GNOME User's Guide
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# Menu Guide to the GNOME File Manager

In this section each menu item in the GNOME File Manager will be described.

| Tip
| All menus in the GNOME File Manager are enabled with the tear-away feature. If you would like any menu to "float" on the desktop in its own window simply select the perforation line at the top of the menu.

- File - The File Menu contains items associated with files and higher level activity.

  - Create New Window - This will open a new File Manager Window.

  - New | Terminal - This launches a new GNOME Terminal window that will automatically navigate to the directory displayed in the main window view.

  - New | Directory - This creates a new directory in the directory displayed in the main window view.

  - New | [application] - Some applications may put items for you in the New menu. For example, the Gnumeric spreadsheet will put a New Gnumeric Spreadsheet menu item in the New menu so you can a new spreadsheet in the directory displayed in the main window view.

  - Open - This will open the file you have selected with your mouse cursor.

  - Copy - This will launch the Copy dialog to enable you to copy the selected file to a destination you choose.

  - Delete - This will delete the file you have selected.

    | WARNING
    | Once you have deleted a file you cannot recover it!

  - Move - This will launch the Move/rename dialog to enable you to rename the selected file or move it to a destination you choose.

  - Show directory sizes - This option will determine the size of your directories and display it in the Detail or Custom views. Depending on the size of your directories, this could take a while to display and may tax your system when viewing large directories.

  - Close this Window - This will close the GNOME File Manager window you are currently running.

- Edit - The Edit menu contains items that are associated with editing and selecting files.

  - Select All - This will select all of the files in the main window.

  - Select Files - This will launch a simple dialog box which will allow you to specify a selection pattern. For example, if you wish to select all files beginning with the letter D you can simply type `D*` and press OK.

  - Invert Selection - This will invert the current selection. For example, if you have 7 files selected in a directory with 10 files, selecting Invert Selection will select the three remaining files and unselect the 7 files that were previously selected.

  - Search - This toggles on the "completion" search for the File Manager. Once it is turned on the status bar at the bottom of the window displays the word "Search:" and allows you to start typing. If you are searching for a file named "GNU" in the directory displayed in the main window view typing "G" will move the selection to the first file or directory beginning with "G". Typing "GN" move the selection to the first file beginning with "GN", and so on. You may also toggle this feature on by pressing CTRL-S.To end the search you may select the file or directory or simply navigate away from the file with the arrow keys or your mouse.

  - Rescan Directory - This will rescan the current directory in case the files in the directory have changed.

- Settings - This contains the Preferences menu item.

  - Preferences - This will launch the Preferences dialog so that you can customize the GNOME File Manager.

- Layout - This menu contains items that are associated with the layout in GNOME File Manager.

  - Sort By - This will launch a dialog box which will allow you to select how you wish the files to be sorted in the current directory. You may sort by one of the following:

    - Name

    - File Type

    - Size

    - Time Last Accessed

    - Time Last Modified

    - Time Last Changed

  - Filter View - This will bring up a simple dialog which allows you to view only files with names matching a pattern. For example, if you wish to view only files in the directory that start with the letter D you can type D* into the dialog and press OK. If you wish to see all files again you will need to launch the Filter View dialog again and clear the dialog or type in a *.

  - Icon View - Selecting this will display the files in the main window as large icons.

  - Partial View - Selecting this will display the files in the main window as a list with only file names.

  - Full View - Selecting this will display the files in the main window as a list with all file information.

  - Custom View - The Custom View menu item switches the main window to the Custom View which is a list view displaying the information about your files that you specify. To customize the Custom view you will need to use the `Custom View Editor` in the `Preferences` dialog. You may read more about the `Preferences` dialog in the section called Changing Your Preferences in the File Manager.

- Commands - The Command menu contains items that are commands to run on files in the GNOME File Manager.

  - Find File - This brings up a dialog which allows you to search for particular files on your system.

  - Edit mime types - This option will launch the GNOME Control Center Capplet that allows you to edit Mime Types for GNOME. Mime types determine, among other things, what application will handle particular file types. You can read more about Mime types in the section called GNOME Mime Types in the chapter called The GNOME Control Center.

  - Run Command - This menu item allows you to run a command from GMC.

  - Run Command in panel - This menu item lets you run preloaded commands or commands you specify within the directory that you are currently in. Such commands might be to find SUID or SGID programs, etc.

  - Exit - This will allow you to exit the GNOME File Manager.

    | IMPORTANT
    | This will exit all GNOME File Manager processes which include the GNOME Desktop. If you exit you will lose all functionality on your desktop. This action is not recommended. If you wish to close the current window, use the File/Close button.

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