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In Windows Explorer, one can view folder contents' details such as size and number of files on mouse hover. Is that also possible in Nautilus? In other words, how can I trigger Nautilus, if possible, to display a tool tip or notification box of some sort on mouse over a folder or directory?

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Not exactly, but you can adjust the icon captions in Edit/Preferences/Display (tab) and then adjust the three values to suit you. I have mine set to Size, None, and None. Individual files list their size, and folders list an item count. – Tom Brossman Jul 12 '12 at 14:12
Thank you Tom. Yes I did that already. I set mine to Size, Type and Date Modified. What I want to happen, if possible, is to make Nautilus display a notification box when I point or hover my mouse on a folder. – Peachy Jul 12 '12 at 14:19
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I don't think this can be done. The simplest workaround is probably gnome-sushi (in the software center) which will give you the data you want, but you would need to tap the space bar instead of the mouseover event triggering it. – Tom Brossman Jul 12 '12 at 14:29
Will definitely try that. Thank you again. – Peachy Jul 12 '12 at 14:50
The only problem with sushi is ,it works for Folders and directories in matters of displaying size and modification date , but on multimedia files , it plays them ( IMO it was meant for previewing them) – tijybba Jul 12 '12 at 17:20
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Neither Thunar, PCManFM, nor Nautilus have this feature, I don't know about Dolphin as I don't have it Installed, while I think is possible they could have it they don't currently use it.

As @Tom mentioned in the comments, Gnome Sushi is the closest to have that but you need to press the Space bar for the window to show and I don't know if if it's a bug only affecting me but the Sushi window uses a Black background with black text making it useless but you can still try it.

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Black text sounds like a bug. I'm using the default Ambiance theme in Unity and I see white text. – Tom Brossman Jul 12 '12 at 16:13
Yeah just switched various themes and Indeed some use black and some use white text. – Uri Herrera Jul 12 '12 at 16:16
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No, as I know, there is no such a method. But you can right click -> go to Preferences.

There you can look how many files are in the folder, how big they are etc.

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Thank you for the quick response. It is actually Properties not Preferences and I do that too but looking at the status bar is actually much quicker than right-clicking. I was just wondering if it is possible to have Nautilus display a tool tip or notification box of some sort on mouse over a folder or directory. – Peachy Jul 12 '12 at 13:59
Oh sorry, this is because I am using the German version of Ubuntu. Is this question closed or are you looking for another solution? I think there was a function in nautilus-elementary, but I don't know anymore. Could you also mark the question as completed when it is? – slashcrack Jul 12 '12 at 14:06
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I am still waiting for answers, hope this will not be closed down. Haven't tried nautilus-elementary, but I will check if it does have that feature. – Peachy Jul 12 '12 at 14:13
Nautilus-elementary is dead by the way it was a mod for Nautilus 2 – Uri Herrera Jul 12 '12 at 15:58

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