Managing Files with File ManagerUse File Manager to create, find, and use desktop
objects: files, folders, and applications. Each object is
represented by an icon in File Manager.To Open File ManagerClick the File Manager control in the Front Panel.File ManagerstartingFront PanelFile Manager controlFile ManagerFront Panel
controlstartingFile ManagerIntroducing the File Manager Window and DesktopFile Managermain windowThe File Manager main window is a view of a folder on your system.
The folder you are currently viewing is called the current folderCurrent folder pathDisplays the path to the current folder
Menu bar and menusContain the commands available in File
ManagerObject viewing areaShows the objects (files and folders)
in the current working folderObject iconsIcons representing the files and folders
in the current folderBasic File System ConceptsThis section describes basic file system concepts.hierarchical file systemfile systemconceptsfile systemhierarchicalFilesA file is a container that holds information.
Most of the files you use contain information (data) in some particular format—a
document, a spreadsheet, a chart. The format is the particular way the data
is arranged inside the file. The format of a file is known as its data type.When File Manager is in one of its icon-view modes, you can identify
the data type of a file by the icon used to represent the file. Each data
type has a different icon.Most application programs understand a limited number of data types.
For example, a document editor probably cannot read a spreadsheet file. The
desktop helps you recognize different types of files using a data type database.
A data type identifies the files of a particular format and associates them
with the appropriate applications. These associations mean you don't have
to remember commands to accomplish frequent tasks. In most cases, when you
double-click a file, the desktop will automatically launch the application
that understands that file's data type.The maximum allowable length of a file name varies from system to system.
Some operating systems do not allow file names longer than 14 characters.
If necessary, consult with your system administrator.Foldersfoldersdefinition
ofobjectsfolderdirectories, <Emphasis>See <Default Para Font> folders <$nopage>A folder is a container for files,
similar to a folder in a file cabinet. In fact, File Manager uses a folder
icon to represent a folder. A folder can contain other folders—sometimes
called subfolders. With folders and subfolders, you can create multiple layers
of organization that form a hierarchy. In other contexts, folders are often
referred to as directories.If you drew a picture of the folder hierarchy with each subfolder underneath
the folder that contains it—its parent folder—and drew a line
from each folder to its parent, the picture would look like an upside-down
tree. Therefore, we often call the folder hierarchy a folder tree.subdirectoriesdefinition
ofsubfoldersdefinition ofWithin any single folder, each file name must be unique. However, files
in different folders may have the same name.As you navigate from folder to folder, your current location is referred
to as the current foldercurrent folder.ObjectsSince files and folders are both represented in File Manager as icons,
the term object is used to describe them
both. Objects are discrete things on the desktop that you can create and
manipulate.On the desktop, applications can also be represented as objects. For
example, Application Manager contains objects representing the applications
available on your system.Pathsfile pathpathpathThe location of a file is often specified by listing the folders and
subfolders that lead to the file—this list is called a path. A file's path is visible in two places in File Manager. First
it is shown in the iconic path as a string of folders. Second, it is shown
in a text form in the text path line above the view area. These two areas
can be turned off. (See
for more information.)Paths and Path NamesThe path to an object is a way to specify where the object is located
in the file system. There are two ways to specify the path: absolute path
and relative path.Absolute PathsA path is an absolute pathabsolute path if it begins at the root folder. The root folder is the single common folder on your system where the
hierarchy begins. If a path begins with a slash (/), it is an absolute path
specified from the root folder. For example, the following is an absolute
path to the file letter:/usr/dt/config/letterRelative PathsA path is relativerelative path if it describes the location of a file or folder as
it relates to the current folder. If you are in a folder and you want to
move down the folder tree, you don't need to type the absolute path name.
You can just type the path starting with the name of the next folder in the
path. If a path does not begin with a slash, it is a relative path. For example,
if the current folder is /usr/dt and you want to move
to the folder /usr/dt/config/letters, you would use
the following relative path:config/lettersTwo special folder names are useful when specifying relative paths.
The “.” folder (sometimes called “dot”) represents
the current folder. The “..” folder (sometimes called “dot-dot”)
represents the parent folder—the folder
one level up in the folder hierarchy. For example, if your current folder
is /usr/dt/config, then the relative path
to the Dtwm file becomes:../app-defaults/language/Dtwm
because the file is in the /usr/dt/app-defaults/language folder, one level above the current folder
and in the app-defaults/language subfolder.
See AlsoIf you still want to learn more about your computer's file system, refer
to the online help or documentation for your operating system. There are
also many commercial books available that cover the basics of file systems
and file management.Basic File Management Skillsbasic file management skillsfile
management, basic skillsmanaging
filesTo get started using File Manager, you need to learn a few basic skills.
