disk volumes under "places" in file manager

[R Skinner]

On 12/30/11 15:45, Joe Marcus Clarke wrote:
> On 12/29/11 10:36 PM, R Skinner wrote:
>> On 12/30/11 12:19, Joe Marcus Clarke wrote:
>>> On 12/28/11 8:20 PM, R Skinner wrote:
>>>> On 12/29/11 02:26, Denise H. G. wrote:
>>>>> On 2011/12/27 at 15:44, R Skinner<rocky at herveybayaustralia.com.au>
>>>>> wrote:
>>>>>> I've been advised to try this list for these specifics, and as it is
>>>>>> only transient I'm not subscribed; so if you could ensure to cc me in
>>>>>> the replies it would be appreciated.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> I've searched high and low to find an answer to this, but just keep
>>>>>> getting wound up in knots. I would like to know how to add "places" to
>>>>>> the sidebar of the file manager (nautilus or whatever)- how is it
>>>>>> done? Is there a config file for it like bookmarks? A dbus call?
>>>>>> GConf?
>>>>> Through bookmarking, I think. Nautilus can remember bookmarks as www
>>>>> browsers do. And bookmars will be displayed in the sidebar of the
>>>>> nautilus.
>>>> Afraid not. I've tried that, and yes, it is displayed in the sidebar but
>>>> it is a permanent fixture and not dynamically added. I have found the
>>>> bookmarks config too. I'm speaking of the "places" menu in the sidebar
>>>> which shows the home dir, filesystem root, desktop dir, etc- and the
>>>> volumes that are added through the hal/dbus system. How is it done?
>>>> Where is this config info for added volumes stored? Its not in GConf.
>>>>
>>>> Seems this one is a real mystery...
>>> I think what you want is the
>>> /apps/nautilus/preferences/always_use_browser setting.  When true, you
>>> get the old non-spacial Nautilus view.
>>>
>>> This setting has nothing to do with the mounted volumes, though.  Those
>>> are maintained by hal.  Nautilus is notified when a new volume becomes
>>> available and will show an icon for it.
>> So essentially what you're telling me is that hal maintains a database
>> and notifies nautilus (via dbus?)- so how does it notify it? Don't
>> forget also that this is not just nautilus- its *every* file manager
>> display (in apps, pcmanfm, etc).
> I'm not sure how other file managers do it, but hal does advertise
> changes via dbus.  Nautilus picks these up via gvfs.
>
>> And what happens now with no hal (linux udev, that is)?
> Linux will use udev, but FreeBSD still uses hal for the time being.
So dbus is still going strong then? If so, then this is where I need to 
focus. It does seem to make sense in some ways- it had crossed my mind, 
but I needed some actual proof (as in someone who does have some 
understanding of the gnome enigma...).

Can anyone point me to some docs on how to do this then? Docs seemed 
rather few and far between for any of this...

Also, (bad place to ask this I know- traitor... :D) does this carry for 
kde to?

And hal goes the way of the dinosaurs... good riddance! ;)

Thanks for the help so far... still need more if you could spare it