Home > Feature story > Windows KDE4: Dolphin (File Manager)
Digit - Tech News  Latest News Headline: Microsoft releases details about IE9

Windows KDE4: Dolphin (File Manager) 

Digit by Kshitij Sobti / Oct 15, 2009 15:22:55 IST
Rate this article
15
IncreaseDecrease

Dolphin IconDolphin



Dolphin the KDE4's default file manager. You can think of it as an equivalent to Windows Explorer on a KDE based Linux. Much like Explorer it allows you to browse the contents of your computer, and manage files and folders.
 

It has a simple yet rich interface, and allows you to manage your files with ease. It has many of the same features that you find the Explorer, but is much more powerful once you get used to how it works.


Ultimately since Dolphin is designed to work with Linux, which has a different operating system organization, with a Root directory and all other paths under it, it is unable to expose all the contents of your computer. There is no "My Computer" with a list of all your drives, you cannot browse the control panel, or other such special folders. Additionally since KDE manages its own file associations, you will find your files opening (or failing to open) with KDE applications instead of the ones defines in Windows. However it is still powerful enough even with these limitations.


It allows you to display files in three modes, an Icon mode, similar to windows, a details mode similar to windows, and a columns mode similar to finder on the MacOS, in which each folder is opened in a column to its right. Much like Explorer in Windows Vista, Dolphin shows a dropdown list of sub-folders in its location bar, which becomes editable on clicking.


It also features a split browsing mode in which you can browse two locations (in different modes too if you want), at the same time, making it quite easy to manage file and folders. It is quite rich "Information" pane which shows the a preview of the selected files contents.


Starting with KDE4 Dolphin replaced Konqueror as the file manager for KDE. Unlike Konqueror, Dolphin is only capable of browsing files, and not websites.
 

Dolphin listing image files  in details mode with previews turned on The icon sizes can be manipulated using the zoom slider at the bottom The zooming also works when in details mode, and can be especially useful with media
Dolphin listing image files in details mode with previews turned on The icon sizes can be manipulated using the zoom slider at the bottom The zooming also works when in details mode, and can be especially useful with media
Dolphin defaults can be configured to suit your requirements The split view allows for some powerful manipulation of files. The columns mode gives you a Mac-like browsing experience
Dolphin defaults can be configured to suit your requirements  The split view allows for some powerful manipulation of files. Here the split view combines the icons mode (with grouping by name turned on), and the columns mode. The columns mode gives you a Mac-like browsing experience.

 

Related Stories

Adobe Social simplifies social applications creati...

0 Comments
Nov 18, 2009 16:57:26 IST

Social networks have a rather annoying habit of trying to refactor every little concept to make themselves &ld...

Mozilla Messaging's Raindrop

0 Comments
Nov 16, 2009 16:22:55 IST

Let us face it, email just doesn't cut it anymore.For most people, email is just a minor portion of our social...

Go: Google’s new open source programming language

1 Comments
Nov 13, 2009 15:47:44 IST

Google never seems to just be satisfied with the status quo, and when they run out of fields to compete in the...

Google SPDY the herald of a faster internet

5 Comments
Nov 13, 2009 0:03:55 IST

Google has already made the fastest browser with Chrome 4 - which has the fastest JavaScript execution speed -...

Latest Reviews

Colin McRae: Dirt 2 [Review]

Colin McRae: Dirt 2 [Review]

After the untimely demise of the Scottish rally legend, Dirt 2 comes across as much as a tribute, as it is a ...
Nov 12, 2009 12:59:09 IST

Windows 7 Review - Part 7

Windows 7 Review - Part 7

This is Part 7 in the ongoing Windows 7 review series. Read Part 6 here. Lucky Number 7 Microsoft proves th...
Nov 4, 2009 13:45:15 IST

Windows 7 Review - Part 6

Windows 7 Review - Part 6

This is Part 6 in the ongoing Windows 7 review series. Read Part 5 here. Windows Evolution There are a host...
Nov 3, 2009 18:28:26 IST

Uncharted 2: Among Thieves [Review]

Uncharted 2: Among Thieves [Review]

Uncharted 2: Among Thieves is a follow-up release by Naughty Dog to 2007’s runaway hit Uncharted: Drake...
Nov 2, 2009 11:14:17 IST

ThinkDigit  Copyright © 2007-08 Nine Dot Nine Mediaworx Pvt. Ltd. All Rights Reserved. Designed by RadicalReflex. Powered by: Indus Net Technologies.