New XFCE user - probably old question - menu editing

jcdick1 · 2008-07-16 20:48:54

I am a new user to XFCE, running 4.4.2 on OpenSuse 11. I like it so far, a lot more responsive on my hardware than KDE or Gnome. But there are some things I don't understand just yet, and I was hoping someone could help me out.

I have XFCE installed alongside the other two desktops, so that I have my choice on login. However, under XFCE, my desktop menu is all out of whack. Under KDE, the menu entries are in nice groupings that make sense. However, XFCE has, for instance, placed the OpenOffice Quickstarter menu entry in an "Applets" sub-folder beneath "Games." OpenOffice.org Base is in the "Database" subfolder of "Multimedia."

I was just wondering if there was an easy way to re-arrange these items in the menu, as the Menu Editor doesn't seem to give me an ability to change and manipulate individual menu entries.

I apologize if this is asked and answered elsewhere. Perhaps I am just not getting the right search terms in my head.

Thanks!

SteveWilliams · 2008-07-18 14:56:08

HI

Yes.

I noticed you don't have a debian system. So if your files & settings are different I can't help.

On DreamLinux the files are stored in /ect/xdg/xfce4/desktop/menu.xml {&menuhookxml}. I tried the suggested create menu2.xml but that sucked and this is far far easier too. So basically just rename the current menu.xml to menu_old.xml and forget it exists {unless you get an error or something like that, then this will be easily renamed back to menu.xml or simply copied & pasted.

Also 2 things. NEVER EVER use menu restore with this script, cuz I never tested it yet. You could theroetically wipe something out ~ though I do give you that option if you wish. #2 There is a "Customise panel" feature mareked *Use Custom Panel. Never Ever use this panel unless you are an experienced trouble shooter. When I tested it, it worked great the first time then not at all the next.

OK.

add this file to /ect/xdg/xfce4/desktop/menu.xml {Simply copy & Paste it.} MAKE SURE you rename the original one menu_old.xml FIRST

***THESE WORDS MUST BE EXACT***

File:

file:///media/Dreamlinux/menu.xml <--- Store this on a pen drive as menu.xml ! File> Create Document> Name ?: menu.xml> Save> Copy below script> Paste to file> Save> Exit.

NOTE: notice the unlimited expandability and the ability to move your menu headings where you want.

<-- DO NOT COPY THIS LINE !

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<!DOCTYPE xfdesktop-menu>

<!--
Explanantion of Xfce 4 menu file:
=================================
Here we will try to explain the format of the menu file. Look at the
actual menu below for the real examples. +++ You shouldn't really need to
edit this manually; check out xfce4-menueditor instead.

+++ Note that since this is a custom menu, Manually editing it is recommended BEFORE you sudo apt-get install {App Name}
*** This Menu is made for unlimited expandability. Simply comment out what you don't need & add What I forgot.
XXX You will need XFCE-goodies & Gnome-goodies from both MMGL & DE {The icons are different & offer you more choices} & you will
want to consider getting KDE & Apple icons to add to this file. Be sure to keep these on a pen drive Along with this menu too.

%%% While I tried to add as many apps as I could think of, Obviously I haven't heard of them all so thats why I added 21
commented out apps that you can simply add as you desire.

#### The "Secret Sauce" is in the </menu> tags etc. ! HEED THIS WARNING ~ THE MENU WILL STOP WORKING ! Make sure none of the
code strings are missing letters or symbols & so forth. Also try sudo whereis {App Name Goes here, No brackets}

NEVER EVER use the upper case 7 in <app name=""> tag. It looks like A backwards 8 (&) . This will crash the
Menu. ! WARNING !

-->

<!--

+ Everything is between exactly one pair of
<xfdesktop-menu></xfdesktop-menu> tags.

+ Applications:
<app name="Name in menu" cmd="Command to run" term="false"
icon="iconfile" snotify="false" visible="true" />
The 'term' attribute determines if the program needs a terminal to run,
and 'snotify' sets whether or not the program supports startup
notification. You can set an icon to be displayed next to the item with
the 'icon' attribute. Only 'name' and 'cmd' are required.

+ Separators:
<separator visible="true" />
Creates a horizontal separator. The 'visible' attribute is optional.

