Xfce Forum

Marie SWE

Member

Registered: 2023-07-27

Posts: 2

Less happy camper, menu seems broken but i guess it is a new feature

Hi everyone

I'm a less happy camper at the moment, so i might sound a bit irritated, but I'm trying to smile even I'm boiling inside. *LOL*

I have used Linux for five years(Mint18, LMDE3 and then Debian) and i have used Xfce as desktop those five years on all three distros. and i have used the same base programs this five years so i have become used to them and feel comfortable with them. as a pair of old shoes.

Now i installed Debian12 Xfce and the menu does not show some of my programs.. and i wonder why?
I use the file manager Caja as that one has more features then Thunar has and i have used this one since 2018 with no problem until now.

I have posted this problem over at Debian too.. and i post it here as well, as it might be a DE issue and not a Distro issue.

So is Xfce broken or is it a new feature to become as Microsoft and apple to prevent programs outside it's own eco-system?

The most important is.. How do i repair Xfce to show all programs in the menu again.. so it becomes as it was before this new feature?

Best regards
//Marie

Edit.
I forgot to mention.. it is Xfce 4.18 that is used in Debian 12

Last edited by Marie SWE (2023-07-27 21:19:30)

ToZ

Administrator

From: Canada

Registered: 2011-06-02

Posts: 11,485

Re: Less happy camper, menu seems broken but i guess it is a new feature

Hello and welcome.

I'm not sure I understand the problem. Exactly which programs are you missing from the menu? Also what "menu" are you referring to (whiskermenu? applicationsmenu? other?). That might help identify the issue.

There are a number of potential reasons why programs might not appear on the menu:

1. You have (maybe unintentionally) changed the default menu structure. If so, you could try to rename the ~/.config/menus folder to force the system to revert to the default structure.

2. Some of the programs may have been "disabled" via entries in ~/.local/share/applications

3. The programs that are not on the menu may not have .desktop files shipped with them.

Xfce is not trying to do something ala Microsoft or Apple. With respect to menus, it follows the freedesktop menu and desktop entry specification.

To repair this issue, we need to better understand the scope of the problem.

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Marie SWE

Member

Registered: 2023-07-27

Posts: 2

Re: Less happy camper, menu seems broken but i guess it is a new feature

Hello and welcome.

I'm not sure I understand the problem. Exactly which programs are you missing from the menu? Also what "menu" are you referring to (whiskermenu? applicationsmenu? other?). That might help identify the issue.

There are a number of potential reasons why programs might not appear on the menu:

1. You have (maybe unintentionally) changed the default menu structure. If so, you could try to rename the ~/.config/menus folder to force the system to revert to the default structure.

2. Some of the programs may have been "disabled" via entries in ~/.local/share/applications

3. The programs that are not on the menu may not have .desktop files shipped with them.

Xfce is not trying to do something ala Microsoft or Apple. With respect to menus, it follows the freedesktop menu and desktop entry specification.

To repair this issue, we need to better understand the scope of the problem.

Hi and thanks for the welcome

yeah i know i was a bit thin on the information.. i was to frustrated yesterday and stressed of having a lot of things to do in a few hours.

Late yesterday night i was messing around and got it to work. and i might be on what the root cause of the problem is.. But i have to do a few tests before i say to much.

But to answer your question.
I do a lot of cross platforms installs to get the best custom solution for my workflows.. and i have several computers for different usage.

So now when i upgraded the old EOL install i noticed that my file manager (Caja) didn't chow up in Menu.. neither in Whisker or the Xfce default menu. I install all programs in one swoop with: sudo apt -y install gparted iotop samba smbclient cifs-utils winbind caja etc. etc. etc. it is a long row with the base programs before i start custom installing/tweaking for the aria of use i have for that computer.. 

So that was how i discovered Caja didn't show up in the menu.. or to say it in Windish  Start menu *lol*
I think i know what the problem is as i got it to work without editing the .desktop file an hash out OnlyShowIn=Mate;
But i need to confirm it with a few tests before i say to much.

I will be back with the solution as others might end up with the same problem... I am a bit busy today so it may drag out on the time a bit before i can replicate it at least twice.

Have a nice day everyone.

Last edited by Marie SWE (2023-07-28 15:45:50)