Chapter 6. Nautilus File Manager

Copyright and Legal Notice

6.2. Spatial Mode

6.2.a. Spatial Windows

A new spatial window opens each time you open a folder. To open a folder, do one of the following:

• Double-click the folder's icon on the desktop or an existing window

• Select the folder, and press Ctrl+O.

• Select the folder, and press Alt+down arrow

• Choose an item from the Places menu on the top panel. Your Home Folder and folders you have bookmarked are listed here. For more on bookmarks, see the section called Using Bookmarks For Your Favorite Locations.

To close the current folder while opening the new one, hold down Shift when double-clicking, or press Shift+Alt+down arrow.

Figure 6.3, Contents of a folder in a spatial mode. shows a spatial mode window that displays the contents of the Computer folder.

Figure 6.3. Contents of a folder in a spatial mode.

In spatial mode each open Nautilus windows shows only one location. Selecting a second location will open a second Nautilus window. Because each location remembers the previous position on screen in which it was opened it allows you to easily recognize folders when many of them are open at once.

Some people consider spatial mode better, particularly for moving files or folders to different location, others find the number of open windows daunting. Figure 6.4, Three Folders Opened in Spatial Mode. shows an example of spatial browsing with many open locations.

Figure 6.4. Three Folders Opened in Spatial Mode.

	Note:
	Because spatial mode will fill your screen with Nautilus windows it is important to be able to reposition them effectively. By holding the the ALT and clicking anywhere within the bounds of a Nautilus window you may reposition it simply, instead of the requiring that you reposition it by dragging its title bar.

(Next: Spatial Window Components)

...................................................................................

Chapter 6. Nautilus File Manager
Table of Contents

6.1. Introduction
       6.1.a. File Manager Functionality
       6.1.b. File Manager Presentation

6.2. Spatial Mode
       6.2.a. Spatial Windows (you are here)
       6.2.b. Spatial Window Components
       6.2.c. Displaying Your Home Folder in a Spatial Window
       6.2.d. Displaying a Parent Folder
       6.2.e. Closing Folders
       6.2.f. Displaying a Folder in a Browser Window
       6.2.g. Opening a Location

6.3. Browser Mode
       6.3.a. The File Browser Window
       6.3.b. Showing and Hiding File Browser Window Components
       6.3.c. Using the Location Bar
       6.3.d. Displaying Your Home Folder
       6.3.e. Displaying a Folder
       6.3.f. Displaying a Parent Folder
       6.3.g. Using the Tree From the Side Pane
       6.3.h. Using Your Navigation History

6.4. Opening Files
       6.4.a. Executing the Default Action
       6.4.b. Executing Non-Default Actions
       6.4.c. Adding Actions
       6.4.d. Modifying Actions

6.5. Searching For Files
       6.5.a. Saving Searches

6.6. Managing Your Files and Folders
       6.6.a. Using Views to Display Your Files and Folders
       6.6.b. Selecting Files and Folders
       6.6.c. Drag-and-Drop in the File Manager
       6.6.d. Moving a File or Folder
       6.6.e. Copying a File or Folder
       6.6.f. Duplicating a File or Folder
       6.6.g. Creating a Folder
       6.6.h. Templates and Documents
       6.6.i. Renaming a File or Folder
       6.6.j. Moving a File or Folder to Trash
       6.6.k. Deleting a File or Folder
       6.6.l. Creating a Symbolic Link to a File or Folder
       6.6.m. Viewing the Properties of a File or Folder
       6.6.n. Changing Permissions
       6.6.o. Adding Notes to Files and Folders
       6.6.p. Using Bookmarks For Your Favorite Locations
       6.6.q. Using Trash
       6.6.r. Hidden Files

6.7. Item Properties

6.8. Modifying the Appearance of Files and Folders
       6.8.a. Icons and Emblems
       6.8.b. Changing the Icon for a File or Folder
       6.8.c. Adding an Emblem to a File or Folder
       6.8.d. Creating a New Emblem
       6.8.e. Changing Backgrounds

6.9. Using Removable Media
       6.9.a. To Mount Media
       6.9.b. To Display Media Contents
       6.9.c. To Display Media Properties
       6.9.d. To Format a Floppy Disk
       6.9.e. To Eject Media

6.10. Writing CDs or DVDs
       6.10.a. Creating Data Discs
       6.10.b. Copying CDs or DVDs
       6.10.c. Creating a Disc from an Image File

6.11. Navigating Remote Servers
       6.11.a. To Access a remote server
       6.11.b. To Access Network Places
       6.11.c. Accessing Special URI Locations

6.12. Nautilus Preferences
       6.12.a. Views Preferences
       6.12.b. Behavior Preferences
       6.12.c. Display Preferences
       6.12.d. List Columns Preferences
       6.12.e. Preview Preferences

6.13. Extending Nautilus
       6.13.a. Nautilus Scripts
       6.13.b.Nautilus Extensions

>> back to GNOME User Guide