6

Hello KDE!

Long time Windows user here. After many attempts to switch to linux I think I'm finally there.
I'm on KDE Neon right now and really like what it has to offer.

There are a couple of things I'd like to see implemented in Dolphin. This are:
1. Have only one instance open and instead of opening a new instance it should open a new tab.
2. Remember tabs from last time, if Dolphin is closed with multiple tabs, next time it opens it should remember them
3. Make tabs a fixed size
4. Hide the close button on tabs
5. While in "Details view mode" select/open file when clicking anywhere on the file's row not just when clicking the icon

I looked at Dolphin's settings but couldn't find any of these, if it can do any of this please let me know.

Hi, welcome and glad you like KDE

Some short notes on your points:

1. Have only one instance open and instead of opening a new instance it should open a new tab.

Most people hate that sort of behavior, since it takes the control away from the user. There are perfectly valid reasons to have multiple file managers open at the same time, simple examples would with separate desktops or even activities.
It is possible to get what you want though by making use of the dbus to remote control applications. That works very well with KDE applications, it allows you to script things to your liking. So you can create a desktop file launching an additional tab if a file manager already exists, but launches a new file manger otherwise. Endless possibilities...

2. Remember tabs from last time, if Dolphin is closed with multiple tabs, next time it opens it should remember them

Might come in handy, sure, if configurable. It certainly should not be the default behavior.

3. Make tabs a fixed size

That is confusing... The tabs always have the width of the window, per definition...

4. Hide the close button on tabs

Sure, possible to add an option, but hey... Most people want those buttons...

5. While in "Details view mode" select/open file when clicking anywhere on the file's row not just when clicking the icon

That prevents you from using the background, since it would be hidden everywhere. The background is important for the context menu for example.

(just my 2 cents...)

First of all I'd like to say that I didn't mean these to be the only option or even the default, but optional settings.

arkascha wrote:That is confusing... The tabs always have the width of the window, per definition...

Don't know what you mean with "tabs have the width of the window".
The tabs I mean have a flexible width, depending on the name of their directory. http://imgur.com/a/PShbb
Also users would choose a size for the tabs.

arkascha wrote:That prevents you from using the background, since it would be hidden everywhere. The background is important for the context menu for example.

Not really, in Windows Explorer you can left-click anywhere on the row and it selects the file, but if you right-click somewhere on the row where there is no text* you get the context menu of the directory you're in and if you right-click on that text you get the context menu of the file.
When a file is selected the whole row is selected, in this case right-clicking anywhere on the row brings the file's context menu.
Later edit: it is also possible to select multiple files with click and drag by clicking in an empty area in the row.
Above is how it works in Windows Explorer not necessarily how Dolphin should behave, but in my opinion there are no drawbacks to the way Windows Explorer's handles this.

This will require more coding probably, so it might not be worth the time to implement.

Regarding the "Have only one instance open" this isn't meant as have only one instance no matter what, the "open as root" option should be able to create a new instance for example.
There are programs that open paths, like torrent clients, web browsers, where you can open the path to the saved file, in this case I want to open them in a new tab instead of a new instance.
KDE has the "Special Application Settings" maybe there could be added another option like "open dolphin in new tab", this would be used on the programs one wants to open paths in a new tab and not on dolphin.

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* text means file and its icon as well as text from the other columns (size, type etc)

In windows I'm using qttabbar.wikidot.com which makes Windows Explorer behave as I described, regarding the tabs.

The ability to select files and folders by clicking anywhere in the lines in detail view is definitely interesting and useful. It also makes sense in terms of ergonomy. The current default settings force the user to click on file names that have various lengths, and thus imply variable mouse movement, depending on the rather random nature of file name length.

EDIT - partial workaround, one can drag on a short distance the mouse anywhere in a line and will select that line.

Glad you like KDE and neon. Suggestions 2, 5, and maybe 4 seem good.

fbg13 wrote:1. Have only one instance open and instead of opening a new instance it should open a new tab.

Yes please! It's annoying that every time you open a folder from applications like cloud syncs, web browser or download managers you get a new instance of Dolphin. Maybe adding an option in preferences so people can activate just if they needed.