Each icon in File Manager represents an object that you can manipulate in
a variety of ways, including:Object selectionDragging and droppingUsing pop-up menusRenaming objectsGetting online help on objectsOpening objectsTo Select a Single File or Folderselectingfilesselectingfoldersselectingobjectsselectingiconsobjectsselecting singlefilesselecting singlefoldersselecting singleiconsselecting singleWhen you select the icon of a file or folder, its name is highlighted.
Many choices in File Manager's menus apply to the currently selected file or folder. You select an object so that you can use one
of the Selected menu choices on that object. The Selected menu contains choices
that affect only the currently selected objects. The contents of this menu
will change as you select different kinds of objects in the view area. These
choices will appear dimmed until you select an icon.MouseClick once on the icon.KeyboardUse the Tab and arrow keys to move the highlight
to the icon you want to select.Press the Spacebar.To deselect a file or folder, select another icon or click an empty
area within the File Manager window.To Select Multiple Files and Foldersselectingmultiple filesselectingmultiple foldersselectingmultiple objectsselectingmultiple iconsobjectsselecting multiplefilesselecting multiplefoldersselecting multipleiconsselecting multipleYou select multiple objects so that you can use one of the Selected
menu choices on these objects. Selecting multiple files is useful if you
want to delete several files at once, or move a group of files to a new folder.
However, when you select more than one object, the Actions portion of the
Selected menu will be empty.When multiple icons are selected, dragging any one of the selected icons
drags the whole group. The Selected menu and various menu commands that apply
only to a single object are inactive.MousePress the left mouse button in a blank
area of the view, drag the mouse to draw a box around the icons you want
to select, then release the mouse button.Or, you can click the left mouse button to select the
first icon, then hold down the Control key and click the left mouse button to select
each additional icon. This method is useful when the icons you want to select
are not located next to each other.To remove a single icon from a selected group,
hold the Control key down and click the icon you want to remove.KeyboardSelect the first file or folder icon by pressing
the Spacebar.For each additional icon you want to select, move
the highlight to it, then press Control+Spacebar.To Drag and Drop a File or FolderdroppingfilesdroppingfoldersdroppingobjectsobjectsdroppingfilesdroppingfoldersdroppingcancelingdraggingdraggingcancelingdraggingfilesdraggingfoldersfilesdraggingfoldersdraggingobjectsdraggingdraggingobjectsPut the mouse pointer over the file or folder.
Press and hold the left mouse button.Drag the icon to where you want to drop it.Release the mouse button.So, the motion for dropping an object is press…drag…release.To cancel a drag in progress, press Esc before releasing the mouse button.
Drag icon showing the object being draggedIf more than one icon is selected, you drag the entire group by dragging
any of the selected icons.You cannot drag and drop an object without a mouse or other pointing
device.Basic Drag-and-Drop TasksTo move a file to another folder,
drop the icon on the destination folder's icon. Or, if both the source and
destination folders are open, drag the icon from the source folder's view
window and drop it onto the background of the folder's view window.To place an icon for a file or folder on the backdrop
of your current workspace, drop the file or folder icon outside of any window.
A desktop object is really just a reference to the real
object, which remains in the File Manager view, unchanged.To print a file, drop the file icon onto the Printer
control in the Front Panel (or one of the printers in the Personal Printers
subpanel).To delete a file or folder, drop the file or folder
icon onto the Trash Can control in the Front Panel.If you try to drop an icon in a location that does not support dropped
objects, the icon snaps back to its original location in File Manager or
on the desktop.To Display a Pop-up Menupop-up
menusdisplayingEach object in File Manager has a pop-up menu. The File Manager window
itself has a pop-up menu viewable when the pointer is placed in a location
in the view window outside the boundaries of the individual file or folder
objects.MousePoint to the icon whose pop-up menu you want
to display and press the right mouse button.Sample pop-up menuTo choose a command from the menu, drag to the
command, then release. Or, click the command.KeyboardUsing the Tab and direction keys, move the highlight
to the icon whose menu you want to display.Press Shift+F10.To choose a command from the menu, use the direction
keys to highlight the command, then press Return.To cancel the menu without choosing a command,
press Esc.To Rename a File or FolderrenamingobjectsobjectsrenamingrenamingfilesrenamingfoldersobjectsrenamingfilesrenamingfoldersrenamingYou can rename only objects for which you have appropriate permissions.
