Opening Files
When you open a file, the file manager performs the default
action for that file type.
For example, opening a music file will play it with the default music playing application, opening a text file will allow you to read and edit it in a text editor, and opening an image file will display the image.
The file manager checks the contents of a file to determine the type
of a file. If the first lines do not determine the type of the file, then
the file manager checks the file extension.
 | Note |
|---|
If you open an executable text file, that is, one that Nautilus considers can be run as a program, then you will be asked what you want to do: run it, or display it in a text editor. You can modify this behaviour in the File Management preferences. |
Executing the Default Action
To execute the default action for a
file, double-click on the file. For example, the default action for plain
text documents is to display the file in a text viewer. In this case, you
can double-click on the file to display the file in a text viewer.
You can set your file manager preferences so that you click once on
a file to execute the default action. For more information, see the section called “Behavior Preferences”.
Executing Non-Default Actions
To execute actions other than
the default action for a file, select the file that you want to perform
an action on. In the menu you will either have "Open with" choices, or an
submenu. Select the desired option from this list.
To add actions associated with a file type, perform the
following steps:
In the view pane, select
a file of the type to which you want to add an action.
Choose ->.
Either choose an application in the open with dialog or browse to the program with
which you wish to open this type.
The action you have chosen is now added to the list of actions for that particular file type. If there was
no prior action associated with the type, the newly added action is the default.
You may also add actions in the Open With tabbed section under ->.
To modify the actions associated with a file or file
type, perform the following steps:
In the view pane, select
a file of the type to which you want to modify the action.
Choose ->.
Choose Open With tabbed section.
Use Add or Remove buttons to tailor the list of actions.
Select the default action with the option to the left of the list.
