AntiX 15 b3-V - Page 7

skidoo · posted: 2015-06-06 17:37

desktop menu --} Applications --} Preferences --} Add Menu Item
For repeated testing, its more easily launched via Alt+F2"add-desktop" {no quotes}

I'm not having much success using this.
Seems like anything I've tried adding into"Personal" fails.
If I choose"Utility" as the category, it silently fails.
When I forget to choose an icon, it silently fails.

User is left guessing whether the"Filename" field exists in case you want/need to pass args on the commandline
and that those args shouldn't be included in the"Item command" field.

Dave · posted: 2015-06-07 03:34

The program does not do a menu refresh at the moment so that will need to be manually done. If it is not showing up after a menu update then try looking at ~/.local/share/applications to see if the files you tried to make are there. If not could you post what you are filling in the blanks like fieldname : text-typed? That way I can try exactly what you were.

dolphin_oracle · posted: 2015-06-07 14:47

desktop-session startup files.

At first I didn't realize that the desktop-session startup file is in / etc/desktop-session. This gives the same default starting apps for any user on the system.

However, in commenting out the keyboard switcher, I realized that I disabled the switcher for all users.

I appreciate the desktop-session startup concept, but I think the startup file duties need moved to the user-specific desktop-session startup file. the defaults would be defined for any additional users the same way the old wm startup files were, in / etc/skel.

***edit*** the ~/.desktop-session/startup file is not present by default. geany creates the file from the control center User Desktop-Session entry, but it is not created with correct permissions for the task. (executable). in addition, the shebang needs to be present in this file, which isn't obvious.

I also now understand that the desktop-session startup files are an either/or, so that if you define a startup task in the user desktop-session startup file, then the / etc/desktop-session version isn't used. Even more reason to have all the startup items happening in the user oriented files rather than in the global ones.

dolphin_oracle · posted: 2015-06-07 15:06

the default app for mimetype inode/directory is either not set or set to open files in a web browser. this makes things like"show in folder" type links in the web browser open the files in a browser tab instead of a filemanager as expected.

this works to set the default launcher to spacefm.

xdg-mime default spacefm.desktop inode/directory

if run as a user, it changes only for that user, setting up a custom entry in ~/.local/share/applications/mimeapps.list

goantiX · posted: 2015-06-07 15:31

I'm testing antiX 15 beta 3 too and i've found some annoying bugs.Here's my list:

1)The most several one is data corruption with ext4 file system.No useful hints in /var/log discovered.I checked my disk with badbloks utility and all went fine,so i suspect that there is a bug somewhere in antiX software,probably the 4.0 kernel.
2)The graphical installer fails to install GRUB2 if you choose btrfs as file system for your disk.Not tested with cli-installer,but i guess this bug has nothing to do with the antix gui installer.Probably this problem is caused by grub installer itself.Using ext3 as file system seems to be a safe choice even tough it is quite slow during the installation process.

3) Sometimes i encounter some graphical glitch while switching from a window to another one.The background window becomes gray when selected after being in background(hope you can understand what i mean,my english isn't that good at all).This bug doesn't seem to affect xfce4.
4) Both cli and gui installer need a lot of improvements,they are a bit buggy.Sometimes they fail with no reason.In cli-installer when it ask for you to install GRUB in MBR,it installs the bootloader in PBR even tough you answer YES to"Do you want install grub in MBR? Y/n.Will do root partition?".BTW the question should be"Do you want to install GRUB in the MBR? Y/n".
5) for now it's enough.I can't remember anything else.
I've installed xfce and it works fine.The ram and disk usage is still low and good for old PCs(but i am using a 1 year old PC).After a hour of uptime with ext3 file system i'm yet to find a corruption related issue.

TODO list:
-Fix ext4 corruption issue
-Add support to Grub for btrfs filesystem(or replace current version of grub installer with a newer one)
-Improve both installers
-Investigate the cause of graphical glitch
Let me if somehow i can help with antiX 15 development.
With kind regards,
goantiX.

Dave · posted: 2015-06-07 16:27

dolphin_oracle wrote:desktop-session startup files.

