Hey everyone, I am pretty frustrated right now I am new to Linux and desperately need to sort my downloads folder by newest files first.

I tried a few commands in terminal and none seem to work. Why linux does not have the option to right click and then sort by name is truly beyond my comprehension.

Any help would be appreciated. By the way I am using Elementary OS.

Thanks in advance for your replies and help.

according to wikipedia Elementary os uses "Pantheon files" as file manager.. im not sure but it probably allows to sort files by date. Try checking menus for "detailed view" or just install another file manager as Thunar or PcmanFM.

Thank you for replying yooy. In the general directory where the download folder is listed with others on the C drive e.g. Documents folder you can sort by date. However, within these folders you cannot sort by date.

I attempted to download Thunar and read the installation instructions. They are daunting to say the least and suddenly I do not feel as tech saavy as I did with the Windows OS.

I have resorted to copying the entire downloads folder (142 gb) just to ensure I have all the files which are newer that October 5, 2013.

If you can give me some pointers regarding the installation of Thunar it would be appreciated.

terminal >

i think op wants a gui solution.
i am 99% sure that the filemanager shipped with elementary os does have this option.
have you tried the menu (in the filemanager window, usually under "view"), or right clicking not a file or folder but the empty space in between, or the file managers preferences --> default view or sth.

i am not using elementary, but these things are very common amongst all gui file managers.

Hi Habitual, I did enter that command twice and below is what comes up. However, what command will make the files show up in the Downloads folder of the C drive?

drwxr-xr-x 2 elementary elementary 40 Dec 15 13:11 Videos
drwxr-xr-x 2 elementary elementary 40 Dec 15 13:11 Templates
drwxr-xr-x 2 elementary elementary 40 Dec 15 13:11 Public
drwxr-xr-x 2 elementary elementary 40 Dec 15 13:11 Pictures
drwxr-xr-x 2 elementary elementary 40 Dec 15 13:11 Music
drwxr-xr-x 2 elementary elementary 40 Dec 15 13:11 Documents
drwxr-xr-x 2 elementary elementary 60 Dec 15 22:23 Downloads
elementary@elementary:~$ ^C
elementary@elementary:~$

Hi ondoho, nope none of those work. I will keep trying though.

Thanks everyone for trying to help.

you're trying to use Cygwin in Windows? and you want to use Linux command.

You can use Powershell and it can be achieved easily.

since you want Linux try this:

can you install other file browsers like nautilus? In Nautilus > Edit > Preferences> List Columns > check:
Date Modified > Close
Then click on that column to make the arrow going upwards and you have the newest at the top.

Thanks a lot for your replies everyone. I really appreciate, everyone seems really helpful.
I ditched elementary and installed Ubuntu 12.04 and I am actually enjoying it. I am learning new things through increased usage of the command line. Sometimes I get frustrated and just when I say screw it, I find the solution e.g. installing flash in Mozilla and Chromium. I need to use SPSS since I do a lot of statistical work. However, I have been toying with the idea of learning R and maybe this will be the push.
I have been an open source software user for awhile but using Linux has really opened my eyes. I feel this movement is so important and has the power to assist with so many things e.g. poverty alleviation in developing countries by exposing persons to computer usage and programming.

Ubuntu 12.04 will be by main OS until 2014.

1 members found this post helpful.

Hi I like your idea about exposing computer usage and programming in developing countries.

Aside from material things such as PC, electricity or whatsoever.

How to create modules, or how to get people started or just how to encourage that indeed there is hope in Linux programming?

I've been thinking about it as well, on how to impart ideas and help people to alleviate poverty.

Any ideas people?

Hi LinuxorNot?

