In Nautilus, when you double click a file, it will open it with the default application associated with the file's extension. For instance, .html files will open in a web browser and .pdf will be opened with Document Viewer. Is there a way to reproduce the same behavior from within the command line (i.e. open path/filename)? I'm asking because I like to browse my file-system from the command line but sometimes don't remember which app. opens what.

2

3 Answers

I think xdg-open is the command you are looking for.

NAME xdg-open - opens a file or URL in the user's preferred application
SYNOPSIS xdg-open {file | URL} xdg-open {--help | --manual | --version}
DESCRIPTION xdg-open opens a file or URL in the user's preferred application. If a URL is provided the URL will be opened in the user's preferred web browser. If a file is provided the file will be opened in the preferred application for files of that type. xdg-open supports file, ftp, http and https URLs.

eg: xdg-open index.php

This will open index.php in gedit(if you are using gnome).

If you want to open a url in browser

xdg-open 

this will open google.com in your default browser.

---

xdg-open is a wrapper script - it will use the desktop environment's tool (gio open, gvfs-open, kde-open, gnome-open, dde-open, exo-open, and a host of other such tools). It is also installed by default, and very likely to work on past, current and future versions (on the other hand, gvfs-open and gnome-open have been deprecated, and may be unavailable in future releases).

5

xdg-open and gnome-open

xdg-open is the most universal way (work also on KDE)

0

If you want to:

• make an alias for this command (e.g. open)
• hide output from the command
• continue using this terminal after

You can use this .bashrc function:

function open () { xdg-open "$@">/dev/null 2>&1
}

1

Your Answer

Sign up or log in

Sign up using Google Sign up using Facebook Sign up using Email and Password Submit

Post as a guest

Post Your Answer Discard

By clicking “Post Your Answer”, you agree to our terms of service, privacy policy and cookie policy