Files Manager: click to edit path?

[bluekite]

Hello,

when I was trying openSUSE tumbleweed (Gnome) I noticed that when I open Nautilus I can click on the path to edit it. Here on Zorin, I can't do that, I have to press Ctrl+L in order to edit it. My guess is that openSUSE has the newer and/or unmodified Nautilus manager that has "click to edit path" option.

Is there a way to add it to Zorin?

I tried this command:

dconf write /org/gnome/nautilus/preferences/always-use-location-entry false

but it is not what I need, it just keeps that field open all the time.

[Clintre]

It is annoying. You can click and start typing, but that removes the current path. It is basic things like this that my friends who have move from Windows have issues with.

[macfly]

I missed this when I moved to Zorin and Ctrl + L seems to be the only option.

Or use another file manager, which I'm avoiding so far.

[Ponce-De-Leon]

Tumbleweed has a newer Gnome Desktop. That is the reason why it has that.

But You can do it on Zorin, too. But for that You need dconf. There is a Toggle to turn it on.

[Clintre]

What I ultimately did is just install Nemo and set it as the default file manager. It has more customization over Nautilus.

[zenzen]

With Nautilus, you can start typing something right away and it will search for files and folders matching that string. However, if you start with ~ or / it will use that string for navigation, instead of a query.

@Clintre

It is basic things like this that my friends who have move from Windows have issues with.

This is a good example of why managing expectations is important. Windows and Linux are different systems; it is not unreasonable to expect things to behave differently, and to expect certain adjustments in workflow. Even when that means trying and installing other tools that may work better for a particular use case.

Personally, I think anyone willing to type a file location manually should be prepared to, well, do some typing. I speak from experience here, as I use the keyboard for a lot of my work which involves navigating file systems up and down all day long using the terminal.

@bluekite

openSUSE tumbleweed (Gnome)

As a rolling-release distribution, it has the latest possible packages available where as Zorin inherits the Debian release model of updating only when things are tested and stable. This explains the difference in versions between the two.

[macfly]

A "Copy path" button when clicking on the three dots menu would be of great
help.

If I'm browsing the files and want to copy the path, I have to go into the
folder properties, or use Ctrl + L.

To install, for example, Nemo, more than 40 packages would be installed together. I prefer to live with Ctrl + L in this case.

[bluekite]

@zenzen

As a rolling-release distribution, it has the latest possible packages available where as Zorin inherits the Debian release model of updating only when things are tested and stable. This explains the difference in versions between the two.

Makes sense. Is there a way to "force" upgrade Nautilus to the latest version? Sorry for my ignorance but I am totally new to Linux I like Linux so far, especially Zorin, and I am trying to make my new "home" cozy and familiar so it doesn't scare me away I am aware that I have to make some compromises (I already did), but I am also trying not to make compromises where I do not have to. I will do my best to replicate experience, but if something is impossible - I will accept that

[zenzen]

@macfly

A "Copy path" button when clicking on the three dots menu would be of great help.

Do you not have this option? This is from Debian 12 as I don't have Zorin OS handy right now, but it uses same version of Gnome as Zorin OS 17 does:

Although you can extend the behavior of Nautilus, to a certain point, with some custom scripts as well. For simple things like that it shouldn't be too difficult.

@bluekite

Is there a way to "force" upgrade Nautilus to the latest version?

This depends on the program. Sometimes, you can update to a later version, though not the latest. It's a balancing act between installed dependencies that don't break each other.
But Nautilus is designed to integrate tightly with the rest of the desktop; updating a dependency here may break something else over there... it's just way more trouble than it's worth.

It's a good thing that you are asking these questions. There's nothing wrong with wanting and trying to replicate things that you are already familiar with. It's just that a lot people give up at the first sign of trouble and I've noticed that, often, this is the result of frustration because the expectation is to have an identical experience.

And just to be clear @Clintre, I'm not implying that your friends are like this, I'm just trying to make a point – I'm again speaking from personal experience as I've seen this happen many times.

So, don't give up on trying to find that sweet spot and ask away when you have questions. You've already done more than most, which is simply giving things a fair chance.

[bluekite]

Ok so to conclude:
we have to wait for Zorin OS to update Nautilus and its dependencies to get this feature.

[zenzen]

Correct, and to be clear this will probably happen when the next major version of Zorin OS, version 18, is released. Given the current pace of development this would probably be around 18~20 months from now. Just an estimation on my part, there's no public roadmap on this.

[macfly]

@zenzen

Do you not have this option? This is from Debian 12 as I don't have Zorin OS handy right now, but it uses same version of Gnome as Zorin OS 17 does:

Unfortunately not. My options are (from Portuguese to English):

• New folder
• New document...
• Add bookmark
• Past
• Select All
• Open in terminal
• Properties

I in Zorin OS 17 core.

NOTE: I was just playing with OpenSuse on DistroSea and saw that it is similar
to yours. Maybe Debian and Opensuse are using a more advanced version than
Zorin.

@zenzen

Although you can extend the behavior of Nautilus, to a certain point, with some custom scripts as well. For simple things like that it shouldn't be too difficult.

I didn't know about this possibility, I'll take a look. Thanks.

[zenzen]

@macfly

Maybe Debian and Opensuse are using a more advanced version than
Zorin.

What Debian and OpenSUSE have in common in this regard is that neither distribution modifies Gnome. But Zorin OS does... so I guess it's possible this option was removed for some reason, and if so, it could be brought back?

Btw, I changed the topic to General Help .

[bluekite]

@zenzen

around 18~20 months from now

Sad news If there is a distro polished like Zorin but rolling-release like openSuse... I guess I am asking for the impossible

Thanks for the help

[Clintre]

That is always the trade-off. I use Zorin on my primary work system. It is stable and in a professional environment it is quite polished. I always get questions about it when I am sharing my desktop in a meeting.

[macfly]

@zenzen

Although you can extend the behavior of Nautilus , to a certain point, with some custom scripts as well. For simple things like that it shouldn't be too difficult.

Being able to create a script to copy the path of selected files/folders. It's a
pretty simple one. I leave it below in case anyone needs it.

#!/usr/bin/env python3

import os
import subprocess

def main():
    txt = os.getenv('NAUTILUS_SCRIPT_SELECTED_FILE_PATHS','')
    subprocess.run("wl-copy", input=txt, check=True, encoding="utf-8")
    
if __name__ == '__main__':
    main()

PS: It only works on Wayland and you must install wl-clipboard:

sudo apt install wl-clipboard

[zenzen]

You can use xclip for X11, and then check for that when running the script.

#!/bin/bash

location=${NAUTILUS_SCRIPT_SELECTED_FILE_PATHS%/*}
cmd="wl-copy"

if [[ $XDG_SESSION_TYPE = "x11" ]]; then
  cmd="xclip -sel clip"
fi

echo -n "$location" | $cmd