Sorry for my bad English.

arkascha wrote:

1. Have only one instance open and instead of opening a new instance it should open a new tab.

Most people hate that sort of behavior, since it takes the control away from the user. There are perfectly valid reasons to have multiple file managers open at the same time, simple examples would with separate desktops or even actions.
It is possible to get what you want though by making use of the dbus to remote control applications. That works very well with KDE applications, it allows you to script things to your liking. So you can create a desktop file launching an additional tab if a file manager already exists, but launches a new file manger otherwise. Endless possibilities...

Could you give an example on how to achieve this? When I press "Open directory" in external applications, like Chrome etc., I would like it to be opened in the already existing Dolphin window when possible.

I hate to play the devil's advocate, but the posts in the brainstorm section should contain exactly one idea per post, not 5 of them.

Please open separate topics for these and explain each of them more thoroughly (like adding the tabs screenshot in the post itself). This way, there is no indication which of the ideas people like, and which not without reading all the comments.

In the Send to menu, an option to send to the connected USB devices (and others devices), just like Windows's Explorer does. I've migrated to Linux, and I'm very happy with my choice of KDE software after trying GNOME for a while, but I really miss that option from the Windows's Explorer. Add that option to Dolphin, please.

Echoing Ivan's suggestion in the comment right above yours: Each brainstorm post should contain 1 idea.
Please submit this as a separate brainstorm post.

fbg13 wrote:Hello KDE!

Long time Windows user here. After many attempts to switch to linux I think I'm finally there.
I'm on KDE Neon right now and really like what it has to offer.

There are a couple of things I'd like to see implemented in Dolphin. This are:
1. Have only one instance open and instead of opening a new instance it should open a new tab.
2. Remember tabs from last time, if Dolphin is closed with multiple tabs, next time it opens it should remember them
3. Make tabs a fixed size
4. Hide the close button on tabs(but show on mouseover)
5. While in "Details view mode" select/open file when clicking anywhere on the file's row not just when clicking the icon
6. The ability to lock the view for folders on a per folder basis(i've notice that Dolphin will keep icon, compact, details but occasionally change the size on it's own).
7. Add paste to the toolbar settings.

I looked at Dolphin's settings but couldn't find any of these, if it can do any of this please let me know.

DITTO with my additions

leftistdirtbag wrote:4. Hide the close button on tabs(but show on mouseover)

Please open a separate brainstorm topic for this request (as has been suggested before)

leftistdirtbag wrote:6. The ability to lock the view for folders on a per folder basis(i've notice that Dolphin will keep icon, compact, details but occasionally change the size on it's own).

I'm assuming you're using Dolphin's "Remember properties for each folder". That does seem like a deficiency as it seems reasonable to expect the size to be remembered per-folder. Please submit the request to bugs.kde.org

leftistdirtbag wrote:7. Add paste to the toolbar settings.

I found a "Paste Clipboard Contents" action available when I right-click on the toolbar and select Configure Toolbars (Dolphin 17.12.3, KDE Frameworks 5.47.0, Qt 5.9.5, Ubuntu 18.04).
If you can't find it there, I'd suggest opening a separate forum post to discuss further.

airdrik wrote:

leftistdirtbag wrote:4. Hide the close button on tabs(but show on mouseover)

Please open a separate brainstorm topic for this request (as has been suggested before)

leftistdirtbag wrote:6. The ability to lock the view for folders on a per folder basis(i've notice that Dolphin will keep icon, compact, details but occasionally change the size on it's own).

I'm assuming you're using Dolphin's "Remember properties for each folder". That does seem like a deficiency as it seems reasonable to expect the size to be remembered per-folder. Please submit the request to bugs.kde.org

leftistdirtbag wrote:7. Add paste to the toolbar settings.

I found a "Paste Clipboard Contents" action available when I right-click on the toolbar and select Configure Toolbars (Dolphin 17.12.3, KDE Frameworks 5.47.0, Qt 5.9.5, Ubuntu 18.04).
If you can't find it there, I'd suggest opening a separate forum post to discuss further.

ok cool thanks for the detailed reply, much appreciated. i'll def create the bug reports and new topic. thanks again

still looking for number 6 from my previous post to implemented.

5. While in "Details view mode" select/open file when clicking anywhere on the file's row not just when clicking the icon

This is standard behavior that all other files manager that I have used implements.
It's very strange that when I click other column it does not select the row. I'm clicking hover row info !!

When I use right click out of name I expect to have this file/folder options. For background click, I can use "Control" top button or click down out of files.