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Sample scripts

Note: These scripts may be out of date. Use at your own risk.

Email the selected file

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This one is really useful. How many times have you needed to find a file and then send it? And to be honest, from Evolution or mozilla-thunderbird this is not that simple. It is much easier to use Nautilus to find your file and then send it from there.

    #!/usr/bin/perl -w
    # By John Russell

    # This script sends the selected file(s) with your email client.

    use strict;

    my $MAILTO_URL="mailto:?";
    my @files = split("\n", $ENV{NAUTILUS_SCRIPT_SELECTED_FILE_PATHS});
    my $count = 0;
    foreach my $file (@files)
    {
        if ( ! -f $file && ! -l $file )
        {
            my @dialog = ("gdialog","--title","Error","--msgbox", "\nError: Can not send $file.    \n\n    Only regular files can be mailed.    ","200", "300");
            system (@dialog);
        }
        else
        {
           $MAILTO_URL = $MAILTO_URL . "attach=" . $file . "&";
               shift;
            $count += 1;
        }
    }


    if ($count > 0)
    {
        my @command = ("gnome-open", $MAILTO_URL);
        system(@command);
    }

Added by Darrell: I found that the mailto: syntax in the above does not work with mozilla-thunderbird. I have created the following amended version which seems to work with Thunderbird:

    #!/usr/bin/perl -w
    # By John Russell
    # and hacked to work with thunderbird by Darrell

    # This script sends the selected file(s) with mozilla-thunderbird.

    use strict;

    my $attach_string="\"attachment='";
    my @files = split("\n", $ENV{NAUTILUS_SCRIPT_SELECTED_FILE_PATHS});
    my $count = 0;
    foreach my $file (@files)
    {
        if ( ! -f $file && ! -l $file )
        {
            my @dialog = ("gdialog","--title","Error","--msgbox", "\nError: Can not send $file. \n\n    Only regular files can be mailed.    ","200", "300");
            system (@dialog);
        }
        else
        {
           $attach_string = $attach_string . "file://" . $file . ",";
               shift;
            $count += 1;
        }
    }


    if ($count > 0)
    {
        $attach_string = $attach_string . "'\"";
    # replace spaces with '%20' as demanded by mozilla/thunderbird    
        $attach_string =~ s/\s/%20/g;
    # invoke shell script to call thunderbird differently depending on whether it's running already or not
        my $command = ("~/scripts/thunderbird-email-attachments " . $attach_string);
        system($command);
    }

You will see there is also a shell script which is required, (~/scripts/thunderbird-email-attachments in my example above, don't put it in the nautilus-scripts directory, otherwise it will show up in the context menu):

    #!/bin/sh

    # if thunderbird is already running open a compose window in the running instance

            if `ps xc | grep -q mozilla-thunder`; then 
                    exec mozilla-thunderbird -a Mozilla-Thunderbird -remote         "xfeDoCommand(ComposeMessage,$1)"

    # else start a new instance with the compose window only

            else
                    exec mozilla-thunderbird -compose $1 
            fi

Mount ISO

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Mount an ISO image, from Nautilus. Note from carney1979 - this script will be updated to work with filenames containing spaces soon.

    #!/bin/bash
    #
    #By modprobing loop it makes sure that the module is loaded and ready for 
    #use.  If it is already loaded then nothing will happen.
    modprobe loop
    for I in `echo $*`
    do
       foo=`gksudo -u root -k -m "enter your password for root terminal access" /bin/echo "got r00t?"`
    sudo mount -o loop -t iso9660 $I /media/iso
       done
    done
    exit0

Unmount ISO

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Unmount an iso image, from nautilus. Note from carney1979 - this script will be updated to work with filenames containing spaces soon.

    #!/bin/bash
    #
    for I in `echo $*`
    do
       foo=`gksudo -u root -k -m "enter your password for root terminal access" /bin/echo "got r00t?"`
    sudo umount $I
      done
    done
    exit0

Set file read-only

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Change file-permission to read-only.

    #!/bin/bash

    chmod ugo-wx $*

Edit file with gedit with root-privileges

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Note from carney1979 - this script will be updated to work with filenames containing spaces soon.