Also, note that you cannot rename actions.MouseSelect the file or folder name by clicking the
name beneath its icon.Type the new name.Press Return. If you click outside the name without
first pressing Return, your changes will be lost.To cancel a rename operation, press Esc.KeyboardUse the Tab and arrow keys to move to the icon
for the file or folder you want to rename.Press the Spacebar to highlight (select) the icon
name.Choose Rename from the Selected menu.Type the new name.Press Return.To cancel a rename operation, press Esc.To Get Help on a File or Folderhelpon objectsobjectsgetting help
onhelpdisplaying
for filehelpdisplaying for folderobjectsgetting help onfilesgetting help onfoldersgetting help onOn Item helpThe description displayed when you ask for help on an icon describes
the data type associated with the file or folder. The description is specified
in the object's data-type definition.MouseSelect the file or folder, then
press F1.Or, put the mouse pointer
on the object and select help from the object's pop-up menu (displayed by
pressing the right mouse button).Or, choose On Item from the
Help menu, then click the file or folder's icon.KeyboardUse the Tab and arrow keys to move to the icon,
then press F1.See AlsoTo find out more about how to
use Help, see .For an introduction to creating data types and
actions, see
in .
Opening a File or FolderopeningobjectsobjectsopeningThe most basic action you can perform on an object is to open it. “Open”
is a very general term, and the action taken depends on the type of object
you are opening. For example, opening a folder changes the File Manager view
to show the contents of that folder. Opening a data file usually starts the
application that created the file and loads the data fileopeningfilesopeningfoldersopeningobjectsobjectsopeningfilesopeningfoldersopeningActions menudouble-clickingaction performedactionsdouble-clickingTo Open a File or FolderDouble-click the icon.Double-clicking an icon executes the object's default action, which is always the first action in the Actions
portion of the Selected menu. For most data files, the default action opens
the file by starting the appropriate application and loading the file.Or, select the icon, then
go to the menu bar and choose Open (or Open In Place or Open New View) from
the Selected menu.Or, choose an Open item from
the icon's pop-up menu (displayed by pressing Shift+F10 or the right mouse button).
Manipulating Files and FoldersobjectsmanipulatingThe major identifying features of a file or folder are:Its name and location in the
folder hierarchy.Its owner permissions (properties).For more information on permissions and how to set them, see .Whether it is linked to another file. A linked
file is a representation of another file. Linked files provide a way for
you to have one file that appears to exist in two or more folders.To Create a New File or FolderobjectscreatingfilescreatingfolderscreatingcreatingobjectscreatingfilescreatingfolderscreatingobjectsobjectscreatingfilescreatingfolderscreatingChoose New File or New Folder from the File menu.
Type the name into the New File or New Folder field.
Click OK or press Return.To close the New File or New Folder dialog box without creating a new
file or folder, click Cancel or press Esc.Other Ways to Create ObjectsCopy an existing object, then
rename the copy (see ).
Create a new file within an application. For example,
Text Editor creates a new file when you save a new document.To Move a File or FoldermovingobjectsobjectsmovingmovingfilesmovingfoldersobjectsmovingfilesmovingfoldersmovingIf you attempt to move a file or subfolder from a folder where you do
not have permission to make changes, File Manager may create a copy of the
object, and display an error message indicating that you cannot delete the
original file.MouseMake the source and destination folders visible:
Open a File Manager view of the contents of the destination folder or
the icon of the closed destination folder.Select the file or folder to be moved and drag
it to the destination folder.If you move a folder, the entire folder and its contents are moved.
KeyboardUse the Tab and direction keys to move the highlight
to the file or folder to be moved.Press the Spacebar to select the object.Choose Move to from the Selected menu.Type a name into the Destination Folder text field.
For example, if you want to move the file report
into the folder /u/john, you would type
/u/johnClick OK or press Return.If you move a folder, the entire folder and its contents are moved.
To Copy a File or FoldercopyingobjectscopyingfilescopyingfoldersobjectscopyingfilescopyingfolderscopyingMouseMake the source and destination folders visible:
Open a File Manager view of the contents of the destination folder or
the icon of the closed destination folder.Select the file or folder to be copied.Press and hold the Control key.Drag the file or folder and drop it onto the destination
folder.Make sure that you release the mouse button before you release the Control
key. Otherwise, you will move instead of copy the file or folder.KeyboardSelect the icon.Choose Copy to from the Selected menu.Type a name into the Destination Folder text field.
Note that this must be the new full path name for the file. For example,
if you want to copy the file report into
the folder /u/jon, you would type /u/jon.
Click OK or press Return.To close the Copy File dialog box without copying a file, click Cancel
or press Esc.To Create a Symbolic Linksymbolic link, creatinglink, creating symbolicA link icon is a copy of an icon that points to the same file or folder
as the original icon. Any changes you make after opening the link icon will
also appear when you access the file or folder using the original icon.MouseMake the source and destination folders visible:
Open a File Manager view of
the contents of the destination folder.Or, open a File Manager view
that shows the icon of the closed destination folder.Select the file or folder to be copied.Press and hold the Shift key
and the Control key while dragging and dropping the icon of a file or folder
onto the icon of a new folder.When you drop the icon, File Manager creates symbolic link in the new
folder that points to the original file or folder. Make sure that you release
the mouse button before you release the Shift key and the Control key. Otherwise,
you will move instead of link the file or folder.KeyboardUse the Tab and arrow keys to move the highlight
to the icon of the file or folder to which you want to link.Press the Spacebar to select the icon.Choose Copy as Link from the Selected menu.Type a name into the Destination Folder text field
including the path for the name of the folder where you want this link icon
to appear. If you want this link icon to have a different name that the original
icon, type a new name in the Name for copy text field.Click OK or press Return.Navigating to Folders and Subfoldersfolderschangingfile systemmoving throughsubdirectorieschanging tosubfolderschanging toEach File Manager window (also called a view) shows
the contents of a single folder.If you are not familiar with hierarchical file systems, see .