You did the right thing. Thumbs up for using Ububntu 12.04.
Did you notice that in the native file browser nautilus the "up to parent folder" arrow
is missing? This can be very annoying when you want to return back up the folder tree.
Luckily Mr Kirby, a dedicated tux user, created a patch to have more toolbar options.
Check out this site: https://launchpad.net/nautiluspatchtogglelocationbar
where the patch is available. you may have to downgrade nautilus to match the patch version.
latest version is: 3.4.2-0ubuntu8-1
After installing it you could lock the installed nautilus version in synaptic package manager
(has to be installed first; in terminal type: sudo apt-get synaptic)
so it won't get updated and loose the patch. Synaptic is much better than the software center.
You could regularly visit Mr.Kirby's site and check if there are newer versions.
To activate the up arrow and other options goto: Edit > Preferences > Toolbar > Tick: Show up icon

best wishes for the new year and enjoy ubuntu precise pangolin

Ps I uploaded my tweaked version of precise at: http://yadi.sk/d/cPzGNx1vDz9R6
for the tweaks I used in precise check out http://linuxblog.darkduck.com/
for my blog "Collection of 12 tweaks" which will be published later today the 19th December.

Hey JJJCR, I think the best way is to start at the early childhood level i.e. age 5 and under and then pique their interest in linux. By the time they are 10 years old they would be sufficiently interested not only in linux but in ICT in general. The fact is the average person in developing countries does not possess a basic understanding of computers let alone Linux. Knowledge is power right now, if for example some people can get some old computers and install Linux and be exposed to the web and computing it can only be for the best.


Hey Fenario, thanks for your reply it, I like that you gave me a lot of information. I will check out Synaptic and precise. A question for you why am I having such trouble installing Libreoffice? Ubuntu came with Libreoffice 3 and while I am able to uninstall and reinstall that version. I cannot install 4.1.4. Here is a copy of my commands. Any help would be appreciated. Coincidentally, I was accepted to Southern Cross University which I see is in your area.

