Common call for launching file browser

[David Curtis]

On Thu, 12 Mar 2009 20:43:58 -0500
"Cybe R. Wizard" <cybe_r_wizard at earthlink.net> wrote:

> Derek Broughton <derek at pointerstop.ca>  said:
> > Charlie, you _know_ this is Linux - we can do anything!
> > 
> > As long as you can identify the desktop, it can't be that difficult
> > (as xdg-open shows) to invoked the appropriate application for the
> > desktop - or it could be done through the "alternatives" system.
> 
> As for xdg-open, it seems to me that it only opens a file with the
> preferred application or a URL with the preferred browser.  Am I missing
> something?  If it /does/ open a file manager I haven't been able to do
> it.

'xdg-open ~' or 'xdg-open /etc' works for me. XFCE on Jaunty. LXDE does _not_ work, there seems to be a problem with pcmanfm and /etc/mailcap. A bug?

> I am not familiar with the "alternatives" system.
> <googles>
> hmmm...
> <reads man page>
> I can't find a correct group name for a file manager
> in /etc/alternatives.

Right, there's no x-file-manager, or whatever it would be. 

> <checks gconf-editor>
> I can't find a place to change the default file manager anywhere.  I
> would love to set it to use PCManFM if I only could.
> 
> I /know/ that we, as Linux users, can do anything.  I am stumped by
> the, "how?"

Maybe we could get a 'sensible-file-manager' script?

> Even inside my own system this doesn't look so easy, much less
> for /any/ system.
> 
> Help?
> 
It seems xdg-utils is the way to go, as long as the DE is compliant/set up properly. I know nothing about mime types or mailcap re:LXDE/pcmanfm.

-- 
David Curtis <dcurtis at uniserve.com>