Dolphin: Difference between revisions

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{{Template:I18n/Language_Navigation_Bar|Dolphin}}
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Dolphin is the file manager of KDE.
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|[[File:Dolphin.png|thumb|center|320px]]||    ||'''<translate><!--T:12-->
The dedicated file manager focusing on usability</translate>'''
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==Feature Overview== <!--T:2-->


I'll show how to use dolphin for common file managing tasks, and how to customize it to your needs.
<!--T:38-->
'''Dolphin''' is a lightweight file manager. It has been designed with ease of use and simplicity in mind, while still allowing flexibility and customization. This means that you can do your file management exactly the way you want to do it. You will find more information on how to handle '''Dolphin''' in this [[Special:myLanguage/Dolphin/File Management | tutorial]] or in the official [http://docs.kde.org/stable/en/applications/dolphin/index.html Handbook].


[[Image:Dolphin default.png|thumb|240px|center]]
<!--T:3-->
:* Simple to use and dedicated file manager
:* Focus on usability
:* ''Breadcrumb'' navigation bar
:* Optional panels for convenient navigation and information display
:* Remote and pseudo-filesystem file management through [[Special:myLanguage/Glossary#KIO|KIO]]
:* Tag files and folders, and find files by content, using [[Special:myLanguage/Glossary#Baloo|Baloo]]


When we open the dolphin from [[Glossary#Kickoff|Kickoff menu]] it shows starting directory - by default it is your [[Glossary#Home_directory|Home directory]].
<!--T:4-->
At first look, this is a simple file manager, but it has many talents. Some features include:


To open file, or go to folder just click on it. You don't have to double-click. It's KDE, not windows - you can click only once :).
<!--T:5-->
:* Split windows - view and use two directories at the same time
:* Viewing attributes can be set (and remembered) independently for each window
:* Tabbed browsing
:* Use the optional informational panel on the right
:* Or elect to have essential attribute information displayed in the window
:* Use 'breadcrumb' navigation for speed
:* One-click change to editable navigation bar
:* Add Folders panel for traditional navigation
:* Add a terminal in the directory you are currently browsing
:* Many functions controlled by keyboard shortcuts


Selecting files - in KDE, by default when you click once on something, it activates. In Windows you have to couble-click for that effect. So, there is problem, what to do in KDE if you don't want to open folder or file, only select it ? Answer is simple - over any icon in dolphin, when you hover your mose over it, there will be small "+" sign. Like that:
== Tutorials == <!--T:6-->


[[Image:Dolphin folder hovered.png|thumb|240px|center]]
<!--T:7-->
:* [[Special:myLanguage/Dolphin/File Management#Discover Dolphin|Discover Dolphin]]
:* [[Special:myLanguage/Dolphin/File_Management#Archive_Management_in_Dolphin|Archive Management in Dolphin]]
:* [[Special:myLanguage/Dolphin/Customize Folder Icon|Customize the icon of a folder]]
:* [[Special:myLanguage/Dolphin/Batch_Rename|Rename multiple files at the same time]]


When you click that sign, this file/folder will be added to selection. You can easily select many files in that way (selecting by draging rectangle also works).
== Hints, Tips and Troubleshooting == <!--T:13-->


Many selected files looks like this:
<!--T:16-->
'''Problem:''' When I choose the application to open a specific filetype with, it seems to affect other filetypes too. It’s like '''Dolphin''' cannot tell the difference between the ''two different filetypes''.


[[Image:Dolphin folder hovered deselect.png|thumb|240px|center]]
<!--T:17-->
:'''Solution:''' Probably the KDE platform does not know about one of the two filetypes, so it associates the filetype to a different, known filetype. This is common with XML-based filetypes; even if they use a file extension of their own (e.g. <tt>.xliff</tt> or <tt>.graphml</tt>), if they are not a filetype known by the KDE platform, they will be treated as any other XML file, and opened with the default application to open XML files.


We also see here, how we can deselect files - when file is selected, and you place your mouse cursor over it, in place of "+" sign there will be "-". If you click it, file will be deselected.
<!--T:18-->
:To solve this issue, you can use [[Special:myLanguage/System Settings/File Associations|File Associations]] to [[Special:myLanguage/System Settings/File Associations#Adding new file types|create an entry for the unrecognized filetype]].