At first I didn't realize that the desktop-session startup file is in / etc/desktop-session. This gives the same default starting apps for any user on the system.

However, in commenting out the keyboard switcher, I realized that I disabled the switcher for all users.

I appreciate the desktop-session startup concept, but I think the startup file duties need moved to the user-specific desktop-session startup file. the defaults would be defined for any additional users the same way the old wm startup files were, in / etc/skel.

It should already have user overrides for startup the same as xdg autostart and desktop-session.conf.
If you put a startup file in ~ / .desktop-session / startup does it not take over as the startup file for user as with desktop-session.conf?
It really should and if it does not it is a bug I will look into.

dolphin_oracle · posted: 2015-06-07 16:28

Dave wrote:
dolphin_oracle wrote:desktop-session startup files.

At first I didn't realize that the desktop-session startup file is in / etc/desktop-session. This gives the same default starting apps for any user on the system.

However, in commenting out the keyboard switcher, I realized that I disabled the switcher for all users.

I appreciate the desktop-session startup concept, but I think the startup file duties need moved to the user-specific desktop-session startup file. the defaults would be defined for any additional users the same way the old wm startup files were, in / etc/skel.

It should already have user overrides for startup the same as xdg autostart and desktop-session.conf.
If you put a startup file in ~ / .desktop-session / startup does it not take over as the startup file for user as with desktop-session.conf?
It really should and if it does not it is a bug I will look into.

I edited my post above with more info. we posted simulataneously.

Dave · posted: 2015-06-07 16:31

dolphin_oracle wrote:
Dave wrote:
dolphin_oracle wrote:desktop-session startup files.

At first I didn't realize that the desktop-session startup file is in / etc/desktop-session. This gives the same default starting apps for any user on the system.

However, in commenting out the keyboard switcher, I realized that I disabled the switcher for all users.

I appreciate the desktop-session startup concept, but I think the startup file duties need moved to the user-specific desktop-session startup file. the defaults would be defined for any additional users the same way the old wm startup files were, in / etc/skel.

It should already have user overrides for startup the same as xdg autostart and desktop-session.conf.
If you put a startup file in ~ / .desktop-session / startup does it not take over as the startup file for user as with desktop-session.conf?
It really should and if it does not it is a bug I will look into.
I edited my post above with more info. we posted simulataneously.

Okay then we should add it to the first run the same as desktop-session.conf to copy over the first time that the user logs in.

dolphin_oracle · posted: 2015-06-07 16:37

Okay then we should add it to the first run the same as desktop-session.conf to copy over the first time that the user logs in.

Is there supposed to be a user desktop-session.conf, because its not present on my system.

here's a list of that directory on my system. (I added the startup file manually)

Code: Select all

dolphin@antix1:~
$ ll .desktop-session
total 40K
-rw-r--r-- 1 dolphin users     10 Jun  7 12:22 default-desktop
-rw-r--r-- 1 dolphin dolphin   10 Jun  7 12:22 desktop-code.0
-rw-r--r-- 1 dolphin dolphin    0 Jun  7 09:38 finished-first-run
-rw-r--r-- 1 dolphin dolphin 4.7K Jun  7 12:35 log
-rw-r--r-- 1 dolphin dolphin 4.3K Jun  7 12:22 log.old
-rw-r--r-- 1 dolphin dolphin    5 Jun  7 12:22 ppid.0
-rwxr-xr-x 1 dolphin dolphin   21 Jun  7 12:21 startup
-rw-r--r-- 1 dolphin users   2.2K May 31 12:12 wallpaper.conf
-rw-r--r-- 1 dolphin users    372 Apr 29 08:19 wallpaper-list.conf

Dave · posted: 2015-06-07 16:45

I thought so but I would have to check on the version in the iso. It is easily added.
For first run copy we just need to add cp / etc / desktop-session/ startup $HOME/.desktop-session/ startup to / usr / local / lib / desktop-session / first-run-script.
Or if you want to compare with the global config then add it as a file comparison in / etc / desktop-session / file-compare however that is handled very ugly at the moment. I am hoping to clean it up.

