MX Linux Forum

Hi! I'm new to MX. I use Debian without a GUI (server) since years and now trying to make it work for desktop use like i want it.

1.
First thing I'm searching is a file manager that does what i want.
I did install Dolphin and PCManFM but its not how i like it. Also Dolphin seems to have some problems.
I want file information like i have it in Windows where i can have columns for everything.
E.g. frame height/width/rate for videos or bitrate and IDv3 tags for music. Is Dolphin the only one that can do it?
It also seems like Dolphin is the only one where you can sort the folder under "Places" like you want?
What i don't like in Dolphin is how that "GiB free" in the right bottom corner looks. Also the position of the "Location Bar" is ugly.

Then it seems like only in Thunar you can drag files with the right mouse button like in Windows?
Well visually PCManFM looks the best. The "Side Pane" is white and the "Status Bar" is full-length.

2. I find it hard to crap the corners or edges of windows to resize them. Why is that harder compared to Windows?

3. Is there something that shows file information if you open a files properties like here:
4. Since XP i have a folder in the taskbar where i have all my programs. I move that folder since years from one machine to another.
Its just a folder with shortcuts. On the Windows taskbar you make a right click "Toolbars > New toolbar" and i can select that folder.
Is something like that possible in MX? It looks like this:

Sorry. Somehow that posting was twice. So i did delete this one.

In PCManFM you can set dual panel mode, or better yet, just launch two instances of PCManFM and it's easier to keep track of where you are.

Re: folder on the panel with all of your programs. Looks like psuedomenu to me. Learn to love the menu and whatever flavor of Linux you are working with. Trying to recreate the MS Windows look and feel is a wild (and wrong) goose chase. Your objective is to use the desktop effectively, not recreate the workarounds you made under MS Windows to try to make navigating Windows more effective.

No workarounds. I just never used the start menu and had my folder where i have the stuff i need and find it quick.

How do two instances of PCManFM help with sorting the stuff in the "Side Pane", showing file properties in columns and dragging stuff with the right mouse button where you then can select "move", "copy" or "link"?

The window manager theme controls the thickness of the window borders.

For a thicker graspable window border, go to Settings Manager >> Window Manager and choose either the arc-dark-thick or greybird-thick WM themes.

Glasspoole wrote: ↑Thu Jul 30, 2020 1:37 pm4. Since XP i have a folder in the taskbar where i have all my programs. I move that folder since years from one machine to another.
Its just a folder with shortcuts. On the Windows taskbar you make a right click "Toolbars > New toolbar" and i can select that folder.
Is something like that possible in MX?

I think there is a Xfce panel plugin that will give you want you want or one that you can essentially create what you want. You might want to look there.

There are a tonne of different file managers for Linux. Too many to list and describe here. I would suggest trying them out and find the one that suites your needs.

Instead of trying to bend the system to your needs find out how it all works and what it will do. You will likely find an even better way to interact with you stuff.

eriefisher wrote: ↑Thu Jul 30, 2020 3:02 pmYou will likely find an even better way to interact with you stuff.

I cant think of a better way then seeing all the file properties directly in the file manager

I did read Dolphin is sooo customizable. But i don't see it. How can i move the "location bar" or make the "Side Pane" background white?
Why cant i bring the stuff in the "Side Pane" in the order i want? They say in Linux the desktop is customizable how you want it. So I'm trying to find out where that is or how...
That red marked stuff looks stupid. Only PCManFM looks right to me: Don't get me wrong. I really want to use MX as desktop and trying to figure out how to arrange things that i have my most efficient workflow.

Oh and i did google for pseudomenu but found nothing...

Change the "Folder View Mode" to detailed list. Then right click on the top of a column to add or remove whatever columns of information that you want. You will find the default MX XFCE menu to be all you hoped for. Explore more. Complain less.

I agree with your thoughts about PCManFM. It has been brilliantly conceived. Learning how to use it effectively and customize it to your tastes won't be as easy as falling off a log. Keep plugging away. BTW, you could also learn how to use Thunar effectively. Thunar is also brilliantly conceived.

figueroa wrote: ↑Thu Jul 30, 2020 4:30 pmYou will find the default MX XFCE menu to be all you hoped for. Explore more. Complain less.

For me its a mess. I want programs in folders i create and only programs in there that i need regularly.

figueroa wrote: ↑Thu Jul 30, 2020 4:30 pmThen right click on the top of a column to add or remove whatever columns of information that you want.

