Improving File Manager Performance

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The file manager includes performance-related preferences. Each performance preference can take one of the three values described in the following table.

Value	Description
`always`	Performs the action for both local files and files on other file systems.
`local_only`	Performs the action for local files only. When you set a performance preference to `local_only`, the CPU usage is reduced.
`never`	Never performs the action. When you set a performance preference to never, the CPU usage and the network traffic are reduced.

To set the performance preference, use the following command:

# gconftool-2 --type string \
--set /apps/nautilus/preferences/show_icon_text value

The following table describes the performance preferences for the file manager. To improve performance, set the value of the preferences to never.

Preference	Description
`show_icon_text`	Preview the content of text files in the icon that represents the file.
`show_directory_item_counts`	Show the number of items in folders.
`show_image_thumbnails`	Show thumbnails of image files.
`preview_sound`	Preview the content of sound files.

Note - You can also set performance preferences for the file manager by performing the following steps:

Choose Edit → Preferences from a file manager window.
Select Preview.
Select the preference you want to set.
For example, to set the show_image_thumbnails preference, select the Show Thumbnails preference option.

Turning Off the Side Pane

To improve file manager performance, turn off the side pane by typing the following command:

# gconftool-2 --type bool \
--set /apps/nautilus/preferences/start_with_sidebar false

Turning Off the Toolbar

To improve file manager performance, turn off the toolbar by typing the following command:

# gconftool-2 --type bool \
--set /apps/nautilus/preferences/start_with_toolbar false

Turning Off the Location Bar

To improve file manager performance, turn off the location bar by typing the following command:

# gconftool-2 --type bool \
--set /apps/nautilus/preferences/start_with_location_bar false

Tip - You can use the Ctrl + L keyboard shortcut to display a location bar when required.

Locking the Desktop Background and Hiding Desktop Icons

The file manager contains a preference that enables users to lock the desktop background and hide desktop icons. To improve performance, disable the desktop background and hide desktop icons by typing the following command:

# gconftool-2 --type bool \
--set /apps/nautilus/preferences/show_desktop false

Any existing colors or wallpapers that were applied to your desktop background remain unchanged. For example, if you had a solid green background before you turn this option off, you will still have a solid green background later. However, once the desktop background is turned off, you cannot make further changes to background colors or wallpapers until you turn on this option back again.

Note that if you disable the desktop background, you cannot do the following:

Use the file manager to change the pattern or color of the desktop background.
Use desktop objects, such as the Trash. The desktop objects are not displayed on the desktop.