Wishing for a Delete icon (like Windows)

[mafinokc]

I am running Linux Mint MATE on an old machine, viz.:
Mobo: ECS model: GeForce6100PM-M2 v: 3.0, Bios: American Megatrends v: 080015 date: 05/26/2010, CPU: Dual core AMD Athlon II X2 250 (-MCP-) cache: 2048 KB. System info: Host: Linux-clone Kernel: 4.13.0-43-generic x86_64 (64 bit gcc: 5.4.0); Desktop: MATE 1.18.0 (Gtk 3.18.9-1ubuntu3.3); Distro: Linux Mint 18.3 Sylvia.

i am relatively new to Linux. I have been using MATE because it was recommended for older systems. The Caja file manager lacks a feature that I find so useful as to be indispensable, namely a Delete icon in the ribbon such as Windows has. I cannot figure out how to add this to the ribbon.

Does anyone have any advice as to how to do it, or advice whether I might find a different file manager more suitable to my needs?

Thank you.

[Pjotr]

Learn this way: click the file you wish to delete - tap the Delete key on your keyboard?

[Flemur]

Does anyone have any advice as to how to do it, or advice whether I might find a different file manager more suitable to my needs?

What Pjotr said, or try

thunar (*might* need xfce)
pcmanfm
xfe

[MrEen]

Or, as you probably have to click on the file anyway, right click and select Delete.

[all41]

As MrEen has mentioned but look in Caja toolbar Edit/Preferences under the Behavior tab, make sure the bottom box is selected to 'Include a Delete command that bypasses Trash'.

[mafinokc]

Thank you all for your I-guess-you'd-call-it advice. I may be relatively new to Linux, but I'm not an idiot. I am perfectly well aware that there is a delete key on my keyboard; but when I am, for example, writing something on the screen, or going through a lot of files in order to delete some, having to 1) take my hand off the mouse, 2) look down, 3) press the Delete key, 4) put my hand back on the mouse, and 5) look up at the screen again, when it occurs often enough (and it does), adds up to a distraction and a hindrance to my work. What is more, I don't have the best vision, and so looking down at a black keyboard to find a little black key with the tiny word "Delete" on it requires more than just a moment, especially when the light's not perfect.

As for right-clicking: I am well aware that there is a "Move to Trash" choice in the context menu, and if it were at or near the top of the context menu, that would be at last satisfactory if not ideal; but it isn't. It's at least halfway down. So when I have to 1) right-click on something on the screen, 2) run the cursor down to the "Move to Trash" command, and then 3) click again, when it happens often enough, also adds up to time lost. And I don't see what relevance adding the permanent Delete command to the context menu has; all that does is change the fate of the item being deleted.

[MrEen]

Okay. Here's a marginally better effort on my part.

Add this:

Code: Select all

<seperator />
<toolitem name=”Delete” action=”Delete”/>

I have no idea what file to add that to unfortunately. But back when it was Nautilus, it was /usr/share/nautilus/ui/nautilus-navigation-window-ui.xml

If you can find the correct file (maybe replace all instances of nautilus with caja?) just place that code immediately below the similar entry for Trash.

If nothing else, that might help someone that actually uses MATE find the correct file for you.

Good luck.

Oops, back up the file before editing, just in case.

[all41]

Okay. Here's a marginally better effort on my part.

Add this:

Code: Select all

<seperator />
<toolitem name=”Delete” action=”Delete”/>

I have no idea what file to add that to unfortunately. But back when it was Nautilus, it was /usr/share/nautilus/ui/nautilus-navigation-window-ui.xml

If you can find the correct file (maybe replace all instances of nautilus with caja?) just place that code immediately below the similar entry for Trash.

If nothing else, that might help someone that actually uses MATE find the correct file for you.

Good luck.

Oops, back up the file before editing, just in case.

It is indeed /usr/share/caja/ui/caja-navigation-window-ui.xml

Here is mine, perhaps you can provide the edit in the proper location and I will test it out for the op

Code: Select all

<ui>
<accelerator action="ShowSearch"/>
<accelerator action="SplitViewNextPane"/>
<accelerator action="TabsPrevious"/>
<accelerator action="TabsNext"/>
<accelerator action="TabsMoveLeft"/>
<accelerator action="TabsMoveRight"/>
<menubar name="MenuBar">
	<menu action="File">
		<placeholder name="New Items Placeholder">
			<menuitem name="New Tab" action="New Tab"/>
			<menuitem name="New Window" action="New Window"/>
			<menuitem name="Folder Window" action="Folder Window"/>
			<separator/>
		</placeholder>
		
