# File Manager Tasks

## Basic File Management Skills

1. - ToSelectASingleObjectTA

   - ToSelectMultipleObjectsTA

   - ToGetHelpOnAnObjectTA

   - ToDropAnObjectTA

   If necessary, you can also read Basic Desktop Skills.

## Working with Files and Folders

1. - ToCreateANewObjectTA

   - ToRenameAnObjectTA

   - ToOpenAnObjectTA

   - ToMoveAnObjectTA

   - ToCopyAnObjectTA

   - ToCreateASymbolicLinkTA

   - ToExecuteAnObjectsActionsTA

## Navigating to other Folders

1. - ToChangeToAnotherDirectoryTA

   - ToGoHomeDirTA

   - ToGoParentDirTA

   - ToOpenATerminalWindowTA

## Deleting Files and Folders

1. - ToDeleteAnObjectTA

   - ToOpenTheTrashCanTA

   - ToRestoreAnObjectFromTheTrashTA

   - ToEmptyTheTrashTA

## Locating Files

1. - ToFindAFileByNameTA

   - ToFindAFileByContentsTA

## Using Desktop Icons

1. - ToPutAnObjectOnTheDesktopTA

   - ToRemoveAnObjectFromTheDesktopTA

## Changing Permissions

1. - ToChangeAnObjectsOwnerTA

   - ToChangeAnObjectsPermissionsTA

## Using Different File Manager Views

1. - BasicViewingPreferences

   - ToUseDirectoryTree

   - ToChangeTheSortOrderTA

   - ToSavePreferencesAsTheDefaultTA

   - ToShowHiddenObjectsTA

   - ModifyFilterList

   - ToEnableIconBrowsingTA

   - ToDisableIconBrowsingTA

   - ToChangeIconBrowsingTA

   These instructions assume that you are using a mouse. Most tasks can also be done without a mouse. See Keyboard Shortcuts for the Desktop for more information.

## To Select a Single File or Folder

When 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 only affect 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.

## Mouse

1. - Click once on the icon.

## Keyboard

1. 1. Use the Tab and arrow keys to move the highlight to the icon you want to select.

   2. Press Spacebar.

   ### When a file or folder is selected, its name is highlighted.

   To deselect a file or folder, select another icon or click on an empty area in the File Manager window.

## See Also

1. - ToSelectMultipleObjectsTA

## To Select Multiple Files or Folders

You 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.

## Mouse

1. - Press mouse button 1 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, click to select the first icon, then hold down the Control key and click to select each additional icon.

   - To remove a single icon from a selected group, hold the Control key and click on the icon you want to deselect.

## Keyboard

1. 1. Select the first file or folder icon by pressing Spacebar.

   2. For each additional icon you want to select, move the highlight to it, then press Control+Spacebar.

## See Also

1. - ToSelectASingleObjectTA

   - ToRenameAnObjectTA

   - ToDropAnObjectTA

## To Rename a File or Folder

Note that you can rename only objects for which you have appropriate permissions. Also, note that you cannot rename actions.

## Mouse

1. 1. Select the file or folder name by clicking on the name beneath its icon. The name will be put in a text field.

   2. Type the new name.

   3. Press Return. If you just click outside the name when you are done, your changes will be lost.

   To cancel a rename operation, press Escape.

## Keyboard

1. 1. Use the Tab and Arrow keys to move to the icon for the file or folder you want to rename.

   2. Press Spacebar to highlight the icon name.

   3. Choose Rename from the Selected menu.

   4. Type the new name.

   5. Press Return.

   To cancel a rename operation, press Escape.

## See Also

1. - ToMoveAnObjectTA

   - ToCopyAnObjectTA

   - ToSelectASingleObjectTA

   - ToSelectMultipleObjectsTA

## To Get Help on a File or Folder

## Mouse

1. - Select the file or folder's icon, then press F1.

   - Or, Put the mouse pointer on the object and select help from the object's pop-up menu (displayed by pressing mouse button 3.)

   - Or, choose On Item from the Help menu, then click the file or folder's icon.

## Keyboard

1. - Use the Tab and direction keys to move to the icon, then press F1.

## To Open a File or Folder

- Double-click the icon.

- Or, select the icon, then go to the menu bar and choose Open (or OpenInPlace or OpenNewView) from the Selected menu.