dolphin_oracle · posted: 2015-06-07 16:47

Dave wrote:I thought so but I would have to check on the version in the iso. It is easily added.
For first run copy we just need to add cp / etc / desktop-session/ startup $HOME/.desktop-session/ startup to / usr / local / lib / desktop-session / first-run-script.
Or if you want to compare with the global config then add it as a file comparison in / etc / desktop-session / file-compare however that is handled very ugly at the moment. I am hoping to clean it up.

that would appear to be the issue, as this is the contents of that script on my machine

Code: Select all

dolphin@antix1:~
$ cat /usr/local/lib/desktop-session/first-run-script 
#!/bin/bash
cp /usr/share/applications/antix/file-manager.desktop $XDG_DESKTOP_DIR 
cp /usr/share/applications/antix/antiX-docs.desktop $XDG_DESKTOP_DIR 
cp /usr/share/applications/antix/antixsources.desktop $XDG_DESKTOP_DIR

skidoo · posted: 2015-06-07 17:22

dolphin_oracle wrote:the default app for mimetype inode/directory is either not set or set to open files in a web browser. this makes things like"show in folder" type links in the web browser open the files in a browser tab instead of a filemanager as expected.

this works to set the default launcher to spacefm.

xdg-mime default spacefm.desktop inode/directory

if run as a user, it changes only for that user, setting up a custom entry in ~/.local/share/applications/mimeapps.list

I'm glad you pointed this out b/c I've been wondering whether, post-install, I had changed/broken something
or whether we're now expected to setup"all that" via controlPanel--}PreferredApplications
(I haven't touched those, intimidated by not knowing/understanding"What means 'desktop-follow-defaults-fm.desktop' etc?")

skidoo · posted: 2015-06-07 19:07

The {MenuManager} program does not do a menu refresh at the moment so that will need to be manually done.
If it is not showing up after a menu update then try looking at ~/.local/share/applications to see if the files you tried to make are there.
If not could you post what you are filling in the blanks like fieldname : text-typed? That way I can try exactly what you were.

First of all, I would swear the one item I successfully added did show up immediately (without needing to manually update).
Second, reporting exact sets of field+value pairs... sounds like an all-weekend chore, because there are currently too many"loose ends" (unknown factors) involved.
Let's start at the beginning:

"add-desktop" script, aka Menu--}Applications--}Preferences--}"Add Menu Item"

When the dialog opens, all fields are filled with default values.
Perhaps the program dismisses/ignores any field found to contain a still-default value...
but user doesn't know this, and cannot gauge which (if any) of those input fields are optional.

first field, labeled"Item Name:"
The default/sample value conveys the fact that space chars are acceptable here.
consider: what happens if I neglect changing the pre-filled value (because I jumped straight to"Item Command" while it's still fresh in my mind)
What happens if I enter"shoe" as the item name, not realizing a same-named item already exists?
What happens if, due to my carelessness, the field value is currently blank when I click"OK" ?

second field, labeled"Item Icon"
(some labels bear trailing colons; others do not. Coincidence, or is user expected to infer colon significance?)
consider: If I"don't bother to" select an icon, will the program a) leave it blank, b) apply a predefined default icon, c) silently fail

third field, labeled"Item Category"
If left unchanged, ...will the newly-added item truly display to"Item Category = 'Application'" (no such category exists, right?)
What (where) is 'Application' category? (confusing due to thinking about"Personal vs Applications")
(choosing 'Applications' here will result in placement to Menu--}Applications, vs nested under a further subcategory? Would be handy, but I doubt that's the case)
As I reported, _ALL_ of my attempts to add an item to"Utilities" category did fail. I haven't peeked at the code; as a user/tester, I'm clueless why those failed.
What is"Networking" category? Is this equivalent to"menu--}Applications--}Internet"??? If so, user is expected to realize this?

fourth field, labeled"Item Command:"
I'm sorry that I didn't present this, above, as an explicit question, but...

User is left guessing whether the"Filename" field exists in case you want/need to pass args on the commandline
and that those args shouldn't be included in the"Item command" field.

