Nautilus, also known as Files, is the default file manager for the GNOME desktop environment widely used in many Linux distributions. It comes with a user-friendly interface and a set of essential features for managing files and folders. However, many users may not be aware that Nautilus’ functionality can be considerably extended to make it an even more powerful tool. In this article, we will explore various ways to enhance Nautilus and boost your productivity in Linux.

1. Install Nautilus Extensions

Extensions add extra features to Nautilus. For instance, you can get extensions for image manipulation, file comparison, or to open files as an administrator. You can find these extensions in your distribution’s package repository. For example, on Debian-based distributions you can install them with the following command:

“`

sudo apt-get install nautilus-extensions

“`

2. Use Nautilus Scripts

Scripts are small programs you can invoke directly from Nautilus. You can write your own scripts or download them from the internet to add custom functionality like resizing images, converting video formats, or batch renaming files. To use them, place the scripts in ~/.local/share/nautilus/scripts/ and make them executable with `chmod +x`.

3. Customize Preferences

Don’t overlook the built-in preferences that allow you to change the behavior of Nautilus. Navigate to Edit > Preferences in Nautilus and explore options such as setting default view modes, showing or hiding file thumbnails, and changing default sort order.

4. Enable Recursive Search

Improve search functionality by enabling recursive search which allows you to search for files within all subdirectories. You can activate it using `gsettings`:

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gsettings set org.gnome.nautilus.preferences recursive-search ‘always’

“`

5. Enhance With Bookmarking

Don’t waste time navigating to the same folders over and over; use bookmarks. By pressing Ctrl+D when you are in the desired directory, you add a bookmark which is easily accessible from the sidebar.

6. Integrate Terminal

If you’re comfortable with the terminal, integrate it into Nautilus for quick access to command-line operations within any directory. You might use nautilus-open-terminal or a similar tool depending on your distro.

7. Employ Advanced Renaming Techniques

Sometimes built-in tools aren’t enough for complex rename operations. With utilities like `pyRenamer` or `GPRename`, accessible through Nautilus actions or stand-alone applications, batch hrename jobs become a breeze.

8. Use Desktop Icons Extension (For GNOME)

If you’re using GNOME Shell and miss having desktop icons, install the Desktop Icons extension which brings back desktop icon support through a Nautilus extension, providing drag-and-drop functionality and more.

By taking advantage of these tips and extending Nautilus with additional tools and extensions, you turn this already powerful file manager into an indispensable ally in handling daily tasks on Linux efficiently.

Remember that while some extensions or tools might be available in your distribution’s repositories by default, others might need to be installed from third-party sources or compiled from source code depending on their availability and compatibility with your Linux distribution version.

Always ensure that any additional software installed on your system is from a trusted source and compatible with your version of Nautilus/Linux distribution to avoid potential issues with system stability or security vulnerabilities associated with outdated software versions or untrusted repositories.