<!--T:34-->
'''Problem:''' Dolphin's Find File service doesn't find files you know are on your computer.


{{KDE3}}
<!--T:35-->
D3lphin is a fork of Dolphin for KDE 3. It lacks some features of Dolphin from KDE 4. It is also less known, because for KDE 3 default file manager was Konqueror. This fork is not supported by KDE and is no longer maintained by its author.
:'''Solution:''' Reindex [[Special:myLanguage/Baloo|Baloo]]. Baloo is a file indexing and search service that Dolphin uses to search for files. It needs to be indexed to work. To solve this problem, in a terminal type, <tt>balooctl check</tt>


{{KDE4}}
<!--T:36-->
In KDE 4 Dolphin opens by default, when we click on any folder, it can also be started from [[Glossary#Kickoff|Kickoff menu]].
'''Problem:''' There is no file transfer dialog.


== Navigation Bar ==
<!--T:37-->
Dolphin integrates a new concept to use the navigation bar in a faster and more precise way. Therefore a breadcrumb navigation bar is used. Instead of displaying the complete path only the navigation points starting from one of the places are displayed as buttons. By clicking one of these buttons you navigate directly to this folder. So  you can reach a parent folder from a sub folder in a very quick way.
:'''Solution:''' As of KDE 5 jobs like file transfers are handled by default in centralized notification system; file transfer is also shown in task manager. To enable separate file transfer dialog disable file transfer tracking on both the System Tray notification area and the task manager plasmoid and re-login.


Between the buttons which represent a folder there is a small arrow which is a button as well. By clicking this arrow a list of all sub folders of the folder in front of the arrow is shown. So you can change very fast the selected and displayed sub folder.
<!--T:8-->
If your problem is not in this list, you may also look into the [https://discuss.kde.org/tag/dolphin forums] or ask your question there.


There is also a classical navigation bar which displayes the complete path. To use this style you can select ''"View -> Navigation Bar -> Show Full Location''" or trigger the keyboard shortcut '''Ctrl+L'''. By clicking on the free space next to the last displayed folder in the breadcrumb style you can change to the classical style as well. If the classical style is selected an arrow is displayed at the end of the navigation bar. This arrow is a button which can be used to change back to the breadcrumb style. Of course menu and keyboard shortcut can be used, too.
== Keywords == <!--T:9-->


== Split View ==
<!--T:10-->
Dolphin offers the possibility to split the current folder view so that two folder views are displayed next to each other as known from [[:wikipedia:Midnight Commander|Midnight Commander]]. This is a very comfortable view to copy or move files from one folder to another.
File management, file manager, file browser, tags, metadata
[[Image:Dolphin split view.png|thumb|240px|center]]


You can split the view with ''"View -> Split"'' (keyboard shortcut '''F3'''). To change back to only one folder view you can use ''"View -> Close"''. The symbol will show you which view will be closed. Depending on the currently active view the minus sign will be shown in the left or right part of the symbol. In general always the inactive view will be closed. This is important to know if you want to use the keyboard shortcut. There is also a button for splitting and closing the view situated in the toolbar. This button displays the minus symbol  as well, so it is easy to know which view would be closed.
<!--T:11-->
 
[[Category:Dolphin]]
Of course each view has its own navigation bar and each view can use a different view mode.
[[Category:Desktop]]
 
[[Category:File Management]]
== View mode ==
[[Category:System]]
Dolphin supports three different view modes: ''"Icons"'', ''"Details"'' and ''"Columns"''. These can be changed via the menu ''"View -> View mode"'' or via the keyboard shortcuts '''Ctrl+1''' (Icons), '''Ctrl+2''' (Details) and '''Ctrl+3''' (Columns). There is also a button for each view mode in the toolbar and the context menu of the folder view offers a submenu ''"View mode"'' to change the view mode.
</translate>
 
=== Icons ===
Each file and each folder is represented by an icon in the view mode ''"Icons"''. Instead of displaying an icon a preview of the file can be shown. This behaviour can be turned on/off via the menu ''"View -> Preview"'' or via a toolbar button. There exists a size limit for the  file previews. This size limitation can be configured via ''"Settings -> Configure Dolphin -> View Modes -> General"'' option ''"File Previews -> Maximum file size"''. There is also an option to use thumbnails embedded in files.
 
