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Oracle Solaris 11.1 Desktop User's Guide     Oracle Solaris 11.1 Information Library
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Document Information

Preface

1.  Getting Started With the Desktop

2.  Using the Desktop Windows

3.  Using the Desktop Workspaces

4.  Using the Desktop Panels

5.  Using the Desktop Applications

6.  Using the Main Menubar

7.  Using Time Slider

8.  Using the File Manager

File Manager Overview

Spatial Mode

Spatial Mode Windows

Displaying the Home Folder in a Spatial Window

Displaying a Parent Folder

Displaying a Folder in a Browser Window

How to Display a Folder in a Browser Window

Closing Folders

Opening a Location

Browser Mode

Browser Windows

Showing and Hiding File Browser Window Components

Using the Location Bar

Displaying Home Folder

Displaying a Folder

Displaying a Parent Folder

Using the Tree From the Side Pane

Using Navigation History

Navigating History List Using the Go Menu

Navigating History List Using the Toolbar

Navigating Your History List Using History in the Side Pane

Opening Files

Executing the Default Action

Executing Non-Default Actions

How to Add Actions Associated With a File Type

How to Modify Actions

Searching Files

Saving Searches

Managing Files and Folders

Using Views to Display Files and Folders

Arranging Your Files in Icon View

Arranging Your Files in List View

Changing the Size of Items in a View

Working With Files and Folders

Selecting Files and Folders

Selecting Files Matching a Specific Pattern

Moving or Copying a File or Folder

How to Duplicate a File or Folder

How to Create a Folder

How to Rename a File or Folder

How to Move a File or Folder to the Trash

How to Delete a File or Folder

Creating a Symbolic Link to a File or Folder

Using Drag and Drop

Viewing the Properties of a File or Folder

How to View the Properties of a File of Folder

Changing Permissions

How to Change Permissions for a File

How to Change Permissions for a Folder

Adding Notes to Files and Folders

How to Add a Note Using the Properties Dialog

How to Add a Note Using Notes in the Side Pane

Creating Documents by Using a Template

How to Create a Document From a Template

Using Bookmarks

Adding or Deleting a Bookmark

How to Edit a Bookmark

Using Trash

Displaying the Items in the Trash

Emptying Trash

Viewing Hidden Files

Hiding a File or Folder

Using Item Properties

How to Display the Item Properties Window

Modifying the Appearance of Files and Folders

Using Icons and Emblems

How to Change the Icon for a File or Folder

How to Add an Emblem to a File or Folder

How to Create a New Emblem

Changing Backgrounds

Using Removable Media

Mounting Media

How to Mount a Device Manually

Displaying Media Contents

Displaying Media Properties

Ejecting Media

How to Eject a USB Flash Drive

Navigating Remote Servers

Accessing a Remote Server

Accessing Network Places

Accessing Special URI Locations

Setting File Manager Preferences

Views

Behavior

Display

List Columns

Preview

Media

Extending the File Manager

Scripts

Installing File Manager Scripts

Writing File Manager Scripts

Extensions

9.  Using the Desktop Tools and Utilities

10.  Configuring the Desktop

A.  Using the Mouse

B.  Using the Keyboard

Browser Mode

This section describes how to browse the system using the file manager, when configured in browser mode. In browser mode, opening a folder updates the current file manager window to display the contents of the new folder.

Browser Windows

You can access the file browser in the following ways:

Figure 8-3 File Browser Window

image:File Browser Window

The following table describes the components of a file browser window.

Table 8-2 File Browser Window Components

Component
Description
Menubar
Contains menus that you use to perform tasks in the file manager.

You can also open a pop-up menu from a file manager window by right-clicking the window. The items in this menu depend on where you right-click. For example, when you right-click a file or folder, you can choose items related to the file or folder. When you right-click the background of a view pane, you can choose items related to the displayed items in the view pane.

Toolbar
Contains buttons that you use to perform various tasks in the file manager.
  • Back – Returns to the previously visited location. The adjacent drop-down list also contains a list of the most recently visited locations to enable you to return to them faster.

  • Forward – Performs the opposite function to the Back toolbar button. If you have previously navigated back, then this button returns you forward.

  • Up – Moves up one level to the parent of the current folder.

  • Reload – Refreshes the contents of the current folder.

  • Browse Snapshots – Enables you to browse the contents of ZFS snapshots that exist for a folder using Time Slider. For more information on Time Slider, see Chapter 7, Using Time Slider.

  • Home – Opens the Home folder.