    #!/bin/bash
    #
    for I in `echo $*`
    do
       foo=`gksudo -u root -k -m "enter your password for root terminal access" /bin/echo "got r00t?"`
    sudo gedit $I
       done
    done
    exit0

Note from blazoner - A much simpler alternative that works with filenames containing spaces is:

    #!/bin/sh
    gksudo "gedit $NAUTILUS_SCRIPT_SELECTED_URIS"

Open Nautilus with root-privileges here

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    #!/bin/bash
    # root-nautilus-here
    # opens a root-enabled instance of a nautilus window in selected location
    # requires sudo privileges and gksudo, which may involve security risks.
    #Install in your ~/Nautilus/scripts directory.
    #
    # Placed in the public domain by Shane T. Mueller 2001
    # Fixes provided by Doug Nordwall
    #
    # 2004.04.18 -- keith@penguingurus.com - Added gksudo usage to provide popup
    #               password window if sudo has expired.  Line only echos got
    #               root to std output.  But gksudo updates your sudo access
    #               privs, so running nautilus with sudo will succeed
    #               without asking for a password.
    
    
    foo=`gksudo -u root -k -m "enter your password for nautilus root access" /bin/echo "got r00t?"`
    sudo nautilus --no-desktop $NAUTILUS_SCRIPT_CURRENT_URI

Note from blazoner - A much simpler alternative:

    #!/bin/sh
    ### root-nautilus-here
    gksudo "nautilus --no-desktop $NAUTILUS_SCRIPT_CURRENT_URI"

Note from Carl Friis-Hansen - several files with spaces

#
# Script to open one or more files with gedit running as sudo
# This should be in the nautilus script directory:
# ~/.gnome2/nautilus-scripts

use strict;

my @files = split("\n", $ENV{NAUTILUS_SCRIPT_SELECTED_FILE_PATHS});
my $count = 0;
my $dome = "`gksudo gedit";
foreach my $file (@files)
{
        if ( ! -f $file && ! -l $file )
        {
                my @dialog = ("gdialog","--title","Error","--msgbox", "\nError: Can not send $file.    \n\n    Only regular files can be watermarked.    ","200", "300");
                system (@dialog);
        }
        else
        {
                $dome = $dome . " " . $file;
                shift;
                $count += 1;
        }
}

if ($count > 0)
{
        system ($dome . "`");
}

Run file with root privileges

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Note from carney1979 - this script will be updated to work with filenames containing spaces soon.

    #!/bin/bash
    #
    for I in `echo $*`
    do
       /usr/bin/gksudo $I
       done
    done
    exit0

Note from blazoner - A much simpler alternative that works with filenames containing spaces and also opens folders (in nautilus) as root is:

    #!/bin/sh
    gksudo "gnome-open $NAUTILUS_SCRIPT_SELECTED_URIS"

Open search window here

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    #!/bin/sh
    # From Johnathan Bailes
    # This script opens a gnome-search-tool in the directory you select.
    #
    # Distributed under the terms of GNU GPL version 2 or later
    #
    # Install in your ~/Nautilus/scripts directory.
    # You need to be running Nautilus 1.0.3+ to use scripts.
    
    cd $NAUTILUS_SCRIPT_CURRENT_URI
    exec gnome-search-tool

Open terminal here

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    #!/bin/bash
    #
    # This script opens a gnome-terminal in the directory you select.
    #
    # Distributed under the terms of GNU GPL version 2 or later
    #
    # Install in ~/.gnome2/nautilus-scripts or ~/Nautilus/scripts
    # You need to be running Nautilus 1.0.3+ to use scripts.
    
