cant see file names in geany <File><open>

on debian 10 buster linuxcnc 2.8. Geany editor, I see no file names only folders when I do <File><Open>.
If I do <File><Save As> I do see filenames.
I have reinstalled geany. done updates etc but no change.
I have it on 2 different machines with same problem.
Could it be GTK 3 problem?

In the lower left corner, above the "view", "cancel","open" there is a drop down menu, choose "all files".

"All Files" doesn't help. Someone else must be having this problem.
I have Debian 10 Buster on 3 different machines and have tried from 2 different
live usb sticks. all have the same problem.
I have Geany 1.33 on a Ubuntu 18 machine and it works OK but if I boot on the Live Buster usb the problem is there.

Is the USB monted ?
Can it be opened with a file browser?

Yes it is mounted.
Yes I can browse it.
I can run Linuxcnc etc. Geany works but I dont see filename in <File><Open>
I only see folders. I can edit files from a browser or command line.

There is nothing on the net about such issue!
Try using the file browser, right click on a file you want to open then choose "open with" and geany, or if there is no geany choose "other application", then scroll till you find geany and click on it.