EVIDENCE(1) EVIDENCE(1)
NAME
evidence - Evidence is a GTK2/evas2 file(1,n) manager.
REQUIRES
gtk2 (to run)
gtk2-devel (to build)
SYNOPSIS
evidence [options] [<directory>]
DESCRIPTION
evidence sports a tree-view (like fm), a browser-view (a la NeXT),
and, if(3,n) compiled against a canvas, an icon-view and shelf. If evas
rather than GNOME-canvas is used as a canvas, the icon-view can be
themed in(1,8) rather extreme ways (like efm and beyond).
evidence gets(3,n) its information about the file-system from a pluggable
backend, making the use of abstraction layers like efsd or GNOME-vfs
a simple matter of adding a suitable plug-in. Furthermore, plugins
for individual file-types are supported; sample plugins for ID3 (MP3
labels containing year, artist, songname etc.) and Ogg/Vorbis-tags
are provided, enriching "tooltips" and transforming the file-info
dialog(1,3,n) into a tag-editor for song-files. Plugins for other data-types
are straightforward to write.
All backends, theme-engines and meta-data providers are pluggable
and will only be loaded if(3,n) and when they are used, keeping memory
consumption low and avoiding "bloat."
At startup, the file-manager's window is divided in(1,8) two sections,
a view on a directory, and the shelf.
Views
Tree-view
The usual tree-view. Columns can be resized an re-ordered.
Clicking on the tiny triangles folds/unfolds a single directory.
Keyboard Controls
* Control-F to search a file(1,n) by name
* Control-I (or right button) to show info(1,5,n) on a file(1,n)
* Cursor-Keys
Unshifted
- Up/Down previous/next row
- Left/Right previous/next column
While Shift is depressed
- Up/Down add previous/next row to selection
- Left/Right fold/unfold level
While Control is depressed
- Up/Down move(3x,7,3x curs_move) focus without resetting selection
- Space add focussed row to selection
Icon-view
The normal mode of operation for most current file-browsers.
Each file(1,n) is represented by an icon or, in(1,8) the case of an
image file(1,n), by a "thumbnail" version(1,3,5) of said image. As
thumb-nailing may take a moment for very large directories,
the mode is more suited for viewing directories and working
in(1,8) them than for navigation.
A middle-click will bring up a path-menu.
A right-click (or Control-I) will bring up the info-dialog.
Typing a letter will focus on the first while whose name
begins with that letter.
Browser-view
The browser-view consists of a number of columns -- one for
each directory in(1,8) the path -- that list the file-names of
those directories. If in(1,8) /home/azundris, three columns would
be shown, listing the items in(1,8) "/", in(1,8) "home" and in(1,8) "azundris",
respectively. On top of each column, an icon representing
the respective directory is displayed. These icons can be
hidden if(3,n) desired. Clicking on a directory will select(2,7,2 select_tut) it
to be displayed (or "opened"), hiding the previously shown
subsequent directories of the one the newly-selected folder
is located in. The contents of the newly-chosen folder will
be displayed instead. This is more intuitive than it sounds,
and according to NeXT-afficionados, it's also something you
might really fall in(1,8) love with.
As in(1,8) default operations mode a single click suffices to open(2,3,n)
a directory, it is necessary to depress the Control-key to
make or extend a selection or to Drag & Drop a directory.
A right-click will bring up the info-dialog.
Control-F will open(2,3,n) dialog(1,3,n) to search for a file(1,n) in(1,8) the current
column. It might be necessary to select(2,7,2 select_tut) a column using the
tab-key first.
Keyboard controls in(1,8) all views
Control-D ("duplicate") will open(2,3,n) a new window showing the same
directory as the current window.
Control-Q ("quit") will terminate evidence.
Control-W will cycle to the next evidence-window.
Control-U will close(2,7,n) the current window.
Control-S will re-sort the current window's contents. This
is for power-users: evidence will sort(1,3) the icon-view once it
has all information (not only an item's name, but also whether
it is a folder etc.) it needs to do so. If you scroll the icon-
view while these data are still being loaded (icons are turning
from question marks into other icons or into thumbnails), evidence
assumes that you have started working in(1,8) the icon-view and will
try not to interfere (it will not move(3x,7,3x curs_move) the entirety of the icons
around by sorted them).
