When you have a file called abc and you create a directory using thunar which is called abc as well, there is a confirmation dialog (why can a directory overwrite a file?!). When you press Enter by mistake, not only the file is overwritten, but also Thunar is confused and thinks that abc is a file (but it's a directory now). Therefore it's not possible to launch that "file". Vice versa you can create a directory called def and overwrite it with a new file (def). This time the directory doesn't get overwritten and there's no new file called def, only the directory. That's good, because no data is lost, but why does Thunar allow such things?
I tested with Thunar 1.2.1. Overwriting a file is fine now, but still the other two problems do occur: * confirmation dialog defaults to yes, which means possible data loss by accident * overwriting a file with a directory results in thunar keep thinking its a file. Even Strg+R or View->Refresh (or what way it may be named in english) doesn't help
I tested with Thunar 1.6.2. If a file exists and a directory with the same name is created, the file is replaced by a directory. The icon for the directory is updated, and Thunar can enter the directory and create items inside the directory. If an empty directory exists and a file with the same name is created, the directory is replaced by a file. The icon for the file is updated, and activating the file opens it up in a text editor. If a non-empty directory exists and a file with the same name is created, Thunar reports "Error removing file." In all three cases, a "Do you want to overwrite it?" prompt comes up and defaults to "Cancel". The behavior seems a little strange, it should probably fail rather than try to remove a file/directory to create a directory/file. If you try to rename a file or directory with the name of an existing file/directory, it always fails.
(In reply to Jeff Shipley from comment #2) > I tested with Thunar 1.6.2. > > If a file exists and a directory with the same name is created, the file is > replaced by a directory. The icon for the directory is updated, and Thunar > can enter the directory and create items inside the directory. > > If an empty directory exists and a file with the same name is created, the > directory is replaced by a file. The icon for the file is updated, and > activating the file opens it up in a text editor. > > If a non-empty directory exists and a file with the same name is created, > Thunar reports "Error removing file." > > In all three cases, a "Do you want to overwrite it?" prompt comes up and > defaults to "Cancel". > > The behavior seems a little strange, it should probably fail rather than try > to remove a file/directory to create a directory/file. If you try to rename > a file or directory with the name of an existing file/directory, it always > fails. Jeff, On 1.6.3 I still see the behavior of the first case. Here's how I reproduce the error: 1. Right click, and click Create Document->Empty file 2. Name the file "foo" and click Create 3. Rick click, and click Create Folder 4. Also name the file "foo" and click Create 5. Click Yes to the override warning The file "foo" still has a text document icon, and when double clicking on "foo" it is not traversed like a directory but rather opened like a text file. Refreshing does not fix this. I'm able to workaround this issue by leaving the directory that contains "foo" and entering again. I'm always able to enter the directory with a shell.
The refresh bug is now fixed (1.6.5), but of course thunar will still replace a file with a folder. Not sure if that should be changed or not. At least you get a warning, though the text does not indicate exactly what will happen.
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