Anyone else with this behaviour - Firefox click on download folder opens two instance of Caja

Support & Help Requests
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  • UM 22.04.5 LTS
  • Linux OasisMega1 6.8.0-45-generic #45~22.04.1-Ubuntu SMP PREEMPT_DYNAMIC Wed Sep 11 15:25:05 UTC 2 x86_64

Sanity check before going elsewhere ...

When using Firefox, when I look at the list of downloads, if I click on the "folder" icon to open the folder containing the file, almost 100% of the time, I end up with Firefox opening 2 separate instances of Caja simultaneously. Rare is it the case that only one instance is opened.

FIREFOX__ClickOpenFolder
FIREFOX__ClickOpenFolder541×273 22.8 KB

Anyone else having this problem?

NOTE: I do not get 2 Caja instances when I click on the top App menu bar or when I double-click on a MATE folder anywhere else. :frowning: Also, my mouse is not misbehaving.

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Sorry, not trying to state the obvious, but I am assuming Firefox is all updated?

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I also found this...

When Firefox is configured to open download folders, clicking on the download folder button can sometimes cause Caja to open in multiple instances. This issue is often related to how Firefox handles file associations and how Caja responds to those actions.

Here's a breakdown of potential causes and solutions:

Possible Causes:

File Association Issues:
Firefox might be incorrectly associating the "Open Containing Folder" action with the file manager (Caja).

Caja Process Issues:
Caja might be encountering issues when opening multiple windows or when the previous Caja instance is in a specific state (e.g., maximized).

Firefox Configuration:
Firefox's settings or add-ons could be interfering with the way it handles file downloads and folder openings.

Troubleshooting Steps:

1. Check Firefox Preferences:

  • Temporarily disable "Restore Previous Session" in Firefox's Startup settings.
  • Ensure "Open Links in Tabs Instead of New Windows" is checked under the Tabs section.

2. Restart Firefox:

A simple restart can resolve temporary glitches or conflicts.

3. Start Firefox in Safe Mode:

Safe mode disables add-ons, helping you identify if an extension is causing the issue.

4. Reset Download Actions:

  • Go to about:support in Firefox's address bar.
  • Locate the "Profile Folder" and open it.
  • Find the mimeTypes.rdf file and rename or delete it.
  • Restart Firefox.

5. Check Firefox Applications Settings:

  • In Firefox's Options, go to Applications.
  • Search for "Save File" or the file type associated with the download.
  • Change the action to "Always ask" or try selecting a different application to handle the file.

6. Check for Add-ons:

Disabling add-ons one by one can help pinpoint if a specific extension is causing the issue.

7. Update Firefox:

Ensure you're using the latest version of Firefox, as updates often include bug fixes and improvements.

8. Check Caja Configuration:

Investigate Caja's settings for any options related to window behavior or process handling.

9. Consider a Different File Manager:

If possible, try using a different file manager (e.g., Nemo instead of PCmanFM) to see if the issue is specific to Caja.

10. Examine System Logs:

Check your system logs for any errors related to Caja or Firefox during the file opening process.

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Thank you for that detail, Stephen. Maybe you could also add the URL to where that was found for those who want to go directly to the source.

For most of that, all checks out OK, with one exception.

For this section,

I have "Always ask" for everything except a select few, for which I specifically assigned an action.

What I don't see listed there is how to act on "Open folder", which is my issue when I click on the "folder icon" next to the file.

I don't get double action when I click on the filename portion, only when I click on the icon which is supposed to open the folder in a Caja window! :slight_smile:

I have renamed my mimeType.rdf and will see how that works out, but I may simply restore that if I see no benefit.

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I renamed the file, but when I do a system search, there is no other version of that file anywhere, not even under the software directory. That implies that, if the file is not present, all the defaults are software built-ins, which makes it VERY difficult to track down the where any "deviation" could have crept in (nothing to compare the offending file against)! :frowning:

Fingers crossed! Since doing this, I have not experienced the problem. I will give it another day, but if all goes well, I will mark the issue as solved. :slight_smile:


As promised, I will now confirm that the issue is resolved by the action of "suppressing" mimeTypes.rdf, by the simple step of renaming as "mimeTypes.rdf__HOLD".

Thank you for that research, Stephen! One more irritant put to bed.

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While I may not be that proficient with Linux, I can research the crap out of things. :slight_smile:

Glad I could help!

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