Steve096

I found this wonderful thread on the Ubuntu forums and thought I should share it with the OCN Linux Community. When I started using Ubuntu one of the first things I started to miss was having metadata columns for mp3's in the file browser. Years later after getting used to not having them, I found this guide on the Ubuntu forums. This guide was designed using Ubuntu, though it would probably work with any debian based distribution using Nautilus. The original thread is a little messy with multiple versions throughout and kinda vague for newbies so I thought I would tidy it up a little.

Original thread:
http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=878683

1. Make sure you have the python-nautilus, python-mutagen, and python-pyexiv2 packages installed. They can be found and installed in Synaptic or via the following command in a terminal:
   
   Code:

   sudo apt-get install python-nautilus python-mutagen python-pyexiv2

2. Download the attachment I have included. It is a python script packaged in a .RAR archive. Unpackage the script to your home folder. You can put it wherever you want actually, but you will have to change the directions accordingly. (I did not create this script, it was created by the OP in the Ubuntu forums)
3. In a terminal, run:
   
   Code:

   mkdir ~/.nautilus/python-extensions

   This makes the directory we will be moving the script into.
4. In a terminal, navigate to your home folder (or whatever folder you unpackaged the script in) In the case of your home folder, the command would be:
   
   Code:

   cd /home/username

   Where "username" is replaced with whatever the username is for the account your installing this in.
5. Next we're going to move the script to the directory we created. In the terminal that you navigated to the folder you unpackaged the script in, run:
   
   Code:

   cp bsc-v2.py ~/.nautilus/python-extensions

6. The script has to be modified to be given permission to be executed. In a terminal, run:
   
   Code:

   chmod a+x ~/.nautilus/python-extensions/bsc-v2.py

7. Nautilus needs to be restarted for the changes to be made. This can be accomplished by performing a hard restart, killing the process via the system monitor, or the following terminal command:
   
   Code:

   sudo killall nautilus

If all is well, you should be able to open up Nautilus and go to View>Visible Columns... and set the folder your in to show whatever columns you like.

If you want every folder to show these columns, this can be done too. Go to System>Preferences>File Management (might need to add this option via System>Preferences>Main Menu)>List Columns and configure whatever columns you want to be shown as the default in Nautilus.

I hope this guide helps you use Ubuntu a little bit more easily.

Attached Files

metadata_column_script.rar (1.9 KB, 18 views)

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How-To: Adding metadata columns in Nautilus (Ubuntu)

Steve096

Nobody found this as useful as me?

Also, how can I get this added to the FAQs section? I figured it made more sense to post it in the Linux section.

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-Michael Parenti

How-To: Adding metadata columns in Nautilus (Ubuntu)

spartacus

Oh that's pretty sweet.
I love finding cool Ubuntu tweaks....now I just have to get back to using it. Darn games!

bookmarked

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wierdo124

I has no use for it, but rep nonetheless.

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Steve096

Thanks I had the same problem when I was dual-booting I eventually just ended up using my laptop and desktop at the same time, desktop with windows for gaming and laptop with Ubuntu for everything else. I wound up building a new computer and using parts from my old performance machine underclocked just for Ubuntu

Thank you kindly Not much of a Ubuntu fan?

__________________
"You don't know you're wearing a leash if you sit by the peg all day."

-Michael Parenti

How-To: Adding metadata columns in Nautilus (Ubuntu)

alexjtb

Steve 096

Many thanks! An extremely useful string of instructions, and a solution at last! My nautilus now displays everything I need!

Best wishes from the Caucasus (yes, even we have linux)!

alex