Fluff Help

# Fluff

Version 1.0.0, May 2011

Command-line options
Button-Bar Commands
Main Menu Commands
Directory Tree Menu Commands
File List Menu Commands
Keyboard Shortcuts
Moving and Copying Files
Managing Filetypes and Associations with Programs
Special Configuration Options
Quirks and Tricks

## Introduction

Fluff is a fast, light utility for files. Fluff uses the FLTK user interface library, which makes it especially efficient on TinyCore Linux. The source code of Fluff is released under the GNU license. See http://www.gnu.org/licenses/ for more details.

CAUTION: Use carefully and at your own risk! Fluff is distributed in the hope that it will be useful, but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. See http://www.gnu.org/licenses/ for more details. Please provide feedback on bugs, quirks, and improvement suggestions so it can be made better.

## Command-Line Options

path |  | Initialize browsing to start with the specified path

## Button Bar Commands and Options

Quit: Ctrl+Q, Makes Fluff exit

[Action 1]: F3, (Name changes based on selected file type) Launches the first associated program for the current selected file or files.

[Action 2] F4, (Name changes based on selected file type.) Launches the second associated for the current selected file or files.

Props.: F7 or Alt-F6, Opens the File Properties dialog box, showing several details about the file, and allows user to edit the name or permissions.

show all: (checkbox) Determines whether "hidden" files (whose names start with .) will be displayed.

use sudo: (checkbox) causes Fluff to attempt to use sudo in when invoking embedded commands such as delete, copy, move, and changing file ownership and permissions. Success depends on the current user's security parameters.

Copy: Ctrl+C, Make a note of the currently selected files for use with later commands.

Paste: Ctrl+P, If one or more files are already "copied" for pasting, the Paste command will put a copy into the currently selected directory. If the destination directory is the same as the source directory, a new copy of each file with a modified name will be placed into the same directory.

Trash: Insert key, If no files are selected, just switches view to the configured trash directory. If there are selected files, the user is presented with a choice to move the selected files to the trash directory or just browse it.

Delete: Delete key, Permenently deletes (rm command) files. Fluff may be configured to confirm file deletion before proceeding.

Home: Home key or Ctrl+H, (Configurable) Shortcut to the user's home directory. The label and path may be configured to a different location by editing the .fluff.conf file.

TCE: Ctrl+E, (Configurable) Shortcut to the user's TCE directory, if defined. The label and path may be configured to a different location by editing the .fluff.conf file. If the label is defined as "TCE" but the TCE drive is not set, Fluff will display a warning message.

A (About): F10, Displays "About" copyright, summary, and license info.

Help: F1, Displays this help file.

Path: Displays the path of the most-recently-selected directory. Drop-down menu allows user to jump back to the 16-most-recently visited unique directories.

## Main Menu Commands

About: F10, Displays "About" copyright, summary, and license info.

Help: F1, Displays this help file.

Filetypes: Menu-F, Open the "Manage Filetypes" dialog box, which is a where you can add, change, extend, or remove the definitions of filetypes.

Quit: Ctrl+Q, Quit Fluff.

## Directory Tree Menu Commands

Open terminal here: Alt+T, Open a terminal (fixed as "aterm" now) window with the current path set to the directory highlighted in the directory tree window.

Create directory: Menu-Y key, Create a new subdirectory under the current directory selected in the directory tree window, using the name supplied by the user in a prompt window.

Paste to here: Ctrl+V, Make a copy of the files and/or subdirectories previously "copied" (remembered) into the directory currently selected or right-clicked in the directory tree window. If a current directory item would be replaced, prompt the user and allow the user to skip or replace the particular item; or if the user wants, skip or replace all the remaining items in the paste operation. If the user is pasting files into their source directory, make a copy of each with a modified name.

Copy selected to here: Menu-C key, Make a copy of the files and/or subdirectories currently selected in the file details list window into the directory currently selected or right-clicked in the directory tree window. If items in the current directory would be replaced, prompt the user and allow the user to skip or replace the particular item; or if the user wants, skip or replace all the remaining items in the copy operation. If the user is copying the same files into their current directory, make a copy of each with a modified name.

Move selected to here: Menu-M key, Move the files and/or subdirectories currently selected in the file details list window into the directory currently selected or right-clicked in the directory tree window. If items in the current directory would be replaced, prompt the user and allow the user to skip or replace the particular item; or if the user wants, skip or replace all the remaining items in the paste operation.