- Or, choose an Open choice from the icon's pop-up menu (displayed by pressing Shift+F10 or mouse button 3).

- Or, place the mouse pointer over a folder. Double-click and hold down the button on the second click. Drag the folder to a location on the screen and drop the icon. A view of that folder will open at the drop location.

The action taken when you open an icon depends on the type of icon. For example, opening a folder icon 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 file.

## To Drag and Drop a File or Folder

You cannot drag and drop a file or folder without a mouse or other pointing device.

1. Put the mouse pointer over the object.

2. Press and hold mouse button 1, known as the "drag" button. (On a two-button mouse, press and hold both buttons simultaneously.)

3. Drag the icon to where you want to drop it.

4. Release the mouse button.

To cancel a drag in progress, press Escape before releasing the mouse button.

If more than one icon is selected, you drag the entire group by dragging any of the selected icons.

## Basic Drag-and-Drop Tasks

1. - To move a file to another folder, drop the icon on the destination folder's icon. Or, if the destination folder is open, drop the icon onto the background of the folder's view window. (See ToMoveAnObjectTA).

   - 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.

   - To print a file, drop the file onto the Printer control in the Front Panel (or one of the printers in the Personal Printers subpanel).

   - To move a file or folder to the trash, drop the file or folder icon onto the Trash can control in the Front Panel. See ToDeleteAnObjectTA).

## See Also

1. - ToCopyAnObjectTA

   - ToCreateASymbolicLinkTA

## To Create a New File or Folder

1. Choose New File or New Folder from the File menu.

2. Type a name into the New File Name or New Folder Name field.

3. 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 Escape.

## Other Ways to Create a File

1. - Copy an existing file, then rename the copy. See ToCopyAnObjectTA and ToRenameAnObjectTA.

   - 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 Folder

## Mouse

1. 1. Make the destination folder 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.

   2. Select the file or folder to be moved.

   3. Drag the file or folder and drop it onto the destination folder.

## Keyboard

1. 1. Use the Tab and direction keys to move the highlight to the file or folder to be moved.

   2. Press the Spacebar to select the object

   3. Choose Move to from the Selected menu.

   4. Type a name into the Destination Folder: text box. For example, if you want to move the file `report` into the folder `/u/john`, you would type `/u/john`.

   5. Click OK or press Return.

   - If 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 file or folder in the destination folder and display an error message indicating that you cannot delete the original.

## See Also

1. - ToCopyAnObjectTA

   - ToCreateASymbolicLinkTA

   - ToDropAnObjectTA

## To Copy a File or Folder

## Mouse

1. 1. Make the destination folder 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.

   2. Select the file or folder to be copied.

   3. Press and hold the Control key.

   4. 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.

## Keyboard

1. 1. Select the icon.

   2. Choose Copy to from the Selected menu.

   3. Type a name into the Destination Folder: text box. For example, if you want to copy the file `report` into the folder `/u/john`, you would type `/u/john`.

   4. Click OK or press Return.

   To close the Copy File dialog box without copying a file, click Cancel or press Escape.

## See Also

1. - ToMoveAnObjectTA

   - ToCreateASymbolicLinkTA

   - ToDropAnObjectTA

## To Create a Symbolic Link

A 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.

## Mouse

1. - Press and hold down 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.

## Keyboard

1. 1. Use the Tab and direction keys to move the highlight to the icon of the file or folder to which you want to link.

   2. Press Spacebar to select the icon.

   3. Choose Copy as Link from the Selected menu.

   4. Type a name into the Destination Folder text box 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 box.

   5. Click OK or press Return.

## See Also

1. - ToMoveAnObjectTA

   - ToCopyAnObjectTA

   - ToDropAnObjectTA

## To Change the Owner of a File or Folder

Only an administrator (root user) can change the ownership of a file. If you have the authority to log in as the root user, you must do so before beginning the following procedure. See `su` command.

1. Select the icon of the file or folder.

2. Choose Change Permissions from the Selected menu or from the icon's pop-up menu (displayed by pressing Shift+F10 or mouse button 3).

3. Type the new owner's name into the Owner Name text box.

4. Click OK or press Return.

If you give ownership of a file or folder to another user, you will not be able to change its permissions again unless that user returns ownership to you.

