What are the new Nautilus (3.6) shortcuts in Ubuntu 13.04?

Question

I post this question since new nautilus is very 'keyboard unfriendly', specially for one-key shortcuts. From 3.4 to 3.6 the very useful 'backspace' shortcut to go to parent directory has gone (along many other features).

In particular I would like to know how to go to the parent directory.

Solution 1

It's not obvious looking at the user interface that there are any shortcuts. However most of the ones that worked in Nautilus 3.4.2 (as used in 12.04) still work in 3.6.

This list may not be exhaustive, feel free to edit this answer to add more if I have missed any out. All the following work in Nautilus 3.6 (as shipped with Ubuntu 13.04):

New tab Ctrl+T

New window Ctrl+N

New folder Shift+Ctrl+N

Open folder in new tab Shift+Return

Properties Alt+Return

Close window Ctrl+W

Close all windows (quit) Ctrl+Q

Make link Ctrl+M

Add bookmark Ctrl+D

Edit bookmarks Ctrl+B

Undo Ctrl+Z

Redo Ctrl+Y

Cut Ctrl+X

Copy Ctrl+C

Paste Ctrl+V

Select all Ctrl+A

Select items matching Ctrl+S

Invert selection Shift+Ctrl+I

Show hidden files Ctrl+H

Zoom in Ctrl++

Zoom out Ctrl+-

Normal size Ctrl+0

List view Ctrl+1

Icons view Ctrl+2

Go to home directory Alt+Home

Go to parent directory Alt+Up Arrow

Go back Alt+Left Arrow

Go forward Alt+Right Arrow

Go to specified location Ctrl+L

Search files (find) Ctrl+F

Rename F2

Solution 2

In Nautilus 3.6, Alt + Up (Arrow) will take you to the parent directory.

If you are technically inclined, adding

gtk_accel_path "/ShellActions/Up" "BackSpace"

to the Nautilus config file (~/.config/nautilus/accels) will re-implement Backspace as the parent-directory shortcut. Source: http://devshards.blogspot.com/2013/04/edit-keyboard-shortcuts-in-nautilus-36.html

Please backup your configuration file before trying to change it. Inputting data wrong could probably break your nautilus.

Comments

[david6]

Should these be prominent in Nautilus 3.6 desktop help content?

[pileofrocks]

@david6 Should imho, but they are not there... only thing the help explains is Ctrl+S.

[Muhammad Gelbana]

What is the source of this information ?

[Warren Hill]

@MuhammadGelbana Experience. There used to be a list in Nautilus 3.4 but It got dropped for some reason. I just tried all the ones I could remember to see which still worked. I forgot a few but the beauty of the way this site works means that others have been able to fill in the ones I missed.

[Muhammad Gelbana]

I was hoping to find the source, so may I can override some of these shortcuts. Thanks.

[Muhammad Gelbana]

@WarrenHill, thanks. For v3.8.2 users (13.10), add this at the end of the file (gtk_accel_path "<Actions>/ShellActions/Up" "BackSpace"), without the ; which seems to comment the line.