Xfce Forum

TizBie

Member

Registered: 2026-08-03

Posts: 1

Desktop (xfdesktop) scrambling reordering icon layout at restart

When XFdesktop has to manage column boundaries due to changes in size and display resolution, instead of repositioning the intruding ones in an empty area, it completely reorders the icons using the default mode (unfortunately it is by default and non-deactivable), completely ignoring those saved in the ~/.config/xfce4/desktop/icons.screen0.yaml file.  The content of this file is maintained only for the icon list and rewritten in the icon positions section... thus losing the user-defined layout arrangement.

The bug seems to be in XFdesktop executable, already in Linux MX 21 and worsened in Linux MX 25 (version 4.20.2) when was introduced a column border check with a function called xfdesktop_icon_view_unplace_item().  When this check returns a false result, it performs a complete recalculation of the icon positions and inserts them into the .yaml file for the next restart.

All attempts to restore the icons.screen0.yaml file  (by overwriting it from a backup, even after stopping the executable, which, upon restarting, starts modifying it again)  were futile,  as XFdesktop modifies it (periodically or at shutdown) according to its new criteria.

I was pleased to see that XFCE included the ability to save the configuration for restoration in the "PANEL" management (the app and status bottom/side bar). I wonder WHY a similar feature HASN'T been developed for the DESKTOP ???

I usually group app and function icons by common areas on the desktop to provide a visual (and mental) map of their usage possibilities. This while almost all other users prefer a desktop like a beautiful painting...  I fear this has contributed to its neglect in development.

Why do I have this obsession with grouping desktop icons?
I'd gladly avoid it if the system allowed me to create a hierarchical menu based on my own criteria, rather than modifying the current one with all the confusion and compromises. Anyway, icons on desktop gives a full info pop-up that menu doesn't.

Tanks for your attention,
Tiziano

Last edited by TizBie (2026-08-03 15:20:29)

daffyduck

Banned

Registered: 2026-06-25

Posts: 118

Re: Desktop (xfdesktop) scrambling reordering icon layout at restart

Perhaps that is an issue similar to the one in this thread:
https://forum.xfce.org/viewtopic.php?id=7597

Unfortunately, I'm not following that thread, and also I don't know where to submit a bug report.
But, try to find there is there is anything of interest.

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eriefisher

Wanderer

From: ON, Canada

Registered: 2008-10-25

Posts: 1,009

Website

Re: Desktop (xfdesktop) scrambling reordering icon layout at restart

On the top right of the forum page there are a series of links. One is Bugs and it will take you to https://gitlab.xfce.org/explore/groups/active

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