The files in the currently selected folder are sorted in alphabetical order by default. The way of sorting can be changed via menu ''"View -> Sort by"''. The following sort criteria are available:
 
* Name
* Size
* Date
* Permissions
* Owner
* Group
* Type
Additionally the sorting sequence can be defined by ''"View -> Sort by -> Descending"''.
 
There is the possibility to display additional information below the icons. These can be turned on/off via ''"View -> Additional Information"''. In principal the same criteria which are available as search criteria can be selected.
 
You can group the icons to achieve a better overview. This is turned on via ''"View -> Show in Groups"''. Now the icons are grouped and the groups are divided by a horizontal line containing the name of the group as caption. The grouping is related to the selected search criterium.
[[Image:Dolphin show in groups effect.png|thumb|240px|center]]
 
=== External links ===
 
[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dolphin_(software) Wikipedia- Dolphin_(software)]
 
[http://dot.kde.org/1172721427/ Road to KDE 4: Dolphin and Konqueror]  
 
[http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20070405-afirst-look-at-dolphin-the-kde-4-file-manager.html Ars Technica: A First Look at Dolphin]  
 
[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i4HS1v0a9Xs Youtube - KDE 4 rev 680445 - Dolphin]  
 
[http://introducingkde4.blogspot.com/2007/12/dolphin.html Introducing KDE 4 Blog - Dolphin]

Latest revision as of 12:38, 4 April 2024

Other languages:
 The dedicated file manager focusing on usability

Feature Overview

Dolphin is a lightweight file manager. It has been designed with ease of use and simplicity in mind, while still allowing flexibility and customization. This means that you can do your file management exactly the way you want to do it. You will find more information on how to handle Dolphin in this tutorial or in the official Handbook.

  • Simple to use and dedicated file manager
  • Focus on usability
  • Breadcrumb navigation bar
  • Optional panels for convenient navigation and information display
  • Remote and pseudo-filesystem file management through KIO
  • Tag files and folders, and find files by content, using Baloo

At first look, this is a simple file manager, but it has many talents. Some features include:

  • Split windows - view and use two directories at the same time
  • Viewing attributes can be set (and remembered) independently for each window
  • Tabbed browsing
  • Use the optional informational panel on the right
  • Or elect to have essential attribute information displayed in the window
  • Use 'breadcrumb' navigation for speed
  • One-click change to editable navigation bar
  • Add Folders panel for traditional navigation
  • Add a terminal in the directory you are currently browsing
  • Many functions controlled by keyboard shortcuts

Tutorials

Hints, Tips and Troubleshooting

Problem: When I choose the application to open a specific filetype with, it seems to affect other filetypes too. It’s like Dolphin cannot tell the difference between the two different filetypes.

Solution: Probably the KDE platform does not know about one of the two filetypes, so it associates the filetype to a different, known filetype. This is common with XML-based filetypes; even if they use a file extension of their own (e.g. .xliff or .graphml), if they are not a filetype known by the KDE platform, they will be treated as any other XML file, and opened with the default application to open XML files.
To solve this issue, you can use File Associations to create an entry for the unrecognized filetype.

Problem: Dolphin's Find File service doesn't find files you know are on your computer.

Solution: Reindex Baloo. Baloo is a file indexing and search service that Dolphin uses to search for files. It needs to be indexed to work. To solve this problem, in a terminal type, balooctl check

Problem: There is no file transfer dialog.

Solution: As of KDE 5 jobs like file transfers are handled by default in centralized notification system; file transfer is also shown in task manager. To enable separate file transfer dialog disable file transfer tracking on both the System Tray notification area and the task manager plasmoid and re-login.

If your problem is not in this list, you may also look into the forums or ask your question there.

Keywords

File management, file manager, file browser, tags, metadata

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