Xfce Wiki

Sub domains
 

Differences

This shows you the differences between two versions of the page.

Link to this comparison view

Both sides previous revisionPrevious revision
Next revision
Previous revision
Next revisionBoth sides next revision
xfce:thunar:the-file-manager-window [2012/03/03 18:56] – [Customizing the Appearance] nickxfce:thunar:the-file-manager-window [2019/08/02 21:36] – [The File Manager Window] amerigena
Line 1: Line 1:
 ====== The File Manager Window ====== ====== The File Manager Window ======
  
-<note warning>This page is work in progress!</note> +By defaultthe file manager window consists of a **Side Pane** on the left, the **Main Area** on the right and a **Location Selector** above the main area.
- +
-By default the file manager window consists of a shortcut pane on the left side, the main area on the right and a pathbar above the main area.+
  
 <figure "The File Manager Window"> <figure "The File Manager Window">
-{{:xfce:thunar:file-manager-window.png?nolink&|}}+{{:xfce:thunar:thunar_main_2.png?nolink&|}}
 </figure> </figure>
  
-The {gui>Shortcut Pane} provides shortcuts to different folders on your system. The first shortcut will lead to your ''Home Folder'', the folder you store all your personal data, and will therefore have the name of the current user. The second shortcut will take you to the trash binwhich stores deleted files that can be recovered later. The third shortcut takes you to the //Desktop Folder//, which contains the files and folders that are displayed on the desktop. The fourth shortcut will take you to the root of your file system -- you may want to explore it a bit, even though it may be confusing to you if you are new to Linux/Unix. Just click on the different folders and see what is inside.+==== Side Pane ==== 
 +The {gui>Side Pane} is organized into three categories of objects: **Devices****Places** and **Network**
  
-Below the //File System// shortcutthe removable drives and media will be displayedIn the screenshot above, you can see a {gui>Floppy Drive} shortcutClick on these shortcuts to access the data stored on the removable drives and media. See the section called [[using-removable-media|Using Removable Media]] for further details.+In the **Devices** sectionyou will find fixed disk partitions as well as removable media listedAt a minimum, on a simple system with a single disk and operating system, you will just see the //File System// listedClicking on this item will take you to the root of your file system and display the entire folder hierarchy. If you are new to Linux, this structure may be confusing. You can learn more about it in [[:xfce:thunar:unix-filesystem|The UNIX File System]] section
  
-The remaining shortcuts are user definedAdd your own shortcuts by simply dragging folders to the {gui>Shortcuts Pane}. This will allow you to access important folders instantly. To remove a previously added shortcut, right-click on the shortcut and choose {gui>Remove Shortcut}. To rename a previously added shortcut, right-click on the shortcut and choose {gui>Rename Shortcut}. Note that these actions affect only the shortcut, not the folder referenced by the shortcuts.+The **Places** section provides a location for storing shortcuts to the various file folders on your system.  The three shortcuts shown in the figure above are there by default and they can not be removed or rearranged. The first shortcut will lead to your ''Home Folder'', the folder where you store all your personal data, and will therefore have the name of the current user. The second shortcut takes you to the //Desktop Folder//, which contains the files and folders that are displayed on the desktop. The third shortcut will take you to the trah bin, which stores deleted files that can be recovered later. You can add your own shortcuts by simply dragging folders from the main area to the {gui>Side Pane}. This will allow you to access important folders quickly. User-defined shortcuts can be rearranged in the side pane by dragging them up or down in the list. To remove a previously added shortcut, right-click on the shortcut and choose {gui>Remove Shortcut}. To rename a previously added shortcut, right-click on the shortcut and choose {gui>Rename Shortcut}. Note that these actions affect only the shortcut, not the folder referenced by the shortcuts.
  
-The //main area// will always display the contents of the current folder. Double click on folders to enter themand right-click on files or folders to get a context-menu offering some choices of what to do with it. Select multiple files by dragging a rectangle over them with the mouse. Alternatively, select one file, hold down the {key>Shift} key, and increase or decrease the selection using the arrow keys.+If your Side Pane starts to get too cluttered with devices and shortcutsyou can temporarily hide items be right-clicking on an empty area of the pane and unchecking the ones you don't need to see.
  
