Making a simple "Control Panel" like desktop application launcher

Making a simple "Control Panel" like desktop application launcher - Printable Version

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Making a simple "Control Panel" like desktop application launcher - avj - 02-15-2015

Since I first started using Linux, I have been disappointed to find that most of the distros that I have tried don't really come with a "Control Panel" like is found in other operating systems, and usually the settings are found scattered throughout the menus and can be hard to find or easy to overlook. Today I decided to see what I could do to fix this.

First I created a new hidden folder on the desktop which I named ".Control". I then created an application launcher on the desktop which starts thunar file manager in the /home/username/Desktop/.Control directory, by using this in the command line for the launcher: thunar /home/username/Desktop/.Control I then named the launcher "Control Center" and chose an icon for it, and clicked create. The next step was to open the .Control folder in the file manager and drag and drop the items from the settings menu into the folder. After each drag and drop right click on the new item in the folder and mark as executable. I am including two pictures below to show the final results.
[Image: mNBOsR3.png]

Hopefully this will help make it easier to find the settings I am looking for and maybe help others too. Smile

Re: Making a simple "Control Panel" like desktop application launcher - bitsnpcs - 02-15-2015

Hello avj,

a good tutorial, IMO it will make transitioning easier.

Re: Making a simple "Control Panel" like desktop application launcher - avj - 02-15-2015

Thanks, I hope it helps ease some of the culture shock for new Linux users.

Re: Making a simple "Control Panel" like desktop application launcher - altman - 02-15-2015

Top job avj ! Keep them coming up .

Re: Making a simple "Control Panel" like desktop application launcher - Valtam - 02-16-2015

We have a Control Panel in development but this will be a good short term solution.

Re: Making a simple "Control Panel" like desktop application launcher - anon222 - 02-16-2015

It's a good idea.
You can make a multi-level launcher and drag and drop items from the menu to the folder where the launcher stores items.
Here is how:

First open the folder where the panel item are stored. Notice launcher-8, launcher-9 etc. Those are folders where the lauchers are located. Leave the thunar window open.

Code:
thunar ~/.config/xfce4/panel

Right-click on the panel then Panel -> Add New Items...
Add a launcher right-click on the icon -> Properties and one random item and you will notice in the thunar that a new folder has appeared (for me it's laucher-13)
In the advanced tab disable tooltips and change "Arrow button position" from "Default" to "Inside button"
Open that folder (laucher-13, for you it might be different) and you'll see that there is a desktop file in there. Remove/delete that file.
Now just drag and drop items from the menu to that folder.
If the panel gets stuck for any reason just restart it with

Code:
dbus-send --print-reply --dest=org.xfce.Panel /org/xfce/Panel org.xfce.Panel.Terminate boolean:true

It should look like this:
[Image: FNa4FRa.png]

Cheers

Re: Making a simple "Control Panel" like desktop application launcher - ukbrian - 02-16-2015

Hi misko_2083 Smile

That's what I used to do, much cleaner panel.

Quote:In the advanced tab disable tooltips and change "Arrow button position" from "Default" to "Inside button"

You might be interested in Anthony Nordquist's ducky-key which I use for my favourites, it's a bit like KDE's folderview.

Quote:install git
Open a terminal in a directory of your choice
Copy/paste the next line into the terminal and press enter
git clone https://github.com/SalineOS/SalineOS.git

To update your cloned git repository, open a terminal in the SalineOS directory and run:
git pull

I have the my favourites folder on a data partition so I use the same folder on all my installed OS's.

If this is off topic feel free to remove it.

Re: Making a simple "Control Panel" like desktop application launcher - ukbrian - 02-16-2015

I think the biggest culture shock for your average windows user is having to use a menu! instead of clicking on a short cut on the desktop that the application created when it installed, I'm hoping that Ikey will build this into his new PiSi software manager with an option/checkbox to create a desktop launcher when you install stuff, meanwhile he's scrapped six months of work up to a beta release as he's found a possible future problem with his new base something about lib64/lib32 and symlinks so he's starting from scratch again, can't help but admire the man, no quick patches his new Linux base is going to be a solid base to build off.

Nowhere near ready for users only techies but I agree with his rational https://evolve-os.com/wiki/Modernisation

Maybe I'm just a dreamer with his head in the clouds? but the future interests me and it looks a good bet.

