"Run Application" dialog box NOT running applications
 

Hi,

I have a weird problem: I run applications using the "Run Application" box (Alt-F2) in gnome but sometimes there is just no response to my command. For example, if I run 'firefox' through "Run Application", a new firefox window will open. This happens 90% of the times, but some times when I type "firefox" and press enter, the Run Application dialog box just disappears (as it would normally do in order to launch the application) but nothing happens.

This is not just with firefox, I also experienced this problem when I tried to launch 'thunderbird' or gnome-terminal through "Run Application". I assume it should be application-independent.

The point is, most of the times it works fine, but just sometimes it doesn't do anything (even no error). This happened with firefox a lot of times. I just repeat it, and then it suddenly works.

I have Open SuSE 10.1 with Gnome. I searched for this problem on the net and couldn't find any related topic.

Any idea?

There might be several reasons for a program not to start properly, and to find out the reason you often have to start the program from a terminal. The "run application" is just a box that you enter text and if it's found in your $PATH, the executable, it's run. After you press ENTER the box disappears and the rest depends on the application; if it faces something that prevents it from launching, it can't display errors for you since there is nowhere to put them (instead, if you run them from a terminal, most applications will print the errors to that terminal -- stdout).

You should, instead of the "run application", which probably works just fine (as it's just a simple app), try to launch the programs using a terminal and do it as long as it's needed so you'll face a program that won't start. Then you'll get the reason. You could even try to start the "Run application" application from the terminal if it was possible, but if it's an applet of some kind I'm not sure how you do it.

"Run applicaton" just launches the executable you ask it to, like if you clicked on a menu item; it doesn't interact with the application more than that. I've faced many apps that won't start from the menu at times (like Ubuntu's Adept - sometimes it just won't start), and the only way to find the reason is to start them from a terminal.

Thanks b0uncer! Yes, I am aware of how "Run Application" works. In fact every time it fails, I try running them from a terminal as well, but they always run well afterwards (from the terminal).

You have a good point, though. From now, I stopped using "Run Application" and will use terminal instead just to see if I can find the problem. I will post it here if I find anything.

"run application" does not offer "text prompt to type in"
 

I also have a problem related to "run application", but a different one.

"run application" on my Suse system does not offer "text prompt to type in".

I used to press "Alt-F2" and then type "firefox" or "xterm", but since the last week (or so) only the small "Run application..." window *without the text prompt* appears. The same is happening if I click the "(Panel) Actions" -> "Run application ..."

Please let me know if you have a clue why "run application" window is missing a text prompt.

That's weird. So, you don't have an input line to type in, right? I never had that problem.

BTW, I still don't have any answer to my original problem as well!

Bump
 

I also see the same problem. I use Ubuntu 7.10 and Gnome 2.20.1.