-The //pathbar// will always show the path you took to get to the folder you are currently at. You can click on any pathbar button to change to the folder it represents. Right-click on a pathbar button to bring up a context-menu with some options.+<figure "Show/Hide Side Pane Items">{{:xfce:thunar:side-pane-right-click-menu.png}}</figure>
  
-===== Customizing the Appearance =====+In the **Network** section, you will see a single //Browse Network// icon. Clicking this icon will allow you to connect to a server or network share to browse and view files on that server. The file manager will find any computers on your local area network that advertise their ability to serve files. If you want to connect to a server on the internet, or if you do not see the computer you're looking for, you can manually connect to a server by typing in its internet/network address in the toolbar of the Location Selector. After successfully connecting to a share, a shortcut for it will appear under **Network** in the side pane.
  
-There are many ways to customize the appearance of the file manager windows. In case you do not like the way the icons are displayedchoose {key>View+View as Detailed Listfrom the main menu to have the contents of the current folder displayed as a list.+If you prefer the classic tree view of the file systemthat option is available by selecting {gui>View>Side Pane>Tree}. As you might expect, shortcuts are not available in this view.
  
-You can have the file manager windows display a location bar instead of the pathbar by choosing {key>View>Location Selector>Toolbar Stylefrom the main menu.+==== Main Area ==== 
 +The **Main Area** will always display the contents of the current folder. Double-click on folders to enter them and right-click on files or folders to bring up a context menu offering additional options for them. Select multiple files or folders by using the standard {key>Shift-click} or {key>Ctrl-clickmethod (for contiguous and non-contiguous items respectively). An alternate method for selecting contiguous items is to drag a rectangle over them with the mouse.
  
-In case you prefer treeview in the left pane, choose {key>View>Side Pane>Tree} from the main menu.+By default, status bar is shown at the bottom of the Main Area which displays the number of items in the current folder as well as the free space on the current partition.
  
-<figure "Visible Columns in the Detailed List View"> +If you prefer a list view instead of icons, you can switch by choosing {gui>View>View as Detailed List}. 
-{{:xfce:thunar:visible-columns.png?nolink&|}}+ 
 +<figure "Side Pane in Tree View - Main Window as Detailed List"> 
 +{{:xfce:thunar:tree-view.png?nolink&|}}
 </figure> </figure>
  
-If you prefer to display the contents of the folder as a list, using the {gui>Detailed List View}, you can customize the columns displayed in the list view. To customize the visible columns, choose {key>View>Configure Columns...} from the main menu.+When in //Detailed List// mode, you have the option of configuring which columns are visible by selecting {gui>View>Configure Columns...} from the main menu. 
 + 
 +<figure "Visible Columns in the Detailed List View"> 
 +{{:xfce::thunar:visible-columns.png?nolink&|}} 
 +</figure>
  
 ? Visible Columns ? Visible Columns
 ! Select the columns you want to be displayed from the list of available columns. Click {gui>Move Up} or {gui>Move Down} to change the order of the columns. Click {gui>Use Default} to revert your changes. ! Select the columns you want to be displayed from the list of available columns. Click {gui>Move Up} or {gui>Move Down} to change the order of the columns. Click {gui>Use Default} to revert your changes.
 ? Column Sizing ? Column Sizing
-! Select the option {gui>Automatically expand columns as needed} if you want the list view columns to expand automatically if the needed to ensure the text is fully visible.+! Select the option {gui>Automatically expand columns as needed} if you want the list view columns to expand automatically if needed to ensure the text is fully visible. 
 + 
 +==== Location Selector ==== 
 +The **Location Selector** shows the path to the current folder starting from the root directory (or the URL in the case of a network share). The path can be displayed in either a //Pathbar// or //Toolbar// style by clicking {gui>View>Location Selector} from the menu.  
 + 
 +<figure "Location Selector Style Options"> 
 +{{:xfce:thunar:pathbar-vs-toolbar.png?nolink&|Toolbar Style}} 
 +</figure> 
 + 
 +Each style gives a slightly different visual indication of where your current folder is in the file hierarchy and offers different methods for navigating through the file system. In the case of the //Pathbar Style//, you can quickly relocate to any folder by clicking on its button. Right-clicking on a button offers additional options. In both styles you can move one level at a time by clicking on the {gui>Back}, {gui>Forward} or {gui>Up} arrow icons but if you right-click on the {gui>Back} and {gui>Forward} icons, you will see a pull-down history of previously visited folders to select from. The {gui>Home} icon will always take you directly to your Home folder. 
 + 
 +Clicking the "edit" pencil at the //Pathbar Style// will temporary transform it into //Toolbar Style//, so that you can copy/paste the path. 
 + 
 +See the [[:xfce:thunar:preferences|File Management Preferences]] section for additional customization options. 
 +