Nautilus thoroughly

Excellent analysis done on the blog friend Ubuntu thoroughly, which is worth sharing. Nautilus is, for better or worse, the default file manager for most Linux distributions, especially those that come with Gnome. This means that getting the most out of this powerful tool is essential in order to optimize our daily work.

Nautilus it is the default file manager in Gnome. It is in charge of the functions related to the handling of files, directories and devices, but Nautilus is much more, among its additional functions we find:

CD / DVD recorder
Font management
FTP client
Desktop management
Management of removable devices (USB, CD, DVD ...) and network drives (samba, nfs, ssh, ftp ...)
Media file preview
Programmable scripts and extensions
Bluetooth transfer

In this article we will see how to take advantage of some of its functionalities by extending its capabilities and facilitating the use of the system by the end user. We will also see some of the news that various programmers are preparing for the future.

Scripts

Scripts allow Nautilus to perform functions on files by automating them and facilitating their manipulation. Let's look at some of the most useful scripts for Nautilus:

Audio / Video / Image / Text / ISO Convert: this script allows you to convert audio, video and text formats directly from the browser, without the need to open external programs. It is very useful for handling large amounts of files simultaneously. Instructions for installation and download here.

Audio / Video / Image / Text / ISO Convert
Nautilus Scripts Pack: similar to the above gives Nautilus the ability to manipulate and convert any media file, ISO image management, encryption / decryption, new locations for functions Copy to ... y Move to…, PDF preview, installation of themes and fonts, file management in administrator mode and much more. Instructions for installation and download here

Nautilus Scripts Pack

You can find many more scripts in http://gnome-look.org/?xcontentmode=188

Extensions

The extensions extend the functions of nautilus to meet the needs of the most demanding users, there are many extensions, here are some of the most interesting:

Nautilus Flickr Uploader: allows you to upload multiple images to our Flickr account using a simple API that will allow us to resize the images, choose labels or privacy options. You can install it by directly downloading this package nautilus-flickr-uploader_0.03-1_all.deb (valid for 32 and 64 bits)

Nautilus Flickr Uploader
CoverChooser: this small extension allows Nautilus to assign the covers of our discs to the folders that contain them. Instructions for installation and download here.

CoverChooser
Nautilus PyExtensions: this useful extension allows us to manage all installed nautilus extensions and also provides some interesting improvements such as file comparer, extra information before overwriting a file, moving or copying to an already explored location, setting the desktop background and more. You can install it by directly downloading this package nautilus-pyextensions_1.0.6-1_all.deb (valid for 32 and 64 bits)

Nautilus PyExtensions

dual pane

This two-panel view mode has long been in demand by Gnome users for a long time. It will be implemented as a default option in Ubuntu Lucid Lynx 10.04 and it is also available in the Jaunty and Karmic versions with minor modifications.

Nautilus with two panel view

If you can't wait they have instructions to add this functionality in Karmic and Jaunty in http://www.webupd8.org/2009/11/dual-panel-nautilus-for-ubuntu-karmic.html

Templates

Templates allow Nautilus to create files of different types, they have a nice set of templates in http://gnome-look.org/content/show.php/Nautilus+Templates?content=39317, with instructions for installation.

Templates in Nautilus

Gloobus Flow

This impressive extension adds a spectacular new media preview mode to Nautilus. Here is a video showing Gloobus Flow in action.

http://launchpad.net/gloobus-flow

Nautilus + Zeitgeist

This extension will allow nautilus to show statistics on the use of files and folders, show the most frequently used locations, the last elements accessed, history of actions by dates ... Although it is in development, its author has left us a video where you can see some of these functions (You have to look closely because it looks very small):

Nautilus + Zeitgeist

This extension is expected to be part of the Gnome3 news together with Gnome-Shell, although it is very possible that we will soon have packages to test it in Lucid. If you want to follow the development of this extension, you can read more by its own author at http://seilo.geekyogre.com/

New layouts for the Nautilus interface

Although the Nautilus interface is quite practical it can always be improved, both in functionality and aesthetics, several ideas have been proposed (mockup) for the Nautilus redesign, it is quite possible that some ideas will be implemented for the Gnome3 output.

Here you have some of the most interesting: (images obtained from www.gnome-look.org)