Dolphin File Manager Revives Miller Columns View After 15 Years
In the ever-evolving world of Linux, patience often becomes a virtue. KDE’s Dolphin File Manager, a beloved tool for many Linux users, has reintroduced a much-anticipated feature: the Miller columns view, providing clearer folder navigation. After 15 years, this visual organization tool is back, satisfying one of the most requested features in the community.
Understanding the Miller Columns View
The Miller columns view is not a new concept. It was originally part of KDE 4, leveraging Qt’s QColumnView. However, when the Dolphin views transitioned to the new KItemViews engine in 2011, this feature was left behind. The absence of this feature led to the creation of Bug 387455, titled “Column view in Dolphin,” which garnered significant attention and requests from users over the years.
With the reintroduction of this layout, navigating through folders becomes more intuitive. As users open a folder, its contents appear in a new column. Further exploration into subfolders adds more columns, allowing users to track their path through the filesystem effortlessly. This feature significantly enhances user experience, especially for those managing complex directory structures.
How to Try Out the Columns View
For those eager to experience this revamped feature, Dolphin can be built using the following console commands:
kde-builder dolphin
kde-builder --run dolphin
If you are using an operating system that integrates KDE Frameworks, you can streamline the process by appending “–no-include-dependencies” to the commands. Once built, users can press Ctrl+4 to activate the columns view. Feedback from users is encouraged, as it will help KDE finalize whether this feature will be part of Dolphin 26.12, with a decision expected by November 12th.
The Path Forward for KDE Users
The Linux community thrives on collaboration and continuous improvement, and KDE’s decision to resurrect the Miller columns view exemplifies this ethos. It reflects a commitment to responding to user feedback and enhancing the usability of open-source software. As KDE Plasma continues to evolve, features like these not only enhance the user experience but also foster a deeper connection between developers and users.
For more information, you can read the full announcement here.
Credit: KDE
KDE Plasma is getting its own “safe mode,” and it’ll start appearing sometime in Q4
It’ll even help you find whatever’s causing you grief.
“`
