folder ".tif .." disappeared

ungua · 05-20-2006, 01:44 PM

i just did something weird: i created a folder name ".tif [something" and the folder is invisible. when i type its full name in the address-line i can open it, though. but how do i rename it to make it a visible folder? else i might forget about it's existence - would be stupid since it contains 1gb of image-data on my 40gb-disc.

thank you very much & regards
ungua

lotusjps46 · 05-20-2006, 03:23 PM

In Linux any file or directory with a dot as the first character in the name is a hidden file or directory. You could either do this at a command line:

mv .tif[something] tif[something]

OR open the Konqueror file manager (Home) and, at the top, click View and select "Show Hidden Files". This last is assuming that you are using KDE, and not Gnome.

Good luck.

C

ungua · 05-21-2006, 03:50 AM

thank you very much - that i should have found out myself!

i found a giant amount of hidden folders, "thumbnails" for instance included several 100 mb with preview pictures, some whose original pictures were long ago deleted. i assume this is one of many folders with temporary files, two questions rise from that: why isn't the folder situated at the swap-partition? doesn't suse 10.0 clear temporary files automatically from a time to another?? (then, which folders do i have to clear manually?, question 2½

)

regards
ungua

davcefai · 05-21-2006, 05:31 AM

Quote:

then, which folders do i have to clear manually?

You can clear the ones that you know you don't need.

Be careful with the others though. All your configuration files are in these folders, as also a lot of KDE.

Think of these files as the (sensible) equivalent of the Windows Registry.

whansard · 05-21-2006, 06:22 AM

ls -a will show all, including hidden file.
you can make an alias, so that when you run ls, the a gets added automatically. usually these go in your .bashrc
this is mine.
alias ls='ls --color -s -a'

ungua · 05-21-2006, 09:10 AM

@davcefai, i deleted the thumbnails but didn't dare to do anything else. where do i find a description of what i saved there? i recognized some folders that obviously serve as configuration folders, like skype and mozilla.
@whansard, i use linux like others use windows, so i don't understand too much of what you just said, sorry.

regards
ungua

davcefai · 05-21-2006, 10:48 AM

As a rule, .* folders are written by applications and should be approached with caution.

If any of the dot folders have a name or contents which obviously relate to an app you have removed then you can probably safely remove them. Otherwise leave well alone.