PCManFM: Difference between revisions
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[[Category:File managers]] | [[Category:File managers]] | ||
[[ | [[Category:LXDE]] | ||
[[ | [[de:PCManFM]] | ||
[[it:PCManFM]] | [[it:PCManFM]] | ||
[[ja:PCManFM]] | [[ja:PCManFM]] | ||
[[ru:PCManFM]] | [[ru:PCManFM]] | ||
[[zh-hans:PCManFM]] | [[zh-hans:PCManFM]] | ||
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{{Related|Nemo}} | {{Related|Nemo}} | ||
{{Related articles end}} | {{Related articles end}} | ||
[https:// | |||
[[Wikipedia:PCManFM|PCManFM]] is an extremely fast and lightweight file manager and the standard file manager of [[LXDE]]. It uses [[GTK]] for its UI and [[GVFS]] (within GNOME's [[Wikipedia:GIO (Software)|GIO]] library) to provide virtual filesystem functionality such as trashing files and mounting remote filesystems. | |||
[https://github.com/lxqt/pcmanfm-qt PCManFM-Qt] is a port to [[Qt]] which is the standard file manager of [[LXQt]]. Despite using Qt as the UI toolkit, PCManFM-Qt retains [[GVFS]] rather than using KDE's [[Wikipedia:KIO|KIO]] [https://blog.lxde.org/2013/02/19/pcmanfm-file-manager-is-ported-to-qt/]. At their cores, both file managers are desktop-environment-agnostic. | |||
== Installation == | == Installation == | ||
[[Install]] the {{Pkg|pcmanfm}} | [[Install]] one of the following the packages: | ||
* [[GTK|GTK 2]]: {{Pkg|pcmanfm}} | |||
* [[GTK|GTK 3]]: {{Pkg|pcmanfm-gtk3}} | |||
* [[Qt|Qt5]]: {{Pkg|pcmanfm-qt}} | |||
Optionally also install {{Pkg|gvfs}} for support for trash, mounting volumes with [[udisks]] and remote filesystems and {{Pkg|gvfs-smb}} for SMB/CIFS support. | |||
=== Development versions === | |||
[[ | Development versions are available from the [[AUR]]: | ||
{{ | * GTK 2: {{AUR|pcmanfm-git}} | ||
* Qt5: {{AUR|pcmanfm-qt-git}} | |||
* Qt6: {{AUR|pcmanfm-qt6-git}} | |||
== Desktop management == | == Desktop management == | ||
pcmanfm --desktop | PCManFM can manage the desktop, including setting a background wallpaper and showing desktop icons. To launch the desktop manager, run: | ||
$ pcmanfm --desktop | |||
The native desktop menu of the window manager will be replaced with that provided by PCManFM. | The native desktop menu of the window manager will be replaced with that provided by PCManFM. The native menu can be restored from the PCManFM menu by selecting ''Desktop Preferences'' and then enabling the ''Show menus provided by window managers when desktop is clicked'' option in the ''Advanced'' tab. | ||
=== Desktop preferences === | === Desktop preferences === | ||
If using the native desktop menu provided by a window manager, enter the following command to set or amend desktop preferences at any time: | If using the native desktop menu provided by a window manager, enter the following command to set or amend desktop preferences at any time: | ||
$ pcmanfm --desktop-pref | $ pcmanfm --desktop-pref | ||
Consider adding this command to a keybind and/or the native desktop menu for easy access. | |||
=== Creating new icons === | === Creating new icons === | ||
Files can be dragged and dropped directly onto the desktop. To create shortcuts for applications, copy their {{ic|.desktop}} files to the {{ic|~/Desktop}} directory. Do not drag and drop the files there as they will be moved completely. The command is: | |||
$ cp /usr/share/applications/''name-of-application''.desktop ~/Desktop | |||
For example to create a desktop shortcut for {{pkg|lxterminal}}: | |||
For those who used the [[XDG user directories]] program to create their {{ic|$HOME}} directories no further configuration will be required. | $ cp /usr/share/applications/lxterminal.desktop ~/Desktop | ||
For those who used the [[XDG user directories]] program to create their {{ic|$HOME}} directories, no further configuration will be required. | |||
== Daemon mode == | == Daemon mode == | ||
