Add Open Terminal Here / Open Shell Prompt Here Right Click Menu To a File Manager

Question: How do I open a shell prompt or gnome-terminal at the current location while browsing directories and files via nautilus file manager? I'd like to see Open Terminal / Prompt here option added to my right click menu. How do I open command prompt in a single selected directory or otherwise in current directory?

Answer: Nautilus can execute script that can open a gnome-terminal at the current location or selected directory location. All such scripts will be available via right click menu option.

Nautilus Scripts

Nautilus is the official file manager for the GNOME desktop. It has ability to run add-on scripts written in any scripting language (or binary file) without a problem. All add-on scripts must be created and stored at ~/.gnome2/nautilus-scripts ($HOME/.gnome2/nautilus-scripts) location.

Create Open Terminal Here (Open Shell Prompt Here) Shell script

Create file as follows using gedit text editor:

gedit "$HOME/.gnome2/nautilus-scripts/Open Terminal Here"

Append shell script code:

#!/bin/bash
# From Chris Picton
# Replaces a Script by Martin Enlund
# Modified to work with spaces in path by Christophe Combelles
 
# This script either opens in the current directory,
# or in the selected directory
 
base="`echo $NAUTILUS_SCRIPT_CURRENT_URI | cut -d'/' -f3- | sed 's/%20/ /g'`"
if [ -z "$NAUTILUS_SCRIPT_SELECTED_FILE_PATHS" ]; then
     dir="$base"
else
     while [ ! -z "$1" -a ! -d "$base/$1" ]; do shift; done
     dir="$base/$1"
fi
 
gnome-terminal --working-directory="$dir"

NAUTILUS_SCRIPT_CURRENT_URI variable gives current location for directory. NAUTILUS_SCRIPT_SELECTED_FILE_PATHS sets a newline-delimited paths for selected files.

Save and close the file. Now, setup permissions, enter:

chmod +x "$HOME/.gnome2/nautilus-scripts/Open Terminal Here"

 

And you are done. Open nautilus file manager, select directory > Right Click > Scripts > Open Terminal Here:

 

Fig.01: Open Shell Prompt Here Script

And terminal will open at sg1 directory:

Fig.02: Nautilus script opened a terminal

Further readings:

• Gnome Scripts.

 

osc:conllected 2009-08-19.