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    Dolphin is file manager of KDE. It opens by default, when we click on any folder, it can also be started from K-menu.
    <languages />


    I'll show how to use dolphin for common file managing tasks, and how to customize it to your needs.
    {|class="vertical-centered"
    |[[Image:Dolphin.png|thumb|center|320px]]||    ||'''<translate><!--T:12-->
    The dedicated file manager focusing on usability</translate>'''
    |}
    <translate>
    ==Feature Overview== <!--T:2-->


    There are two main versions of dolphin - for KDE4 it is dolphin, for KDE3.x it is d3lphin. I'll concentrate on KDE4, as this is the KDE I use.
    <!--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#Nepomuk|Nepomuk]]


    So, lets start.
    <!--T:4-->
    At first look, this is a simple file manager, but it has many talents. Some features include:


    [[Image:Dolphin default.png]]
    <!--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


    When we open the dolphin from K-menu it shows starting directory - by default it is your home directory. That's the place in system, where all your files are kept. You can write your files outside of this folder, but all applications are configured to propose this folder as place to write your files to. And this is easier, when you are keeping your things here.
    == Tutorials == <!--T:6-->


    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:7-->
    :* [[Special:myLanguage/Dolphin/File Management#Discover Dolphin|Discover Dolphin]]
    :* [[Special:myLanguage/Dolphin/File_Management#File_System_Navigation|File System Navigation]]
    :* [[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]]


    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:
    == Philosophy == <!--T:19-->


    [[Image:Dolphin folder hovered.png]]
    <!--T:20-->
    '''Dolphin''' is a file manager focusing on usability. When reading the term ''Usability'' people often assume that the focus is on newbies and only basic features are offered. This assumption is wrong.


    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).
    === Target User Group === <!--T:21-->


    Many selected files looks like this:
    <!--T:22-->
    Focusing on usability means that features are discoverable and efficient to use. The feature set is defined indirectly by the target user group of '''Dolphin''':


    [[Image:Dolphin folder hovered deselect.png]]
    <!--T:23-->
    * '''Lisa''': Lisa is familiar with computers since 10 years. Due to her job she has experience with Word, Excel and Outlook. At home she mainly uses the computer for browsing the web and writing e-mails. She requires a file manager for managing  photos from the camera, documents she gets per e-mail or PDF-documents she downloads with a browser. Lisa knows concepts like folders and a file hierarchy, but she is not familiar with the file hierarchy of Linux.


    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:24-->
    * '''Simon''': Simon has been a developer at a software company for 8 years. At home he uses a file manager to maintain his large collection of photos and music. Additionally he owns a small homepage and needs to transfer updated files on the FTP server. Moving and copying files are regular tasks in Simon's workflow.


    <!--T:25-->
    Not part of the target user group of '''Dolphin''' are Fred and Jeff:


    Customizing Dolphin.
    <!--T:26-->
    * '''Fred''': Fred is 75 years old and is able to write e-mails and browsing the web. He is not familiar with file hierarchies and stores all his documents on the desktop.


    * Grouping files:
    <!--T:27-->
    Sometimes there are many files in directory, and you are only interested in text files, or images.
    * '''Jeff''': Jeff is Linux-freak since the age of 16 a few years ago. He is developer and in his spare time he acts as administrator for a small company. Jeff has two monitors to keep the overview about his huge number of opened applications.
    There is a way to separate files of different types in dolphin, without moving it to subdirectories.


    In menu View there is option "Show in groups". Let's enable it.
    <!--T:28-->
    This does not mean that Fred or Jeff cannot work with '''Dolphin'''. But there might be features and concepts of '''Dolphin''' that overburden Fred. Also Jeff might miss some features which are a must-have for his daily work.


    [[Image:Dolphin show in groups effect.png]]
    ===Non-Intrusive Features=== <!--T:29-->


    * Split view:
    <!--T:30-->
    You can split view in Dolphin, to make it easier to copy between folders, etc.
    Before a feature is added in '''Dolphin''', it is checked whether the feature is mandatory for the target user group. If this is not the case, then this does not mean that the feature cannot be added; first it must be clarified whether the feature might be non-intrusive, so that it adds value for users outside the primary target user group of '''Dolphin'''. ''Non-intrusive'' is mainly related to the user interface. A feature that adds a lot of clutter to the main menu, context menus or toolbar might harm the target user group. In this case the feature will not be added.
    It will look like in old Norton Commander or Total Commander (or Midnight Commander).
     
    [[Image:Dolphin split view.png]]
    <!--T:31-->
    A good example of a feature that is non-intrusive is the embedded terminal in '''Dolphin'''. It only requires one entry inside a sub menu, but adds great value for Jeff, who is not part of the target user group.
     
