Troubleshooting and FAQ
Answers to common questions about Rover Explorer 1.0.0, and fixes for known problems.
Search
Search cannot find a file I know is there
Check these in order:
- Is it under your home folder? Only your home folder is indexed. Files on other drives or in system folders are not searchable.
- Is it hidden, or inside a hidden folder? Names beginning with a dot are never indexed.
- Was it added recently? Select Tools > Rebuild search index and try again when the status bar shows Search index:.
- Is a filter on? In the Search Companion, select All files and folders and clear Only in current folder.
Can Rover search inside files?
No. Search matches file and folder names and their paths only.
Why does the list stop at 400 results?
The file list shows the first 400 matches, best matches first. The status bar shows the full count. Add more letters or a second word to narrow the search.
How long does indexing take?
It depends on how many files are under your home folder; a few hundred thousand names take seconds on a typical disk. You can browse and search while it runs.
Files
Can I get a deleted file back?
Not from Rover Explorer. Delete removes items permanently; it does not use a wastebasket or the Recycle Bin. Restore the file from a backup if you have one.
Paste replaced a file without asking
Rover does not warn when the destination already has a file with the same name. The newer file replaces the older one. Check the destination before pasting when names may clash.
Paste is greyed out
Paste is off while search results are showing, and when nothing has been cut or copied in Rover. Open a folder, then paste. Items copied in another file manager cannot be pasted in Rover.
I cannot see files such as .bashrc or .config
They are hidden. Select the eye button on the toolbar or View > Show hidden files.
A file opens in the wrong program
Rover hands files to your system's default program for that file type. Change the default in your system settings; Rover has no setting of its own for this.
Settings and the companion
My settings reset every time I open Rover
That is how version 1.0.0 works. Folder Options, the view, and the recent-folders list are kept only while the app is open.
How do I turn the dog or the bark off?
Select Tools > Folder Options…, then clear Use the animated companion or Play companion sounds. You need to do this each time you open the app.
The dog does not bark on Windows
In version 1.0.0 the bark can be cut off before you hear it on Windows. It is a known problem and does not affect anything else.
Known problems in 1.0.0
The snap opens in a folder I do not recognise
The 1.0.0 snap can start in the snap's private data folder instead of your real home folder, and it then indexes only that folder. To browse your files, type your home path in the Address bar, for example /home/<your user name>, and select Go. Search will still miss your files; if you need search, install the .deb or the portable archive instead.
On Windows the window is empty below the Address bar
This happens on computers that have a card reader or DVD drive with nothing in it. Insert a card or disc, or disconnect the empty drive, and start Rover again.
On Windows I see files such as desktop.ini and NTUSER.DAT
Version 1.0.0 hides only names that begin with a dot. Files that Windows marks as hidden are still listed and indexed.
Get help
Report a problem or ask a question on the Rover Explorer issues page. Include the version from Help > About Rover Explorer, your operating system, and what you did before the problem appeared.