To Change to Another Folderfolderschanging toYou can change to another folder in any of the following ways:Double-click a folder icon.
Select a folder icon and choose Open In Place from
the Selected menu to open the folder in the current window or Open New View
from the Selected menu to open it in a new window.Choose the Open In Place or Open New View command
from the folder's pop-up menu (displayed by pressing Shift+F10 or the right
mouse button).Double-click a folder in the iconic path to change
the view to that folder.Select (click) the current folder line to change
it into a text field. Type the name of the path you want and then press Return.
In the current folder line, double-click a segment
of the current path. For example, if the current folder is /users/tom/.dt/types, you can change to the /users/tom folder by double-clicking the word tom.To Go to Your Home FolderChoose Go Home from the
File menu.navigatingto home folderhome
folder, navigating toTo Change to the Parent FolderChoose
Go Up from the File menuOr, double-click the .. (go
up) icon.parent folder, navigating toTo Open a Terminal Window in the Current FolderopeningTerminal window in current directoryTerminal windowopening
in current directory from File ManagerThis procedure opens a terminal emulator window with the same current
folder as the File Manager window. This is a quick way to type a command
to affect the contents of the folder you are currently viewing.Choose Open Terminal from the File menu.You must have execute permission for a folder before you can open a
Terminal window from it.To find out how to use terminal emulators, see .
Executing an Action for a File or Folderobjectsexecuting action ofactionsexecutingexecuting actionsActions act on objects, and are a basic part of working with them. For
example, printing the contents of an object uses the Print action. Starting
an application for a data file object uses an Open action, or some other
application action.The Selected menu contains a list of commands followed by a list of
actions you can use with the selected icon. The contents of the actions portion
of the Selected menu change depending on the type of icon that is currently
selected.The action listed at the top of the action portion of the menu (the
default action) is the action that will be taken when you double-click a
file or folder. In the menu shown in the figure, the default action is Open
In Place.To Execute the Default ActionThe default action is the first action listed in the actions portion
of the Selected menu.Double-click the object's icon.actionsexecuting the defaultdefault actionsTo Execute Other ActionsSelect the object's icon.Choose the action you want to execute from the
Selected menu or from the object's pop-up menu.Deleting Objects to the Trash CanTrash CanusingThe Trash Can collects the files and folders that you delete. They are
not actually removed from the file system until the trash is “emptied.”
You can only change your mind and restore a file you've
put in the Trash Can if the Trash Can hasn't been emptied.To Open the Trash Can WindowTrash CanopeningTrash CanopeningClick the Trash Can control in the Front Panel.
To Put an Object in the Trash CanChoose Put in Trash from the
object's pop-up menu (displayed by pressing Shift+F10 or the right mouse button).
Or, select the object's icon,
then choose Put in Trash from the Selected menu.Or, drag and drop the object's
icon onto the Trash Can control in the Front Panel.Or, drag and drop
an object's icon to the open Trash Can window.To Put Back a File or Folder from the Trash CanTrash Canrestoring objects fromobjectsrestoring from Trash Canrestoringitems in Trash
Canobjectsrestoring from Trash Canfilesrestoring from Trash Canfoldersrestoring from Trash CanDrag the object from the Trash
Can window to File Manager.Or, in the Trash Can window,
select the object you want to restore and choose Put back from the File menu.
Or, choose Put back from the
object's pop-up menu (displayed by pressing Shift+F10 or the right
mouse button).
To Delete a File or Folder PermanentlyTrash CanemptyingdeletingfilesTrash CanemptyingWhen you delete a file permanently, it cannot be recovered (unless you
have a backup mechanism.)Open the Trash Can.foldersdeletingdeletingfoldersSelect the objects you want to empty from the Trash
Can.Select individual objects, or choose Select All from the File menu.
Choose Shred from the File menu or from the object's
pop-up menu (displayed by pressing Shift+F10 or the right mouse button).Click OK in the confirmation dialog box.The Trash Can is automatically emptied when you log out of a session.