    # When a directory is selected, go there. Otherwise go to current
    # directory. If more than one directory is selected, show error.
    if [ -n "$NAUTILUS_SCRIPT_SELECTED_FILE_PATHS" ]; then
        set $NAUTILUS_SCRIPT_SELECTED_FILE_PATHS
        if [ $# -eq 1 ]; then
            destination="$1"
            # Go to file's directory if it's a file
            if [ ! -d "$destination" ]; then
                destination="`dirname "$destination"`"
            fi
        else
            zenity --error --title="Error - Open terminal here" \
               --text="You can only select one directory."
            exit 1
        fi
    else
        destination="`echo "$NAUTILUS_SCRIPT_CURRENT_URI" | sed 's/^file:\/\///'`"
    fi
    
    # It's only possible to go to local directories
    if [ -n "`echo "$destination" | grep '^[a-zA-Z0-9]\+:'`" ]; then
        zenity --error --title="Error - Open terminal here" \
           --text="Only local directories can be used."
        exit 1
    fi
    
    cd "$destination"
    exec x-terminal-emulator

Hide or Show Hidden Files

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    #!/bin/sh
    # When hidden files (.emacs, etc) are hidden, shows "Show Hidden Files" option.
    # When hidden files are shown, shows "Hide Hidden Files" option.
    # Uses gconf to toggle between the two Nautilus options.
    # Should be placed in ~/.gnome2/nautilus-scripts/ with executable permission.
    OLDSTATE=$(gconftool-2 --get "/desktop/gnome/file_views/show_hidden_files")
    if [ "$OLDSTATE" == "false" ] ; then
      NEWSTATE="True"
      mv ~/.gnome2/nautilus-scripts/Show\ Dot\ Files ~/.gnome2/nautilus-scripts/Hide\ Dot\ Files
    else
      NEWSTATE="False"
      mv ~/.gnome2/nautilus-scripts/Hide\ Dot\ Files ~/.gnome2/nautilus-scripts/Show\ Dot\ Files
    fi
    gconftool-2 --set "/desktop/gnome/file_views/show_hidden_files" --type boolean $NEWSTATE

Note: You can do the same without a script by pressing CTRL+H under Nautilus


SCP a file or directory to a remote host

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This script allows you to scp a file or directory to a static list of remote hosts.

NOTE: you must have ssh key based authorization previously setup and have created a file that lists the hosts ip or fqdn separated by newlines.

  #!/bin/bash
  #scp_to -- nautilus script that scp's files to a fixed list of hosts in a file
  #created by Brad Smith (bradleydsmith@gmail.com) 
  #NEED: zenity, ssh key based auth, host file under ~/.scp_hosts(or call it whatever you like)
  #Install in ~/.gnome2/nautilus-scripts

  #CONSTANTS
  HOSTS='$HOME/.scp_hosts'
  FILEPATH=`echo $NAUTILUS_SCRIPT_SELECTED_URIS | sed 's@file://@@g'`
  SCP='/usr/bin/scp'
  SSH_ID="$HOME/.ssh/id_rsa.pub" #make sure you are using ssh keys or this is a waste of time
  ZENITY='/usr/bin/zenity '
  #ZENITY_PROGRESS_OPTIONS='--auto-close --auto-kill' #you can remove this if you like

  #sanity checks
  for sanity_check in $HOSTS $ZENITY $SSH_ID $SCP $FILEPATH
    do
       ZENITY_ERROR_SANITY="There is an error, it involved $sanity_check.\n Probably binary or file missing" 
       if [ ! -e $sanity_check ]
         then 
          #zenity --error --text="$(eval "echo \"$ZENITY_ERROR_SANITY\"")"
          zenity --error --text="$ZENITY_ERROR_SANITY"
         exit 
      fi
  done


  #check whether copying file or directory
  if [ -d "$FILEPATH" ]; then
        SCP="$SCP -r "
  fi

  #pick host to copy to
  RESULT=`cat $HOSTS | zenity --list --title "SCP HOSTS" --text "Pick a host.." --column "HOSTS"`
  #TODO needs a better check if user clicked cancel on list--dont want any artifacts left over for   failed scp command
  if [ $? -ne 0 ]
   then
   exit
  fi

  #PASSEd ALL CHECKS; heavy lifting
  $SCP $FILEPATH $RESULT: | $($ZENITY --progress --text="copying $(basename $FILEPATH)" --pulsate   $ZENITY_PROGRESS_OPTIONS) 
  if [ $? -eq 0 ]
   then
    zenity --info --text="SCP Succeeded!"
  else
    zenity --error --text="SCP failed to $RESULT"
    exit
fi

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NautilusScriptsHowto/SampleScripts (last edited 2013-05-22 20:41:02 by localhost)