Understanding Thunar Bookmarks

Oct 13, 2025 by wbrum.org 23 views

Introduction

Thunar is a popular file manager for the Xfce desktop environment, known for its simplicity and ease of use. One of its key features is the ability to bookmark frequently accessed files and folders, making it easy to access them quickly. However, users have been asking for a way to add a recent items view to Thunar bookmarks, similar to the one found in the File select menu. In this article, we will explore the possibility of adding a recent items view to Thunar bookmarks and provide a step-by-step guide on how to do it.

Understanding Thunar Bookmarks

Thunar bookmarks are a way to save frequently accessed files and folders, making it easy to access them quickly. To access bookmarks in Thunar, you can click on the "Bookmarks" menu in the top left corner of the Thunar window. From there, you can browse through your saved bookmarks and access them with a single click.

The Recent Items View in File Select Menu

The recent items view in the File select menu is a feature that allows you to quickly access the files you have recently opened. To access the recent items view, you can click on the "File" menu in the top left corner of the Thunar window and select "Recent Files". From there, you can browse through the list of recently opened files and access them with a single click.

Can I Add the Recent Items View to Thunar Bookmarks?

Unfortunately, Thunar does not have a built-in feature to add the recent items view to bookmarks. However, there is a workaround that allows you to achieve similar functionality. You can use the "Recent Files" plugin, which is available in the Xfce package repository.

Installing the Recent Files Plugin

To install the Recent Files plugin, you will need to follow these steps:

Open the Xfce package manager, which is called "Xfce Package Manager" or "XPM".
Search for the "thunar-vfs-plugin" package.
Select the package and click on the "Install" button.
Wait for the installation to complete.

Configuring the Recent Files Plugin

Once the plugin is installed, you will need to configure it to work with Thunar bookmarks. To do this, follow these steps:

Open the Thunar preferences by clicking on the "Edit" menu and selecting "Preferences".
In the preferences window, click on the "Plugins" tab.
In the plugins list, select the "Recent Files" plugin.
Click on the "Configure" button next to the plugin.
In the configuration window, select the "Recent Files" tab.
In the "Recent Files" tab, select the number of recent files you want to display.
Click on the "OK" button to save the changes.

Using the Recent Files Plugin with Thunar Bookmarks

Once the plugin is configured, you can use it to add recent items to your Thunar bookmarks. To do this, follow these steps:

Open Thunar and navigate to the folder you want to bookmark.
Right-click on the folder and select "Bookmark This Location".
In the bookmark properties window, select the "Recent Files" plugin from the list of available plugins.
Click on the "OK" button to save the changes.

Conclusion

In conclusion, while Thunar does not have a built-in feature to add the recent items view to bookmarks, there is a workaround that allows you to achieve similar functionality. By installing and configuring the Recent Files plugin, you can add recent items to your Thunar bookmarks and access them quickly. We hope this article has been helpful in providing a step-by-step guide on how to add the recent items view to Thunar bookmarks.

Additional Tips and Tricks

To access the recent items view in Thunar, you can click on the "File" menu and select "Recent Files".
To clear the recent items list, you can click on the "File" menu and select "Clear Recent Files".
To customize the recent items list, you can click on the "File" menu and select "Recent Files" and then select the "Configure" button next to the plugin.

Troubleshooting

If you encounter any issues with the Recent Files plugin, you can try the following troubleshooting steps:

Make sure the plugin is installed and configured correctly.
Check the Thunar logs for any errors related to the plugin.
Try reinstalling the plugin or updating Thunar to the latest version.

Conclusion

Introduction

In our previous article, we explored the possibility of adding a recent items view to Thunar bookmarks and provided a step-by-step guide on how to do it. However, we know that many of you have questions about this feature and how to use it. In this article, we will answer some of the most frequently asked questions about adding a recent items view to Thunar bookmarks.

Q: What is the Recent Files plugin and how does it work?

A: The Recent Files plugin is a feature that allows you to quickly access the files you have recently opened. It works by keeping a list of recently opened files and displaying them in a menu. You can install the plugin by searching for "thunar-vfs-plugin" in the Xfce package manager.

Q: How do I install the Recent Files plugin?

A: To install the Recent Files plugin, you will need to follow these steps:

Open the Xfce package manager.
Search for the "thunar-vfs-plugin" package.
Select the package and click on the "Install" button.
Wait for the installation to complete.

Q: How do I configure the Recent Files plugin?

A: To configure the Recent Files plugin, you will need to follow these steps:

Open the Thunar preferences by clicking on the "Edit" menu and selecting "Preferences".
In the preferences window, click on the "Plugins" tab.
In the plugins list, select the "Recent Files" plugin.
Click on the "Configure" button next to the plugin.
In the configuration window, select the number of recent files you want to display.
Click on the "OK" button to save the changes.

Q: How do I add recent items to my Thunar bookmarks?

A: To add recent items to your Thunar bookmarks, you will need to follow these steps:

Open Thunar and navigate to the folder you want to bookmark.
Right-click on the folder and select "Bookmark This Location".
In the bookmark properties window, select the "Recent Files" plugin from the list of available plugins.
Click on the "OK" button to save the changes.

Q: Can I customize the recent items list?

A: Yes, you can customize the recent items list by clicking on the "File" menu and selecting "Recent Files" and then selecting the "Configure" button next to the plugin. From there, you can select the number of recent files you want to display and customize the list to your liking.

Q: How do I clear the recent items list?

A: To clear the recent items list, you can click on the "File" menu and select "Clear Recent Files".

Q: What if I encounter any issues with the Recent Files plugin?

A: If you encounter any issues with the Recent Files plugin, you can try the following troubleshooting steps:

Make sure the plugin is installed and configured correctly.
Check the Thunar logs for any errors related to the plugin.
Try reinstalling the plugin or updating Thunar to the latest version.

Q: Is the Recent Files plugin compatible with other file managers?

A: The Recent Files plugin is specifically designed for Thunar and may not be compatible with other file managers. However, you can try installing the plugin on other file managers and see if it works.

Conclusion

In conclusion, adding a recent items view to Thunar bookmarks is possible with the help of the Recent Files plugin. We hope this Q&A article has been helpful in answering some of the most frequently asked questions about this feature. If you have any further questions or concerns, please don't hesitate to contact us.