To run PCManFM | To run PCManFM as a background daemon (i.e. to automatically mount removable media), use: | ||
pcmanfm - | $ pcmanfm --daemon-mode | ||
Only one instance of PCManFM may run as a daemon at atime. | |||
Should automount fail, see [[udisks]]. | Should automount fail, see [[udisks]]. | ||
== Autostarting == | == Autostarting == | ||
PCManFM may be [[Autostarting#On Xorg startup|autostarted]] as a [[daemon]] process or to manage the desktop. | |||
== Additional features and functionality == | |||
Less experienced users should be aware that a file manager alone — especially when installed in a standalone [[window manager]] such as [[Openbox]] — will not provide the features and functionality users of full desktop environments such as [[Xfce]] and [[KDE]] will be accustomed to. Review the [[file manager functionality]] article for further information. | |||
Less experienced users should be aware that a file manager alone | |||
== Tips and tricks == | == Tips and tricks == | ||
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=== Get thumbnails for other file types === | === Get thumbnails for other file types === | ||
See [[File manager functionality#Use PCManFM to get thumbnails for other file types]]. | |||
=== Set the terminal emulator === | |||
You can configure what terminal emulator PCManFM should use for ''Tools > Open Current Folder in Terminal'' under ''Edit > Preferences > Advanced''. | |||
=== Integrate an archiver === | |||
It is possible to choose the integrated archiver under ''Edit > Preferences > Advanced''. PCManFM and PCManFM-Qt both support {{Pkg|file-roller}}, {{Pkg|xarchiver}} (or {{Pkg|xarchiver-gtk2}}), {{Pkg|engrampa}} and {{Pkg|ark}} [https://github.com/lxde/libfm/blob/5346a5390a0881d5713a71e15f371132680056ee/data/archivers.list] [https://github.com/lxqt/libfm-qt/blob/d5c15390917f55a0d8ee3283234addf4f8bf5a40/data/archivers.list]. PCManFM-Qt additionally supports {{Pkg|lxqt-archiver}}, which is the default choice for LXQt. | |||
=== Adding custom items to the context menu === | |||
=== | PCManFM supports [https://web.archive.org/web/20180627170128/http://www.nautilus-actions.org/?q=node/377 Desktop file specification extension] (DES-EMA) which allows you to add arbitrary items to the context menu of files and directories. To add your own items, create {{ic|~/.local/share/file-manager/actions/}} (if it does not already exist) and add {{ic|.desktop}} files inside: | ||
{{hc|~/.local/share/file-manager/actions/''action''.desktop|2= | |||
[Desktop Entry] | |||
Type=Action | |||
Profiles=''profile_id'' | |||
Name=''Action name in English'' | |||
Name[''cc'']=''Action name in Language'' | |||
Icon=''Icon name'' | |||
# Example: Icon=text-editor | |||
[X-Action-Profile ''profile_id''] | |||
MimeTypes=''MIME-types (semicolon separated)'' | |||
Exec=''command and arguments'' | |||
# Example: Exec=gedit %f | |||
}} | |||
You can | You can bind one or more profiles to a single action by listing their id separated by semicolons. Profiles allow you to specify which commands to execute for which file types — thus the same action can run different commands depending on the type of file selected. Besides specific MIME types (e.g. {{ic|text/plain}} for text files), you can use the following general types: | ||
* {{ic|all/allfiles}} - any files; | |||
* {{ic|inode/directory}} - any directories; | |||
* {{ic|all/all}} - any files and directories. | |||
{{Note|It is possible to run commands as root using [[polkit|pkexec]], but calling it directly will not work and you need to create an intermediate script as described on [https://web.archive.org/web/20220428194115/https://wiki.lxde.org/en/PCManFM#pkexec_method LXDE's wiki].}} | |||
=== Templates are accessible under ''Create New...'' === | === Templates are accessible under ''Create New...'' === | ||
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=== Thumbnails === | === Thumbnails === | ||