Rename: F2, Allows user to edit the name directly in the directory tree window. While editing, the background behind the name will be hightlighted in yellow. Press the Escape key to abandon the changes, and the Enter key to commit them.

Insert in trash: Insert key, If no directory selected, just switches view to the configured trash directory. If there a selected or right-clicked directory, the user is presented with a choice to move the selected files to the trash directory or just browse it.

Delete: Delete key, Delete selected or right-clicked directory. If the "ConfirmDelete" configuration is set to 1 in the .fluff.conf file, the user will be prompted to confirm the delete operation.

Properties: F7 or Alt-F6, Opens the File Properties dialog box, showing several details about the directory, and (if permissions allow) provides an interface to edit the directory's name, ownership, and permissions.

About: F10, Displays "About" copyright, summary, and license info.

Help: F1, Displays this help file.

Quit: Ctrl+Q, Quit Fluff.

## File List Menu Commands

[Action 1]: F3, (Name changes based on selected file type) Launches the first associated program for the current selected file or files.

[Action 2] F4, (Name changes based on selected file type.) Launches the second associated for the current selected file or files.

Open with...: F8, Open the "Open with" dialog box to allow the user to lauch an associated program for the seleted file(s). In the dialog box, the user will see all of the associated programs, including the two that are accessible in the button bar and right-click file details menu. From this dialog box, the user may also click on the button "More..." to manage the associated programs, by adding and deleting file to program associations or modifying the association parameters.

Select all: Ctrl+A, Select all the files currently in the file details list window.

Copy: Ctrl+C, Make a note of the currently selected files for use with later commands.

Paste: Ctrl+P, If one or more files are already "copied" for pasting, the Paste command will put a copy into the currently selected directory. If the destination directory is the same as the source directory, a new copy of each file with a modified name will be placed into the same directory.

Rename: F2, Allows user to edit the name directly in the file details list window. While editing, the background behind the name will be hightlighted in yellow. Press the Escape key to abandon the changes, or the Enter key to commit them.

Insert in trash: Insert key, If no files are selected, just switches view to the configured trash directory. If there are selected files, the user is presented with a choice to move the selected files to the trash directory or just browse it.

Restore from trash: Menu-R, Move the the selected file or files to their original location and name using then old path information encoded in the current filename (~ characters in the current filename correspond to / characters in the old path)

Delete: Delete key, Delete selected file(s). If the "ConfirmDelete" configuration is set to 1 in the .fluff.conf file, the user will be prompted to confirm the delete operation.

Open terminal here: Alt+T, Open a terminal (fixed as "aterm" now) window with the current path set to the directory displayed in the file details list window.

Properties: F7 or Alt-F6, Opens the File Properties dialog box, showing several details about the file, and (if permissions allow) provides an interface to edit the file's name, ownership, and permissions.

Help: F1, Displays this help file.

Cancel: Menu-L, Close the file details right-click menu without issuing other commands.

## Keyboard Shortcuts

F1 |  | Open this help document
F2 |  | Rename file within list
F3 |  | Launch first associated application
F4 |  | Launch second associated application
F5 |  | Refresh window conetents
F7 or Alt+Enter |  | Show file properties
F8 |  | Show "Open With..." Window, also access "Manage Associations"
F10 |  | Show "About Fluff" window
Insert |  | Insert file(s) or directory in Trashbin
Delete |  | Delete file(s) or directory
Alt + T |  | Open a terminal window at the current directory
Ctrl + A |  | Select all files in current directory
Ctrl + C |  | "Copy." Well, really just remember the selected files for Paste later.
Ctrl + E |  | Jump to TCE or alternate configured directory
Ctrl + H or Home |  | Jump to $HOME or alternate configured directory
Ctrl + V |  | "Paste." Well, really just duplicate files remembered from "Copy"
Ctrl + Backspace |  | Go to parent directory (toward root)
Right Arrow or =/+ key |  | Expand current directory
Left Arrow or - key |  | Collapse current directory
Down Arrow |  | Browse next directory
Up Arrow |  | Browse previous directory

## Moving and Copying Files

There are four ways to move or copy files in Fluff:

1. Drag-and-Drop: select one or more files in the right-side file list window, then drag the item (or items) to a directory in the left-side tree view; a confirmation dialog will pop up and help the user copy, move, and/or cancel
2. Right-Click: select one or more files in the right-side file list window, move the mouse pointer to the left hand tree view, right-click to pop up the context menu, select "move to here" or "copy to here";
3. Copy / Paste: select one or more files in the right-side file list window, click on the "Copy" button or select "Copy" from the right-click context menu, select the destination directory in the left-side tree window, and finally click on the "Paste" button or right-click and select the "Paste" command.
4. Move to Trash / Restore: select one or more files in the right-side file list window, click on the "Trash" button and confirm "move to trash"; later, navigate to trash window, select and right-click on item there, then choose "restore from trash" to a have it return to the location it originally came from.

