I don't want paths along with the file name with trailing lines after them as in Marius' script (googlecode.com); I don't want the name in hex or some other strange and invidious form that is useless in a text editor or a terminal emulator; I just want the file name of the file I've clicked on on the Desktop or in some Nautilus window, regardless of what view mode I happen to be "in."

Is this even possible? And why in the world should I have to ask for this capability? Maybe the folks who work on Nautilus need to be reminded that it also takes an add-on or two to do this in Windows, something that's only been necessary since some jack-arse came up with the idea that Edit>Copy in a file navigator absolutely and definitely, without exception, meant the file and not just its name.

And while I know no one is going to pay attention to the next thing I'm going to write, I'll write it anyway.

I am aware that I can copy a file name by right-clicking on it and selecting Rename. (That's my other persistent annoyance with Nautilus. It seems to be the last and only GUI file navigator where this is even necessary when one wants to rename a file.)

So I ask again: Is it possible to copy just a file name in Nautilus, or should I go looking for another file navigator? I already have GNOME Desktop running on top of a Kubuntu install, because in my opinion Plasma is a mural gallery and not a desktop. If I must, I'll run something else on top of Nautilus just to have the ability to choose whether or not to copy a file's name or its contents along with the name.

Maybe I'm too much the optimist, but I'm hoping I won't have to.

Any suggestions?

BZT

Are you asking for a feature such as right-click >> Copy Filename (to clipboard)?

If so, that could probably be done with a Nautilus extension written in Python.

1 members found this post helpful.

So. nobody is going to bother reading and answering your question? Optimist? Maybe I shouldn't then, but I will. I do know the answer.

It's very simple to copy the filename. Right-click on the file in Nautilus. From the list that appears choose "properties". From the window that appears, you will see the filename and on another line the path, both as text. Copy whatever parts of the text you want. This is so simple and fast. You need to calm down, stop flaming, ask polite questions, and learn. Then you can advance a step closer to the intelligence level of the Linux developers. I say it's ignorance to spend time writing a script or a program to do this. Hopefully two simple, fast steps are not too much trouble.

Learn all about that properties window. You can do a lot of things there easily with files- even change what app opens the file, and the file permissions.

Nobody in Linux and Ubuntu owes you anything- they all work for free and should be appreciated.

Nobody connected with Linux needs to be reminded of a thing such as this. You can't even do this that easily in Windjunk. You need to learn the ropes in Linux just like for other operating systems. There is a manual for Ubuntu on the internet, and you can ask questions here or in the Ubuntu forum.

Your second complaint- Windjunk is no easier, and right-click/rename is also in Windjunk. Also in Nautilus, when you first paste a file into a folder it will be highlighted to be renamed by just typing a name over the highlight.

1 members found this post helpful.

I thought so.

And thanks, too, for satisfying my curiosity: I had the impression a lot of GNOME parts & pieces were still "done up," if you'll allow, in Python, but I wasn't sure. Then again, with Nautilus being one of the older and more common of its elements, I probably should have gone ahead and assumed it still was.

Too bad I don't know how to script in Python. Is it one of those languages for which folks accept commissions to take on projects? Or is that class of thing more with C and COBOL and the like?

BZT

It would be great if that actually worked... (tested with Nautilus 2.30 and it does not)

f2
Ctrl+c

relax.

2 members found this post helpful.

accidental post, please disregard

I'll have to make a sticky of that one.

Added with tongue firmly in cheek: No sense in removing it from the stack either, as I'll probably find myself jotting down more of them as I re-orient myself with Ubuntu, GNOME, etc.

BZT

R-click and select "properties "
then highlight and r-click "copy" on the name in the window