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Idea #23948: List View usability can be improved

Written by ottadini the 9 Mar 10 at 23:08. Related project: Nautilus. Status: New
Rationale
When traversing the file system in List View in Nautilus, a frequent mode for me is to double click folder names to enter them (another mode is to single-click the small arrow to expand the tree, but that is not part of this idea).

e.g.: while in /home/Me/, i double-click 'Documents' to enter the Documents directory.

To return to the previous directory (i.e. to return to /home/Me/) I currently can do these things: press the 'Backspace' key on the keyboard; use the location field above the pane (in either button or text form); and use the tree listing in the side pane.

These are all good choices, but require a change of mode: to change from double-clicking in the pane area, to single-clicking elsewhere, or typing.
Tags: List View

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Solution #1: A double-click in empty pane area in List View
Written by ottadini the 9 Mar 10 at 23:08.

My idea is that a double-click in an empty area of the pane will also return to the next highest directory. This action is a natural complement to double-clicking a directory to enter it, and becomes a very fast means of moving up and down the tree.
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Solution #2: Use Mouse Gestures
Written by Akerbos the 10 Mar 10 at 19:06.
Self-explanatory.
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Solution #3: Show ..
Written by Akerbos the 10 Mar 10 at 19:16.
Even if .* files are hidden, show .. as first icon.
(As an option, of course)
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Solution #4: click on the properties area don't select file or folder
Written by yzarc the 12 Mar 10 at 14:57.
click on the properties area (right side of the name's column) don't select file or folder.

when you have the list view full, is impossible to access the context menu of the current folder (to create a new folder e.g.). if the view is full of folders then you can't drag files to the current folder. that's annoying.

Propose your solution

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Akerbos wrote on the 10 Mar 10 at 19:06
You miss the icon and change folder? Bad call.

I think gestures solve your problem, so I myself don't like them much.

Darwin Survivor (Brainstorm moderator) wrote on the 10 Mar 10 at 21:45
@ottadini You are aware that once the list gets longer than your window, the whitespace dissapears right?

@Akerbos
Solution 2: Could you give some examples of gestures that could be used?

Solution 3: Most people (anyone who doesn't use the CLI) has no idea what ../ means. You would be better off with a "^Parent" item or something that is easily recognised among 90% of the population.

splashote wrote on the 13 Mar 10 at 11:00
@Akerbos,Darwin Survivor:
Just install easystroke and create two gestures:
Alt + Left = Back
Alt + Right = Forth

It works in Nautilus, FF, Chromium etc.pp.


ottadini wrote on the 15 Mar 10 at 23:59
@Darwin - yep I'm aware of the full list issue, but this is less common than I expected. I've been using a file manager in Windows that has the double-click feature I describe, and it's very very useful. Rarely is the pane so full that I can't double-click somewhere. If you have the opportunity, try xplorer2 in Windows (freeware by zabkat.com).

@Akerbos - the .. option is good, but unnecessary and a bit ugly. I have no idea about mouse gestures, are they implemented in Nautilus?

It is always good to have choice, especially in user interfaces, e.g. for moving about the hierarchy. If I'm using my mouse, let me keep using my mouse.

briceparent wrote on the 17 Mar 10 at 22:09
I think solution #4 should be moved to another idea, because it doesn't seem to reflect a solution to the same problem.
But i really agree with it. It is really annoying not to be able to access the context menu in list view.


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