improve the way symbolic links are displayed

[anonymous]

Currently symbolic links are shown with the same icons
as folders. It is confusing, and it would be much better if
they would be displayed more like regular files. Ideally
also with the data about where they are linked to.

[jsherk]

I v2.2.32 symbolic links were displayed as a folder icon with a little arrow inside, like a Windows shortcut icon, which distinguished it from a regular folder/file.

In v 3.1.3.1 symbolic links are displayed as a regular folder icon, with no distinction between actual folders.

This is confusing, because I could not figure out why I had some .html files appearing as folders... I had forgotten that they were just symbolic links to the real files.

It would be nice to see the little arrows back on the folder icons for symbolic links.

[jsherk]

Any move forward on this issue?

Version 2 showed symbolic links with a different icon that regular folders... would be nice to see that same functionality in Version 3!

Thanks

[Tim Kosse]

Will be reimplemented in the next version of FileZilla.

[hududuh]

New feature of 3.2.8-rc1 - Display link overlay on icons of links in remote file list

I'm using 3.2.8.1 and can't observe it.

[Tim Kosse]

Please attach a log with enabled "Show raw directory listings".

[hududuh]

Here it is:

Status:	Resolving address of *********.com
Status:	Connecting to *******************:21...
Status:	Connection established, waiting for welcome message...
Response:	220---------- Welcome to Pure-FTPd [TLS] ----------
Response:	220-You are user number 7 of 50 allowed.
Response:	220-Local time is now 20:43. Server port: 21.
Response:	220-IPv6 connections are also welcome on this server.
Response:	220 You will be disconnected after 15 minutes of inactivity.
Command:	USER *********
Response:	331 User ********* OK. Password required
Command:	PASS ***********
Response:	230-User ********* has group access to:  *********
Response:	230 OK. Current restricted directory is /
Command:	SYST
Response:	215 UNIX Type: L8
Command:	FEAT
Response:	211-Extensions supported:
Response:	 EPRT
Response:	 IDLE
Response:	 MDTM
Response:	 SIZE
Response:	 REST STREAM
Response:	 MLST type*;size*;sizd*;modify*;UNIX.mode*;UNIX.uid*;UNIX.gid*;unique*;
Response:	 MLSD
Response:	 ESTP
Response:	 PASV
Response:	 EPSV
Response:	 SPSV
Response:	 ESTA
Response:	 AUTH TLS
Response:	 PBSZ
Response:	 PROT
Response:	211 End.
Status:	Connected
Status:	Retrieving directory listing...
Command:	CWD /public_html
Response:	250 OK. Current directory is /public_html
Command:	PWD
Response:	257 "/public_html" is your current location
Command:	TYPE I
Response:	200 TYPE is now 8-bit binary
Command:	PASV
Response:	227 Entering Passive Mode (**,***,***,137,157,81)
Command:	MLSD
Response:	150 Accepted data connection
Response:	226-ASCII
Response:	226-Options: -a -l 
Response:	226 6 matches total
Listing:	type=cdir;sizd=4096;modify=20091002183741;UNIX.mode=0750;UNIX.uid=897;UNIX.gid=99;unique=808g5c18006; .
Listing:	type=pdir;sizd=4096;modify=20091002134945;UNIX.mode=0711;UNIX.uid=897;UNIX.gid=897;unique=808g5c18001; ..
Listing:	type=file;size=14;modify=20091005020019;UNIX.mode=0600;UNIX.uid=897;UNIX.gid=897;unique=808g5c18298; .ftpquota
Listing:	type=file;size=4112;modify=20091001235935;UNIX.mode=0644;UNIX.uid=897;UNIX.gid=897;unique=808g5c18297; .htaccess
Listing:	type=dir;sizd=4096;modify=20090617144256;UNIX.mode=0775;UNIX.uid=897;UNIX.gid=897;unique=808g5c1822a; files
Listing:	type=dir;sizd=4096;modify=20090611150217;UNIX.mode=0755;UNIX.uid=897;UNIX.gid=897;unique=808g5c18224; sites
Status:	Directory listing successful

[hududuh]

the 'files' directory is a symlink.

[Tim Kosse]

Nothing wrong with FileZilla. The server simply does not report it as symlink.

[hududuh]

I've just tried it with FlashFXP and observed the same issue. However, i found an option in its settings that allow switching between MLSD and "STAT -L" for directory listings. MLSD was the default and I changed it to STAT -L. Now it shows the links with a different icon.

I've tried the STAT -L as a custom command in Filezilla and the listing shows all needed info and even the link targets.

AFIAK, there is no option in Filezilla for using alternative directory listings.

So, I reopen the issue as a feature request.

[Tim Kosse]

STAT -L is violating the FTP standard. The only argument to STAT can be a pathname. STAT -L is equivalent to "list the contents of directory -L".

[hududuh]

What about LIST? AceFTP uses LIST and shows symbolic links.

[Tim Kosse]

The listing format of LIST is undefined, it's intended for human use not machine use. It's hard to parse and not free of conflict, there are multiple interpretations for some listing formats.
That's why FileZilla uses MLSD: Well standardized, easy to parse, unambiguous.