Only in Dolphin is a big choice of different columns. Thunar has none and PCManFM only 4...

figueroa wrote: ↑Thu Jul 30, 2020 4:30 pmKeep plugging away.

What means "keep plugging away"?

Glasspoole wrote: ↑Thu Jul 30, 2020 5:45 pm

figueroa wrote: ↑Thu Jul 30, 2020 4:30 pmKeep plugging away.

What means "keep plugging away"?

It means to keep playing with every aspect of these tools, it means to do some web searches (read articles and watch some video tutorials), it means to take some of the suggestions here and try them out. Keep trying things until you find what you like and works for you. The desktop environment and applications have so many options its impossible to go over them all really. You can even expand on many of them with plugins, custom actions, etc, etc.

You did a good job asking specific questions and stating what you want, but I "believe" that I gave you one of the things you wanted. Take a look at the thing people suggest, we are trying to help you on your journey, but we can't take the trip for you and we can't read your mind.


Going back to my earlier post... there are Panel plugins that may help... I guess you want steps?

Right click the Panel > Panel > + Add New Items > Launcher >> Launcher Window open > click '+' plus sign > find application > click + Add ... rinse and repeat.

The above also has the option for URLs and custom items too. Lots more great things like this available if you "keep plugging away".

Edited: cause my spelling on the phone stinks a lot

Glasspoole wrote: ↑Thu Jul 30, 2020 5:45 pm

figueroa wrote: ↑Thu Jul 30, 2020 4:30 pmThen right click on the top of a column to add or remove whatever columns of information that you want.

Only in Dolphin is a big choice of different columns. Thunar has none and PCManFM only 4...

Just to set the record straight, Thunar has 10 column options. As figueroa said, you must be in the Detailed List view although it is not accessed by right-clicking on the column, it is accessed by going to View > Configure Columns (that option will not appear unless in the Detailed List view).

The 10 column options in Thunar are:

Name
Size
Size in Bytes
Type
Date Modified
Owner
Permissions
Date Accessed
Group
MIME Type

(Windows has 308 column options in their File Manager.)

Glasspoole wrote: ↑Thu Jul 30, 2020 5:45 pmWhat means "keep plugging away"?

It means keep trying until you find something that works.

Welcome to MX and the Linux desktop. I also am a Windows user. But I resisted Windows for years until I had not more reason to resist. I liked the way I did things in DOS.

It's hard to adjust to different paradigms. As everyone in Linux will tell you, Linux is not Windows. And you CAN make Linux do what you want. But sometime you'll have to program it yourself. The EXACT tools and layouts you are used to may not exist in a Linux package yet. Or it may not be in the distro you are trying. There is a lot more fragmentation in Linux than in Windows.

But if you stay with it (keep plugging away) you will probably come up with something that's "close enough", or you'll adopt a slightly different approach, a compromise. Or maybe you'll decide that Linux can never match what you have in Windows. It's your choice. But one of the best things about Linux is that there is no rules about how it is supposed to work, or look, etc. If you don't like it you can change it.

Seaken64

Glasspoole wrote: ↑Thu Jul 30, 2020 1:37 pm Hi! I'm new to MX. I use Debian without a GUI (server) since years and now trying to make it work for desktop use like i want it.

1.
First thing I'm searching is a file manager that does what i want.
I did install Dolphin and PCManFM but its not how i like it. Also Dolphin seems to have some problems.
I want file information like i have it in Windows where i can have columns for everything.
E.g. frame height/width/rate for videos or bitrate and IDv3 tags for music. Is Dolphin the only one that can do it?
It also seems like Dolphin is the only one where you can sort the folder under "Places" like you want?
What i don't like in Dolphin is how that "GiB free" in the right bottom corner looks. Also the position of the "Location Bar" is ugly.

Then it seems like only in Thunar you can drag files with the right mouse button like in Windows?
Well visually PCManFM looks the best. The "Side Pane" is white and the "Status Bar" is full-length.

In Thunar: click View -> View as detailed list. Also, View -> Configure columns.

2. I find it hard to crap the corners or edges of windows to resize them. Why is that harder compared to Windows?

I take it you mean "grab" the corners. Use a different Window Manager theme (Settings -> Window Manager in the Whisker "start" menu.) I recommend that you run MX Package Installer, click the Stable Repo tab, type "city" into the search field, install city-gtk-border-themes and use one of those City themes in the Window Manager.

