Ubuntu – choose to not sort directories before files on file open dialogs

gtkgtk-2gtk3

I would prefer to not have directories sorted before files within the file open/save dialogs. I would like everything sorted by modification date regardless of file or directory.

I have done a fair amount of googleing with trial and error still without a solution.

specifics

  • xubuntu 14.04
  • no desktop enviornment, gui started via startx
  • thunar version 1.6.3
  • gtk2 version 2.24.23
  • gtk3 version 3.10.8

Best Answer

I have a solution for GTK applications, and a solution for dolphin. I've never figured out how to fix this for non-GTK applications (e.g., LibreOffice).

For GTK:

  1. Fire up dconf-editor.
  2. Navigate to org/gtk/settings/file-chooser.
  3. De-select the box next to sort-directories-first.
  4. Close the dialog.

For dolphin:

  1. Navigate to Control / Sort by >.
  2. De-select "Folders first" at the bottom of the menu.

Hope this helps.

EDIT: I see someone else asked / addressed this problem here. I mention it because that thread has an easy command-line answer for the GTK+ part:

gsettings set org.gtk.Settings.FileChooser sort-directories-first true
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