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#1 2018-07-16 14:05:55

makitso
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From: Tucson, Arizona, USA
Registered: 2017-05-02
Posts: 7
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Desktop Icons Move on Logout/Login

Running xubuntu 18.04.  I have a dozen desktop icons, folders, launchers, etc.  I position them on the screen.  After I log out and then Login in, some of them are moved to the left side of the screen.  Any suggestions on how to prevent this movement?

Edit:  This is a thinkpad 14" laptop.  The native monitor setting is 1920x1080.  However, I run the screen at 1600x900 and the problem only happens at this display ratio. If I set the display to 1920x1080 is does not happen.

Last edited by makitso (2018-07-16 14:14:41)

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#2 2018-07-23 23:36:08

ToZ
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From: Canada
Registered: 2011-06-02
Posts: 10,949

Re: Desktop Icons Move on Logout/Login

The way that xfdesktop is currently programmed (grid-based) is such that icons are aligned starting in the upper-left corner and that any change to useable resolution (screen resolution minus space occupied by panels) causes a redraw of the screen and a re-alignment of the icons.

The real fix is to change the icon model to a free placement model. There is a bug report for that.

In the meantime, some people have had success by setting up the icons and making the config file immutable. See: https://forum.xfce.org/viewtopic.php?id=7597.


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#3 2018-07-25 13:55:37

Misko_2083
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Registered: 2015-10-13
Posts: 191
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Re: Desktop Icons Move on Logout/Login

Not sure if xlunch would do any good. Maybe it would help if only static icons are needed.
http://xlunch.org/
We had a discussion at puppy linux forums about compilinghttp://www.murga-linux.com/puppy/viewtopic.php?t=113839. Too bad it doesn't support svg icons.


Do you want to exit the Circus?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZJwQicZHp_c

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#4 2018-08-31 15:44:28

Misko_2083
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Registered: 2015-10-13
Posts: 191
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Re: Desktop Icons Move on Logout/Login

OK, installed xubuntu 18.04 in a virtual box and updated.

The bug is still there. However it could be several bugs.

My problem is that the rc file isn't in some cases created on logout.

I thougth that this happens because there are all those icon*rc files in $HOME/.config/xfce4/desktop/ directory.
That's why I made a startup script that keeps a latest created *.rc file and removes all the rest.

https://pastebin.com/0HFjZrGi
The script requires inotify-tools package installed and notify-send (to keep track on when the icon positions are saved).
The script also tells me when the file is created, or in other words, when the icon positions are saved.

The icons do seem to stay on login/logout, except the Trash that want's to stay in the top-left corner. Sometimes even File System and Home icons move too. They are managed by xfconf, maybe that's behind the reason why their position is being reset. This could be the second bug. So I turned them off. If I need them, I can make a desktop file that launches thunar with those paths can replace them.

Now the icons stay if the panel size isn't changed.
What happens when the panel size is changed is:
The panel stut (reserved space) changes, which triggers the change of size of the workarea.
Workarea is defined in the _NET_WORKAREA property of the root window.
It can be monitored like this:

xprop -root -spy _NET_WORKAREA

Notice when you open the panel preferences, the workarea changes by 1 px.

If the panel is resized just a bit, the icons will not move. Those icons will stay in the same columns.
   Now, the workarea has changed but the rc file for that workarea isn't created. If now I log out and back in the icons position will be reset.
   If I close the panel preferences, move one of the icons, then the rc file is created and the icons will not be reset.
   If I forget to close the panel preferences and move the icon, the icon positions would probably be reset after logout/login.

If the panel is resized a lot, the icons will move to different columns. New *.rc file is created, but the panel preferences are stil open and the workarea has that extra pixel included. Now I have to close the panel preferences and move the icon to create the correct rc file.

Already reported this, I hope in the right place:
https://bugzilla.xfce.org/show_bug.cgi?id=11266


Do you want to exit the Circus?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZJwQicZHp_c

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