		<placeholder name="Close Items Placeholder">
			<menuitem name="Close All Windows" action="Close All Windows"/>
		</placeholder>
	</menu>
	<menu action="View">
		<placeholder name="Show Hide Placeholder">
			<menuitem name="Show Hide Toolbar" action="Show Hide Toolbar"/>
			<menuitem name="Show Hide Sidebar" action="Show Hide Sidebar"/>
			<menuitem name="Show Hide Location Bar" action="Show Hide Location Bar"/>
			<menuitem name="Show Hide Statusbar" action="Show Hide Statusbar"/>
			<menuitem name="Show Hide Extra Pane" action="Show Hide Extra Pane"/>
		</placeholder>
	</menu>
        <placeholder name="Other Menus">
	        <menu action="Go">
                        <placeholder name="Navigation Items">
			<menuitem name="Up" action="Up"/>
			<menuitem name="Back" action="Back"/>
			<menuitem name="Forward"  action="Forward"/>
			<menuitem name="SplitViewSameLocationMenu" action="SplitViewSameLocation"/>
	                </placeholder>
	                <separator/>
			<menuitem name="Home" action="Home"/>
			<menuitem name="Computer" action="Go to Computer"/>
			<menuitem name="Go to Templates" action="Go to Templates"/>
			<menuitem name="Go to Trash" action="Go to Trash"/>
		        <menuitem name="Go to Network" action="Go to Network"/>
			<menuitem name="Go to Location" action="Go to Location"/>
			<menuitem name="Search" action="Search"/>
			<separator/>
			<menuitem name="Clear History" action="Clear History"/>
			<separator/>
			<placeholder name="History Placeholder"/>
		</menu>
		<menu action="Bookmarks">
			<menuitem name="Add Bookmark" action="Add Bookmark"/>
			<menuitem name="Edit Bookmark" action="Edit Bookmarks"/>
			<separator/>
			<placeholder name="Bookmarks Placeholder"/>
		</menu>
        </placeholder>
</menubar>
<toolbar name="Toolbar">
	<toolitem name="Back" action="Back"/>
	<toolitem name="Forward" action="Forward"/>

	<toolitem name="Up" action="Up"/>
	<toolitem name="Stop" action="Stop"/>
	<toolitem name="Reload" action="Reload"/>
	<separator/>
	<toolitem name="Home" action="Home"/>
	<toolitem name="Computer" action="Go to Computer"/>
	<separator/>
	<toolitem name="Zoom" action="Zoom"/>
	<toolitem name="ViewAs" action="ViewAs"/>
	<toolitem name="Search" action="Search"/>
	<placeholder name="Extra Buttons Placeholder">
	          <placeholder name="Extension Actions"/>
        </placeholder>
</toolbar>
</ui>

[MrEen]

Thanks for the assist, all41. According to what I found, it should go immediately below this line near the bottom:

Code: Select all

	<toolitem name="Computer" action="Go to Computer"/>

Looks like a reboot is needed before it takes effect.

Here's the whole file with the edit:

Code: Select all

<ui>
<accelerator action="ShowSearch"/>
<accelerator action="SplitViewNextPane"/>
<accelerator action="TabsPrevious"/>
<accelerator action="TabsNext"/>
<accelerator action="TabsMoveLeft"/>
<accelerator action="TabsMoveRight"/>
<menubar name="MenuBar">
	<menu action="File">
		<placeholder name="New Items Placeholder">
			<menuitem name="New Tab" action="New Tab"/>
			<menuitem name="New Window" action="New Window"/>
			<menuitem name="Folder Window" action="Folder Window"/>
			<separator/>
		</placeholder>
		
		<placeholder name="Close Items Placeholder">
			<menuitem name="Close All Windows" action="Close All Windows"/>
		</placeholder>
	</menu>
	<menu action="View">
		<placeholder name="Show Hide Placeholder">
			<menuitem name="Show Hide Toolbar" action="Show Hide Toolbar"/>
			<menuitem name="Show Hide Sidebar" action="Show Hide Sidebar"/>
			<menuitem name="Show Hide Location Bar" action="Show Hide Location Bar"/>
			<menuitem name="Show Hide Statusbar" action="Show Hide Statusbar"/>
			<menuitem name="Show Hide Extra Pane" action="Show Hide Extra Pane"/>
		</placeholder>
	</menu>
        <placeholder name="Other Menus">
	        <menu action="Go">
                        <placeholder name="Navigation Items">
			<menuitem name="Up" action="Up"/>
			<menuitem name="Back" action="Back"/>
			<menuitem name="Forward"  action="Forward"/>
			<menuitem name="SplitViewSameLocationMenu" action="SplitViewSameLocation"/>
	                </placeholder>
	                <separator/>
			<menuitem name="Home" action="Home"/>
			<menuitem name="Computer" action="Go to Computer"/>
			<menuitem name="Go to Templates" action="Go to Templates"/>
			<menuitem name="Go to Trash" action="Go to Trash"/>
		        <menuitem name="Go to Network" action="Go to Network"/>
			<menuitem name="Go to Location" action="Go to Location"/>
			<menuitem name="Search" action="Search"/>
			<separator/>
			<menuitem name="Clear History" action="Clear History"/>
			<separator/>
			<placeholder name="History Placeholder"/>
		</menu>
		<menu action="Bookmarks">
			<menuitem name="Add Bookmark" action="Add Bookmark"/>
			<menuitem name="Edit Bookmark" action="Edit Bookmarks"/>
			<separator/>
			<placeholder name="Bookmarks Placeholder"/>
		</menu>
        </placeholder>
</menubar>
<toolbar name="Toolbar">
	<toolitem name="Back" action="Back"/>
	<toolitem name="Forward" action="Forward"/>

