HOWTO: Add a "Search Folder" option to Nautilus's right-click/context menu.

[rCXer]

While Nautilus's built-in search (accessed by the "Search" button or Ctrl-F) can find files by name or extension, I often need something a little more advanced. For example, searching for files based on their dates, size, and content. The gnome-search-tool, accessed by Places->Search for Files, can do this but I have to browse to the folder of interest everytime I use it. This problem can be solved by adding the gnome-search-tool to the right-click/context menu using the "Nautilus Actions Configuration".

• Install it by entering...
  

  sudo apt-get install nautilus-actions

  ...into the terminal.
  
• Start the program by going to System->Preferences->Nautilus Actions Configuration.

Ubuntu 11.04 and later

Haven't figured it out yet. All suggestions are welcome.

Ubuntu 10.04 and 10.10

• File->"New action"
• On the "Actions" tab, type...
  

  Advanced Search...

  ...for the Context Label and make sure Display item in selection context menu is checked.
• On the "Command" tab, type...
  

  gnome-search-tool

  ...for Path and...
  

  --path %d/%f

  ...for Parameters. (For a detailed description of the parameters, click the Legend button.)
• Now we have to tell Nautilus to display this option only when a folder is selected. On the Conditions tab, accept the defaults. Under "Appears if selection contains", Select Only folders and make sure "Appears if selection has multiple files or folders" is unchecked.
• File->Save and close the program.

Ubuntu 9.10 and earlier

• Click the Add button. Type...
  

  Advanced Search...

  ...for the Label.
  
• In the Profiles box, select Main and and click the Edit button on the right.
  
• Next we have to tell the gnome-search-tool to start the search at the selected folder. On the Action tab, enter...
  

  gnome-search-tool

  ...for Path and...
  

  --path %d/%f

  ...for Parameters. (For a detailed description of the parameters, click the Legend button.)
  
• Now we have to tell Nautilus to display this option only when a folder is selected. On the Conditions tab, accept the defaults. Under "Appears if selection contains", Select Only folders and make sure "Appears if selection has multiple files or folders" is unchecked. Click OK, OK, and Close.

Restart Nautilus by logging out and logging back in. To test it, and right click on any folder choose "Advanced Search..." near the bottom of the context menu. The folder you chose should appear by "Look in Folder". Advanced options can be displayed by by clicking on "Select More Options" and choosing one from the dropdown menu before clicking Add. Finally, to search click the Find button.

That's it!
For a graphical explanation (but dated) of how to use the Nautilus Actions Configuration look here. If you want to edit or remove your "Advanced Search..." item from the menu, run the "Nautilus Actions Configuration", select it and click Edit Or Delete. "Nautilus Actions Configuration" can be uninstalled by...

sudo apt-get remove nautilus-actions

[Interruptor]

* Restart Ubuntu.

quite confusing
What about

$ nautilus-actions-check-actions-change

?
What is it for?
There is no information about it neither in

$ man nautilus-actions-check-actions-change

neither in

http://www.google.com.ua/search?q=%2Bnautilus-actions-check-actions-change

[rCXer]

quite confusing

I changed it to "Restart the computer"

What about

$ nautilus-actions-check-actions-change

?
What is it for?

I have no idea what "nautilus-actions-check-actions-change" does. I always use the gui

[Interruptor]

I changed it to "Restart the computer"

It was not about formulation, but about meaning.
I'm used to restart Ubuntu (equals "my computer") only if I've changed something in grub's menu.lst or installed new kernel version. And this setting is so insignificant to restart Ubuntu. Weird

[rCXer]

Hmm, on my machine, items added sometimes don't appear until I restart nautilus or Ubuntu. I'll leave "Restart the computer" there just in case.

[Interruptor]

nautilus -q

working without system restart

[airtonix]

Restarting the computer is quite unnecessary.

A simple restarting of nautilus will do.

1. alt + f2
2. gksudo killall nautilus && nautilus

Or just logout and back in again.

[Interruptor]

Also, adding different options can be very useful. For example, I modified parameters string like this:

--path %d/%f --hidden --contains=""

[rCXer]

I have updated this tutorial for Lucid.

[Ashrael]

Hello!

I tried this in Natty and found out that Nautilus Action Configuration has been upgraded to v 3.0.5, so your howto is not up to date anymore. Especially in Natty/Unity it's vital to be able to search from context menu.

GRTZ!