ready for prime-time.

11.2.1.2. Exploring the Right Side of Nautilus

Most file managers use the right-part of the window to display files contained in directories, and Nautilus is no exception to that. And like many file managers, you can change the look'n'feel of your window. To do so, we will go through Nautilus' Preferences menu.

11.2.1.3. Nautilus' Preferences

To access the Edit Preferences menu, you can use the Alt-P-E keyboard shortcut or simply click on the Preferences menu and then on Edit Preferences. This window will then be displayed:

Figure 11-25. Nautilus Preferences

Note

When you opened the Preferences menu, you probably noticed there were three preference levels: Beginner, Intermediate and Advanced. We suggest you set it to Intermediate as this is the one we will document. The Beginner level includes less options while it's the opposite for the Advanced one.

11.2.1.3.1. View Preferences

As you can see, the main preferences are located in the View Preferences window. Here you can change basic graphic looks such as your preferred font and its size, as well as the view mode (either icon or list view).

11.2.1.3.2. Appearance

Next is the Appearance window. You can define your Default smooth font: this will affect the left window's tabs such as History, Help, News, etc.

Figure 11-26. Changing Default Smooth Fonts

This example shows Nautilus' sidebar with the DerDmonschriftkegel font.

Changing Nautilus' theme can be fun, although the difference between each theme is, to say the least, quite subtle. Try them out. You can also Add New Themes.

Here is an example of the GNOME theme:

Figure 11-27. GNOME Theme For Nautilus

11.2.1.3.3. Windows & Desktops

This is the window to tweak if you do not want Nautilus to draw your desktop. However, if you do not select the Use Nautilus to draw the desktop, you will lose all your desktop icons!

By default, if you click on an icon (or on text, depending on the view you choose) in the left or right side of Nautilus, the file's contents will be displayed in the same window. In the Windows & Desktops window, you can modify this by clicking on Open each file or folder in a separate window. The same principle applies to the other options offered in this window.

11.2.1.3.4. Icon & List View

The features in this window are very useful. Here you can activate items with a single click (instead of the default double-click), show hidden files (the ones that start with a period). You can view those in a Terminal using ls -a) and backup files (the ones which end with a tilde). You can also list folders before files.

11.2.1.3.5. Icon Captions

This window has only one function. Here you determine in what order information about files is shown. You find the typical size, date modified, type, etc.

11.2.1.3.6. Sidebar Panels

Here you define which tabs you want to see in your sidebar. Click or unclick on the different options to see them appear or disappear. You may also choose to see only folders in your tree structure.

11.2.1.3.7. Search

Define your search options in this window. You can either choose to search by file name only or by file name and file properties. You can select your default search engine (Google by default).

11.2.1.3.8. Navigation

The Navigation window is where you determine your home page (/home/your_account by default). You can also set your proxy settings, if you use one. Finally, you can disregard bookmarks created by Nautilus by clicking on the Don't include the built-in bookmarks in the Bookmarks menu.

11.2.1.3.9. Speed Tradeoffs

Here are located options concerning information displayed about icons. You can set Nautilus to show text in icons, to list the number of items in a folder, to display thumbnails for image or sound files, etc.

11.2.1.3.10. News Panel

Two options are offered here:

  • maximum items per site;

  • update minutes.

The first one allows you to set the number of news which will be displayed in the sidebar's news tab (default is six news). The second one lets you set the update frequency (default is five minutes).

11.2.1.4. Browsing The Web

Like Konqueror, Nautilus also acts as a web browser. Simply type a web address in the Location Bar and off you go!

Figure 11-28. Browsing The Web With Nautilus

In order to view only the web page you typed, go in View->Hide Sidebar

11.2.1.4.1. Searching The Web

Simply click on the Web Search button located in the toolbar and your defined web search engine's page will automatically open. You can also access this feature by pressing on the Shift-Ctrl-F keys.

11.2.1.4.2. Sharing Files

By enabling file sharing in Mandrake Control Center (please see Importing Remote SMB Directories), you can give access to your folders via Samba or NFS (see File Sharing. To do so, right-click on folders in your Nautilus window (or Konqueror for that matter) and choose the Network Sharing menu. Then, simply check the Shared entry and then on Configure File Sharing. A pop-up window will ask you for the root password in order to access diskdrake (one of Mandrake Control Center's components). Then, select between No Sharing, Authorize all users or Personalize.

If, for any reason, you should have problems browsing your LAN with Nautilus, know that you can also do so with Konqueror (please refer to File Sharing).


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