Control-I will get information (in(1,8) the guise of a "tooltip") for
the highlighted file(1,n); ^M will open(2,3,n) a context-menu for it; ^P will
go directly to the properties-dialog ("file-info"), ^R will rename.
Alt-T, Alt-B, Alt-I and Alt-A select(2,7,2 select_tut) tree-view, browser-view,
icon-view and credits, respectively. The tabs of the "notebook"
need not be visible for this to work.
File-operations in(1,8) views
An item -- file(1,n), application or directory -- can be passed to
another application by "dragging" it there. To drag a file(1,n),
move(3x,7,3x curs_move) the pointer over it and press the first mouse-button.
This will select(2,7,2 select_tut) the file. If the mouse is now moved while
keeping the button depressed, the item will follow the
movement of the mouse-pointer: you are dragging it.
To "drop" the item on a target, simply release the mouse-button.
Normally, the shape of the mouse-pointer will change while it
is passing over a target that accepts drops; this makes it easy
to find out whether an application accepts files and other items
this way.
What will happen as a result of this "drag and drop" operation
(DND) depends on the target -- dragging an item onto
* on the shelf -- the bottom area of the window -- will place a
reference to that file(1,n) on the shelf. You can now access(2,5) the
file(1,n) even if(3,n) you select(2,7,2 select_tut) another directory to be displayed in(1,8)
the view. The file(1,n)
* another application will normally cause that application to
try and open(2,3,n) the item (normally some sort(1,3) of data file(1,n));
* an application item in(1,8) evidence will start that program and
ask it to open(2,3,n) the item as data to work on. The application
may be located in(1,8) the view or on the shelf. What the
application will do with the data will depend on both the
application and the type of data you drag onto it; dragging
an MP3 or OGG file(1,n) on a music player would likely get the
song(?) played, trying to drop it on a text editor instead
will likely not produce satisfactory results;
* a directory folder in(1,8) evidence will copy the item into that
directory; the target folder may be located in(1,8) the view or
on the shelf; alternatively, you may move(3x,7,3x curs_move) the file(1,n) into the
target folder (by depressing Shift while dropping, watch the
mouse-pointer change), or place a link(1,2) to the file(1,n) there (by
depressing both Shift and Control);
* a directory folder in(1,8) the browser-view's icon-path will move(3x,7,3x curs_move)
the item into that directory; alternatively, you may move(3x,7,3x curs_move) the
file(1,n) into the target folder, or place a link(1,2) to the file(1,n) there.
Mouse-operation in(1,8) all views
Left mouse-button
Left-clicking on an icon or a list-entry selects that entry.
Left-clicking on an icon or a list-entry and then moving around
while keeping the button pressed activates "Drag & Drop" -- see
previous entry, "File-operations in(1,8) views."
Left-clicking between icons opens a "rubberband" selector in(1,8)
iconview.
Midde mouse-button
Middle-clicking on an icon or a list-entry shows information on
that entry (a "tooltip"-bubble).
Middle-clicking on something other than an icon or a list-entry
will open(2,3,n) a pop-menu showing the "path-history" -- one item for
each directory in(1,8) the path to the current one. Selecting an
entry will "jump" to that folder and display it. To close(2,7,n) the
menu(3x,n,n tk_menuSetFocus) without jumping elsewhere, simply click outside the menu.
Right mouse-button
Right-clicking on an icon or a list-entry shows a pop-up menu(3x,n,n tk_menuSetFocus)
with (hopefully) sensible things to do with that kind of file.
This menu(3x,n,n tk_menuSetFocus) can be edited (PREFIX/share/evidence/evidence.menu)
or overridden (~/.evidence/evidence.menu).
Right-clicking on something other than an icon or a list-entry
will open(2,3,n) a menu(3x,n,n tk_menuSetFocus) with general evidence-related options
(including the option to switch(1,n) to another view, which is
helpful if(3,n) one turns off the "tabs").
Since almost all space is occupied by list-items in(1,8) tree-view,
the evidence-related menu(3x,n,n tk_menuSetFocus) can also always be brought up by
holding the Control-key while right-clicking, no matter
whether or not an icon or list-item is under the mouse-arrow.
