Dolphin: preview this file does nothing

[DrBob]

Binary package hint: kdebase

Release: 9.04
Package version: 4:4.2.2-0ubuntu4

Right clicking on a file's icon (for instance, plain text or odt) and selecting 'Preview this file' has no effect.

[Jonathan Thomas (echidnaman)]

Apparently it only works if you have a previewer plasmoid present on the desktop. :/

This bug has been reported to the developers of the software. You can track it and make comments at: http://bugs.kde.org/show_bug.cgi?id=190388

[Jonathan Thomas (echidnaman)]

Version: (using KDE 4.2.2)
OS: Linux
Installed from: Ubuntu Packages

Currently the "Preview this file" servicemenu that belongs to the previewer plasmoid only works if there is a previewer plasmoid on the desktop. Otherwise the servicemenu does nothing. This is rather confusing, especially if the user sees this action before he discovers the previewer plasmoid, or if (s)he doesn't make the connection between the two.

[Jonathan Thomas (echidnaman)]

Hi there!

Thanks for reporting this bug! Your bug seems to be a problem with the KDE program itself, and not with our KDE packages. But don't worry! This issue is being tracked by the KDE developers at: http://bugs.kde.org/show_bug.cgi?id=190388
Once fixed in KDE, it will be included in Kubuntu once the KDE version the fix is in in reaches Kubuntu.

Thanks!

[Neoclust-kde (neoclust-kde)]

Can you reproduce using KDE 4.4.4 or 4.5beta?

[Bartosz Brachaczek (b-brachaczek)]

It is still an issue in KDE SC 4.4.4.

[michael (reeves-87)]

just confirmed this in 4.6. Running the equivalent command in terminal yeilds:

%qdbus org.kde.plasma-desktop /Previewer org.kde.Previewer.openFile test.pl

Cannot find 'org.kde.Previewer.openFile' in object /Previewer at org.kde.plasma-desktop

[Flavio Zanda (mrzanda)]

Hello, there's a workaround that basically solves the problem.
You can have the widget always open on a separate and hidden widget layer.

To set up a widget go to System Settings > Workspace Appearance and Behavior>Workspace Behavior>Workspace, and next to "Dashboard" select "show an independent Widget Set".

Lunch the dashboard with ctrl+F12 and add the widget.

Now you should be able to see those previews.

Hope this helps.

[Myriam Schweingruber (myriam)]

Is this still valid with the current KDE 4.8.3 or higher?

[Bartosz Brachaczek (b-brachaczek)]

I can confirm it is still valid in KDE 4.8.3.

[Myriam Schweingruber (myriam)]

Thank you for the feedback.

[Nate-b (nate-b)]

Hello!

This bug report was filed for KDE Plasma 4, which reached end-of-support status in August 2015. KDE Plasma 5's desktop shell has been almost completely rewritten for better performance and usability, so it is likely that this bug is already resolved in Plasma 5.

Accordingly, we hope you understand why we must close this bug report. If the issue described here is still present in KDE Plasma 5.12 or later, please feel free to open a new ticket in the "plasmashell" product after reading https://community.kde.org/Get_Involved/Bug_Reporting

If you would like to get involved in KDE's bug triaging effort so that future mass bug closes like this are less likely, please read https://community.kde.org/Get_Involved#Bug_Triaging

Thanks for your understanding!

Nate Graham