Every Linux distro is different and Linux is a completely different operating system than Windows, sort of like how Windows 10 is very different than Windows XP only much more so. If you absolutely, positively need everything to be exactly like it is in Windows, your only choice is: use Windows. If you open your mind and accept the fact that Linux isn't Windows then start exploring and learning your new operating system, a day may come when you suddenly realize that Windows' way of doing things wasn't all that great after all.

I think the “folder size” has always driven me crazy, but not enough to futz with it.

I think we had a thread awhile ago about it too, can’t remember if anything came of it.

I think that is my only real issue with Thunar.

I also think we have a thread somewhere with users sharing custom actions.

Glasspoole wrote: ↑Thu Jul 30, 2020 5:45 pmWhat means "keep plugging away"?

Keep plugging away means to work on it till you succeed customizing it to meet your needs. Maybe you don't appreciate how much your asking sounds like complaining. I think you need to give it a little more time and master how to use the default MX-Linux setup the way XFCE was meant to be used before trying to make it work like you had it set up in Windows. There is far more functionality to discover that you are just trying to bypass.

asqwerth wrote: ↑Thu Jul 30, 2020 2:53 pm The window manager theme controls the thickness of the window borders.

For a thicker graspable window border, go to Settings Manager >> Window Manager and choose either the arc-dark-thick or greybird-thick WM themes.

Or look at our FAQ guide before asking a FAQ.

If I want quick access to a folder, I just add it as a "Place" in Thunar or Dolphin. Doing it in one adds it in both, in my experience.

Thunar works better for me with left pane tree view and unchecking automatically expand columns as needed (View-Configure Columns), with detailed view always set, of course . It can be a little difficult to adjust to drag and select in Thunar I would concede. These settings can be overlooked initially in customising Thunar.

Of course, using Disk Manager to mount partitions required at boot is a given.

I appreciate the reminder about having easier to grab thick windows borders.

You might like this - Midnight Commander.
https://youtu.be/2I9ArgVHmpY

tascoast wrote: ↑Fri Jul 31, 2020 3:52 am It can be a little difficult to adjust to drag and select in Thunar I would concede.

I agree and this viewtopic.php?f=104&t=57443 thread might help when selecting multiple lines in Thunar (in the Detailed View) to copy or move.

I'm in a lot of English forums since years and i guess my English is OK, but its the first time i herd "keep plugging away"
Well, even in your own language you don't know every slogan, quote, saying...

Some stuff is hart to find. When SwampRabbit wrote "Panel" i was searching 10 minutes in Dolphin, Thunar and PCManFM for panel.
Its called Taskbar...

I have something now: Its done with Panel > Add New Items... and then Properties of that launcher
But it seems like you can't add sub folders?

The next thing is Add New Items > Directory Menu
And i made a folder "Shortcuts" for it. That would be like how i do it in Windows. But that way i don't see the programs shortcuts (only folders).

If you're willing to spend some time and effort customizing the file manager, you might give Double Commander (doublecmd) a try. I think it can be made to do anything you're looking for. It is the most capable multi-platform, tab-based, dual-pane file manager I've found because it is so customizable.

I did say "panel", I guess that could be confusing, maybe I should have said "Xfce panel"

Pretty sure the "Directory Menu" is a plugin for viewing directories. Not sure if it can show anything else unless you get creative somehow.

You can be creative with the Launcher, maybe there is a way to use folders with nested links like you want.

OR you could use the "Applications Menu" plugin and "Use custom menu file" which you have to create yourself. If you add the Applications Menu plugin to the Xfce panel, right click it and go to Properties.. you'll see the option there to use a custom menu file.

Making a custom menu file that is exactly what you want with exactly what you want in it is something you have to do, no one can do that for you really. There is plenty of info on the web for creating one.

Maybe there is a plugin that lets you do what you want, I have no clue, maybe someone else knows. But I think until someone comes along with other suggestions you're best bet is to search for Xfce4 plugins that might be what you want or create your own custom menu file.

You can create a Launcher on the "PANEL" that opens your preferred file manager to a folder that contains links to all your favourite programs/applications. You need to create the folder and create the links. Both very easy to do. It sounds to me like your doing more resisting than learning. You need to explore all the options. Decide what's best for you.

You can install at your system and arrange it at manu path and you can check it as Display the Tree View