How to completely integrate Nemo with Ubuntu?

Solution 1:

Found a solution here: http://www.fandigital.com/2013/01/set-nemo-default-file-manager-ubuntu.html

The following command once typed into a terminal window (Ctrl+Alt+T) makes nemo default

xdg-mime default nemo.desktop inode/directory application/x-gnome-saved-search

How to install Nemo without Cinnamon is answered here: How do I install Nemo file manager?

Solution 2:

Taken from this page:
Open up Terminal, and run the following commands (one-by-one):

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:gwendal-lebihan-dev/cinnamon-nightly
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install nemo nemo-fileroller

Note the following:

Installing Nemo will also install latest Cinnamon (currently Cinnamon 1.6) into your Ubuntu installation, but it won't replace your default Ubuntu session; it just add a new entry in login session list). Be aware that Nemo is still unstable.

As of now, most GTK themes available are not designed specifically for Nemo, so Nemo won't look good when using those themes.
Also, problems with the desktop may arise: How to completely integrate Nemo with Ubuntu?

BTW: You could have probably found an answers yourself here on AU or by googling.

Solution 3:

Nemo 1.7.2 is now available in the official repositories through Ubuntu Software Center, and this installation method doesn't install Cinnamon. I've installed Nemo thusly, and then used the xdg-mime command, with very satisfactory results -- removable media are now automatically opened in Nemo not Nautilus, with Tree View (which is what I wanted).

ADDED: While tinkering with the system when something is not broken is probably not recommended, for the curious, here is additional information on the creation and structure of Unity launchers that are involved in application integration with the Unity desktop.

https://help.ubuntu.com/community/UnityLaunchersAndDesktopFiles

Proceed only with extreme caution.