## Managing Filetypes and Associations with Programs

There is an GUI editor for filetype recognition, available through the main right-click menu (right click on the bottom status line or over an inactive part of the upper button bar, then select "Filetypes"), or by clicking on the "Type" button in the File Properties dialog box. We recommend you use this editor to manage the descriptive names for filetypes and the filetype identification hints. However, filetypes and hints may be edited directly (with care!) in the configuration file .fluff.conf. Once a file type is known, the associated applications editor may be used to define which external programs can be used to interact with it.

#### Managing Filetypes and Hints

Saving and Undo: In the "Manage File Types and Hints" dialog box, any changes you make only affect a temporary copy. If you click on the "Undo changes" button before you close the dialog, the temporary copy will be reset to the master copy. However, if you close the dialog box after making changes, the changes will be transferred to the master copy and will immediately affect the file detail list display. The changes will be made persistent (written to the .fluff.conf configuration file) if and when the Fluff application closes normally. However, if Fluff is aborted or killed, the changes will not be updated in .fluff.conf and will be lost.

Changing a Filetype's Name: In the "Manage File Types and Hints" dialog box, select any filetype identification hint that is for the filetype you want to rename, then simply edit the name in the "Filetype Name" input field. As you edit, you will see selected hint and any other hints for the same filetype automatically update.

Modifying a Filetype Identification Hint: In the "Manage File Types and Hints" dialog box, select the filetype identification hint you want to modify. Below you will see checkboxes for the hint method, and input field for the distinct matching pattern string (the interpretation of which depends on the hint method), and (for header-based hint methods) an input field for byte offset in the file's header for the matching pattern. Here is how the hint methods work:

Header string |  | Fluff reads the initial file content, and tries to find the specific "Matches" string pattern at the specified fixed offset from the start of the file (offset 0 = first byte of the file, offset 1 is the second byte, etc.)
Header bytes |  | Fluff reads the initial file content, and tries to find the specific "match" pattern of bytes at the specified fixed offset from the start of the file (offset 0 = first byte of the file, offset 1 is the second byte, etc.). The pattern of bytes to look for are specied in the "Matches" input field as two-character hexadecimal numbers (e.g. 12 34 AB F3) delimited by spaces.
Filename Extension |  | Fluff looks at the last n characters of a file's filename for a match to the n-character string specified in the "Matches" character pattern. For this method, the "Offset within file" field is not relevant and is disabled.

Changes to the hint properties will be immediately reflected in the hint list, but not committed to the master copy until the dialog box is closed.

Adding a New Hint: In the "Manage File Types and Hints" dialog box, click on the the "Add new hint" button. A new hint will be added to the list with some generic properties, unless you have reached the built-in limit (200 hints).

Removing an existing Hint: In the "Manage File Types and Hints" dialog box, select the hint you want to remove, then click on the the "Remove hint" button. If you selected the one and only hint for a certain filetype, Fluff will not allow you to remove it, otherwise, you should see the hint disappear.

Adding a New Filetype: In the "Manage File Types and Hints" dialog box, click on the the "Add type" button. A new hint with generic properties and a generic name will be created and displayed in the interface. The filetype name and identification hint properies may be adjustusted as described above. The new filetype will be transferred to the master copy and reflected in the file list window when the user closes the dialog box. Note: you may also create a new filetype for a file considered a generic file by using the "Type" button on the File Properties dialog box and supplying a filetype name.

Viewing or Changing the Associated Programs for a Filetype: In the "Manage File Types and Hints" dialog box, click on the "Associated apps..." button. The "Manage Associations" dialog box will open. If invoked from this button, changes in the associations are not transferred to the master copy until the "Manage File Types and Hints" dialog is closed.

Note: The generic file type is not listed in the types and hints list since it is default when no specific hint matches. To add or modify an association for generic files, select any file in the file details list, invoke the right-click menu command "Open with..." If the selected file is not a generic type, check the "Open with option for generic file" checkbox then click on the "More..." button. Now you may select an association definition to modify or delete, or add a new association.

