GNOME Bugzilla – Bug 587414
Nautilus makes a copy of files and folders when dragged to desktop
Last modified: 2018-01-02 18:47:28 UTC
Please describe the problem: On a fresh installation, if you setup "desktop_is_home_dir" and open a directory in spatial mode (without opening it in explorer mode before), drag a directory or a file from that folder to the desktop and Nautilus will make a copy instead of moving it. Steps to reproduce: 1. Open gconf-editor 2. Go to Apps > Nautilus > Preferences and set to true the item "desktop_is_home_dir" 3. Open a folder, go to Edit > Preferences and set to false the option to open your folders in explorer mode. 4. Log out and re login. 5. Open a folder in the same partition of your desktop and try to move an item to the desktop. 6. The item will be copied intead of being moved. Actual results: Every item (files or folders) is copied intead of beinf moved. Expected results: Every item (files or folders) would be moved intead of being copied. Does this happen every time? Yes. Other information: In this situation, where the items are copied, if I open a folder in explorer mode, the strange behaviour disappears for all the working session. If I logout and relogin the behaviour appears again. I tried this test in two separate machines: on of them was a completely new installation of Ubuntu and the behaviour is present.
Only to make more clear the situation, when I write "desktop" I mean the home, which is for me the desktop, due to the "desktop_is_home_dir" setting.
I confirm this bug (if it's a bug) after further tests in different machines and after a few testers have followed the steps explained above and confirmed to me.
Confirming on 2.27.x (jhbuild sandbox).
*** Bug 602765 has been marked as a duplicate of this bug. ***
Starting with version 3.28, nautilus will not handle the "files on desktop background" feature. For better alternatives, read this blog post https://csorianognome.wordpress.com/2017/12/21/nautilus-desktop-plans/