+ Submenus:
<menu name="Name in menu" icon="iconfile" visible="true"></menu>
Only 'name' is required, but you can also set an icon to be displayed using
the 'icon' attribute. Between the menu tags you can define more
applications, separators and menus.

+ Titles
<title name="Name in menu" icon="iconfile" visible="true" />
Creates an insensitive menu title. You can even add an optional icon to
the title if you'd like.

+ Including other files:
<include type="file" src="menu2.xml" visible="true" />
Includes the file menu2.xml. A relative path is assumed to be rooted at
~/.xfce4/. An absolute path will be treated as such.

+ Including an autogenerated system menu:
<include type="system" style="simple" unique="true" visible="true" />
Includes a system menu. style can be "simple" or "multilevel". If unique
is set to "false", multiple menu items will be generated if the app
appears in multiple categories.
-->

<xfdesktop-menu>

</menu>

</menu>

</menu>

SteveWilliams · 2008-07-18 15:01:45

</menu>

</menu>

<app name="Flock" cmd="/flock/flock" icon="/usr/share/flock/chrome/icons/default/default.xpm"/>
<app name="Filezilla" cmd="/usr/bin/filezilla" icon="/usr/share/pixmaps/filezilla.xpm"/>
<app name="Firefox" cmd="/firefox/firefox" icon="/firefox.png"/>
<app name="Gaim" cmd="/usr/bin/gaim" icon="/usr/share/icons/Rodent/scaleable/apps/gaim./png" />
<app name="Galeon" cmd="/galeon %U" icon="/usr/share/icons/galeon.png"/>
<app name="gFTP" cmd="/usr/bin/gftp-gtk" icon="/usr/share/pixmaps/gftp.xpm"/>
<app name="Gmail" cmd="checkgmail" icon="/usr/share/icons/Ro_Dream/scalable/apps/gmail.png"/>
<app name="GNOME PPP" cmd="gksu gnome-ppp" icon="/conexao1.png"/>

<app name="Iceape Mail Composer" cmd="iceape -compose" icon="iceape-mail-compose.xpm"/>
<app name="Iceweasel" cmd="iceweasel" icon="/usr/share/icons/Ro_Dream/48x48/apps/mozicon50.xpm"/>
<app name="IPTraf" cmd="/usr/bin/su-to-root -c /usr/sbin/iptraf" term="yes" icon="/htop.desktop" />
<app name="LinNeighborhood" cmd="/usr/bin/LinNeighborhood" icon="/usr/share/icons/LinNeighborhood.xpm"/>
<app name="Netscape Navigator" cmd="/navigator/navigator" icon="/navigator/chrome/icons/default/default.xpm" />
<app name="Network Preferences" cmd="gnome-network-preferences" icon="/stock_proxy"/>
<app name="Network Proxy" cmd="gnome-network-preferences" icon="/stock_proxy"/>
<app name="Network Servers" cmd="nautilus --no-desktop network:" icon="/gnome-fs-network"/>

<app name="Skype" cmd="skype" icon="/skype"/>

</menu>

</menu>

SteveWilliams · 2008-07-18 15:03:58

</menu>

</menu>

SteveWilliams · 2008-07-18 15:04:19

</menu>

</menu>
<menu name="Video" visible="yes" icon="/usr/share/icons/video.png">

</menu>

<menu name="Games" visible="yes" icon="/usr/share/icons/mia.gif">

<app name="Brutal Chess" cmd="/usr/games/brutalchess" icon="/usr/share/icons/Ro_Dream/scalable/apps/3dchess.png"/>

<app name="PySol" cmd="/usr/games/pysol" icon="/usr/share/games/pysol/pysol.xpm"/>

</menu>
</menu>

</menu>

</xfdesktop-menu>

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#1 2008-07-16 20:48:54

New XFCE user - probably old question - menu editing

#2 2008-07-18 14:56:08

Re: New XFCE user - probably old question - menu editing

#3 2008-07-18 15:01:45

Re: New XFCE user - probably old question - menu editing

#4 2008-07-18 15:03:58

Re: New XFCE user - probably old question - menu editing

#5 2008-07-18 15:04:19

Re: New XFCE user - probably old question - menu editing

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