disk volumes under "places" in file manager

[R Skinner]

On 12/31/11 02:20, Joe Marcus Clarke wrote:
> On 12/30/11 5:27 AM, R Skinner wrote:
>> 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...
> The GIO API is a good starting point.  The volume monitor piece would be
> the thing in which you're interested.
>
> http://developer.gnome.org/gio/2.31/
I didn't even realise it existed... :) Well that explains it.
>
>> Also, (bad place to ask this I know- traitor... :D) does this carry for
>> kde to?
> I imagine they do use dbus, but not GIO.
No- kio, I believe. Thats what stumped me, I knew about kio through 
kio-slaves and what not. I had no idea its was exactly the same in 
Gnome; I thought they were supposed to be diametrically opposed?
>
>> And hal goes the way of the dinosaurs... good riddance! ;)
> Until someone builds out comparable features using devd or other such
> capabilities, hal is not going away in FreeBSD.
I'm starting to get the idea that thats what I'm attempting to do... :(

What about D-VFS? Is that on the horizon? Is it worth it?