Public bug reported:
This is a design issue. The question is when I copy what happens to be a
symlink (the user shouldn't have to care or understand the difference)
from one filesystem to another, does it make sense to copy the symlink
or to copy the target file? Currently Nautilus copies the symlink (a
pointer containing the filename of the target), which fails un-
intuitively if you happen to be copying to a FAT-formatted removable
drive. And when it doesn't fail, I think this behavior is rarely what
the user wants or expects.
For example, say I have a symlink `/home/jderose/cool-video.avi` that
points to `/home/jderose/Videos/new.avi`. If I copy cool-video.avi onto
a *removable* drive, how often does the user want a symlink on a
removable drive pointed to a possibly non-existent
`/home/jderose/Videos/new.avi` file? The action taken here should
instead copy the physical file pointed to by the symlink (but use the
symlink basename, of course).
Steps to reproduce:
1) copy or drag a valid symlink onto a FAT removable drive
2) be frustrated
I believe the current behavior makes sense when moving/copying a symlink
within the same file system. But when copying onto a another file system
(and onto a different physical disk in particular), I feel the current
behavior is confusing and frustrating.
ProblemType: Bug
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 12.04
Package: nautilus 1:3.4.2-0ubuntu3
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 3.2.0-25.40-generic 3.2.18
Uname: Linux 3.2.0-25-generic x86_64
ApportVersion: 2.0.1-0ubuntu9
Architecture: amd64
Date: Fri Jun 15 16:30:31 2012
EcryptfsInUse: Yes
GsettingsChanges:
org.gnome.nautilus.window-state geometry '1247x1548+1311+24'
org.gnome.nautilus.window-state sidebar-width 200
org.gnome.nautilus.window-state start-with-status-bar true
InstallationMedia: Ubuntu 12.04 LTS "Precise Pangolin" - Alpha amd64 (20120122)
SourcePackage: nautilus
UpgradeStatus: No upgrade log present (probably fresh install)
** Affects: nautilus (Ubuntu)
Importance: Undecided
Status: New
** Tags: amd64 apport-bug precise
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https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/1013889
Title:
Copying a symlink between filesystems should copy the target file, not
the symlink
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