	<toolitem name="Up" action="Up"/>
	<toolitem name="Stop" action="Stop"/>
	<toolitem name="Reload" action="Reload"/>
	<separator/>
	<toolitem name="Home" action="Home"/>
	<toolitem name="Computer" action="Go to Computer"/>
	<seperator />
	<toolitem name=”Delete” action=”Delete”/>	
	<separator/>
	<toolitem name="Zoom" action="Zoom"/>
	<toolitem name="ViewAs" action="ViewAs"/>
	<toolitem name="Search" action="Search"/>
	<placeholder name="Extra Buttons Placeholder">
	          <placeholder name="Extension Actions"/>
        </placeholder>
</toolbar>
</ui>

[smurphos]

Its this section...you can place the line where you prefer to position the button on the toolbar.

OP should be aware this may need to be redone if caja is updated.

Code: Select all

<toolbar name="Toolbar">
	<toolitem name="Back" action="Back"/>
	<toolitem name="Forward" action="Forward"/>

	<toolitem name="Up" action="Up"/>
	<toolitem name="Stop" action="Stop"/>
	<toolitem name="Reload" action="Reload"/>
	<separator/>
	<toolitem name="Home" action="Home"/>
	<toolitem name="Computer" action="Go to Computer"/>
	<separator/>
	<toolitem name="Zoom" action="Zoom"/>
	<toolitem name="ViewAs" action="ViewAs"/>
	<toolitem name="Search" action="Search"/>
	<placeholder name="Extra Buttons Placeholder">
	          <placeholder name="Extension Actions"/>
        </placeholder>
</toolbar>

It works just fine (after a logout and log back in with)

Code: Select all

<toolbar name="Toolbar">
	<toolitem name="Back" action="Back"/>
	<toolitem name="Forward" action="Forward"/>

	<toolitem name="Up" action="Up"/>
	<toolitem name="Stop" action="Stop"/>
	<toolitem name="Reload" action="Reload"/>
	<separator/>
	<toolitem name="Home" action="Home"/>
	<toolitem name="Computer" action="Go to Computer"/>
	<separator/>
	<toolitem name="Zoom" action="Zoom"/>
	<toolitem name="ViewAs" action="ViewAs"/>
	<toolitem name="Search" action="Search"/>
	<separator/>
	<toolitem name="Delete" action="Delete"/>
	<placeholder name="Extra Buttons Placeholder">
	          <placeholder name="Extension Actions"/>
        </placeholder>
</toolbar>

[trytip]

why stop there. Cut Copy Paste Trash |Delete|

Code: Select all

    <separator/>
    <toolitem name="Cut" action="Cut"/>
    <toolitem name="Copy" action="Copy"/>
    <toolitem name="Paste" action="Paste"/>
    <toolitem name="Trash" action="Trash"/>
    <separator/>
    <toolitem name="Delete" action="Delete"/>
    <separator/>

i'm sure you can add Properties too and close but the you'll need to remove some. i used to remove the forward and stop buttons since i never used them

ps: in the new versions of caja you can't remove the icon title, maybe someone can try to fix that and have icons only in caja tab. i still use 17.3

[smurphos]

why stop there.

Nice

[all41]

Excellent MrEen, smurphos, and trytip.

This does indeed add the additional functions to the caja menubar.

Seems like the op wants the delete functionality on the panel and available
even when Caja is not open, such as on the desktop or within text editors, etc.

[lsemmens]

What's wrong with <Right Click><Delete> it's not that hard, and you don't even have to look away from the screen. Unless, of course, you have loaded up the right click menu so much that you can't find <delete> which is only the third item from the bottom in my <right click> menu.

[all41]

What's wrong with <Right Click><Delete> it's not that hard,

My thoughts exactly, and being the only color (red) icon in the list, makes it easy to spot