Xfce Forum

dtd

Member

Registered: 2011-12-08

Posts: 74

panel options rearrange desktop icons

I'm running xfce-4.16 on FreeBSD 12.2 updated to the latest components around  a month ago. I use all the panel setting: [never,always,intelligently] based on what I'm doing. At some point switching scrambled my desktop icons. Today I re-scrambled them clicking on 'arrange icons' meaning to hit desktop settings. In trying to fix this I did something that turned the panel dark grey.  In trying to undo that I lost my window setting and theme setting.

I starting using XFCE about 10 years ago. Over the first year or so I got things exactly as I wanted them and have mostly just installed XFCE upgrades over my existing .config directory. At this point I am running a theme that no longer exists as a default option. Once I realized this I just replaced .config from the most recent backup before I messed things up.

I then fixed the desktop for the 'never' panel. What I do not seem to be able to figure out is how to transfer my desktop icon arrangement from 'never' to the other options. I have tried going to another option and fixing things but that has scrambled the option I just fixed.

Figuring out what theme I'm running would also be nice but not required until an upgrade prevents me from using the old .config.

As always thanks for any thoughts.

dtd

Member

Registered: 2011-12-08

Posts: 74

Re: panel options rearrange desktop icons

So 'never' was working. I unlocked the panel and selected 'always', then corrected the layout and locked the panel. Then 'intelligently' just worked. I've been arranging the desktop for many years, modifying it as I added and removed apps. Over that time I've made the 'arrange icon' mistake many times only having to rearrange things once. My theory is the 4.16 changes that left me with a theme I can no long change plays some part in this. So I seem to have a workaround but not, I think, a solution.

Last edited by dtd (2021-10-26 03:52:53)

dtd

Member

Registered: 2011-12-08

Posts: 74

Re: panel options rearrange desktop icons

I did it again #$%^&*  -- okay this time I was able to google out a thread on this forum with some other people having the same issue. One suggestion about setting the files immutable is a non-starter IMO. My answer as before was restore a backup. I have two suggestions: (1) have the rearrange option honor the panel lock button; (2)  If that interferes with something, then move the rearrange option somewhere not so close the the desktop setting option.

I'm covered I got daily incremental backups but if this is a general problem alleviating it would be nice.  This is the last post on this   -  I promise 

Last edited by dtd (2021-10-31 20:00:18)