Xfce Forum

kwizzz

Member

Registered: 2024-11-10

Posts: 50

Thunar incremental search: how to C-c the selected file?

I love Thunar for its keyboard navigation features.  The incremental search (by simply typing the first letters of the file name until the wanted file is selected) is awesome...

...except: how can I copy that selected file?

The input seems still to be in the text box at the bottom right corner of Thunar.

So, C-c (Control+C), the most intuitive way, does not work.
Pressing Return (still at least somewhat logical to press) leaves the text box, but opens the file.
Pressing Esc works, but it is a bit counter intuitive and far away to easily touch type.

So my question: is there any other way to copy a file that has been selected through Thunar's incremental search?

Frank

Member

From: Germany

Registered: 2026-03-14

Posts: 7

Re: Thunar incremental search: how to C-c the selected file?

Pressing Esc works, but it is a bit counter intuitive and far away to easily touch type.

Do you need the Caps Lock key? If not, assign the ESC function to it. That way, you can easily press it with your left pinky finger to activate the additional ESC key ;-)

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Debian stable, X11, Xfce 4.20, neovim, nsxiv, zathura, ZSH w/ Zap

kwizzz

Member

Registered: 2024-11-10

Posts: 50

Re: Thunar incremental search: how to C-c the selected file?

Pressing Esc works, but it is a bit counter intuitive and far away to easily touch type.

Do you need the Caps Lock key? If not, assign the ESC function to it. That way, you can easily press it with your left pinky finger to activate the additional ESC key ;-)

Good idea, however, I got Caps Lock already mapped to Control key :-)

eriefisher

Wanderer

From: ON, Canada

Registered: 2008-10-25

Posts: 957

Re: Thunar incremental search: how to C-c the selected file?

Not sure I understand the issue. I have an open thunar window, I use the tab and arrow keys to navigate around. Stopping on a file highlights it, ctrl+c copies it and ctrl+v pastes it where I like.

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But it's all right, when you're all in pain and you feel the rain come down
It's alright, when you find your way, then you see it disappear
It's alright....
Chris Cornell

Frank

Member

From: Germany

Registered: 2026-03-14

Posts: 7

Re: Thunar incremental search: how to C-c the selected file?

Good idea, however, I got Caps Lock already mapped to Control key :-)

OK, so another solution is to use the package xcape which is a utility to configure modifier keys to act as other keys when pressed and released on their own.

sudo apt install xcape

Next make CapsLock behave like Ctrl:

setxkbmap -option ctrl:nocaps

And finally make short-pressed Ctrl behave like Escape:

xcape -e 'Control_L=Escape'

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Debian stable, X11, Xfce 4.20, neovim, nsxiv, zathura, ZSH w/ Zap

kwizzz

Member

Registered: 2024-11-10

Posts: 50

Re: Thunar incremental search: how to C-c the selected file?

@eriefisher, I am talking about Thunar's incremental search feature.

You type the first letters of a file name, a little text box with the text you typed in will appear at the bottom right corner and the selection will jump to the first match.
Arrow keys now restrict the file selection only to those files that match the entered string.  You can even edit the already typed in text.
However, if you type a C-c, nothing happens (as the input is in the small text box).
Pressing enter does not only end this search, but also invokes the default action on the selected item.
So, you need to press Escape to leave that little text box, then you can type C-c to copy the selected item.

See https://docs.xfce.org/xfce/thunar/worki … nd-folders:

If you want to find a single file and know the beginning of the filename, simply start entering the filename in the view. A text box will appear in the bottom right corner and an incremental search will be performed. The first file that matches what you type will be selected. If there are multiple files names beginning with the same letters, continuing to type the name you're looking for will narrow your search down until the file you want is selected.

@Frank, I think I will try something as you described, but I think I will go for a C-Return combination.  Somehow, Return is so logical to me...

BTW, I just learned that there is a timeout for the text window.  So, if I could manipulate this timeout, then I would not even need some extra keyboard manipulations.

eriefisher

Wanderer

From: ON, Canada

Registered: 2008-10-25

Posts: 957

Re: Thunar incremental search: how to C-c the selected file?

Ok, I'm trying to reproduce the issue. I have thunar opened in my home directory. Nothing selected in the pane but it has focus. If i just start typing I get a small window at the bottom right. Once I've type something to match a file(one or two letters in this case) the file is highlighted. I can copy at that point or if I hit enter the file opens in the appropriate application.
If the focus is on the left pane then I'm searching a directory to enter. The search window is outside the thunar window, bottom left.

Is this correct?

---

But it's all right, when you're all in pain and you feel the rain come down
It's alright, when you find your way, then you see it disappear
It's alright....
Chris Cornell

kwizzz

Member

Registered: 2024-11-10

Posts: 50

Re: Thunar incremental search: how to C-c the selected file?

Ok, I'm trying to reproduce the issue. I have thunar opened in my home directory. Nothing selected in the pane but it has focus. If i just start typing I get a small window at the bottom right. Once I've type something to match a file(one or two letters in this case) the file is highlighted. I can copy at that point or if I hit enter the file opens in the appropriate application.
If the focus is on the left pane then I'm searching a directory to enter. The search window is outside the thunar window, bottom left.

Is this correct?

Yes, except that the search window is inside the Thunar window on the bottom right.

Despite a file (or folder) being highlighted this way, I cannot use C-c to copy the it (as the actual focus is inside that text search box).

eriefisher

Wanderer

From: ON, Canada

Registered: 2008-10-25

Posts: 957

Re: Thunar incremental search: how to C-c the selected file?

I can't seem to reproduce the issue. I can copy/paste the file/folder without issue. There is some focus on the search window once I start typing but the window vanishes within a second or two if I stop typing.

---

But it's all right, when you're all in pain and you feel the rain come down
It's alright, when you find your way, then you see it disappear
It's alright....
Chris Cornell

Frank

Member

From: Germany

Registered: 2026-03-14

Posts: 7

Re: Thunar incremental search: how to C-c the selected file?

Wrong quote:

I can't seem to reproduce the issue. I can copy/paste the file/folder without issue. There is some focus on the search window once I start typing but the window vanishes within a second or two if I stop typing.

Right quote:

Despite a file (or folder) being highlighted this way, I cannot use C-c to copy the it (as the actual focus is inside that text search box).

There are two ways to solve this:

1. wait a couple of seconds until the search box will be automatically closed and the file in question gets highlighted

2. press ESC to leave the search box - the file/directory regarding your search string gets hightlighted

Last edited by Frank (2026-03-19 18:07:56)

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Debian stable, X11, Xfce 4.20, neovim, nsxiv, zathura, ZSH w/ Zap