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Bug 601736 - Confusing dialog when opening text files set with executable bits on
Confusing dialog when opening text files set with executable bits on
Status: RESOLVED FIXED
Product: nautilus
Classification: Core
Component: File and Folder Operations
unspecified
Other Linux
: Normal minor
: ---
Assigned To: Nautilus Maintainers
Nautilus Maintainers
Depends on:
Blocks:
 
 
Reported: 2009-11-12 19:45 UTC by Ben Root
Modified: 2013-04-10 22:05 UTC
See Also:
GNOME target: ---
GNOME version: ---

Attachments
Change default executable text action to display (1.73 KB, patch)
2012-08-14 19:06 UTC, William Jon McCann 		committed Details | Review

Description Ben Root 2009-11-12 19:45:28 UTC 
This particularly happens when using a usb thumb drive that is fat32 or ntfs.  Text files are set as executable, and so when double-clicking them, you get asked if you want to view it or run in the terminal.

While this isn't directly a bug, and it is the current desired behavior, we think that this behavior could be improved in such a way that Nautilus makes "smarter" decisions for its actions to reduce the amount of diaglogs users have to click through.

This was originally reported at Ubuntu Launchpad: https://bugs.launchpad.net/hundredpapercuts/+bug/425166

Thanks
Comment 1 Marcus Carlson 2010-07-21 22:00:14 UTC 
I think the problem with all files on a fat32/ntfs is marked as executable is fixed in udev (??) but I agree the dialog isn't user friendly, adding usability keyword.
Comment 2 Marcus Carlson 2010-07-22 07:49:43 UTC 
The first problem was fixed in bug #601736 (it wasn't udev but udisks) but I won't marking this as a dup as the dialog still needs some love.
Comment 3 Marcus Carlson 2010-07-22 07:58:46 UTC 
Sorry, I meant bug #313023. Apologies for the spam.
Comment 4 William Jon McCann 2012-08-14 19:06:55 UTC 
Created attachment 221183 [details] [review]
Change default executable text action to display

Presenting a scary dialog by default isn't nice. The file manager
is not primarily an interface for launch applications. Some filesystems
mark all files as executable and it just sucks to keep asking when you
want to view text files. Also, any application launched this way is
going to suck. You won't have app tracking in the shell and showing
a terminal to users that don't expect it is really nasty.
Comment 5 Cosimo Cecchi 2012-08-15 13:41:23 UTC 
Review of attachment 221183 [details] [review]:

I agree...most of the times I see that dialog I really wanted to display the file instead. We don't have an explicit "Run" context action in this case, though, do we? So in case running the script is what you wanted instead, you need to go to the preferences and change behavior.
I still think this is an improvement over the current situation, but what do you think about also adding a Run context action in this case?
Comment 6 William Jon McCann 2012-08-15 14:03:17 UTC 
I think we can address that case when and if it comes up.
Comment 7 William Jon McCann 2012-08-17 22:42:45 UTC 
*** Bug 679187 has been marked as a duplicate of this bug. ***
Comment 8 António Fernandes 2013-04-10 21:57:46 UTC 
(In reply to comment #6)
> I think we can address that case when and if it comes up.

It came up: bug 697737
Comment 9 António Fernandes 2013-04-10 22:05:07 UTC 
(In reply to comment #8)
> It came up: bug 697737

Oops, bug 697737 is about files *not* set as executable. My bad.