Like some other file managers (e.g. [[Nautilus]]) PCManFM will load previews of all images in a folder. To not abuse the HDD, keep the number of images in a folder to a hundred. | {{Accuracy|When using a modern SSD, PCManFM can render thumbnails for directories containing thousands of media files without issue.}} | ||
Like some other file managers (e.g. [[Nautilus]]), PCManFM will load previews of all images in a folder. To not abuse the HDD, keep the number of images in a folder to a hundred. | |||
== Troubleshooting == | == Troubleshooting == | ||
=== Open With dialog window empty === | === "Open With" dialog window empty === | ||
If you do not see any applications to choose from in the open with dialog, then you can try removing {{Pkg|gnome-menus}} and instead install {{Pkg|lxmenu-data}}. Furthermore, | If you do not see any applications to choose from in the open with dialog, then you can try removing {{Pkg|gnome-menus}} and instead install {{Pkg|lxmenu-data}}. Furthermore, set the following [[environment variables]]: | ||
* {{ic|XDG_MENU_PREFIX{{=}}lxde-}} | |||
* {{ic|XDG_CURRENT_DESKTOP{{=}}LXDE}} | |||
=== No "Applications" === | === No "Applications" === | ||
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You can try this method: Delete all files in the {{ic|$HOME/.cache/menus}} directory, and run PCManFM again. | You can try this method: Delete all files in the {{ic|$HOME/.cache/menus}} directory, and run PCManFM again. | ||
PCManFM requires the environment variable | PCManFM requires the environment variable {{ic|XDG_MENU_PREFIX}} to be set. The value of the variable should match the beginning of a file present in the {{ic|/etc/xdg/menus/}} directory. See [[#"Open With" dialog window empty]]. | ||
See these threads for more information: [https://bbs.archlinux.org/viewtopic.php?pid=1110903], and especially this post from the Linux Mint forums: [ | See these threads for more information: [https://bbs.archlinux.org/viewtopic.php?pid=1110903], and especially this post from the Linux Mint forums: [https://forums.linuxmint.com/viewtopic.php?f=175&t=53986#p501920] | ||
=== No icons === | === No icons === | ||
{{Style|Use [[Template:hc]] when suggesting edits to configuration files}} | |||
{{Accuracy|Should we be suggesting editing the global gtk configuration for a file manager?}} | |||
{{Expansion|Software also supports gtk3, although only gtk2 referenced here}} | |||
If you are using a [[window manager]] instead of a [[desktop environment]] and you have no icons for folders and files, specify a GTK icon theme. | If you are using a [[window manager]] instead of a [[desktop environment]] and you have no icons for folders and files, specify a GTK icon theme. | ||
If you have e.g. {{Pkg|oxygen-icons}} installed, edit {{ic|~/.gtkrc-2.0}} '''or''' {{ic|/etc/gtk-2.0/gtkrc}} and add the following line: | If you have e.g. {{Pkg|oxygen-icons}} installed, edit {{ic|~/.gtkrc-2.0}} '''or''' {{ic|/etc/gtk-2.0/gtkrc}} and add the following line: | ||
gtk-icon-theme-name = "oxygen" | gtk-icon-theme-name = "oxygen" | ||
{{Note|All instances of PCManFM have to be restarted for changes to apply!}} | {{Note|All instances of PCManFM have to be restarted for changes to apply!}} | ||
Else, use an different one (''gnome'', ''hicolor'', and ''locolor'' do not work). To list all installed icon themes: | Else, use an different one (''gnome'', ''hicolor'', and ''locolor'' do not work). To list all installed icon themes: | ||
$ ls ~/.icons/ /usr/share/icons/ | $ ls ~/.icons/ /usr/share/icons/ | ||
If none of them is suitable, install one. To list all installable icon packages: | If none of them is suitable, install one. To list all installable icon packages: | ||
$ pacman -Ss icon-theme | $ pacman -Ss icon-theme | ||
{{Tip|For an alternative GUI solution, install {{Pkg|lxappearance}} and apply an icon theme from there.}} | {{Tip|For an alternative GUI solution, install {{Pkg|lxappearance}} and apply an icon theme from there.}} | ||
