Set Default File Manager for Desktop in Mint

caned_monkey · 10-15-2015, 05:39 AM

Hello,

I am using Mint 17.1

I have set SpaceFM as my default file manager, I wanted to use it to manage my desktop as well but it doesn’t handle dual screens very well. I’ve decided to go back to Nemo as the desktop handler but I still want to use SpaceFM as file manager.

The problem I have is that when I open a folder on my desktop, it opens in Nemo not SpaceFM. I've got SpaceFM working OK as the default file manager but how can I get folders on the desktop to open in SpaceFM by default?

Thanks
Steven

Habitual · 10-15-2015, 12:40 PM

Have a look in

Code:

exo-preferred-applications

In the Utilities tab, click the down arrow in the File Manager and click "Other".
Enter

Code:

/usr/bin/spacefm

I created a shorcut link of a directory and SpaceFM popped right up.

system:

Code:

System:    Host: my-kungfu Kernel: 3.13.0-37-generic x86_64 (64 bit) Desktop: Xfce 4.11.8
           Distro: Linux Mint 17.1 Rebecca

PS:
Welcome to LQ!

caned_monkey · 10-15-2015, 04:09 PM

Thanks Habitual but that doesn’t work for me. I dont have a spacefm file in /usr/bin/ but I do have one in /usr/local/bin/. I've tried entering that but it isn’t working.

The terminal shows this error:

Code:

(exo-helper-1:2648): Gdk-CRITICAL **: IA__gdk_window_get_window_type: assertion 'GDK_IS_WINDOW (window)' failed

Habitual · 10-15-2015, 04:43 PM

Hmmz...

Try with Alt+F2 and and enter

Code:

exo-preferred-applications

and let us know.

Thank you.

caned_monkey · 10-16-2015, 01:33 PM

That gives me this error:

Code:

(exo-helper-1:2798): Gtk-WARNING **: cannot open displays:

Habitual · 10-16-2015, 06:01 PM

try

Code:

export DISPLAY=:0.0 ; exo-preferred-applications

from a terminal.

Let us know.
Thank you.

Habitual · 10-16-2015, 06:11 PM

Code:

DISPLAY=:0.0 && exo-preferred-applications

gave me "noise"

Code:

(exo-helper-1:13218): Gtk-WARNING **: Unable to locate theme engine in module_path: "oxygen-gtk",
(exo-helper-1:13218): Gdk-CRITICAL **: IA__gdk_window_get_window_type: assertion 'GDK_IS_WINDOW (window)' failed
(exo-helper-1:13218): Gdk-CRITICAL **: IA__gdk_window_get_window_type: assertion 'GDK_IS_WINDOW (window)' failed

but

Code:

exo-preferred-applications

still worked.

Have a Great Weekend.

ondoho · 10-17-2015, 02:48 AM

i once had a similar problem.
turned out, it was nearly impossible to change the behaviour, because the desktop manager is basically just another file manager window, and the request was hardcoded or something (that was on xfce).
what i did, iirc, is to create a symlink in $HOME/bin (if you don't have that directory, create it):

Code:

ln -s /usr/local/bin/spacefm $HOME/bin/nemo

(i'm just guessing the program names here, i'm sure you can fill out the rest)

- but it always felt like a disgusting hack to me and evtl. i found other solutions.
fwiw, i haven't been using a desktop manager for years.

if that hack doesn't work, even after logout/in, please post the output of

Code:

echo $PATH

caned_monkey · 10-17-2015, 07:39 AM

@ondoho, You've got the program names correct but when I log out and back in again the desktop doesn’t load and Spacefm opens

output fro echo $PATH is

Code:

/home/caned_monkey/bin:/usr/local/sbin:/usr/local/bin:/usr/sbin:/usr/bin:/sbin:/bin:/usr/games:/usr/local/games

@Habitual, I get the same error as before when I try that.

ondoho · 10-17-2015, 02:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by caned_monkey

@ondoho, You've got the program names correct but when I log out and back in again the desktop doesnt load and Spacefm opens

yes, my bad.
it worked in my case because "thunar" and "xfdesktop" are 2 different programs.
please just delete the symlink: "rm $HOME/bin/nemo".

...well, search (on askubuntu, linuxmint forums, the web...) meaybe nemo (was it mate?) is more configurable than xfce.