ADVANCED USES
Shelf
The shelf is the area at the bottom of the window. Files can
be dragged onto the shelf from the view above. Once on the shelf,
the the file(1,n) can be subjected to the same operations as files in(1,8)
one of the above views, so the shelf can be used as launchpad
and as temporary storage.
To use the shelf as a launchpad, simply place something you
often use on the shelf by dragging it there, then activate it
with a double-click when desired. The action then taken depends
on the nature of the item:
* a directory folder will be displayed in(1,8) the above view
* an application will be started
* a file(1,n) will be passed to a suitable application if(3,n) such an
application is known; otherwise, the user is offered to select(2,7,2 select_tut)
an application from a list
The shelf can be resized to whatever the user deems appropriate,
up to hiding it completely to use all of the window's estate for
one of the above file-views.
Primary Selection
When you select(2,7,2 select_tut) text (in(1,8) a terminal, chat program, browser, ...)
with the left mouse-button and it is highlighted, this is known
as the "primary selection" in(1,8) X speak. This text then can be
"pasted" into many applications using the middle mouse-button.
The primary selection may be pasted into evidence's "typebuffer"
(a "micro-shell" described in(1,8) the next section).
Also, whenever you (de-) select(2,7,2 select_tut) files in(1,8) evidence, the list of
selected files will be set(7,n,1 builtins) as the primary selection. Hence,
you may select(2,7,2 select_tut) files in(1,8) evidence and then "paste" the list of
those files into a terminal/shell of your choice.
Typebuffer
The typebuffer is like a "micro-shell." The type-buffer can be
opened using ^O, ^L, Alt-O, Alt-L, <, / or the Escape key, in(1,8)
other words, with anything that remotely makes sense. Once the
typebuffer is active, you may enter
* an URL that will be dealt with according to the entry in(1,8)
"evidence.handlers" which normally resides in(1,8)
/usr/local/share/evidence/;
* a directory the contents of which should be displayed;
* a command to be executed. Its textual output, if(3,n) any, will go
to the shell that called evidence.
* a property ("config(1,5) variable") to be modified. This will change
evidence's behaviour at run-time. There are several of built-in
properties; the user may also set(7,n,1 builtins) all properties settable in(1,8)
themes.
'iconfont eraser
Display icon-labels using the "eraser" TrueType font
(which must reside in(1,8) one of the well-known font-directories)
'openfolderanimation none
No animation when opening folders
The ' is mandatory -- it tells the typebuffer that it should
modify a property. If you miss the ', the typebuffer will
mistake your property for a program to run and the property's
value as a parameter for that program.
The following special keys are available while entering something
into the typebuffer:
* Backspace deletes the rightmost character in(1,8) the buffer;
* Escape aborts entry; the line will be discarded;
* Return ends entry; the line will be processed.
* Control-X: cut the typebuffer (move(3x,7,3x curs_move) it to the clipboard)
* Control-C: copy the typebuffer to the clipboard
* Control-V: paste clipboard's contents into typebuffer
* Control-B: paste primary selection into typebuffer (same as
middle-click)
While the typebuffer is active, its contents will be visible in(1,8)
the title-bar of evidence's window.
OPTIONS
evidence accepts at least the following options:
-h, --help
Show summary of options.
--efm Look like the efm/essence design studies. This is a shortcut for
"evidence --no-shelf --no-notebook --no-border -T essence".
-M, --desktop
Start with window covering the entire screen and scrollbars dis-
abled. This will effectively make evidence draw the desktop.
-T mytheme, --theme=mytheme
Use theme "mytheme". Note that for themes to work, evidence
needs to be build against evas, the enlightened canvas.
-P myicons, --iconset=myicons
Override icon-set given in(1,8) theme with "myicons".
-s, --without-shelf
Do not create a "shelf" area (temporary work area beneath the
actual view).
-S, --with-shelf
Do create a "shelf" area (temporary work area beneath the actual
view).
-W, --with-tooltips
When mouse rests on a file-icon, open(2,3,n) info(1,5,n) box without waiting
for a click of the middle mouse-button.
-Z, --select
Preselect a given file. "evidence --select /foo/fonts --select
/foo/src" will open(2,3,n) a view on directory foo and preselects the
items fonts and src. This option may be used several times.