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Install {{Pkg|xbindkeys}}, {{AUR|xvkbd}} and edit {{ic|~/.xbindkeysrc}} to contain the following: | Install {{Pkg|xbindkeys}}, {{AUR|xvkbd}} and edit {{ic|~/.xbindkeysrc}} to contain the following: | ||
{{ | |||
{{hc|~/.xbindkeysrc| | |||
# Sample .xbindkeysrc for a G9x mouse. | # Sample .xbindkeysrc for a G9x mouse. | ||
"/usr/bin/xvkbd -text '\[Alt_L]\[Left]'" | "/usr/bin/xvkbd -text '\[Alt_L]\[Left]'" | ||
Line 151: | Line 190: | ||
"/usr/bin/xvkbd -text '\[Alt_L]\[Right]'" | "/usr/bin/xvkbd -text '\[Alt_L]\[Right]'" | ||
b:9 | b:9 | ||
}} | |||
Actual button codes can be obtained with package {{Pkg|xorg-xev}}. | Actual button codes can be obtained with package {{Pkg|xorg-xev}}. | ||
Add: | Add: | ||
xbindkeys & | xbindkeys & | ||
to your {{ic|~/.xinitrc}} to execute xbindkeys on log-in. | |||
to your {{ic|~/.xinitrc}} to execute ''xbindkeys'' on log-in. | |||
=== --desktop parameter not working or crashing X-server === | === --desktop parameter not working or crashing X-server === | ||
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=== Terminal emulator advanced configuration not saved === | === Terminal emulator advanced configuration not saved === | ||
Make sure you have | {{Accuracy|Why would the libfm configuration file not have the "right permissions" by default?}} | ||
Make sure you have the right permissions on the libfm configuration file: | |||
$ chmod -R | $ chmod -R 750 ~/.config/libfm | ||
$ chmod | $ chmod 640 ~/.config/libfm/libfm.conf | ||
=== Make PCManFM remember your preferred Sort Files settings === | === Make PCManFM remember your preferred Sort Files settings === | ||
You can use ''View > Sort Files'' to change the order in which PCManFM lists the files, but PCManFM | You can use ''View > Sort Files'' to change the order in which PCManFM lists the files, but PCManFM will not remember that the next time you start it. To make it remember, go to ''Edit > Preferences'' and close. That will write your current sort_type and sort_by values into {{ic|~/.config/pcmanfm/LXDE/pcmanfm.conf}}. | ||
=== "Not authorized" error when attempting to mount drive === | === "Not authorized" error when attempting to mount drive === | ||
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Make this [[polkit]] rule in {{ic|/etc/polkit-1/rules.d/00-mount-internal.rules}}: | Make this [[polkit]] rule in {{ic|/etc/polkit-1/rules.d/00-mount-internal.rules}}: | ||
{{Style|Inconsistent syntax within configuration section}} | |||
{{hc|/etc/polkit-1/rules.d/00-mount-internal.rules|<nowiki> | |||
polkit.addRule(function(action, subject) { | |||
if ((action.id == "org.freedesktop.udisks2.filesystem-mount-system" && | |||
subject.local && subject.active && subject.isInGroup("storage"))) | |||
{ | |||
return polkit.Result.YES; | |||
} | |||
}); | |||
</nowiki>}} | |||
And add yourself to the storage [[user group]]. | |||
=== Operation not supported === | === Operation not supported === | ||
Check first if you forgot to install the optional dependency {{Pkg|gvfs}}, otherwise see the article on [[General troubleshooting#Session permissions|Session permissions]]. | |||
=== Passwords are forgotten on system restart === | === Passwords are forgotten on system restart === | ||
Install a keyring application like [[GNOME/Keyring]], [[KDE Wallet]] or {{AUR|lxqt_wallet}} for network shares or an [[SSH agent]] if appropriate. | Install a keyring application like [[GNOME/Keyring]], [[KDE Wallet]] or {{AUR|lxqt_wallet}} for network shares or an [[SSH agent]] if appropriate. |
Latest revision as of 06:35, 6 March 2024
PCManFM is an extremely fast and lightweight file manager and the standard file manager of LXDE. It uses GTK for its UI and GVFS (within GNOME's GIO library) to provide virtual filesystem functionality such as trashing files and mounting remote filesystems.