File Ownership and SecurityThree groups of users can access files: owner, group, and other. File access is divided
into three types of permissions: read, write, and execute.Who Has Access?The three basic classes of users are:Owner –
Usually the person who created the file.Group – Users that have
been grouped together by the system administrator. For example, the members
of a department might belong to the same group.Other – All other users
on the system.Types of Access PermissionsThe access permissions on a files specify how that file can be accessed
by the owner, members of the group, and other users.Read Permission
– Allows access to retrieve, copy, or view the contents of the object.
Write Permission – Allows
access to change the contents of the object or remove the object.Execute Permission –
For a file, allows access to run the file (for executable
files, scripts, and actions). For a folder, allows access to run commands,
scripts, and actions within that folder.If you do not have permission to write inside a folder, the folder's icon
will look like this:If you do not have read or execute permission for a folder, the folder's icon
will look like this:ExamplesTo make a folder private:Change the folder's properties,
giving yourself (the owner) read, write, and execute permission, but giving
no permissions for group and other. This means that only you and the root
user can view the contents of the folder.To make an object that you've created available for everyone to use
but protect it so it isn't inadvertently overwritten:Change the file's properties,
giving read and execute permission to owner, group, and other. Don't give
anyone write permission.
Default PermissionsThe default permissions used when you create a new file or folder may
be altered by your system administrator. To determine what your current defaults
are, create a new file or folder, then open the Permissions dialog box for
that file or folder.Check with your system administrator regarding how to change your default
permissions.To Change the Owner of a File or Folderobjectschanging ownership ofownership, changing in File Managerchangingproperties of filechangingproperties of folderobjectschanging properties offileschanging properties offolderschanging properties ofpropertieschanging objectpropertieschanging filepropertieschanging folderYou must be the owner or the system administrator (root user) in order
to change the ownership of a file or folder.Select the object's icon.Choose Change Permissions from the Selected menu
or from the object's pop-up menu (displayed by pressing Shift+F10 or the
right mouse button).Type the new owner's name into the Owner Name text
field.Click OK or press Return.If you give ownership of the file to another user, you may not be able
to change the permissions again unless that user returns ownership to you.
If you do not have permission to change the properties, some of the
controls in the Permissions dialog box are unavailable.To Change the Permissions on a File or Folderobjectschanging permissions ofpermissionschangingwrite permission, changingread permission, changingexecute
permission, changingchangingproperties of filechangingproperties of folderobjectschanging properties offileschanging properties offolderschanging properties ofpropertieschanging objectpropertieschanging filepropertieschanging folderYou must be the owner or the system administrator (root user) in order
to change the permissions of a file or folder.Select the icon for the file or folder.Choose Change Permissions from the Selected menu
or from the icon's pop- up menu (displayed by pressing Shift+F10 or the
right mouse button).Select the permissions for the file or folder.
The permissions selected in the Group row indicate the access privileges
for any user belonging to the named group. The permissions selected for the
Other row apply to all other users.ReadThe file can be readWriteThe file can be alteredExecuteThe file can be runIf you give ownership of the file to another user, you may not be able
to change the permissions again unless that user returns ownership to you.
If you do not have permission to change the properties, some of the controls
in the Permissions dialog box are unavailable.Click OK or press Return.The Group row of permissions shows the permissions for users who are
members of the group listed in the Group Name text field. You can specify
a different group by typing a new name in this field.Using File Manager Objects on the DesktopThe desktop lets you put any object directly on the backdrop
of the current workspace for quick access. Any icon you drop on the desktop
stays where you put it.File Manager provides a way to view all the objects in your file system.
However, the object is only visible when you are viewing the folder it is
in.To make an object more accessible, you can put it directly on the workspace
backdrop. The desktop is that area or surface on which windows appear to
lie. When an object is placed there, it is called a workspace object. There is a separate desktop for each workspace.Placing an object on the workspace does not alter the original file
or folder. In fact, the icon that appears on the workspace is really just
a shortcut for accessing the real file or folder. Any operation you perform
on the workspace object is actually performed on the file or folder it represents.
Workspaces in the DesktopYou can have several workspaces on your desktop, so you can set up your
working environment by putting the files and folders in the workspaces where
you use them most, or in more than one workspace, if needed.Pop-up Menuspop-up menusfor objectsEach workspace object has its own pop-up menu, displayed with the right
mouse button or by pressing Shift+F10 when the icon is selected. This menu
contains commands for manipulating the object, including all the actions that
appear in the File Manager's Selected menu when the object is selected. The
Workspace pop-up menu is similar to the pop-up menu available within File
Manager windows, but contains a few different commands.To Put a File or Folder on the Workspace Backdropobjectsputting on workspace backdropfilesputting on workspace backdropfoldersputting on workspace
backdropworkspace backdropputting file or folder onThis procedure creates a copy of the icon on the workspace backdrop.
