Question: There is not an `Edit | Preferences` option. How do I get the files to display in a list view with details, and not as icons?

Answer: 
From a command line you can list what is in a directory with `ls -la`

For example 

```
warren@min:~/workspace/crc8$ ls -la
total 52
drwxrwxr-x  4 warren warren  4096 Apr  3 10:41 .
drwxrwxr-x 14 warren warren  4096 May 22 13:39 ..
-rw-r--r--  1 warren warren 31048 Jun 10  2011 .cproject
drwxrwxr-x  3 warren warren  4096 Apr  3 11:22 Debug
-rw-r--r--  1 warren warren  2380 Jun 10  2011 .project
drwxrwxr-x  2 warren warren  4096 Apr  3 10:41 src
warren@min:~/workspace/crc8$ 

```

Its also possible to get a tree like view by installing **tree**

To install `sudo apt-get install tree`

Typical output.

```
warren@min:~/workspace/crc8$ tree
.
├── Debug
│   ├── crc8
│   ├── makefile
│   ├── objects.mk
│   ├── sources.mk
│   ├── src
│   │   ├── crc8.d
│   │   ├── crc8.o
│   │   └── subdir.mk
│   └── txt
└── src
    └── crc8.c

3 directories, 9 files
warren@min:~/workspace/crc8$ 

```
In 13.04 "Raring Ringtail":

1. Open "Files" or just some folder like Documents, Music etc.
2. Move your mouse pointer to the top - left corner and click on Files -> Preferences. Or the new **smart way**: Press the `ALT` key (do not hold it, just press for less than one second) to open [HUD](https://wiki.ubuntu.com/Unity/HUD) and start typing *Preferences*, select it and press `ENTER`.
3. In the *Views* tab, set *View new folders using* to *List View*. Optional: For small screens I like to set the default zoom level for list view to 33%.
4. Close all folder windows and reopen them. Everything should be fine now.