PCManFM-Qt is a port to Qt which is the standard file manager of LXQt. Despite using Qt as the UI toolkit, PCManFM-Qt retains GVFS rather than using KDE's KIO [1]. At their cores, both file managers are desktop-environment-agnostic.
Installation
Install one of the following the packages:
Optionally also install gvfs for support for trash, mounting volumes with udisks and remote filesystems and gvfs-smb for SMB/CIFS support.
Development versions
Development versions are available from the AUR:
- GTK 2: pcmanfm-gitAUR
- Qt5: pcmanfm-qt-gitAUR
- Qt6: pcmanfm-qt6-gitAUR
Desktop management
PCManFM can manage the desktop, including setting a background wallpaper and showing desktop icons. To launch the desktop manager, run:
$ pcmanfm --desktop
The native desktop menu of the window manager will be replaced with that provided by PCManFM. The native menu can be restored from the PCManFM menu by selecting Desktop Preferences and then enabling the Show menus provided by window managers when desktop is clicked option in the Advanced tab.
Desktop preferences
If using the native desktop menu provided by a window manager, enter the following command to set or amend desktop preferences at any time:
$ pcmanfm --desktop-pref
Consider adding this command to a keybind and/or the native desktop menu for easy access.
Creating new icons
Files can be dragged and dropped directly onto the desktop. To create shortcuts for applications, copy their .desktop
files to the ~/Desktop
directory. Do not drag and drop the files there as they will be moved completely. The command is:
$ cp /usr/share/applications/name-of-application.desktop ~/Desktop
For example to create a desktop shortcut for lxterminal:
$ cp /usr/share/applications/lxterminal.desktop ~/Desktop
For those who used the XDG user directories program to create their $HOME
directories, no further configuration will be required.
Daemon mode
To run PCManFM as a background daemon (i.e. to automatically mount removable media), use:
$ pcmanfm --daemon-mode
Only one instance of PCManFM may run as a daemon at atime.
Should automount fail, see udisks.
Autostarting
PCManFM may be autostarted as a daemon process or to manage the desktop.
Additional features and functionality
Less experienced users should be aware that a file manager alone — especially when installed in a standalone window manager such as Openbox — will not provide the features and functionality users of full desktop environments such as Xfce and KDE will be accustomed to. Review the file manager functionality article for further information.
Tips and tricks
Get thumbnails for other file types
See File manager functionality#Use PCManFM to get thumbnails for other file types.
Set the terminal emulator
You can configure what terminal emulator PCManFM should use for Tools > Open Current Folder in Terminal under Edit > Preferences > Advanced.
Integrate an archiver
It is possible to choose the integrated archiver under Edit > Preferences > Advanced. PCManFM and PCManFM-Qt both support file-roller, xarchiver (or xarchiver-gtk2), engrampa and ark [2] [3]. PCManFM-Qt additionally supports lxqt-archiver, which is the default choice for LXQt.
PCManFM supports Desktop file specification extension (DES-EMA) which allows you to add arbitrary items to the context menu of files and directories. To add your own items, create ~/.local/share/file-manager/actions/
(if it does not already exist) and add .desktop
files inside:
~/.local/share/file-manager/actions/action.desktop
[Desktop Entry] Type=Action Profiles=profile_id Name=Action name in English Name[cc]=Action name in Language Icon=Icon name # Example: Icon=text-editor [X-Action-Profile profile_id] MimeTypes=MIME-types (semicolon separated) Exec=command and arguments # Example: Exec=gedit %f
You can bind one or more profiles to a single action by listing their id separated by semicolons. Profiles allow you to specify which commands to execute for which file types — thus the same action can run different commands depending on the type of file selected. Besides specific MIME types (e.g. text/plain
for text files), you can use the following general types:
all/allfiles
- any files;inode/directory
- any directories;all/all
- any files and directories.
