
Folders with icons
Various KDE 1.-4. Improvements
Source (link to git-repo or to original if based on someone elses unmodified work): Add the source-code for this project on opencode.net
An user ask me why not the directories have a icon to representate its functionality and help to new linux users to know what do every directory.
I made a first version based in .directory files, maybe it could be a good idea to implement this in konqueror code.
I can not change the proc directory (I can't write it) and the tmp directory lose its .directory file every time you reboot.
To install, just run the command "tar
xvfj folders_icon.tar.bz2 -C /" like root
16 years ago
Now the directories are represented with a folder and an icon to representate its functionality-
16 years ago
Now the directories are represented with a folder and an icon to representate its functionality-
msimplay
15 years ago
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pivarac
16 years ago
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melenas
16 years ago
Maybe I don't write English very well but in the resume you can read:
I made a first version based in .directory files, maybe it could be a good idea to implement this in konqueror code.
I never try to deceive nobody when I create this little hack, is just a few .directory files plus more icons.
I want to discuss if this will be a hack that can be incorporated in konqueror code, no if this hack may be continue alone. have I explained myself correctly now? :-)
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pivarac
16 years ago
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melenas
16 years ago
By the way, do you download the file? do you see the NEW icons that I made?. Probably not ;-)
I forget to say that I add too a short description for every directory. You can look in "Detailed view list"
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r0ttie
16 years ago
It would be useless to do this with all directories but just the root-directories and some special directories (like with fonts) would be great.
I think it will enhance readability with newbies and experienced users alike.
Good job!
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Ekardnam
16 years ago
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Yaba
16 years ago
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melenas
16 years ago
Maybe creating a new entry?
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freefred
16 years ago
It's different by "folders reflect contents"
Nice job, thanks
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nns6561
16 years ago
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openhaus
16 years ago
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tpig
16 years ago
But I think, instead of having .directory file for each directories. Why not save all information in just one file, may be /etc/directories. It can eliminate non permanent and readonly filesystem problems.
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melenas
16 years ago
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imr
16 years ago
Does it really talk to the user to see:
*books on the lib directory (i would think of docs in there)
*cubes on dev (i would be puzzled)
*a pen on var (must be writable!)
etc etc ...
All this explain nothing to the clueless and nothing to those who know.
Second, you will need to do it for every distro. Yes, every distro put different things in those directories.
Logs in var therefore the pen? ah! Mandrake put html and rpms also in there.
Libs in libs? Ah! Conectiva put kde3 and its bin and stuff there!
And what about /opt that some use some don't. And /usr/local? You do it again for everything in it? What about XFree and its bin and libs and stuff all over the place. And are you ready to start over again when distros will switch to XOrg?
Finally, what is the real use of this?
Do users ever go around their hard drive wondering what is this directory and that? You feel they need to know what is the purpose of each directory? You believe they will find a text only description of all places and whats in them too harsh?
Then do a nice visual tutorial for them.
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r0ttie
16 years ago
If it is like in the screenshot it's very confusing. Icons should enhance the clarity and the overview of the content, not complicate it.
Maybe you should take the same approach as they do with the mime-type icons. Create a standard folder-icon and map a smaller image on it that displays the content?
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Ekardnam
16 years ago
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ybouan
16 years ago
So you would need to make a folder icon with a smaller content sensitive icon in the bottom right corner.
Sort of like the picture folder icons we already have...
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techniq
16 years ago
I think this should especially be done to directories which don't hold "true" files, such as /dev, /proc, etc.
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linuxdude
16 years ago
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Justace
16 years ago
In the current form, no. In a modified form to have the user desired icon super-imposed on the lower right or something, yes.
Justace
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elektroschock
16 years ago
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Superstoned
16 years ago
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loki
16 years ago
Apart from that, maybe it isn't such a bad idea, as most directories are standardized on the various linux distributions (as reflected by the FHS standard). On the other hand, I'm not sure an icon would always be sufficient to explain what to find in a directory.
If the user needs an icon to help him understand what's in a lib, bin, share, etc directory, then he probably has so few Linux/Unix knowledge that it won't be of any effective help anyway.
How would a rocket icon help him understand that the /boot directory contains the kernel and bootloader files ?
The more helpful part would rather be a directory description text (localized) that the user could read when looking at directories using the "Detailed List view" (1 row = icon + description), but AFAIK that doesn't work in KDE (at this time).
Or you would need to define file types (specializations of "folder") for "usr", "bin", "lib", "etc", ... - and even then, you sometimes need the full path (e.g. /opt/gnome/bin => "GNOME applications", /usr/X11R6/lib => "X-Window libraries", ...) and I'm not sure that's feasible.
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melenas
16 years ago
I don't pretend to create the super-upper-mega-killer-application, it's just an idea to begin the debate and look for better implementation and I like some of your ideas.
Now it's time to find an artist and a developer to implement all our ideas ;-)
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