  • Computer – Opens the Computer folder.

  • Search – Opens the search bar.

Location bar
The location bar enables you to navigate the computer. It has three different configurations depending on the selection. For more information, see Using the Location Bar. In all three configurations, the location bar contains the following items:
  • Zoom buttons – Enables you to change the size of items in the view pane.

  • View as drop-down list – Enables you to choose how to display the items in your view pane.

Side Pane
The side pane performs the following functions:
  • Shows information about the current file or folder

  • Enables you to navigate through the files

To display the side pane, choose View → Side Pane. The side pane contains a drop-down list that enables you to choose the items to be displayed in the side pane:

  • Places – Displays places of particular interest.

  • Information – Displays the icon and information about the current folder. Buttons might appear in the side pane. These buttons enable you to perform actions on the current folder other than the default action.

  • Tree – Displays a hierarchical representation of the file system. You can use the Tree to navigate through the files.

  • History – Contains a history list of files, folders, FTP sites, and URIs that you recently visited.

  • Notes – Enables you to add notes to your files and folders.

  • Emblems – Contains emblems that you can add to a file or folder.

To close the side pane, click the X button at the top right of the side pane.

View pane
The view pane displays the contents of the following:
  • Folders

  • FTP sites

  • Windows shares

  • WebDAV servers

  • Locations that correspond to special URIs

Statusbar
Displays the status information.

Showing and Hiding File Browser Window Components

To show or hide any of the components of the file browser select the component from the view menu. The menu options are toggles that can alternately show or hide the component.


Tip - You can press F9 to toggle the visibility of the side pane.


Using the Location Bar

The file browser's location bar can show either a location field, a button bar, or a search field. The following table describes the fields in the Location bar.

Table 8-3 Fields in the Location Bar

Field
Description
Button bar
The button bar is displayed by default . It contains a row of buttons representing the current location's hierarchy, with a button for each folder. Click the button to switch between folders in the hierarchy. You can return to the original folder, which is shown as the last button in the row.

You can also drag buttons, for example, to another location, to copy a folder.

Text location bar
The text location bar shows the current location as a text path, for example, /home/user/Documents. The location field is useful to navigate to a known folder.

To go to a new location, type a new path or edit the current one, and then press Return. The path field automatically completes what you are typing when there is only one possibility. To accept the suggested completion, press Tab.

To always use the text location bar, click the toggle button at the left of the location bar.

To switch to the text location bar while using the button bar, press Ctrl+L, choose Go → Location, or press / (Leading Slash) to type a path from the root directory. The location bar shows the location buttons again after you press Return or press Esc to cancel.

Search bar
Press Ctrl+F or select the Search toolbar button to display the search bar. For more information about the search bar, see Searching Files.

Displaying Home Folder

To display the Home folder, perform one of the following actions from a file browser window:

The file browser window displays the contents of your Home folder.

Displaying a Folder

The contents of a folder can be displayed in either list or icon view in any one of the following ways. For more information about the list and icon view, see Using Views to Display Files and Folders.

To change to the folder that is one level above the current folder, choose Go → Up. Alternatively, click the Up toolbar button.

Displaying a Parent Folder

The parent folder of the current folder which you are browsing is the one which exists, in a hierarchical representation, one level above the current folder. To display the contents of parent folder, perform one of the following steps:

Using the Tree From the Side Pane

The Tree view is one of the most useful features of the side pane. It displays a hierarchical representation of the file system and provides a convenient way to browse and to navigate the 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 view, open folders are represented by arrows facing downwards. The following table describes the tasks you can perform with the Tree.

Table 8-4 Tree Tasks

Task
Action
Open 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.
Expand a folder in the Tree
Click the arrow next to the folder in the Tree.
Collapse a folder in the Tree
Click 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.
Open a file
Select the file in the Tree.

You can set the preferences so that the Tree does not display files. For more information, see Views.

Using Navigation History

The file browser window maintains a history list of files, folders, FTP sites, and URI locations you have recently visited. You can use the history list to return to these places. Your history list contains the last ten items that you viewed.

To clear your history list, choose Go → Clear History.

Navigating History List Using the Go Menu

To display a list of previously viewed items, open the Go menu. The history list is displayed in the lower part of the Go menu. Click an item in the history list to open it.

Navigating History List Using the Toolbar

To use the toolbar to navigate the history list, perform one of the following actions:

Navigating Your History List Using History in the Side Pane

To 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 the previously viewed items. To display an item from the history list in the view pane, double-click the item in the History list.