On both my 32-bit laptop (openSUSE 11.3) and my 64-bit desktop (openSUSE 11.2) I have been unable to find out how to prevent seeing all the “hidden files” when opening files in many applications, including (for example) GIMP, Xournal, OpenOffice, gedit.
In the Control Centre “File management” options “Show hidden and backup files” is NOT checked in “File Management Preferences.” Thanks, John.