Any changes you make to the copy on your workspace backdrop will also be
made to the original that is still in File Manager.Switch to the workspace where you want to display
the object.Then:Drag and drop the object's icon
onto the workspace.Or, select the icon, then
choose the Put in Workspace command from the Selected menu or from the icon's
pop-up menu (displayed by pressing Shift+F10 or the right mouse button).You can repeat these steps to put an icon on the desktop in as many
workspaces as you want.To Display the Pop-up Menu for a Workspace Objectobjectspop-up menu forpop-up menusfor objectsMousePoint to the object's icon.Press the right mouse button.Choose a command from the menu by dragging to the
command then releasing the mouse button.KeyboardMove the highlight to the object's icon using
Alt+Tab.Press Shift+F10.Choose a command from the menu by using the direction
keys to highlight the command, then press Return.To cancel the menu without choosing a command, press Esc.To Remove an Object from the Workspaceworkspacesremoving objects fromobjectsremoving from workspaceremovingfiles or folders from workspaceobjectsremoving from
workspacefilesremoving from workspacefoldersremoving from workspaceworkspacesremoving objects fromworkspacesremoving files
or folders fromSwitch to the workspace where the object resides.
Locate the object's icon on the desktopChoose Remove From Workspace from the object's
pop-up menu.Removing an object from the workspace does not alter the original object.
That is, the object still exists in File Manager.Locating FilesfileslocatingfindingobjectsfindingfilesKeeping track of many files can quickly become difficult. File Manager
helps by providing the ability to search for a file or folder by name. You
can also search for files based on the contents of the file.To Find an Object by Nameobjectsfinding by namefilesfinding by namename, finding file byChoose Find from the File menu.
Type the name of the file or folder you want
to find into the File or Folder Name field.When you specify a file or folder name, you can include wildcard characters,
such as asterisk (*) and question mark (?).
The * matches any string of characters (including no
characters), and ? matches any single character.wildcardsfor finding filesfindingobjects using wildcards For
example:ba*Matches all names that begin with the
string baba?Matches all three-character names that
begin with the string ba*.dtMatches all names that end with the
.dt suffix*.???Matches all names that have a three-character
suffixThe file name and contents can be specified using the same regular expression syntax allowed by the find
command. (Refer to the find man page
and grep man page for more information.)
Type the folder where you want the search to begin
into the Search Folder field. (By default, this field contains the name of
the current folder.)Find will search this folder and all of its subfolders.Click Start or press Return.File Manager begins searching the Search Folder and the folders it contains
for files that match the name you provided. Matches that are found are listed
in the Files Found list. Once you have found an object, you can select it
and click Open Folder to open the folder it is in or click in Workspace to
place its icon on the current backdrop.To stop the search, click the Stop button or press Return.To Find a File by Contentscontents, finding file usingfilesfinding by contentsChoose Find from the File menu.Optional. You can use the
File or Folder Name text field to narrow, and therefore speed up, the search.
If you enter a partial name (using wildcards) File Manager examines
only the files that match the File or Folder Name field. If you leave the
File or Folder Name field empty, File Manager searches every file within
the search folder. Names can be specified using the same regular
expression syntax allowed by the grep command.
(Refer to the grep man page for more
information.)Type the text string you want to search for into
the File Contents field.Case is ignored for this string (upper- and lowercase letters are equivalent).
You do not have to use complete words. For example, if you type fi it will find both “fish“ and “File.“
Contents can be specified using the same regular expression syntax allowed by the grep command. (Refer
to the grep man page for more information.)
Type the name of the folder where you want the
search to begin into the Search Folder field. (By default, this field contains
the name of the current folder.)
Click Start or press Return.File Manager begins searching the search folder and the folders it contains
for files that contain the File Contents string. Matches that are found are
listed in the Files Found list. Once you have found an object, you can select
it in the list and then click Open Folder to open the folder it is in or
Put In Workspace to place its icon on the current backdrop.To stop the search at any time, click the Stop button or press Return.
Customizing File Manager ViewsFile Manager viewschangingFile Manager viewscustomizing <$startrange>customizingFile Manager views <$startrange>viewscontrolling File ManagerFile Manager provides several ways to see the contents of folders. You
can:Change the basic viewing structure
from one folder at a time to seeing a tree view. See .Determine the sort order of objects. See .
Hide (filter) certain objects. See .
Change the style used for objects – names
and small or large icons, names alone, or a long list of names plus properties.
To Configure the HeadersChoose Set View Options from the View menu.Determine which headers to display:Select Iconic Path to show current
folder path as a string of folder icons at the top of the window.Select Text Path to show the current folder's full
path name in a text field above the view pane.Select Message Line to show a count of the number
of files in the folder. The line will appear at the bottom of the window.
