Arch Linux

miboco

Member

Registered: 2025-01-30

Posts: 5

[Solved] XFCE4: Since last update XFCE4 ignores file manager settings

Hi,
I´m happily running Arch Linux for quite some years on my Apple Notebook. But since I ran the last system update my XFCE4 desktop uses it´s default Thunar file manager instead of Caja which I configured via the default application settings. On top of that every time I connect an external monitor to my notebook and make it main the desktop icons are staying on the notebook screen. Did XFCE4 changed anything so I have to edit it´s config files? Are my settings ignored because I´m using a non admin account?
Any help is welcome.

Greetings,

Mike

Last edited by miboco (2025-02-03 08:44:43)

toz

Member

Registered: 2011-10-28

Posts: 506

Re: [Solved] XFCE4: Since last update XFCE4 ignores file manager settings

Hi,
But since I ran the last system update my XFCE4 desktop uses it´s default Thunar file manager instead of Caja which I configured via the default application settings.

How are you starting the file manager or how is it being called that thunar is coming up instead of caja? What is the contents of ~/.config/xfce4/helpers.rc?

On top of that every time I connect an external monitor to my notebook and make it main the desktop icons are staying on the notebook screen.

See: https://gitlab.xfce.org/xfce/xfdesktop/-/issues/362 - there appears to be a temporary workaround in the comments.

miboco

Member

Registered: 2025-01-30

Posts: 5

Re: [Solved] XFCE4: Since last update XFCE4 ignores file manager settings

Hi,

How are you starting the file manager or how is it being called that thunar is coming up instead of caja? What is the contents of ~/.config/xfce4/helpers.rc?

There is only one line:
FileManager=caja

See: https://gitlab.xfce.org/xfce/xfdesktop/-/issues/362 - there appears to be a temporary workaround in the comments.

Thanks for that one, haven´t found it. I will give it a shot and report back.

Greetings,

Mike

toz

Member

Registered: 2011-10-28

Posts: 506

Re: [Solved] XFCE4: Since last update XFCE4 ignores file manager settings

What happens when you run:

exo-open --launch=FileManager

If caja starts, then it should work as advertised. In which case, under which conditions (how/what) are you doing to call up the file manager?

miboco

Member

Registered: 2025-01-30

Posts: 5

Re: [Solved] XFCE4: Since last update XFCE4 ignores file manager settings

What happens when you run:

exo-open --launch=FileManager

If caja starts, then it should work as advertised. In which case, under which conditions (how/what) are you doing to call up the file manager?

Yes exo-open starts Caja I have assigned a keyboard shortcut to open a new windows which also starts Caja. Double click on a folder on the desktop are handled by Thunar also when you make a right click on a folder and choose "Open".

toz

Member

Registered: 2011-10-28

Posts: 506

Re: [Solved] XFCE4: Since last update XFCE4 ignores file manager settings

Double click on a folder on the desktop are handled by Thunar also when you make a right click on a folder and choose "Open".

So double-clicking on a folder on the desktop doesn't launch the default file manager application. I can replicate this. Probably best to create an upstream bug report.

miboco

Member

Registered: 2025-01-30

Posts: 5

Re: [Solved] XFCE4: Since last update XFCE4 ignores file manager settings

Hi toz,
thanks for your help. I´ve filed a bug report which could be found here:
https://gitlab.xfce.org/xfce/xfdesktop/-/issues/388

Greetings,

Mike

miboco

Member

Registered: 2025-01-30

Posts: 5

Re: [Solved] XFCE4: Since last update XFCE4 ignores file manager settings

Hi,
just a short note that the issue was closed by Brian Tarricone at Gitlab:

This is not something I can fix. xfdesktop relies on tight integration with Thunar to function properly, and integrating on that level with other file managers is not feasible.

So it´s the way it´s supposed to be...

Greetings,

Mike