manage-files-and-archives-in-files

name	Manage Files and Archives in Files
description	Use Ubuntu Files or the desktop file surface to open the right location, manipulate visible items, and verify the requested file result.

Manage Files and Archives in Files

When This Skill Is Applicable

Use this skill for GUI file-management tasks in Ubuntu Files, Trash, or a desktop/Home surface when the task requires one or more of the following:

• opening Files and navigating to the correct folder, Home view, or Trash
• creating, moving, copying, restoring, compressing, or deleting visible files or folders in Files
• emptying Trash or checking whether files are present or absent after a GUI file action
• verifying that the requested destination surface now shows the correct file, folder, archive, or empty state

Do not use this skill for shell-only file operations, terminal search workflows, or tasks whose main action happens outside Ubuntu file-management surfaces.

Preconditions

• The task names a source or destination surface clearly enough to navigate there.
• The needed file or folder can be identified from the live task, not from example image content.

Visual State Card Usage

• runtime_state_cards.json is the compact set for the Agent branch. Load only the cards whose screenshots plausibly match the current screen.
• state_cards.json is the audit-detail version with fuller transfer limits and evidence notes.
• Red boxes are interaction cues. They show the kind of control to use in that screenshot, not a reusable click coordinate.
• Green boxes are verification or state cues. They mark what kind of result signal matters in the image, not a required object location.
• If no image card matches the current screen, continue from the text procedure instead of forcing an image match.

Visual Transfer Limits

• Do not copy example filenames, folder names, archive names, desktop arrangements, dock order, wallpaper, or item positions from the screenshots.
• Treat image text and icons as example content unless the live task explicitly asks for the same value.
• Transfer only the reusable UI relationship: launcher state, Files sidebar/path state, selected-item readiness, and destination-surface verification.
• Some cards verify from the desktop or Home-like surface rather than from an open Files window. Verify on the live destination surface, not on the example surface.

Result Verification Cues

• The correct destination surface is open and stable before you judge success.
• The requested file or folder is present, absent, restored, archived, or emptied exactly as the live task requires.
• If the action was a move, copy, restore, or compression step, verify the result in the destination surface instead of relying on the action itself.
• If the result should be visible in Files, Trash, or on the desktop, verify there directly rather than trusting a prior selection state.

Common Failure Modes

• Opening Files but never reaching the requested folder, Home surface, or Trash before acting.
• Acting on the wrong selected item because the example filenames were treated as instructions.
• Verifying success from the wrong surface, such as checking the desktop when the task expects a Files folder view, or the reverse.
• Treating an annotation box as a coordinate recipe instead of using the live UI structure.

Atomic Capabilities

• open_target_files_surface: Open or foreground Ubuntu Files, then navigate to the requested folder, Home surface, or Trash.
• apply_gui_file_action: Apply the needed Files GUI action to the correct selected item or visible control.
• verify_gui_path_result: Confirm that the requested result is visible on the correct destination surface.

Procedures

Apply The Files Workflow

1. Open The Target Files Surface

Use when the correct Files surface is not yet open.

• Open Ubuntu Files from the dock or switch to it if it is already running.
• Navigate to the requested folder, Home surface, or Trash.
• Image reference: Images/os_manage_files_and_archives_in_files_open_target_files_surface.png

2. Apply The GUI File Action

Use when the right Files surface is open and the relevant item is ready.

• Select the correct file or folder for the live task.
• Use the appropriate Files control, toolbar action, context menu, or drag-and-drop interaction.
• Image reference: Images/os_manage_files_and_archives_in_files_apply_gui_file_action.png

3. Verify The GUI Path Result

Use when the action is complete and the result must be confirmed on the destination surface.

• Check the final Files folder, Trash, or desktop/Home surface that should now reflect the requested change.
• Confirm the live task's requested presence, absence, restore, move, copy, or archive result.
• Image reference: Images/os_manage_files_and_archives_in_files_verify_gui_path_result.png

Only load the matching runtime image card for the screen you are actually on. Use runtime_state_cards.json for branch-time loading and state_cards.json for audit review.