proppy@HappyDays:~$ cd Downloads
proppy@HappyDays:~/Downloads$ tar -xvzf LibreOffice_4.1.4_Linux_x86-64_deb.tar.gz
LibreOffice_4.1.4.2_Linux_x86-64_deb/
LibreOffice_4.1.4.2_Linux_x86-64_deb/DEBS/
LibreOffice_4.1.4.2_Linux_x86-64_deb/DEBS/libobasis4.1-python-script-provider_4.1.4.2-2_amd64.deb
LibreOffice_4.1.4.2_Linux_x86-64_deb/DEBS/libobasis4.1-writer_4.1.4.2-2_amd64.deb
LibreOffice_4.1.4.2_Linux_x86-64_deb/DEBS/libreoffice4.1-dict-en_4.1.4.2-2_amd64.deb
LibreOffice_4.1.4.2_Linux_x86-64_deb/DEBS/libobasis4.1-images_4.1.4.2-2_amd64.deb
LibreOffice_4.1.4.2_Linux_x86-64_deb/DEBS/libobasis4.1-pyuno_4.1.4.2-2_amd64.deb
LibreOffice_4.1.4.2_Linux_x86-64_deb/DEBS/libobasis4.1-en-us-base_4.1.4.2-2_amd64.deb
LibreOffice_4.1.4.2_Linux_x86-64_deb/DEBS/libobasis4.1-extension-javascript-script-provider_4.1.4.2-2_amd64.deb
LibreOffice_4.1.4.2_Linux_x86-64_deb/DEBS/libobasis4.1-gnome-integration_4.1.4.2-2_amd64.deb
LibreOffice_4.1.4.2_Linux_x86-64_deb/DEBS/libobasis4.1-postgresql-sdbc_4.1.4.2-2_amd64.deb
LibreOffice_4.1.4.2_Linux_x86-64_deb/DEBS/libreoffice4.1-impress_4.1.4.2-2_amd64.deb
LibreOffice_4.1.4.2_Linux_x86-64_deb/DEBS/libobasis4.1-base_4.1.4.2-2_amd64.deb
LibreOffice_4.1.4.2_Linux_x86-64_deb/DEBS/libobasis4.1-extension-presentation-minimizer_4.1.4.2-2_amd64.deb
LibreOffice_4.1.4.2_Linux_x86-64_deb/DEBS/libobasis4.1-en-us-math_4.1.4.2-2_amd64.deb
LibreOffice_4.1.4.2_Linux_x86-64_deb/DEBS/libobasis4.1-en-us-calc_4.1.4.2-2_amd64.deb
LibreOffice_4.1.4.2_Linux_x86-64_deb/DEBS/libobasis4.1-en-us-writer_4.1.4.2-2_amd64.deb
LibreOffice_4.1.4.2_Linux_x86-64_deb/DEBS/libobasis4.1-en-us_4.1.4.2-2_amd64.deb
LibreOffice_4.1.4.2_Linux_x86-64_deb/DEBS/libobasis4.1-calc_4.1.4.2-2_amd64.deb
LibreOffice_4.1.4.2_Linux_x86-64_deb/DEBS/libobasis4.1-extension-mediawiki-publisher_4.1.4.2-2_amd64.deb
LibreOffice_4.1.4.2_Linux_x86-64_deb/DEBS/libobasis4.1-onlineupdate_4.1.4.2-2_amd64.deb
LibreOffice_4.1.4.2_Linux_x86-64_deb/DEBS/libobasis4.1-core01_4.1.4.2-2_amd64.deb
LibreOffice_4.1.4.2_Linux_x86-64_deb/DEBS/libobasis4.1-extension-nlpsolver_4.1.4.2-2_amd64.deb
LibreOffice_4.1.4.2_Linux_x86-64_deb/DEBS/libobasis4.1-librelogo_4.1.4.2-2_amd64.deb
LibreOffice_4.1.4.2_Linux_x86-64_deb/DEBS/libobasis4.1-extension-beanshell-script-provider_4.1.4.2-2_amd64.deb
LibreOffice_4.1.4.2_Linux_x86-64_deb/DEBS/libreoffice4.1-math_4.1.4.2-2_amd64.deb
LibreOffice_4.1.4.2_Linux_x86-64_deb/DEBS/libobasis4.1-extension-pdf-import_4.1.4.2-2_amd64.deb
LibreOffice_4.1.4.2_Linux_x86-64_deb/DEBS/libreoffice4.1-en-us_4.1.4.2-2_amd64.deb
LibreOffice_4.1.4.2_Linux_x86-64_deb/DEBS/libobasis4.1-en-us-res_4.1.4.2-2_amd64.deb
LibreOffice_4.1.4.2_Linux_x86-64_deb/DEBS/libobasis4.1-core06_4.1.4.2-2_amd64.deb
LibreOffice_4.1.4.2_Linux_x86-64_deb/DEBS/libobasis4.1-ooofonts_4.1.4.2-2_amd64.deb
LibreOffice_4.1.4.2_Linux_x86-64_deb/DEBS/libreoffice4.1-ure_4.1.4.2-2_amd64.deb
LibreOffice_4.1.4.2_Linux_x86-64_deb/DEBS/libobasis4.1-core05_4.1.4.2-2_amd64.deb
LibreOffice_4.1.4.2_Linux_x86-64_deb/DEBS/libobasis4.1-impress_4.1.4.2-2_amd64.deb
LibreOffice_4.1.4.2_Linux_x86-64_deb/DEBS/libreoffice4.1-calc_4.1.4.2-2_amd64.deb
LibreOffice_4.1.4.2_Linux_x86-64_deb/DEBS/libobasis4.1-math_4.1.4.2-2_amd64.deb
