When it WOULD have utility is, for example, in a folder where you might have a PDF and an image. Normally, with previews enabled, what you see is simply a rectangular image - a preview of the content, and no idea of what that is.
Imagine you had just recovered a thousand files that had random filenammes (and no extensions).
Linux knows what they are, but in Dolphin there’s no way to see this from the icon unless you toggle OFF the previews.
That said, it’s a limited use-case - but as OP said, you shouldn’t need to look at a file extension to know what the file is - Linux doesn’t need to do that.
Good point. I think its use-case may be broader than that. Even when the file extension is there, one cannot always remember the default application for many file types, which sometimes changes automatically or manually.
I think it would be a good addition if doesn’t cost too much (e.g. coding work required, resources usage).
Haha, the answer then would be “No, enough is enough” but who knows it might also be possible in the future with no human input into such developments.
I one cannot remember the default application, would they remember what program the tiny icon belonged to?
Dolphin already has a File Type column that tells you what kind of file it is regardless of it’s file extension. It could perhaps have a column that showed the default app but I think it would be just as quick to right click and select open with if you want to open it in a specific app, or the default already displays right there too.
You’re right if and when it’s a really tiny icon.
But if it doesn’t require too much effort, I still think that it’s a good suggestion to be added as an option only, and that it might well be handy if you’re using something like 96px previews with something like 24px default app icon overlays.
We’re discussing ICON views - there aren’t columns then.
I think that it isn’t very quick to ‘right click and select’ anything - not as quick as it is to simply open the information panel with a single stroke.
The idea is also focused on a specific mode of using Dolphin - it only applies to ‘preview’ mode, where the ICON is replaced with a Preview.
Unlike Folder views, where previews are superimposed over the folder, with files the preview completely replaces the icon.
Perhaps in Dolphin parlance, we’d call it an ‘emblem’, much like the ones we see for shortcuts and links.
So perhaps ‘add the icon as an emblem in preview mode’ is a better title.
My original suggestion is what @ben2talk mentioned. I disagree that the emblem should be visible only in the information panel. The whole point of the icon over the preview is so that you can get a quick overview of what every file is, while you would use the information panel to view the full details of a specific file.
Also, the issue of thumbnail churn doesn’t make the most sense, at least in regards to changing the default application. I don’t know about you, but the default application I use to open a certain file rarely changes. However, what would likely cause churn is changing your icon set, as the icons would have to change for any filetypes that don’t have a preview as well as the overlaying icons of the default application.
here is another thread where a user is trying to GET RID OF visual clutter and extra badges on icons… just for contrast with this discussion.
i’m not opposed to the choice of having an icon badge on previews, as long as it does not become the default.
and as you say, you don’t change these default applications very often so it would not be a stretch to assume most users already know what application will open a given file.
The problem I am trying to highlight (and what this thread is about) is that some people may not know what the file is by looking at it briefly in the first place.
There is no reason for it to be the default. Even in Windows, you need to select this option yourself.
Evidently, I am not cool enough to post links, but there is a repo on GitHub called KDE Quicklook by prasanthc41m. I just installed it and it works great!
To be honest, I wouldn’t mind it if used text, instead of an icon. So at the bottom right (for example), it would have a partially opaque rectangle with “pdf” shown (if that’s what it is). But this isn’t a feature I’ve missed. And through work I use Windows, so it’s not like I haven’t seen it.
That user is saying that just because THEIR desktop only has shortcuts, that it isn’t useful to THEM to mark an icon as a shortcut… instead, just leave it looking like a regular file.
This is not transparent, it can be confusing to know if something’s a file, a link, launcher or shortcut… this is exactly why emblems are essential to basic usability and the only ‘option’ here should be possibly arguing that you could turn them off in settings.
For people who don’t like a noisy desktop, there are better options.
I like ‘Folder view’ but it’s not like a ‘folder’ in Dolphin… but then I adapted .
Isn’t this what’s missing?
I created a single desktop folder called ‘Tidy’.
If anything turns up on my desktop, it is only a very temporary situation - a quick download, a YT video, a temporary document… They need to be dealt with and moved to clear the way for my wallpaper.
This isn’t Windows XP - we shouldn’t be putting tons of shortcuts on the desktop simply because we’re too lazy to open the file browser or menu.
And when I see a rectangle showing a preview of some text, I need to know if it’s gonna be a PDF or text file, or something else - just as I do when it’s got no preview enabled.
That’s all.
It’s anything OTHER than this that should be the optional feature, not the usability.
It’s been a quite a while since i last used plasma (and dolphin). I don’t remember if dolphin has a bottom bar like this (thunar)
I think that would be suitable for showing the name of the default application
it does have a status bar which shows the info you have there and could probably be augmented to also so the default application icon.
but just like F11 info display it requires you to have it enabled and it requires you to hover your mouse over the file to trigger the display.
it seems what OP wants is an always on, permanent mark on each icon to indicate the default app directly so that no hovering is required and you can see all the icons in a folder at a glance.