    ===Options=== <!--T:32-->
     
    <!--T:33-->
    Options are mandatory as the user "average Joe" does not exist. Still it is not the goal of '''Dolphin''' offering options for all kind of things.    Again the focus is on the possible needs of the target user group. Each additional option makes it harder finding other options, so the same rules for features are applied to options too.
     
    == Hints, Tips and Troubleshooting == <!--T:13-->
     
    <!--T:14-->
    '''Problem:''' Dolphin's menu entries <menuchoice>View -> Additional</menuchoice> and/or <menuchoice>View -> Panels</menuchoice> don't have any options.  Nepomuk is enabled in System Settings.
     
    <!--T:15-->
    :'''Solution:''' Rename the folder <tt>~/.kde4/share/apps/dolphin</tt> (in some distros it will be <tt>~/.kde/share/apps/dolphin</tt>) and restart dolphin. This will purge your dolphin customizations but the entries should be back. If everything works as expected you can then delete the folder. This happened to me after an upgrade from KDE 4.4 to 4.5
     
    <!--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''.
     
    <!--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.
     
    <!--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.
     
    <!--T:35-->
    :'''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>
     
    <!--T:36-->
    '''Problem:''' There is no file transfer dialog.
     
    <!--T:37-->
    :'''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.
     
    <!--T:8-->
    Also see [http://forum.kde.org/viewforum.php?f=222 forums] and the [http://docs.kde.org/stable/en/applications/dolphin/index.html Dolphin Handbook].
     
    == Keywords == <!--T:9-->
     
    <!--T:10-->
    File management, file manager, file browser, tags, metadata, Nepomuk
     
    <!--T:11-->
    [[Category:Dolphin]]
    [[Category:Desktop]]
    [[Category:File Management]]
    [[Category:System]]
    </translate>

    Revision as of 04:56, 17 April 2018

    The dedicated file manager focusing on usability

    Feature Overview

    • 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 Nepomuk

    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

    Philosophy

    Dolphin is a file manager focusing on usability. When reading the term Usability people often assume that the focus is on newbies and only basic features are offered. This assumption is wrong.

    Target User Group

    Focusing on usability means that features are discoverable and efficient to use. The feature set is defined indirectly by the target user group of Dolphin:

    • Lisa: Lisa is familiar with computers since 10 years. Due to her job she has experience with Word, Excel and Outlook. At home she mainly uses the computer for browsing the web and writing e-mails. She requires a file manager for managing photos from the camera, documents she gets per e-mail or PDF-documents she downloads with a browser. Lisa knows concepts like folders and a file hierarchy, but she is not familiar with the file hierarchy of Linux.
    • Simon: Simon has been a developer at a software company for 8 years. At home he uses a file manager to maintain his large collection of photos and music. Additionally he owns a small homepage and needs to transfer updated files on the FTP server. Moving and copying files are regular tasks in Simon's workflow.

    Not part of the target user group of Dolphin are Fred and Jeff:

    • Fred: Fred is 75 years old and is able to write e-mails and browsing the web. He is not familiar with file hierarchies and stores all his documents on the desktop.
    • Jeff: Jeff is Linux-freak since the age of 16 a few years ago. He is developer and in his spare time he acts as administrator for a small company. Jeff has two monitors to keep the overview about his huge number of opened applications.

    This does not mean that Fred or Jeff cannot work with Dolphin. But there might be features and concepts of Dolphin that overburden Fred. Also Jeff might miss some features which are a must-have for his daily work.

    Non-Intrusive Features

    Before a feature is added in Dolphin, it is checked whether the feature is mandatory for the target user group. If this is not the case, then this does not mean that the feature cannot be added; first it must be clarified whether the feature might be non-intrusive, so that it adds value for users outside the primary target user group of Dolphin. Non-intrusive is mainly related to the user interface. A feature that adds a lot of clutter to the main menu, context menus or toolbar might harm the target user group. In this case the feature will not be added.

    A good example of a feature that is non-intrusive is the embedded terminal in Dolphin. It only requires one entry inside a sub menu, but adds great value for Jeff, who is not part of the target user group.

    Options

    Options are mandatory as the user "average Joe" does not exist. Still it is not the goal of Dolphin offering options for all kind of things. Again the focus is on the possible needs of the target user group. Each additional option makes it harder finding other options, so the same rules for features are applied to options too.

    Hints, Tips and Troubleshooting

    Problem: Dolphin's menu entries View -> Additional and/or View -> Panels don't have any options. Nepomuk is enabled in System Settings.

    Solution: Rename the folder ~/.kde4/share/apps/dolphin (in some distros it will be ~/.kde/share/apps/dolphin) and restart dolphin. This will purge your dolphin customizations but the entries should be back. If everything works as expected you can then delete the folder. This happened to me after an upgrade from KDE 4.4 to 4.5

    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.

    Also see forums and the Dolphin Handbook.

    Keywords

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