LibreOffice_4.1.4.2_Linux_x86-64_deb/DEBS/libreoffice4.1-dict-es_4.1.4.2-2_amd64.deb
LibreOffice_4.1.4.2_Linux_x86-64_deb/DEBS/libobasis4.1-core02_4.1.4.2-2_amd64.deb
LibreOffice_4.1.4.2_Linux_x86-64_deb/DEBS/libobasis4.1-core07_4.1.4.2-2_amd64.deb
LibreOffice_4.1.4.2_Linux_x86-64_deb/DEBS/libreoffice4.1_4.1.4.2-2_amd64.deb
LibreOffice_4.1.4.2_Linux_x86-64_deb/DEBS/libreoffice4.1-draw_4.1.4.2-2_amd64.deb
LibreOffice_4.1.4.2_Linux_x86-64_deb/DEBS/libreoffice4.1-base_4.1.4.2-2_amd64.deb
LibreOffice_4.1.4.2_Linux_x86-64_deb/DEBS/libreoffice4.1-writer_4.1.4.2-2_amd64.deb
LibreOffice_4.1.4.2_Linux_x86-64_deb/DEBS/libobasis4.1-ogltrans_4.1.4.2-2_amd64.deb
LibreOffice_4.1.4.2_Linux_x86-64_deb/DEBS/libobasis4.1-graphicfilter_4.1.4.2-2_amd64.deb
LibreOffice_4.1.4.2_Linux_x86-64_deb/DEBS/libobasis4.1-draw_4.1.4.2-2_amd64.deb
LibreOffice_4.1.4.2_Linux_x86-64_deb/DEBS/libobasis4.1-core04_4.1.4.2-2_amd64.deb
LibreOffice_4.1.4.2_Linux_x86-64_deb/DEBS/libobasis4.1-kde-integration_4.1.4.2-2_amd64.deb
LibreOffice_4.1.4.2_Linux_x86-64_deb/DEBS/libobasis4.1-ooolinguistic_4.1.4.2-2_amd64.deb
LibreOffice_4.1.4.2_Linux_x86-64_deb/DEBS/libreoffice4.1-debian-menus_4.1.4-2_all.deb
LibreOffice_4.1.4.2_Linux_x86-64_deb/DEBS/libreoffice4.1-dict-fr_4.1.4.2-2_amd64.deb
LibreOffice_4.1.4.2_Linux_x86-64_deb/DEBS/libobasis4.1-core03_4.1.4.2-2_amd64.deb
LibreOffice_4.1.4.2_Linux_x86-64_deb/DEBS/libobasis4.1-xsltfilter_4.1.4.2-2_amd64.deb
LibreOffice_4.1.4.2_Linux_x86-64_deb/DEBS/libobasis4.1-extension-report-builder_4.1.4.2-2_amd64.deb
LibreOffice_4.1.4.2_Linux_x86-64_deb/readmes/
LibreOffice_4.1.4.2_Linux_x86-64_deb/readmes/README_en-US
proppy@HappyDays:~/Downloads$ sudo dpkg -i *.deb
[sudo] password for proppy:
dpkg: error processing *.deb (--install):
cannot access archive: No such file or directory
Errors were encountered while processing:
*.deb
proppy@HappyDays:~/Downloads$

Hi,

the *.deb files are not in your current working directory. So, try for example:
However, please note that installing software like this is *NOT RECOMMENDED*. If you can stick with the software actually provided by Ubuntu you are likely to have a much smoother ride. If you really do *need* libreoffice 4.x, there may be a better way to get it.

Evo2.

right!

since using linux, i don't even want new hardware. sometimes i tune in on the hype, but then i think, why? i'm running the best operating system ever, my current, 5 year old laptop is still far from its limits.
i like not throwing things away. i think it's one of the many things that will save our planet.

i would like to disagree on that one. maybe 6 and up, but for younger children it is much more important to develop motorical skills, social interaction and the like. human touch. they'll just get hyperactive if they start clicking and tapping so early. btw, i am working with preschool children.

or
FYI - There is no "C" drive in Linux. That's Windows terminology, and due to the fundamental differences in the way Windows and Linux handle drives and filesystems, terms like "C", "D", or any other drive letter will just confuse things in Linux, there is no counterpart.