## See Also

1. - ToChangeAnObjectsPermissionsTA

   - ToCopyAnObjectTA

   - ToMoveAnObjectTA

## To Change the Permissions on a File or Folder

You must be the owner or the system administrator (root user) in order to change the permissions of a file or folder.

1. Select the icon for the file or folder.

2. Choose the Change Permissions command from the Selected menu or from the icon's pop-up menu (displayed by pressing Shift+F10 or mouse button 3).

3. Select the permissions for the file or folder.

4. 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 box. You can specify a different group by typing a new name in this box.

- If you do not have permission to change the properties of a file, some of the controls in the File Properties dialog box are inactive.

## See Also

1. - FileOwnershipAndSecuritySI

   - ToCopyAnObjectTA

   - ToMoveAnObjectTA

   - ToChangeAnObjectsOwnerTA

## To View A Folder

You can change to another folder in any of the following ways:

- Double-click a folder icon.

- Select a folder icon and choose OpenInPlace from the Selected menu to open the folder in the current window or OpenNewView from the Selected menu to open it in a new window.

- Choose the OpenInPlace or OpenNewView command from the folder's pop-up menu (displayed by pressing Shift+F10 or mouse button 3).

- Double-click on a folder in the iconic path to change the view to that folder.

- Select (click) the text path line to change it into a text field. Type the name of the path you want and then press Return.

- In the text path 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`.

## See Also

1. - ToOpenATerminalWindowTA

## To Go to Your Home Folder

- Choose Go Home from the File menu.

## See Also

1. - ToChangeToAnotherDirectoryTA

   - ToGoParentDirTA

## To Change to Parent Folder

- Choose Go Up from the File menu.

- Or, double-click the ..(go-up) icon

## See Also

1. - ToChangeToAnotherDirectoryTA

   - ToGoHomeDirTA

## To Open a Terminal Window

This 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.

### See Also

1. - ToChangeAnObjectsPermissionsTA

## To Execute an Action for a File or Folder

- Use the Selected menu:

  1. Select the icon.

  2. Choose an action from the Selected menu.

  The contents of the actions portion of the Selected menu changes depending on the type of icon that is currently selected.

- Or, choose the action you want from the icon's pop-up menu.

- Or, double-click the icon to execute its default action (which is the first action listed in the Selected menu).

- Or, use drag and drop to invoke an action. (See ToDropAnObjectTA).

## See Also

1. - FMActionsMenuDE

## To View the Trash Can Contents

- Click the Trash Can control in the Front Panel.

## See Also

1. - ToDeleteAnObjectTA

   - ToRestoreAnObjectFromTheTrashTA

   - ToEmptyTheTrashTA

## To Delete a File or Folder (to the Trash Can)

- Choose the Put in Trash command from the icon's pop-up menu (displayed by pressing Shift+F10 or mouse button 3).

- Or, select the file or folder's icon, then choose Put in Trash from the File menu.

- Or,, drag and drop the file or folder's icon onto the Trash Can control in the Front Panel.

- Or, drag and drop a file or folder's icon to the open Trash Can window.

## See Also

1. - ToOpenTheTrashCanTA

   - ToRestoreAnObjectFromTheTrashTA

   - ToEmptyTheTrashTA

## To Move a File or Folder from the Trash Can &newline; Back into File Manager

To "put back" a file means to take it out of the trash and put it back into File Manager.

- Choose the Put Back command from the icon's pop-up menu (displayed by pressing Shift+F10 or mouse button 3)

- Or, in the Trash Can window, select the file or folder you want to retrieve, then choose Put Back from the File menu.

- Or, drag the file or folder's icon from the Trash Can window to the File Manager window.

## See Also

1. - ToDeleteAnObjectTA

   - ToOpenTheTrashCanTA

   - ToEmptyTheTrashTA

## To Shred a File or Folder Permanently

When you shred a file it is permanently erased. It cannot be recovered unless you have a copy you have stored on backup media.

1. In the Trash Can window, select the file or folder you want to permanently delete from the Trash Can.

2. Choose Shred from the File menu.

   Or, choose Shred from the pop-up menu for the icon (displayed by pressing Shift+F10 or mouse button 3).

