How to change default "open file" location away from "recently used"?

[TLangas]

This has been bothering me ever since I started using Ubuntu.
When ever I go to open a file the file chooser dialog that appears usually defaults to the 'recently used' filter. I'm sure someone finds this useful, but not once in the last 3 years have I every found this window useful.

Is there a way to change this to default to $HOME or even /?

I found an older page explaining that it is possible to temporarily change the 'last-folder-uri' by using dconf-editor. As dconf-editor is not installed by default in Xubuntu, I was wondering if there is a more reliable solution.
http://askubuntu.com/questions/63202/can-i-stop-apps-from-selecting-recently-used-by-default-in-file-chooser-dialog

[ajgreeny]

Just like the xubuntu 12.04 save dialog, which instead of using the folder that the particular app used last time, often but not always, reverts to the recently used folder that anything was saved to.

It is so annoying and not in the least useful to me!

[Toz]

After some intensive googling and brief testing, the following seems to make it default to the home directory (Xubuntu 13.04). Edit the file $HOME/.config/gtk-2.0/gtkfilechooser.ini and change:

StartupMode=recent
...to:

StartupMode=cwd

I'd be interesting in hearing whether this works for others. As for GTK version, I've got 2.24.17:

$ apt-cache policy libgtk2.0-0
libgtk2.0-0:
Installed: 2.24.17-0ubuntu2
Candidate: 2.24.17-0ubuntu2
Version table:
*** 2.24.17-0ubuntu2 0
500 http://ca.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ raring/main amd64 Packages
100 /var/lib/dpkg/status

Note: might only work with gtk2 apps.

[TLangas]

Thanks you Toz.
This works wonderfully for most apps.

I'm also running the same gtk2 version.

I'll keep testing programs as i go and see what programs still use the 'recently used' filter.
So far only gedit.

[Merrattic]

Hmmmm......I don't have folder ~/.config/gtk-2.0 and consequently no~/.config/gtk-2.0/gtkfilechooser.ini file. Just create it with that single entry ?

[Toz]

Which version of Xubuntu are you using. On 13.04, its created automatically as soon as I File->Open on gtk-compliant app. Perhaps this bug (https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/gtk+2.0/+bug/1000712) is relevant for you?

Try creating one. The contents of the file are as such:

[Filechooser Settings]
LastFolderUri=file:///usr/share/pixmaps
LocationMode=path-bar
ShowHidden=false
ShowSizeColumn=true
GeometryX=306
GeometryY=106
GeometryWidth=792
GeometryHeight=585
SortColumn=name
SortOrder=ascending
StartupMode=recent


Be wary of the geometry settings, I believe they set the size of the dialog box.

Now thats interesting. cat'ing the file now, I see that its returned to "StartupMode=recent". Something set it back.

[Merrattic]

I am on 12.04 LTS up to date.

Tried creating folder and file with just StartupMode=cwd in it, re-logged in, but no change.

[pqwoerituytrueiwoq]

I am on 12.04 LTS up to date.

Tried creating folder and file with just StartupMode=cwd in it, re-logged in, but no change.try adding the xfce 4.10 and 4.12 PPAs

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:xubuntu-dev/xfce-4.10
sudo add-apt-repository ppa:xubuntu-dev/xfce-4.12
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get dist-upgrade
you will get quite a few upgrades and fixes for xfce stuff (tab file browsing in thunar for example)

[Toz]

Here (https://bugzilla.gnome.org/show_bug.cgi?id=658280) is some history.

[Merrattic]

OK, thanks Toz. I am sticking with 12.04 LTS repos for now, will have to await 14.04 ;)

[ajgreeny]

Using the xubuntu 4.10 ppa does not remove this behaviour, I'm afraid, as both the open and the save dialog default to "recently used".

Most annoying, to my way of thinking!

[tareqjhe1]

Thank you toz.I am too feel this problem many days .

[ShadowVegan]

After some intensive googling and brief testing, the following seems to make it default to the home directory (Xubuntu 13.04). Edit the file $HOME/.config/gtk-2.0/gtkfilechooser.ini and change: ...to:
StartupMode=cwd I'd be interesting in hearing whether this works for others. As for GTK version, I've got 2.24.17: Note: might only work with gtk2 apps. This worked for me in Lubuntu 13.04. Thanks.