arch-wiki-md-repo/wiki/_content/english/Nemo.md

All arch-wiki articles in markdown format, updated every two days.

Related articles

*   [Cinnamon](/index.php/Cinnamon "Cinnamon")
*   [File manager functionality](/index.php/File_manager_functionality "File manager functionality")
*   [GNOME Files](/index.php/GNOME_Files "GNOME Files")
*   [Thunar](/index.php/Thunar "Thunar")
*   [PCManFM](/index.php/PCManFM "PCManFM")

[Nemo](https://github.com/linuxmint/nemo) is a fork of [GNOME Files](/index.php/GNOME_Files "GNOME Files") (formerly known as as Nautilus). It is also the default file manager of the [Cinnamon](/index.php/Cinnamon "Cinnamon") desktop. Nemo is based on the Files 3.4 code. It was created as a response to the changes in Files 3.6 which saw features such as type ahead find and split pane view removed.

## Contents

*   [1 Installation](#Installation)
    *   [1.1 Extensions](#Extensions)
*   [2 Configuration](#Configuration)
    *   [2.1 Set Nemo as default file browser](#Set_Nemo_as_default_file_browser)
    *   [2.2 Show / hide desktop icons](#Show_.2F_hide_desktop_icons)
    *   [2.3 Change application for "Open in terminal" context menu entry](#Change_application_for_.22Open_in_terminal.22_context_menu_entry)
*   [3 Tips and tricks](#Tips_and_tricks)
    *   [3.1 Nemo Actions](#Nemo_Actions)
        *   [3.1.1 Clam Scan](#Clam_Scan)
        *   [3.1.2 Moving files](#Moving_files)
        *   [3.1.3 Meld compare](#Meld_compare)
        *   [3.1.4 Filenames containing spaces](#Filenames_containing_spaces)
*   [4 Troubleshooting](#Troubleshooting)
    *   [4.1 Thumbnail generation errors shown in the console](#Thumbnail_generation_errors_shown_in_the_console)
    *   [4.2 Desktop icons not shown](#Desktop_icons_not_shown)

## Installation

[Install](/index.php/Pacman "Pacman") [nemo](https://www.archlinux.org/packages/?name=nemo) from the [official repositories](/index.php/Official_repositories "Official repositories").

### Extensions

Some programs can add extra functionality to Nemo. Here are a few packages that do just that:

*   **Nemo File Roller** — File archiver extension for Nemo.

	[https://github.com/linuxmint/nemo-extensions/tree/master/nemo-fileroller](https://github.com/linuxmint/nemo-extensions/tree/master/nemo-fileroller) || [nemo-fileroller](https://www.archlinux.org/packages/?name=nemo-fileroller)

*   **Nemo Compare** — An utility which compares two files using [meld](https://www.archlinux.org/packages/?name=meld).

	[https://github.com/linuxmint/nemo-extensions/tree/master/nemo-compare](https://github.com/linuxmint/nemo-extensions/tree/master/nemo-compare) || [nemo-compare](https://aur.archlinux.org/packages/nemo-compare/)

*   **Nemo Preview** — GtkClutter and Javascript-based quick previewer for Nemo.

	[https://github.com/linuxmint/nemo-extensions/tree/master/nemo-preview](https://github.com/linuxmint/nemo-extensions/tree/master/nemo-preview) || [nemo-preview](https://www.archlinux.org/packages/?name=nemo-preview)

*   **Nemo Seahorse** — PGP encryption and signing extension for Nemo.

	[https://github.com/linuxmint/nemo-extensions/tree/master/nemo-seahorse](https://github.com/linuxmint/nemo-extensions/tree/master/nemo-seahorse) || [nemo-seahorse](https://www.archlinux.org/packages/?name=nemo-seahorse)

*   **Nemo Share** — Samba extension for Nemo.

	[https://github.com/linuxmint/nemo-extensions/tree/master/nemo-share](https://github.com/linuxmint/nemo-extensions/tree/master/nemo-share) || [nemo-share](https://www.archlinux.org/packages/?name=nemo-share)

*   **Nemo Terminal** — Embedded terminal window for Nemo

	[https://github.com/linuxmint/nemo-extensions/tree/master/nemo-terminal](https://github.com/linuxmint/nemo-extensions/tree/master/nemo-terminal) || [nemo-terminal](https://www.archlinux.org/packages/?name=nemo-terminal)

*   **RabbitVCS Nemo** — Integrate RabbitVCS into Nemo.

	[http://www.rabbitvcs.org/](http://www.rabbitvcs.org/) || [rabbitvcs-nemo](https://aur.archlinux.org/packages/rabbitvcs-nemo/)

See [AUR](https://aur.archlinux.org/packages/?O=0&K=nemo-) and [nemo-extensions github repo](https://github.com/linuxmint/nemo-extensions) for all extensions.