To implement the chosen option and close the Set
View Options dialog box, click OK.To implement the chosen option and leave the Set View Options dialog
box open, click Apply.File Managerdetermining headers forTo Configure How Icons are PlacedChoose Set View Options from the View menu.iconsarranging in File Manager viewFile Manager viewsarranging
icons inDetermine how you want to have the icons placed:
Select As Placed to leave icons
where they are dropped.Select Rows and Columns to automatically align
the icons you drop into a grid.To implement the chosen option and close the Set
View Options dialog box, click OK.To implement the chosen option and leave the Set View Options dialog
box open, click Apply.File Manager viewscustomizing <$endrange>customizingFile Manager views <$endrange>Using the Tree Viewtree view, in File Manager <$startrange>File Manager
viewstree <$startrange>The tree view resembles an outline. Files
and folders contained in a folder are listed beneath that folder in an indented
listFile Manager tree viewIn the tree view, a folder can have three states. The states are shown
and changed using the buttons to the left of the folder. You can also open
and close the tree branches by selecting a folder and then pressing the +
and - keys on your keyboard (these are the keys in the center, not the numeric
keypad):+The folder is in its closed state.
None of the folder's contents are shown. Clicking the button expands the
folder partially or fully, depending on the tree view option currently in
effect.-The folder is in its fully expanded
state. All objects in the folder are shown. Clicking the button fully closes
the folder.+/-The folder is in its partially expanded
state. The only contents shown are the folders it contains. (This view is
possible only when using the Folders, then Files tree view option.) Clicking
the button expands the folder to show the filenames.To Display the Tree ViewThe tree view will show a folder and the files and folders beneath it.
Change to the folder where you want the tree
view to start.Choose Set View Options from the View menu.Select By Tree in the Show box.Select one of the tree view options:Folders onlyThe tree shows folders only. To view
files, double-click a folder name. This is the default view.Folders, then FilesFolders only appear at first. Click
the [+] button next to each folder to view its contents. First click shows
subfolders. Second click shows files that are inside. When you click the
button the third time, the folder contracts again.Folders and FilesThe tree shows both folders and files
automatically.To implement the chosen options and close the Set
View Options dialog box, click OK.To implement the chosen options and leave the Set View Options dialog
box open, click Apply.You can alter the appearance of files and folders in the tree view by
changing the settings in the Show box in the Set View Options dialog box.
Changes to the preferences are only for the current session. To make them
permanent, see .If you double-click a folder in tree view, a new view of that folder
opens that is not in tree view mode.tree view, in File
Manager <$endrange>File Manager viewstree <$endrange>To Display the Folder Viewfolder view in File ManagerFile Manager viewsfolderThe
folder view will show a folder and all the files and folders in that folder.
Change to the folder that you want to view.
Choose Set View Options from the View menu.Select By Single Folder in the Show box.To implement the chosen options and close the Set
View Options dialog box, click OK.To implement the chosen options and leave the Set View Options dialog
box open, click Apply.You can alter the appearance of files and folders in the folder view
by changing the settings in the Show box in the Set View Options dialog box.
Changes to the preferences are only for the current session. To make them
permanent, see .To Change How Objects Are Representedobjectssort order in File Managersort orderof objectssort orderchanging File ManagerFile Manager viewschanging
sort order ofChoose Set View Options from the View menu.
Select the representation you prefer from the Representation
box.By Name Only: Icons will not
be displayed in File Manager. File Manager indicates objects that are folders
by adding a “/” after their names. Executable programs have
a “*” after their name.By Large Icons: This is the default. The objects
in File Manager will appear with their name and large icon.By Small Icons: The objects in File Manager will
appear with their name and small icon.By Name, date, size, ...: The objects in File Manager
will appear with their file date, size, and so on in addition to the file
name and icon.Click OK or Apply.Clean Up
(command in View menu)To Change the Order Icons Are Sortedobjectssort order in File Managersort orderof objectssort orderchanging File ManagerFile Manager
viewschanging sort order ofChoose Set View Options from the View menu.
Select the sort order you prefer from the Order
box, and the direction from the Direction box.Alphabetically: A to Z (Ascending)
or Z to A (Descending). Icons with names that start with capital letters
appear first. Icons with names that start with lowercase letters are at the
bottom.By File Type: By object type. For example, files,
folders and actions are different types of objects. Within each group of
the same type, the icons are sorted alphabetically (based on the order the
data types are read into the database).By Date: By date the files were last modified,
oldest to newest (Ascending) or newest to oldest (Descending).By Size: By file size, smallest to largest (Ascending)
or largest to smallest (Descending).Click OK or Apply.Clean Up
(command in View menu)If you have Placement set to As Placed, icons are sorted only when you
choose Clean Up from the View menu or when you click Apply in the Set View
Options dialog box. If Placement is set to Rows and Columns, the icons are
sorted each time there's a change to the folder's contents, or when you choose
Update from the View menu.To Re-Sort (Clean Up) Objectsobjectssortingsortingfiles and foldersobjectssortingfilessortingfolderssortingClean Up (command in View menu)objectsaligning in File Manager viewiconsaligning in File Manager viewFile Manager viewsaligning
icons inThe Clean Up command sorts the objects in the current view (according
to the settings in the Set View Options dialog box) and lines them up in
a grid pattern. The settings in other File Manager windows are not affected.