#### Managing Associations

Saving and Undo: In the "Manage Associations" dialog box, any changes you make only affect a temporary copy. If you click on the "Undo changes" button before you close the dialog, the temporary copy will be reset to original copy. However, if you close the dialog box after making changes, the changes will be transferred to the original copy. The changes will be made persistent (written to the .fluff.conf configuration file) if and when the Fluff application closes normally. However, if Fluff is aborted or killed, the changes will not be updated in .fluff.conf and will be lost.

Modifying a Filetype Association with a Program: In the "Manage Associations" dialog box, select the association you want to modify. Below you will see an input field for the "Action Label", which is used on the button bar and file window's right-click menu; and a command line, which tells Fluff how to run the associated program. In the command line, "%s" will be replaced with a copy of the selected filename or filenames, where each file is surrounded by double-quotes: "file1" "file3" (etc.). Your changes will be updated immediately in the association list.

Adding a new Filetype Association with a Program: In the "Manage Associations" dialog box, click on the "Add new" button. You will see a new association defined with generic properties. Modify the association you want to modify. Below you will see an input field for the "Action Label", which is used on the button bar and file window's right-click menu; and a command line, which tells Fluff how to run the associated program.

Removing a Filetype Association with a Program: In the "Manage Associations" dialog box, select the association you want to delete. Click on the "delete" button. You will see the association removed from the list immediately.

Changing the Order of Associations: Since the first two associations for a given filetype have a special status, you may want to adjust associations' order. In the "Manage Associations" dialog box, select the association you want to reprioritize. Click the "Up" and/or "Down" button to elevate or demote the file(s) priority relative to the others. You will see the changes in the order immediately, but not affect the main window until the dialog boxes are closed.

## Special Configuration Options

Here are a few .fluff.conf settings that are not exposed in the GUI:

TrashbinPath |  | Directory that Fluff will store items inserted into "trash." In RAM-resident file managers, setting this to a non-volatile directory (e.g. /tmp) will mean that the "trash bin" will be automatically emptied each time the system shuts down. If you want a persistent trash bin, configure this to a directory that is normally saved in non-volatile storage (i.e. /home/tc/.trash). |
Loc1Path |  | Directory that Fluff jumps to if the first jump button is clicked. By default, configured to the user's home directory. |
Loc1Label |  | Label text for the first jump button in the button bar. |
Loc2Path |  | Directory that Fluff jumps to if the second jump button is clicked. By default, configured to the TinyCore Extensions path. |
Loc2Label |  | Label text for the second jump button in the button bar. |
ConfirmDelete |  | Whether Fluff will request user to confirm all delete operations (1 = yes: confirm delete operations, 0 = don't) |
AllowUseSudo |  | Whether Fluff will display the "use sudo" checkbox in the button bar, which allows the user to use a "sudo" prefix during most file operations. (1 = yes: allow user to select sudo, 0 = no: don't allow user to see and use sudo checkbox) |
FollowLinks |  | Whether Fluff recurse into linked directories when counting number of files contained in a certain directory or estimating the total amount of space required for storing directory's content. Following links can lead to endless loops that lock up Fluff if there are circular linkages (as can happen in the /dev filesystem branch), but can be more accurate if you work with linked directories. |

## Quirks and Tricks

You can expand or collapse sections of the tree view by clicking on the left-side column on the plus (+) or minus(-) characters, or by using the left and right cursor arrow keys.

To easily select multiple files, you may "sweep" over right-side file list using the normal left-click-and-drag gesture, but in the non-name columns. As in several other file managers, you may also shift-click to extend a selection range, or ctrl-click to toggle the selection of individual files.

Fluff will try to utilize the window managers's color scheme and display something legible for reasonable combinations of foreground and background colors. However, some combinations of colors will not be usable. Fluff will utilize the window manager's FLTK window style setting, which can currently be one of "none" (Windows 95 style), "gtk+", or "plastic" (Mac OS Aqua style).

Some filesystes for mountable media such as FAT32 USB memory sticks support upper and lower case letters in filenames in a limited way, so the underlying Linux file management commands used by Fluff may not allow you to successfully rename a file if the only difference is capitalization. For example, if you try to rename myfile to MyFile on a USB Stick, it will not work for certain filesystem format types. However, you may change the name in two steps: myfile --> myfile1, then myfile1 --> MyFile.

## Support

Post bug reports and suggestions to the TinyCore Linux Forum
(http://tinycorelinux.com/forum/).

Michael A. Losh