Nautilus Opens New Window Despite Existing One – Fix for Ubuntu 13.10

I wrote a bash script and a launcher for that.

1. First, create the file:

   mkdir ~/bin && gedit ~/bin/nautilus-ctrl-t.sh
   

2. Then paste the following, and save:

   if [ "$(wmctrl -xl | grep "nautilus\.Nautilus")" == "" ]; then
       nautilus "$1" &
   else  
       #Save old clipboard value
       oldclip="$(xclip -o -sel clip)"
   
       echo -n "$1" | xclip -i -sel clip
       #wmctrl -xF -R nautilus.Nautilus && xdotool key "ctrl+t" "ctrl+l" && xdotool type "${1}" && xdotool key Return
       wmctrl -xF -R nautilus.Nautilus && xdotool key ctrl+t ctrl+l ctrl+v Return
   
       #Restore old clipboard value
       echo -n "$oldclip" | xclip -i -sel clip
   fi
   

3. Then run the command:

   sudo chmod u+x ~/bin/nautilus-ctrl-t.sh
   

4. Now, to create the launcher file, run this command:

   gedit ~/.local/share/applications/Nautilus-Ctrl-t.desktop
   

5. Paste the following, and save:

   [Desktop Entry]
   Type=Application
   Name=Nautilus-Ctrl-t
   Comment=Launches Nautilus if not yet, otherwise opens a new tab in it
   Categories=FileManager;GNOME;
   Icon=/usr/share/icons/gnome/48x48/apps/system-file-manager.png
   Exec=/bin/bash -c ~/bin/nautilus-ctrl-t.sh
   Terminal=false
   

6. Log out, or restart to update the application list and you're done.

Try that. Hope it helps.

UPDATE

Added a location as a script parameter

UPDATE 2

Replaced xdotool type with xclip

UPDATE 3

Cleaned up the process by adding numbers. Added mkdir command. Updated the first "if statement" because if nautilus is managing the desktop, it will have a pid, but no active window, so better to use wmctrl. Added quotes around the first argument in case there are spaces. Changed the icon for nautilus to be system default in the .desktop file.

You may have the "Open each folder in its own window" check box selected in the Behavior tab of File Management Preferences.

Select a folder
From the top menu bar, select Edit/Preferences
Behavior tab
Uncheck "Open each folder in its own window"

It would help to know which version of Ubuntu you are using; this answer is a guess. Edit your question with the output of this command from the terminal:

lsb_release -a