Unless virtual(5,8) folders are supported, all items must reside in(1,8)
the same directory. Example of use: sagasu (http://www3.sympa-
tico.ca/sarrazip/dev/sagasu.html). Set editor command to evi-
dence --select "%f"
NOTES
HOME representation
If a file(1,n) "photo" is located in(1,8) the user's ~/.gnome2 or ~/.gnome,
this image will be used to represent the user's (home-) directory.
File-access backends
evidence can be compiled to access(2,5) the file-system "directly"
(using the standard glibc functions present on every system),
via Gnome-VFS, via efsd (the enlightened file(1,n) system daemon), ...
If the UNIX-fs backend is used, the appropriate icon to use for a
file(1,n) is determined using "mime.types" which assigns a MIME-type to
a file(1,n) extension (what comes after the dot in(1,8) the name) and
"mime.icons" which assigns an icon to a MIME-type. These files live
in(1,8) PREFIX/share/evidence (/usr/local/share/evidence by default).
The "direct"/POSIX backend contains code written for efsd by cK.
Meta-data providers
The image provider can save to all formats known by imlib2. This
specifically means that you can *not* save GIF-pictures at this
time(1,2,n), as Imlib2 has no support for that yet. : (
The MP3 provider will read(2,n,1 builtins) an ID3v2 tag, an ID3v1 tag, or provide
an empty basic label, in(1,8) order of preference. It will save both
ID3v1 and ID3v2 tags, with identical data (to the extent that
those are supported by ID3v1). Genres can be selected in(1,8) a
pop-up menu(3x,n,n tk_menuSetFocus), or entered as text ("Blues") or index ("(0)").
Text-entry is somewhat lenient -- "Acid Jazz" will be recognized
if(3,n) given as "acIDJAzZ"). If a genre "foo" is not recognized,
it will be saved as "Other: foo" ("(12) foo" internally).
By the same token, you can enter random(3,4,6) qualifiers to a genre
after a colon: "Blues: 12-bar" (aka "(0): 12-bar"). Only the
first part (the actual genre, "Blues") will be visible in(1,8) ID3v1
tags; ID3v2 will show both.
CUSTOMIZATION
All files in(1,8) "$PREFIX/share/evidence" can be overridden with equiva-
lents in(1,8) "$HOME/.evidence". Aside from icons, in(1,8) particular the fol-
lowing may be overridden:
mime.types assign MIME-types to file-extensions
mime.icons assign icons to MIME-types
evidence.menu entries in(1,8) right-click menu(3x,n,n tk_menuSetFocus) for each MIME-type
evidence.providers meta-data providers (ID3-tags, ogg-infos, etc.)
evidence.handlers protocol-handlers for typebuffer (http, ftp, ...)
Themes go in(1,8) $PREFIX/share/evidence/themes (by default, this means
/usr/local/share/evidence/themes). A theme can be selected by
supplying its directory to the -T switch. If no -T option is
given on the command line, evidence will look(1,8,3 Search::Dict) for a symlink
"default" in(1,8) the themes folder that references the theme you want.
evidence can be tuned at source-level by editing the userconfig.h file.
TUNING
Icon-view
When opening folders is very slow, this may actually be
a problem with the animation being slow. Disable the
animation by setting the openfolderanimation property
to none ("'openfolderanimation none" in(1,8) the typebuffer,
the theme, or the evidence.theme in(1,8) ~/.evidence).
Likewise, "'openappanimation none" inhibits the
animation that normally denotes the start of a
program.
Tree-view / Browser-view
Let's face it, working with a (GTK2) tree-view with many entries
is not pretty. It's 3rd party code, so there isn't a lot I can do.
Except for recreate the tree- and browser-views with EWL, which I
intend to do.
General
The backend and store should be self-tuning; when a
folder takes too long to process, evidence will create
a persistant cache of that folder so it will be loaded
faster the next time(1,2,n) around. ("too long" is defined in(1,8)
userconfig.h::CACHE_SLOWER_THAN as 3s.)
SCREENSHOT
http://evidence.sourceforge.net/screenshots/
AUTHOR
Azundris <evidence@azundris.com>.
December 23, 2002 EVIDENCE(1)