Choose Clean Up from the View menu.The Clean Up command is unavailable if you have the Placement preference
set to Rows and Columns.To Save the Current Preferences as Your DefaultFile Manager viewssavingFile Managersaving current preferences as defaultpreferences, saving File Manager
currentchangingFile Manager default preferencesWhen you apply changes using the Set Preference dialog box, the changes
only apply to the current session. If you want to save the preferences so
they will be used the next time you open File Manager:Set the preferences that you want and apply them
(using Set View Options and Set Filter Options in the View menu).Choose Save As Default Options from the View menu.
Click OK.These changes to the default view will not take effect until the next
time you click the File Manager control in the Front Panel.After saving the current preferences, all new File Manager views you
open use the new preferences and filter list.Hiding Files and FoldersHidden files and folders are those whose file types are selected in
the filter list.The criterion for hiding or showing a file or folder is based on its
data type. Use the Set Filter Options command to change which data types
are shown and hidden. (See
below.) The default hidden data types are DOT_FILE, DOT_FOLDER, and CURRENT_FOLDER.
To Show or Hide Files and Foldershidden filesfileshiddenfoldershiddendot files.. (parent directory)Choose Show Hidden Objects from the View menu.
Choosing the command a second time again reverses the toggle (from shown
to hidden and back again).The criterion for hiding or showing a file or folder is based on its
data type. Use the Set Filter Options command to change which data types
are shown and hidden. (See
below.) The default hidden data types are DOT_FILE, DOT_FOLDER, and CURRENT_FOLDER.
To Specify Which Data Types Are HiddenhidingobjectsobjectshidinghidingfileshidingfoldersobjectshidingfileshidingfoldershidingChoose Set Filter Options from the View menu.
Data types that have already been chosen to be hidden are highlighted.
In the Select File Types to be Hidden box, select
the data types you want to be hidden. File types that are already being hidden
are highlighted.Or, to reset the default filter list (DOT_FILE,
DOT_FOLDER, and CURRENT_FOLDER), click Defaults.Optional. Type a name pattern
into the Also Hide (Optional) field specifying additional file and folder
names to be hidden.The filter list specifies which files are not
to be displayed. If you select all object types or type * into
the Filter String field no files are displayed. If you
type *.txt, then any file whose name ends in
.txt will be added to the filter list and not displayed.Advanced users: The Filter String may be any regular expression. Refer to the regexp(5)
man page for more information.Click OK.If you want to view the results before closing the dialog box, click
Apply.To reset to the default filter list, choose Defaults. This resets the
default values but does not apply them until you click Apply or OK.Icon Browsingiconsbrowsing in File ManagerFile Managericon browsing inFiles with names that end in
.pm or .bm contain icons. These are the files that File Manager
uses to build icons. By default, you must open these files to see the icons
they contain. If you enable icon browsing, File Manager displays the contents
of .pm or .bm files so you don't
have to open them to see what they look like.Icon with icon browsing enabled (left) and disabled (right)To Enable Icon BrowsingCopy the file /usr/dt/examples/types/language/IconBrowse.dt into your /HomeDirectory/.dt/types
folder.Open Application Manager and double-click Reload
Actions in the Desktop_Tools application group.The maximum default display area for icons is 38x38 pixels. So, if a
picture file is larger than 38x38, the picture will be clipped and only the
top left 38x38 pixels will be shown. You can increase the size of the display
area for icons if you want larger images to be fully visible (see ).
However, a larger display size area will slow down the opening of folders,
and icons will be spread further apart in folder views.To Disable Icon Browsingicon browsingFile Managerdisabling icon browsing inRemove your personal copy of the IconBrowse.dt file.Open Application Manager and double-click Reload
Actions in the Desktop_Tools application group.To Change the Icon Display Area Sizeiconschanging display area size in File ManagerFile Managerchanging icon display area size inOpen a Terminal window and type dtpad
~/.Xdefaults.When the file is displayed, it may be empty or
there may be text already in the file. In either case, add the following
four lines of text to the file:Dtfile*smallIconWidth:24
Dtfile*smallIconHeight:24
Dtfile*largeIconWidth:38
Dtfile*largeIconHeight:38
When you type in these lines, replace the default numbers at the end
of each line with the new display area size you want.Choose Save from the File menu.Choose Close from the File menu.The change will not take effect until you exit the desktop and log back
in. If you should want to return to the default display area size, type the
default sizes back in or just remove the four lines you added, and then exit
and restart the desktop.