## See Also

1. - ToOpenTheTrashCanTA

   - ToRestoreAnObjectFromTheTrashTA

   - ToDeleteAnObjectTA

## To Put a File or Folder on the Workspace Backdrop

This procedure creates a copy of the icon on the workspace backdrop. Only File Manager objects can be placed on the backdrop. Objects inside other desktop applications cannot be dragged onto the backdrop. Any changes you make to this copy will also be made to the original that is still in File Manager.

1. Switch to the workspace where you want to display the object.

2. Then:

   - Drag and drop the object's icon onto the desktop (or workspace backdrop).

   - 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 mouse button 3).

3. Optional: You can repeat these steps to put an icon on the desktop in as many workspaces as you want.

## See Also

1. - ToRemoveAnObjectFromTheDesktopTA

   - FMDesktopMenuDE

## To Remove a File or Folder from the Desktop

Removing a file or folder's icon from the workspace desktop does not delete the original file or folder (the icon that is in the File Manager window).

1. Change to the workspace where the desktop icon resides.

2. Choose Remove From Desktop from the icon's pop-up menu (displayed by pressing Shift+F10 or mouse button 3).

Do not drag a workspace backdrop icon to the Trash Can unless you want to delete both the backdrop icon and the original.

## See Also

1. - DesktopIntro

   - ToPutAnObjectOnTheDesktopTA

   - ToSelectMultipleObjectsTA

## To Find a File by Name

1. Choose Find from the File menu.

2. Type the name of the file or folder you want to find into the File Name field. You can use wildcard characters to help locate a file or folder name. For example, `fe*` will find all files that begin with `fe`. The searches are case sensitive. If you type capital lettesr, it will only find names with the same capitalization.

3. Type the name of the folder where you want to start the search into the Search Folder field. (By default, this field contains the name of the current folder.)

   Find will search this folder and all it's sub-folders.

4. 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 press 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.

## Related Topics

1. - MatchingPatterns

## To Find a File by Contents

1. Choose Find from the File menu.

2. 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 or wildcards. For example, if you type fi it will find both fish and File.

3. Optional: You can use the File or Folder Name field to restrict and speed up the search. (See ToFindAFileByNameTA.)

4. 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.)

5. Click the Start button or press Return.

   File Manager begins searching the search folder and the folders it contains for files that match the text you provided. 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 press Open Folder to open the folder it is in or press Put In Workspace to place its icon on the current backdrop.

   To stop the search, click the Stop button or press Return.

The file name and contents can be specified using the same regular expression syntax allowed by the `find` command. (Refer to the `find(1)` man page for more information.)

## To Change Basic Viewing Preferences

Choose Set View Options from the View menu to determine how files, folders, and applications are organized in File Manager.

## To Configure the Headers

1. To implement a 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.

   - Select Iconic Path to show the 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 right above the view pane.

   - Select Message Line to show a messate at the bottom of the window. This shows the number of files in the folder and displays activity messages.

## To Configure How Icons are Placed

1. - Select As Placed to leave icons where they are dropped. File Manager will not automatically move an icon after you drop it.

   - Select Rows and Columns to automatically align the icons you drop into rows and columns.

## To Use the Tree View

## To Display the Tree View

1. 1. Change to the folder where you want the tree view to start.

      The tree view shows that folder and all the files and folders beneath it in the form of a tree chart.

   2. Choose Set View Options from the View menu.

   3. Select By Tree in the Show box.

   4. Select one of the tree view options:

      Folders only

   5. The tree shows folders only. To view files, double click on a folder name and a separate view of that folder's contents will open. This is the default view.

Folders, then Files

- Only folders appear at first. Click on the [+] button next to each folder to view its contents. The first click shows subfolders. A second click shows files that are inside. If you click the button a third time, the folder contracts again.

Folders and Files

- The tree shows both folders and files the first time you click on the [+] button.

- 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 Representation box in the Set View Options dialog box. Changes to the preferences are only temporary. To make them permanent, see ToSavePreferencesAsTheDefaultTA.

## To Use the Tree View

1. The tree view resembles an outline. Files and folders contained in a folder are listed beneath that folder in an indented list.

   In the tree view, a folder can have three states. The states are shown and changed using the buttons to the left of the folder:

   +

2. 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.