Re: Making a simple "Control Panel" like desktop application launcher - anon222 - 02-16-2015

(02-16-2015, 07:29 AM)ukbrian link Wrote: Hi misko_2083
That's what I used to do, much cleaner panel.

Indeed, it is. Smile

(02-16-2015, 07:29 AM)ukbrian link Wrote: You might be interested in Anthony Nordquist's ducky-key which I use for my favourites, it's a bit like KDE's folderview.

Thanks, I'll have a look.

(02-16-2015, 07:29 AM)ukbrian link Wrote: install git
Open a terminal in a directory of your choice
Copy/paste the next line into the terminal and press enter
git clone https://github.com/SalineOS/SalineOS.git

To update your cloned git repository, open a terminal in the SalineOS directory and run:
git pull

I have git and I have just pushed something. Smile

(02-16-2015, 07:48 AM)ukbrian link Wrote: I think the biggest culture shock for your average windows user is having to use a menu! instead of clicking on a short cut on the desktop that the application created when it installed, I'm hoping that Ikey will build this into his new PiSi software manager with an option/checkbox to create a desktop launcher when you install stuff, meanwhile he's scrapped six months of work up to a beta release as he's found a possible future problem with his new base something about lib64/lib32 and symlinks so he's starting from scratch again, can't help but admire the man, no quick patches his new Linux base is going to be a solid base to build off.

Nowhere near ready for users only techies but I agree with his rational https://evolve-os.com/wiki/Modernisation

Maybe I'm just a dreamer with his head in the clouds? but the future interests me and it looks a good bet.

Ikey is good fellow.
I like his 'budgie desktop'. Tested on Linux Lite and it still has a long way to go. Some bugs...
From scratch? It's going to be a long way to go for sure.
Thanks for the info Brian.

Re: Making a simple "Control Panel" like desktop application launcher - ukbrian - 02-16-2015

Is a novice or normal user ever going to click on the "Advanced Options! in the grub menu?
Are they ever going to click on the Mem options?

IMO I think they should be commented out as the default settings.

I've been using this to stop the advanced line in /etc/default/grub

Code:
GRUB_DISTRIBUTOR="Linux Lite"

# Remove Advanced option

GRUB_DISABLE_SUBMENU=y

If you have a few OS's installed then you do get duplicate lines in the grub menu but that's a bug in grub2 which might be already sorted in the latest version.

I think new users need an uncluttered grub menu less options, less choice simplifies things, the folk who want these options now how to uncomment, new users have to learn so I think Linux distro's are wrong said the silly old man.
[Image: OXJgyzLt.jpg]

Quote:Ikey is good fellow.
I like his 'budgie desktop'. Tested on Linux Lite and it still has a long way to go. Some bugs...

He's a very rare jewel! he's not done much on the desktop latelly he's been focused on getting a beta out, he tens to jump between the different parts so he don't get tunel vision or just to have a rest from one bit of code. He's also done a budgie media player.

Latest from G+ https://plus.google.com/112089348047460560288 he keeps on top of things and picks the right advice, I've not seen him make a wrong move yet and that's weird for someone so young.

I was lucky enough to spend 3 hours in his company 2 years age, his old laptop finally gave up the ghost so I had a chance to take him up a desktop so he could continue with SolusOS, he measured up, my sort of guy.

Have a look at or test out saline-backup, if it was on the install iso you could restore saline's backups with it plus grub-doctor but the UEFI version needs checking out first.

If you have any interest I'll PM you with a link to a demo of what I would do for the install iso to give it a bit of sparkle and be more user friendly.

Backup is very original, Anthony used remastersys to create his DVD's so he developed his next iso on his desktop and then created or remastered an iso.

I read this thread on solydxk and it don't sound simple doing it that way http://forums.solydxk.com/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=774 developing on a desktop sounds much easier.

Schoelje after one round of maintaining a rolling release has decided to go stable for his next iso.

I don't understand why ubuntu LTS's are not based on debian stable? makes no sense to me.

I'm about to road test a french xfce stable alpha distro called Handy Linux, quite impressed after a quick look but the default windows edges are one pixel so it better have kokodi, that's another default I would use two pixel edges, again foks who want one pixel know how to do.

If you have any interest in creating your iso's in a simular way as Anthony it's possible again now if you PM me.
[Image: D3UytpUt.jpg]

That's enough mischief for now time for a rest
[Image: Lfizk6t.png]