Templates are accessible under Create New...
PCManFM adds the files in ~/Templates
as Create New... context menu items on startup.
Thumbnails
Like some other file managers (e.g. Nautilus), PCManFM will load previews of all images in a folder. To not abuse the HDD, keep the number of images in a folder to a hundred.
Troubleshooting
"Open With" dialog window empty
If you do not see any applications to choose from in the open with dialog, then you can try removing gnome-menus and instead install lxmenu-data. Furthermore, set the following environment variables:
XDG_MENU_PREFIX=lxde-
XDG_CURRENT_DESKTOP=LXDE
No "Applications"
You can try this method: Delete all files in the $HOME/.cache/menus
directory, and run PCManFM again.
PCManFM requires the environment variable XDG_MENU_PREFIX
to be set. The value of the variable should match the beginning of a file present in the /etc/xdg/menus/
directory. See #"Open With" dialog window empty.
See these threads for more information: [4], and especially this post from the Linux Mint forums: [5]
No icons
If you are using a window manager instead of a desktop environment and you have no icons for folders and files, specify a GTK icon theme.
If you have e.g. oxygen-icons installed, edit ~/.gtkrc-2.0
or /etc/gtk-2.0/gtkrc
and add the following line:
gtk-icon-theme-name = "oxygen"
Else, use an different one (gnome, hicolor, and locolor do not work). To list all installed icon themes:
$ ls ~/.icons/ /usr/share/icons/
If none of them is suitable, install one. To list all installable icon packages:
$ pacman -Ss icon-theme
No "Previous/Next Folder" functionality with mouse buttons
A method to fix this is with Xbindkeys.
Install xbindkeys, xvkbdAUR and edit ~/.xbindkeysrc
to contain the following:
~/.xbindkeysrc
# Sample .xbindkeysrc for a G9x mouse. "/usr/bin/xvkbd -text '\[Alt_L]\[Left]'" b:8 "/usr/bin/xvkbd -text '\[Alt_L]\[Right]'" b:9
Actual button codes can be obtained with package xorg-xev.
Add:
xbindkeys &
to your ~/.xinitrc
to execute xbindkeys on log-in.
--desktop parameter not working or crashing X-server
Make sure you have ownership and write permissions on ~/.config/pcmanfm
.
Setting the wallpaper either by using the --desktop-pref
parameter or editing ~/.config/pcmanfm/default/pcmanfm.config
solves the problem.
Terminal emulator advanced configuration not saved
Make sure you have the right permissions on the libfm configuration file:
$ chmod -R 750 ~/.config/libfm $ chmod 640 ~/.config/libfm/libfm.conf
Make PCManFM remember your preferred Sort Files settings
You can use View > Sort Files to change the order in which PCManFM lists the files, but PCManFM will not remember that the next time you start it. To make it remember, go to Edit > Preferences and close. That will write your current sort_type and sort_by values into ~/.config/pcmanfm/LXDE/pcmanfm.conf
.
"Not authorized" error when attempting to mount drive
Make this polkit rule in /etc/polkit-1/rules.d/00-mount-internal.rules
:
/etc/polkit-1/rules.d/00-mount-internal.rules
polkit.addRule(function(action, subject) { if ((action.id == "org.freedesktop.udisks2.filesystem-mount-system" && subject.local && subject.active && subject.isInGroup("storage"))) { return polkit.Result.YES; } });
And add yourself to the storage user group.
Operation not supported
Check first if you forgot to install the optional dependency gvfs, otherwise see the article on Session permissions.
Passwords are forgotten on system restart
Install a keyring application like GNOME/Keyring, KDE Wallet or lxqt_walletAUR for network shares or an SSH agent if appropriate.