Xubuntu 18.04.2-32bit with Compiz - How to save position of desktop icons, please?

madmax25 · 02-25-2019, 06:30 AM

I hope I'm in the proper board for a Xubuntu question...

When I'm running the ordinary xfwm4 desktop, the positions of the desktop icons are ok.
They are all where I want them to be.

But when I boot to Xubuntu using Compiz, all desktop icons are sorted differently.

How can I prevent that from happening, please?

ondoho · 02-26-2019, 01:42 AM

xfdesktop is responsible for desktop icons on xfce.
i don't see how a change from compiz to xfwm could affect this.
maybe there's a difference in how these two options are started?

madmax25 · 02-26-2019, 03:49 AM

The positions don't change, when I boot Xubuntu into xfwm4.

They stay in their wanted positions when I switch between xfwm4 and Compiz (and back again), using these commands within the terminal:

Code:

compiz --replace &

Code:

xfwm4 --replace &

But I've edited the following file:

Code:

~/.config/xfce4/xfconf/xfce-perchannel-xml/xfce4-session.xml

I changed the line...

Code:

<property name="Client0_Command" type="empty"/>

...into this...

Code:

<property name="Client0_Command" type="array">
        <value type="string" value="compiz"/>
      </property>

So, I can boot directly into Compiz, but then, the position of the desktop icons is different, and I don't know, why?

ondoho · 02-27-2019, 12:18 AM

it's a long time i maintained an XFCE desktop, let's see my Xubuntu VM...

the xfce4-session.xml in your hoe is mostly empty; you need to look at the dfined values in /etc/xdg/xfce4/xfconf/xfce-perchannel-xml/xfce4-session.xml
- that looks a little different, you need to define more i guess.
you can also use the "Settings Editor" for this. Probably safer.

madmax25 · 02-28-2019, 12:36 PM

Unfortunately, I cannot find any information on the web on how to save a desktop layout in the same way than it looks like in xfwm4.

Each time I boot into Compiz, the icons look like I had used the rearrange option of the context menu of the desktop.

ondoho · 02-28-2019, 01:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by madmax25

Unfortunately, I cannot find any information on the web on how to save a desktop layout in the same way than it looks like in xfwm4.

Each time I boot into Compiz, the icons look like I had used the rearrange option of the context menu of the desktop.

this has nothing to do with what i suggested in my last post.
did you take a good look at the files & software mentioned? compare it to the output you posted?

madmax25 · 03-01-2019, 04:04 AM

Now, I've got another problem.

After

Code:

xfwm4 --replace &

or when I boot in the ordinary xfwm4, I have only one of four workspaces left.

When I right-click that workspace in the taskbar and go to Settings, I see the number 1, but I cannot change that, because the up and down buttons are grayed out.

To be able to change that number I have to go to workspace settings in the same window, and enter a 4, but after the next reboot, that number is reset to 1 again.

As for the misplaced icons:
The only way I could think of, is to copy

Code:

/etc/xdg/xfce4/xfconf/xfce-perchannel-xml/xfce4-session.xml

to

Code:

~/.config/xfce4/xfconf/xfce-perchannel-xml/xfce4-session.xml

but I cannot identify the line or lines to be edited and I don't know how to do it, i.e. what to enter as new commands.

EDIT:
Please ignore the 2nd problem about the missing workspaces.
Meanwhile, I was able to fix it by restoring that bar by means of Settings -> xfce-Panel-switch.

madmax25 · 03-09-2019, 10:57 AM

Meanwhile I decided to use the following method:
With this command...

Code:

sudo chattr +i ~/.config/xfce4/desktop/icons*

...I removed the writing privileges of the according icons file
and added the following script to my autostart:

Code:

#!/bin/bash
sleep 20
xfdesktop --reload

That way, the icons are rearranged 20 seconds after booting, which, on my little netbook, is the perfect delay to have them rearranged right before I see them on my compiz desktop.

On my ordinary xfwm4 desktop they are rearranged a few seconds too late, but I don't care, because in that case they are already where I want them to be and therefore don't move anyway.