[FIX] gnome-open/gvfs-open open nautilus instead of actual file

When using gnome-open/gvfs-open to open a file when nautilus is set as the default file manager, the file is not opened with the preferred application, instead nautilus is opens highlighting the file.

After some research I found this to be a bug yet to be fixed. But knowing that exo-open behaves properly, I came out a solution that's a little a hack: replace gnome-open and gvfs-open for exo-open.

Fix for YOUR USER only

As a prerequisite you should have a "bin" directory on your $HOME and it should be added to your $PATH. Them open a terminal window and run:

ln -s `which exo-open` ~/bin/gnome-open && ln -s `which exo-open` ~/bin/gvfs-open

Fix for ALL USERS

Open a terminal window and run:

# backup sudo mv /usr/bin/gnome-open /usr/bin/gnome-open-bak sudo mv /usr/bin/gvfs-open /usr/bin/gvfs-open-bak # create symbolic link to exo-open sudo ln -s /usr/bin/exo-open /usr/bin/gnome-open && sudo ln -s /usr/bin/exo-open /usr/bin/gvfs-open

References

http://askubuntu.com/questions/35602/using-gnome-open-to-open-pdf-files

[HOW TO] Create cbz file from command line

Open a terminal window, change current directory to the directory where the jpeg files are located and run:

zip filename.cbz *.jpg

References

http://en.flossmanuals.net/e-book-enlightenment/making-cbzs/

Map graphics tablet to a output

The general command form to map the tablet's input area to the given output is:

xsetwacom --set $DEVICE MapToOutput $OUTPUT

Where $DEVICE is the name of the tablet's device as given by the xsetwacom --list command, and $OUTPUT is the name of the output as given by the xrandr command.

Once this command is issued, the desktop cursor will remain within the boundaries of the selected output when the tablet's pen is moved.

Example:

First, find out the name of the device:

$ xsetwacom --list
Wacom Bamboo1 stylus id: 20 type: STYLUS
Wacom Bamboo1 eraser id: 21 type: ERASER
Wacom Bamboo1 cursor id: 22 type: CURSOR

In this example the graphics tablet has 3 devices, so we'll map them all to a specific output:

$ xsetwacom --set "Wacom Bamboo1 stylus" MapToOutput "VGA1"
$ xsetwacom --set "Wacom Bamboo1 eraser" MapToOutput "VGA1"
$ xsetwacom --set "Wacom Bamboo1 cursor" MapToOutput "VGA1"

References

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Graphics_tablet
Ubuntu Manpage: xsetwacom

View and Edit *.epub files in Xubuntu

I use two programs to view ePub files: FBReader and calibre. Bellow you'll find a brief description of each one of them and instructions to installed them. If you're just looking for a simple and light program to view ePub files, my suggestion is to choose FBReader.

None of the announced applications support editing of ePub files, so I also suggest a third application, sigil.

View

FBReader

FBReader is an e-book reader for Linux/Windows XP PDA/UMPC/desktop computer. It not only supports ePub file format, but for instance it can also be used to open chm and rtf files.

A file can be opened in FBReader using the file manager. An other way of opening files is using the built-in library management system; FBReader looks for supported files in directories listed in the Book Path option.

Install FBReader

Open a terminal window and run:

sudo apt-get install fbreader

Once installed you can find it in the Applications Menu's Office group, as "E-book reader".

Calibre

Calibre is a free and open source e-book library management application.

Besides providing an e-book reader, calibre also offers a library management system, e-book conversion, e-book syncing to devices, download news and convert it into e-book format and a content server to access you e-book collection online.

Install Calibre

Open a terminal window and run:

sudo apt-get install calibre

Edit

Sigil

Sigil is a multi-platform EPUB WYSIWYG ebook editor.

Install Sigil

Go to http://code.google.com/p/sigil/downloads/list and download the appropriate (x86/x64) *.bin.

Open a terminal window, change current directory to the above download's destination and then run:

chmod +x Sigil-*Setup.bin
sudo ./Sigil-*Setup.bin

Next the setup dialog will open, just click OK/Next/Yes to install accepting the defaults (sigil will be installed in /opt/sigil).

Uninstall Sigil

Open a terminal window and run:

cd /opt/sigil
sudo ./uninstall

References

http://www.fbreader.org
http://calibre-ebook.com
http://code.google.com/p/sigil

Overlay scrollbars in Xubuntu 11.10

Overlay scrollbars allow to save some screen space. Some say it's a usability issue because the target is smaller, so accordingly to Fitt's Law the time to complete the action will be longer. But I find no difficulty in using overlay scrollbars and I definitely enjoy the extra screen space (specially when using my Eee pc).

Not all toolkits implement overlay scrollbars, so at the moment, it isn't possible to get a uniform look from all applications (some will display the classic toolbars). But I understand that efforts are being made into developing support for other toolkits (xul , qt, vcl, swing , nux).
Clementine, Thunderbird and gVim are some applications that I use and don't display overlay scrollbars.

Install

Open a terminal window and run:
sudo apt-get install overlay-scrollbar liboverlay-scrollbar-0.2-0

References

Overlay Scrollbars - Update @Canonical Design
Overlay Scrollbars on different toolkits @Blueprints for Ubuntu
Full Circle Magazine - Ubuntu 11.10 and Unity Special Edition, page 12

Install VLC 2.0 in Xubuntu 11.10

VLC 2.0 has been released. Faster decoding, support for more video formats, a reworked web interface, experimental BluRay Discs support are some the its highlights (click here to see a complete list of changes).

Install

Open a terminal window and run:
sudo add-apt-repository ppa:n-muench/vlc
sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get install vlc

References

WEB UPD8
VLC 2.0 Twoflower
Changes between 1.1.13 and 2.0.0

Install tilda (pop-up terminal) on Xubuntu

Tilda is a terminal emulator that can be accessed using one keystroke, popping-up like a Quake terminal.

Install

Open a terminal window and run:
sudo apt-get install tilda

Run

Hit Alt+F2 and type: tilda.
Once tilda is running, hit F1 to open the terminal pop-up.

Suggestions

1. Add tilda to startup and type this as the command: tilda -h
2. Open a new tab hitting Ctrl+Shift+T and change tabs using Ctrl+PageUp/Ctrl+PageDown
3. If you like the wallpaper, check out: Wilson's Sketch Blog

References

Tilda Documentation

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