? Where, and how (quotes? noquotes?) should the user enter any needed commandline arguments?

fifth field, labeled"Item Location"
Perfect. No ambiguity here, right?
Well,"Item Placement" (vs"Location") might be preferable labeltext...
...and user will discover, soon enough, that any selected"Item Category" will be ignored if ItemLocation=Personal is selected, right?

sixth field, labeled"File Name:"
IMO,"my-app.desktop" (vs just"my-app") should display as the pre-filled value.
If user overtypes and omits the file extension, the app should (and already does) append it.

===============

While testing this"add-desktop" script, above all else I've been wondering: Why the need/motivation to"reinvent the wheel"?

========= SCRAPER REMOVED AN EMBEDDED LINK HERE ===========
url was:"http://pmenu2.googlecode.com/files/pmenu-3.0.0-screenshot.png"
linktext was:"http://pmenu2.googlecode.com/files/pmen ... enshot.png"
====================================
(note the inline, within the GUI,"Refresh Menu" button)

========= SCRAPER REMOVED AN EMBEDDED LINK HERE ===========
url was:"https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/26024684/linux/puppy_linux_files/menumaker1.1.17.jpg"
linktext was:"https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/260 ... 1.1.17.jpg"
====================================
(note the labetext"Add App, File or Directory URL")

dolphin_oracle · posted: 2015-06-07 19:21

skidoo wrote:
The {MenuManager} program does not do a menu refresh at the moment so that will need to be manually done.
If it is not showing up after a menu update then try looking at ~/.local/share/applications to see if the files you tried to make are there.
If not could you post what you are filling in the blanks like fieldname : text-typed? That way I can try exactly what you were.
First of all, I would swear the one item I successfully added did show up immediately (without needing to manually update).
Second, reporting exact sets of field+value pairs... sounds like an all-weekend chore, because there are currently too many"loose ends" (unknown factors) involved.

Just a quick clarification:

MenuManager, the app thats in the personal menu by default and in the control center as Edit Menus, does do the menu refresh by default.

The Add Menu Item (not the same app as MenuManager) app that you are describing does not and the update must be done manually. Unfortunatnly the Update Menus app in the top level of the menu does not update the personal menu.

skidoo · posted: 2015-06-07 20:27

At this point, I have the following"custom" .desktops files present
and zero custom entries displayed to Personal, zero custom entries displayed to the Applications submenus.

The immediately apparent (seemingly apparent) bugs:
1) the entry labeled"test8 nixme" isn't displaying to"Personal"

2) whatever I did, or did not do during input...
the resulting line reading"Icon=/usr/share/pixmaps" (across all these entries) is invalid/unusable/malformed

3)"Categories=Application;" (as a line within the third .desktop file, below) ~~"Application" is not a recognized xdg/debian menu"category name"

/home/demo/.local/share/applications/TCM/my-app.desktop
(not displayed to menus, AFAICT)

Code: Select all

[Desktop Entry]
Encoding=UTF-8
Type=Application
Name=test6 nixme
Icon=/usr/share/pixmaps
Categories=X-Personal;
Exec=geany
Terminal=false

/home/demo/.local/share/applications/TCM/my-app3.desktop
(not displayed to menus, AFAICT)

Code: Select all

[Desktop Entry]
Encoding=UTF-8
Type=Application
Name=test8 nixme
Icon=/usr/share/pixmaps/audacity.png
Categories=X-Personal;
Exec=geany
Terminal=false

/home/demo/.local/share/applications/custom/my-app.desktop
(not displayed to menus, AFAICT)

Code: Select all

[Desktop Entry]
Encoding=UTF-8
Type=Application
Name=My App
Icon=/usr/share/pixmaps
Categories=Application;
Exec=my-app.sh
Terminal=false

edited to add another failed test case:

/home/demo/.local/share/applications/custom/_test_alphasort.desktop

Code: Select all

[Desktop Entry]
Encoding=UTF-8
Type=Application
Name=_test_alphasort
Icon=/usr/share/pixmaps/asunder.xpm
Categories=System;
Exec=bogus.sh
Terminal=false