This post looks at file manager sharing in Mint 20. It is especially recommended for the xcfe version of Mint 20, but all versions are commented, With a range of file managers available for your selection!!
What is a File manager?
If you are used to using Microsoft Windows operating systems, probably know explorer.exe, that procedure that sometimes fails and later most of the desktop icons, the toolbar, etc. disappear until you restart the procedure or restart your computer. Explorer.exe is the administrator / default file explorer in Windows, and changing it is quite challenging and it is better to book it only for professional users.
En Linux, there is much more freedom. file explorer does not have such a tight connection to the desktop / GUI as Windows, and you can even install two or more different file managers at the same time and use them interchangeably in a way that works for you.
Mint 20 it is a great Linux operating system and a worthy alternative to using Microsoft Windows. Despite this, by having all the advantages of a modern Ubuntu-based distribution and a smoother user experience, it is possible that one thing is missing, and especially if you are using xcfe version: A better file manager!
Mint 20 Cinnamon breaks free with him nemo file manager. This file manager is based on the popular Nautilo file manager which in turn is the default in Ubuntu. Mint 20 Mate, on the other hand, use the Caja file manager. And in conclusion Mint 20 xcfe uses thunar. The xcfe version is a lighter version, with agile response and minimal, non-cluttered user interface.
Each of these file managers can be installed and uninstalled at will and, as an example, can install Nautilo (native) at the same time thunar and xcfe. Then, can use both, in the same way as with other programs; have their own icon (that looks somewhat similar in color but not in design), and every file manager (each program) has its own characteristics that may be of interest.
At first, you can also uninstall thunar and just use Nautilo, O Nemo and so on.
Despite this, one warned warning here is to uninstall the default file manager (as an example thunar and Linux Mint) may render your desktop partially inoperable after a reboot (missing icon associations, etc.). So, it is recommended to leave the default file manager installed with your operating system, even if you install another secondary file manager.
Even so, the results will depend on the specific file managers installed or uninstalled, the operating system in use and the capabilities of the file manager selected as a replacement for the default operating system. if you have difficulties, check the content of ~/.xsession-errors it can help.
Let's take a look at how each file manager can be installed and uninstalled:
installing Nemo
Install Nemo on your Mint Linux distribution, run the following command in your terminal:
sudo apt install nemo
installing Nautilo
Install Nautilo on your Mint Linux distribution, run the following command in your terminal:
sudo apt install nautilus
installing Box
Install Box on your Mint Linux distribution, run the following command in your terminal:
sudo apt install caja
Uninstall a file manager
To uninstall any of these, just use the same command that is provided in the respective installation sections, but change the word install with purge (which will totally purge that file manager from your system), O uninstall which will remove the file manager but leave the settings for the same on your system.
I personally like and prefer the nemo file manager. It is an advanced and highly configurable file manager (take a look at the menus). I personally don't like the thunar file manager, and I do not care Nautilo. Box it also has many features, but less then nemo which is also more configurable and takes up less space on the screen (screen space is a definition that indicates how optimally the screen of a program is designed).
If at any time you are not sure which file manager you are using at any given time (it can be confusing if you installed some), just click Help> Related to in the file manager. You will see a pop-up dialog similar to the following:
Reconfiguring Mint to another file manager
Once you've played around with a few file managers and tried your options, menus and operation, they are likely to be a favorite of one and disliked by most of the others.
If you decided to go ahead and uninstall the file manager that came with your operating system (heed the cautionary warning above), you can click on the Mint icon on your taskbar and start typing file manager. The following will appear very soon (depending on your version of Mint, color selection and desktop settings, this may look something different):
This ‘File Manager icon’ it is linked to the default file manager on your system. It is likely that (unless you have kept the above default file manager on your system) see the following dialog:
This is because Mint no longer knows which file manager to use. Do not worry, this is easy to configure. Click on the drop-down icon (the inverted triangle on the right). If your choice of file manager is present, simply select it and confirm with “OK”. If your preferred file manager is not present, click on 'Other …’, and now you should see this dialog:
This is usually the case with nemo file manager. the Nautilo Y Box The file managers installation procedure generally creates a preselectable option here.
Here, you can just type the name of your file manager (What nemo O nautilo, even when with box this does not work, use the pre-installed selection for that). If you click OK after doing so and sign in again, you will see that the software has automatically added an option "%s":
Practical! Click OK twice and you are all set. If you go back to the Mint icon> File manager, now you will find that your favorite file manager opens (which can be confirmed by clicking Help> Regarding)
Ending
Mint is a great operating system, even though it may lack a useful file manager by default, especially in its xcfe version. The Mint version 20 MATE also presents Caja as a file manager, which may be less useful to you than the full file manager installed by default in Mint 20 Cinnamon; nemo.
They talked about the installation, the exchange, uninstall and debug file managers and are easy to do even for a novice user. You can even use two file managers at the same time and use the best of both worlds.. Enjoy!
If you are interested in learning more about Linux, see the posts linked to Articles on Linux by David McKay and posts about Linux by Roel Van de Paar.