-

3. The folder is in its fully expanded state for the current tree view mode. Clicking the button fully closes the folder.

+/-

4. 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 files it contains.

## To Change the Sort Order of Icons

1. Choose Set View Options from the View menu.

2. 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). Folders appear first in alphabetical order, then all other files.

   - By File Type: by object type. Objects are sorted into groups according to their filetype. For example, files, folders and actions are different types of objects. Within each group of the same type, the icons are sorted alphabetically.

   - By Date: by date the files were last modified, oldest to youngest (Ascending) or youngest to oldest (Descending).

   - By Size: by file size, smallest to largest (Ascending) or largest to smallest (Descending).

3. Click OK or Apply.

   Changes to preferences are only for the current session. To make them permanent, see ToSavePreferencesAsTheDefaultTA.

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 Preferences dialog box. If Placement is set to Rows and Columns, the icons are sorted each time there is a change to the folder's contents or when you choose Update from the View menu.

## See Also

1. - ToSavePreferencesAsTheDefaultTA

   - ToShowHiddenObjectsTA

## To Save the Current Preferences as Your Default

When you apply changes using the Set Preference dialog box, the changes are only for the current session. If you want to save the preferences so they will be used the next time you open the File Manager:

1. Set the preferences that you want and apply them (using Set View Options and Set Filter Options in the View menu).

2. Choose Save As Default Options from the View menu.

3. Click OK.

These changes to the default view will not take effect until the next time you click on the File Manager control in the Front Panel. Then they will become the default settings for all views that are opened in the File Manager.

In addition to the preferences you selected, the current size of the window will also be saved as the default for window size.

## See Also

1. - ToChangeTheSortOrderTA

   - ToShowHiddenObjectsTA

## To Show Hidden Objects

- Choose Show Hidden Objects from the View menu.

  Choosing the command a second time reverses the toggle setting (from shown to hidden and back again).

The criteria for hiding or showing a file or folder is based on its data type. You can use the Set Filter Options command to change which data types are shown and hidden. See ModifyFilterList. By default, the hidden data types are DOT_FILE, DOT_FOLDER, and CURRENT_FOLDER.

## To Specify Which Data Types Are Hidden

1. Choose Set Filter Options from the View menu.

2. In the Select Data Types to be Hidden box, select the data types you want to be hidden. Data Types that have already been chosen to be hidden are highlighted.

   Or, to reset to the default filter list (DOT_FILE, DOT_FOLDER, and CURRENT_FOLDER), click Defaults.

3. Optional: Type a name pattern into the Also Hide (Optional) field specifying additional file and folder names to be hidden.

   For example, if you enter `*.txt`, then any file whose name ends in `.txt` will be hidden and will not be displayed in File Manager.

   Advanced users: The Filter String may be any regular expression. Refer to the `regexp(5)` man page for more information.

4. Click Apply or OK.

## See Also

1. - ToChangeTheSortOrderTA

   - ToSavePreferencesAsTheDefaultTA

## To Enable Icon Browsing

Files with names that end in `.pm` or `.bm` contain icon drawings. These are the icons that File Manager uses when it builds icons. By default, you must open these files to see the drawings they contain. If you enable icon browsing, File Manager will make the icon for each file look like whatever drawing is stored inside the file.

1. Copy the file `/usr/dt/examples/types/C/IconBrowse.dt` into your `/HomeDirectory/.dt/types` folder.

2. Open Application Manager and double-click Reload Actions in the Desktop_Tools application group.

The maximum default display area for icons is 32x32 pixels. So, if a picture file is larger thatn 32x32, the picture will be clipped and only the top left 32x32 pixels will be shown. You can increase the size of the display area for icons if you want larger images to be fully visible. 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 Browsing

- Remove your personal copy of the `IconBrowse.dt` file, then load the action database again by double-clicking on ReloadApplications.

## To Change Icon Display Area Size

- Open 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:

  1. `Dtfile*smallIconWidth:24`

  2. `Dtfile*smallIconHeight:24`

  3. `Dtfile*largeIconWidth:38`

  4. `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.

- Select Save from the File menu

- Select Close from the File menu

The change will not take effect until to exit the desktop and log back in.

If you should want to return to the default display area size, type back in the default sizes or just remove the four lines you added, and then exit and restart the desktop.