hidden files

diamond1902 · January 17, 2017, 1:04pm

not sure why,but all files titled " .file " IE:- supposed to be hidden are showing ! even after a reboot they still show until I click on show hidden file in drop down menu …then they hide!!! seams like everything is in reverse to how it should be…any idea’s how to correct this problem please

hcvv · January 17, 2017, 2:17pm

They are showing where? It seems to be in one or more programs, but youmention none. And probably it is in a Graphical User or Desktop Environment, but you never mention which one. We really can not guess or assume what you are doing.

There is indeed a convention amongst applications that file names that start with a dot (.) are to be handled different. This starts e.g. with the ls program, that will not list them normally, but needs the -a option to do so. Many other programs do likewise.

diamond1902 · January 17, 2017, 2:43pm

thank you for your reply
I have a basic file on my desktop with numrous files within, some of which I named using the application of a . they have always remained hidden unless I tick the option to show hidden files using the drop down menu,but for some reason they now show all the time ( no longer hidden ) and I am not sure how I have created this problem, and was hoping there was a command I could initiate to revert this to normal situation.

hcvv · January 17, 2017, 3:27pm

You did not answer any of my questions. You only repeat what you already said earlier.

The questions are:

which desktop environment do you use? (KDE, Gnome, XFCE,…)
which program do you use that shows things and has drop down menus? Probably a file manager like Dolphin, or … But as long as you do not say, we do not know!

We can not see what you have, what you do and w hat you see. We depend on what you tell us.

malcolmlewis · January 17, 2017, 3:33pm

Hi
In the File Manager window, press ctrl+h and see if they disappear…

diamond1902 · January 17, 2017, 3:37pm

I use gnome and presume I have the file manager that came with opensuse 13.2
I do not know how to identify the actual file manager sorry

diamond1902 · January 17, 2017, 3:40pm

Yes malcom they do…but its the reverse of what they should be IE:- upon booting the system all hidden files are showing when I press cont+h they dissapear…something is back to front

malcolmlewis · January 17, 2017, 3:55pm

On Tue 17 Jan 2017 02:46:02 PM CST, diamond1902 wrote:

Yes malcom they do…but its the reverse of what they should be IE:-
upon booting the system all hidden files are showing when I press cont+h
they dissapear…something is back to front

Hi
So in Nautilus, in the options/preferences, is the ‘Show Hidden Files’
checked? Or dconf-editor org.gnome.nautilus.preferences(?)

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diamond1902 · January 17, 2017, 4:15pm

hi malcolm,
in the file options the show hidden files is checked, if I uncheck it the files hide…but when I reopen the file it is checked again!
how do I open dconf-editor? appologies I am not the brightest pc owner and do appreciate your help

hcvv · January 17, 2017, 4:28pm

He he, that is at least something. I also see that now help from other Gnome users is coming forward.

Please next time you start a thread, do tell what you use!

diamond1902 · January 17, 2017, 4:32pm

I will Henk,I have installed dconf editor and according to that in nautilas preferances the show hidden files is UNchecked so I am still at a loss as to why the files remain on view!!!

malcolmlewis · January 17, 2017, 4:42pm

Hi
Something cached… ok so in dconf-editor select it, then exit and logout/login, then go back and uncheck it, exit and logout/login and see if that clears it…

diamond1902 · January 17, 2017, 5:05pm

OK did that twice once did it logged out and back in…no change
and again logged out shut down and reebooted,…still the same! LOOKS like I will have to learn to live with it

malcolmlewis · January 17, 2017, 5:15pm

Hi
So if you create a test user, does the issue duplicate?

diamond1902 · January 17, 2017, 5:49pm

OK did that…everything is A ok! with the test user all normal…so I have inadvertantly triggered something without realising it

malcolmlewis · January 17, 2017, 7:34pm

Hi
Yes, I think I’ve seen it before…13.2 is EOL now (Yesterday) In the preferences where hidden files can be set is there a backup one also selected?

diamond1902 · January 17, 2017, 11:05pm

found it !!!.. org.gtk files chooser also had an hidden files option which I assume I had altered inadvertantly,dont know how as I did not install d-conf editor till after I got the problem…will have to take more care in future,many thank’s guys especialy malcolm