Learning about Desktop Environments
 

Hi,

Using Slackware 13.0 and Xfce Desktop Environment(DE).

I'm trying to understand how to add/modify the panel menu (applications), create windows like "shortcuts" on the desktop. I found some GUI tools which facilitate customization of the DE. However, I suppose there are some text/config files somewhere which dictate the structure and settings of the DE. For example, I came across some .desktop files in /usr/share/applications. Are there some kind of config file "standards" used by DEs? Where can I read more about it?

Thanks in advance,

Ash.

Right click on Desktop,

Select "Link to Location" / "Link to Application" as per your wishes.

Right click on the pannel.

Select "Add application" or there is something equivalant !

I think you can start here: http://freedesktop.org

Evo2.

I didn't find these options in either RHEL/GNOME or Slackware/Xfce. Not sure what I'm missing. Is it specific to a certain distribution/DE?

Anyway, I was looking more for the information mentioned by Evo2.

For others who may be interested, here's a more specific link to the standards.
http://standards.freedesktop.org/men...ec-latest.html

Thanks,

Ash.

Name the exact Xfce version you are using.

EDIT

What options do u see when you right click on the desktop ?

Xfce 4 Desktop Environment
version 4.6.1 (Xfce 4.6)

After looking at it more closely, it's called 'Launcher' which creates a link on the desktop (thanks for making me look at it again).

On the panel, by right clicking I can create a 'launcher' but didn't find anything to add to the application menu.
The options I have are Properties, Move, Remove, Add New Items, Customize panel.

ash_zz_00

Hold on, let me check the options of Xfce, on my laptop, I shall let u know if I could find something ..

As long as I know, there's no graphical menu editor for xfce 4.6. There was one before, but it was removed.

http://wiki.xfce.org/howto/customize-menu

See this post, may be it helps:

http://www.linuxquestions.org/questi...1/#post3876024

Ok finally,

yesterday i looked up my laptop

OpenSuse 11.2
Xfce 4.6.1

I right clicked on the pannel, and saw various options, the most relevant were:
Create Launcher...
Add applications...

I clicked on Add applications... and a long menu opened, which at the end had "Xfce Menu". I clicked on that and the menu appeared on my panel.

Now I too think that may be it is specific to a distribution, I am using suse and u are using slack.

ash_zz_00

If still you have not found the solution, there is a way you can create your own custom menu by adding items to Launcher. :D

So it is probably distribution specific. I don't get that option.
I appreciate you following up on it. Thank you Anisha.