## Configuration

Nemo is simple to configure graphically but not all options are in the preferences screen in Nemo. More options are available in the *dconf-editor* under `org.nemo`.

### Set Nemo as default file browser

To set Nemo as the default file browser, execute the following:

```
$ xdg-mime default nemo.desktop inode/directory application/x-gnome-saved-search

```

### Show / hide desktop icons

To enable/disable desktop icons rendering feature in nemo, change the following setting true or false (false to hide, true to show):

```
$ gsettings set org.nemo.desktop show-desktop-icons false

```

This fixes the console warning `WARNING **: Can not determine workarea, guessing at layout` for tiling window managers (such as i3).

### Change application for "Open in terminal" context menu entry

[gnome-terminal](https://www.archlinux.org/packages/?name=gnome-terminal) is set as the default, if it is not installed this feature will not work.

Alternatively, change the default setting with *gsettings* to the preferred terminal application.

```
$ gsettings set org.cinnamon.desktop.default-applications.terminal exec <terminal-name>

```

## Tips and tricks

### Nemo Actions

Nemo allows the user to add new entries to the context menu. The file `[/usr/share/nemo/actions/sample.nemo_action](https://github.com/linuxmint/nemo/blob/master/files/usr/share/nemo/actions/sample.nemo_action)` contains an example of a Nemo action. Directories to place custom action files:

*   `/usr/share/nemo/actions/` for system-wide actions
*   `~/.local/share/nemo/actions/` for user actions

Action files must have the `.nemo_action` file extension.

#### Clam Scan

 `clamscan.nemo_action` 
```
[Nemo Action]
Name=Clam Scan
Comment=Clam Scan

Exec=gnome-terminal -x sh -c "clamscan -r %F | less"

Icon-Name=bug-buddy

Selection=Any

Extensions=dir;exe;dll;zip;gz;7z;rar;
```

#### Moving files

 `archive.nemo_action` 
```
[Nemo Action]
Active=true
Name=Archive %N
Comment=Archiving %N will add .archive to the object.
Exec=<archive.py %F>
Selection=S
Extensions=any;
```
 `archive.py` 
```
#! /usr/bin/python2 -OOt
import sys
import os
import shutil

filename = sys.argv[0]
print "Running " + filename
print "With the following arguments:"
for arg in sys.argv:
    if filename == arg:
        continue
    else:
        print arg
        #os.rename('%s','%s.archive') % (arg,arg)
        shutil.move(arg, arg+".archive")
```

#### Meld compare

 `compare-save-for-later.nemo_action` 
```
[Nemo Action]
Active=true
Name=Compare later
Comment=Save file for comparison later.
Exec=<compare.sh save %F>
Icon-Name=meld
Selection=S
Extensions=any
```
 `compare-with-saved.nemo_action` 
```
[Nemo Action]
Active=true
Name=Compare with saved element
Comment=Compare %F saved file or directory.
Exec=<compare.sh compare %F>
Icon-Name=meld
Selection=S
Extensions=any
```
 `compare.sh` 
```
#!/bin/bash
savedfile=/var/tmp/compare-save-for-later.$USER
comparator=meld
if [ "$1" == "save" ]; then
	echo "$2" > "$savedfile"
else
	"$comparator" $(cat "$savedfile") "$2"
fi
```

#### Filenames containing spaces

By default, Nemo does not escape filenames. This means that actions for multiple files with some names containing spaces are broken. To fix this, use `Quote=double`.

## Troubleshooting

### Thumbnail generation errors shown in the console

By default, nemo does not generate thumbnails for certain video files due to licensing or patent problems (AVC encoded mp4 and mkv files for example). As such, you might see errors similar to the following in the console:

```
CinnamonDesktop-WARNING **: Error creating thumbnail for file:///home/username/video.mp4: Unrecognized image file format 

```

for mp4 and other video files.

To fix this, ensure that you have a thumbnailer for video files installed - see [File manager functionality#Thumbnail previews](/index.php/File_manager_functionality#Thumbnail_previews "File manager functionality") - and also ensure you have the necessary [GStreamer](/index.php/GStreamer "GStreamer") packages installed that will allow the video file to be played.

**Tip:** Once thumbnail generation for video files is working, you can use `nemo-preview` to preview video files.

### Desktop icons not shown

Since Nemo v3.4.2, the desktop is managed by `nemo-desktop`. This can be configured to auto start by copying the file `/usr/share/applications/nemo-autostart.desktop` to `~/.config/autostart/nemo-autostart.desktop` and removing the line "OnlyShowIn=X-Cinnamon;".