[SOLVED] Ubuntu System Panel (USP)

[chanders]

After the release of the SLED menu and seeing that it was so popular with Ubuntu users, I took it upon myself to do something of our own. So for the past few weeks I have been studying mockups for GNOME and trying to bring it alive and today, I offer it to you...

Bear in mind that this is alpha software and there are bugs, either because I didn't come across them before or because I cannot solve them myself. That being said this system panel offers (at least to me) a convenient place to do everything I need to do, with efficiency...

Ver 0.31
Wed, 02 Aug 2006 05:30:10 -0400
* 'Places' and 'Application' icon size configurable (size 1-4)
* USP returns to 'Favourites' after close if show_allapps_on start is not set
* 'All Application' sub-section is now highlighted
* Applet text and icon is now configurable
* Fixed 'Filter' bug
* Fixed Alt-F4 bug
* BASIC translation for 'All Applications' section (thanks vonpmg)

Other features are already in the pipeline...stay tuned

Notes:
See 'currently working on' thread to know what is in the pipeline
Add your wishlist to the 'What I would like to see' thread
Add screenshots to 'Screenshots' thread

Features
* Supports drag and drop
* USP is pin-able to allow you to drag items from the original ubuntu menu
* Show only the pane, you want to see
* Filter applications/places
* Search computer
* 'All Applications' pane showing all applications as icons
* Configure frequently used items directly from USP
* Right click to edit labels directly in Applications/Places panes
* Fully configurable search, more-applications and system items
* Fast
* Supports 'Plugins' if developers are willing to write them

Notes
* Configuration can be done via gconf-editor in '/apps/usp'
* To pin USP, click on the small toggle button in the uppermost left of the panel. Pressed=pinned, unpressed=normal
* Depending on your theme, the colours may look off (not my fault!) Open gconf-editor and check 'Use custom colors' and enter the colour you would like to use. the default is a nice gray
* Change network_interface to your network interface such as eth0 or wlan0 etc.
* To use beagle instead of nautilus search change search_command to 'beagle-search SEARCH_STRING'
* To use the application browser that came with sled edit more_applications to show 'application-browser'
* Each system_command maps to the system buttons in the USP
* Translation will not be available until this app reaches production quality

Quick-Start
1.) Install .deb attached
2.) Right click on panel and add 'Ubuntu System Panel' located in Miscellaneous (next to SLED if you have it installed)
3.) Click on the applet (the USP will open)
4.) Click on the pin button (Uppermost left tiny button)
5.) Drag applications from your ubuntu menu onto the USP
6.) Drag places onto the places pane
7.) Right click on items to edit labels and their launcher
8.) If you dont like the colors, open gconf-editor and check 'use custom color (This requires a restart of the applet by removing and re-adding)
9.) Un select the pin button
10.) Select the panes you want to see by toggling the buttons on the left

And now for the screenshots

Here is the full USP
http://img239.imageshack.us/img239/254/uspiv2.jpg

Only the applications pane showing
http://img105.imageshack.us/img105/2932/applicationsvm6.jpg

User selected combination
http://img147.imageshack.us/img147/443/combinationni3.jpg

Here is the .deb. I take no responsibility if your dog elopes with your cat or your goldfish commits suicide by going for a walk.. I hope you like it, a lot of work went into it. Please comment and feel free to request features (not sure I will be able to fulfil them all but its worth a shot ;) )

Get it here (http://www.ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=229014)

[darkmatter]

Excellent work chanders, job well done :)

I await the next addition to your arsenal of toys :p

[it.henrik]

This looks cool. Will try it right away :)

[swamytk]

Great man! Cool and more **professionalism**!!!

[darkmatter]

Hmmm... schema??? no schema installs here so it makes the System Panel dead weight...

Sources?? ;)

[lazyd2]

It will not run. Can't be added to the panel...

[chanders]

run this in a terminal and post your results... This is my first panel applet so I guess hickups are in order ](*,)

usp run-in-window

[chanders]

Hmmm... schema??? no schema installs here so it makes the System Panel dead weight...

Sources?? ;)

When it is run it creates the schema directory structure on the fly.... Open the deb with archive-manager. The source is in the /usr/bin file named usp ;)

[lazyd2]

run this in a terminal and post your results... This is my first panel applet so I guess hickups are in order ](*,)

usp run-in-window

Traceback (most recent call last):
File "/usr/bin/usp", line 1242, in ?
menu_factory(app, None)
File "/usr/bin/usp", line 1233, in menu_factory
MenuWin(applet, iid)
File "/usr/bin/usp", line 1116, in __init__
self.mainwin = MainWindow()
File "/usr/bin/usp", line 88, in __init__
self.get_gconf_info()
File "/usr/bin/usp", line 1017, in get_gconf_info
self.wTree.get_widget("label9").set_label(resolution+" px")
TypeError: unsupported operand type(s) for +: 'NoneType' and 'str'

[augied]

This is great, thanks!
Is there any way to use the same places as nautilus does?

[chanders]

This is great, thanks!
Is there any way to use the same places as nautilus does?

Did this install properly for you?

[augied]

Did this install properly for you?
Yes

[chanders]

Traceback (most recent call last):
File "/usr/bin/usp", line 1242, in ?
menu_factory(app, None)
File "/usr/bin/usp", line 1233, in menu_factory
MenuWin(applet, iid)
File "/usr/bin/usp", line 1116, in __init__
self.mainwin = MainWindow()
File "/usr/bin/usp", line 88, in __init__
self.get_gconf_info()
File "/usr/bin/usp", line 1017, in get_gconf_info
self.wTree.get_widget("label9").set_label(resolution+" px")
TypeError: unsupported operand type(s) for +: 'NoneType' and 'str'


Seems your gconf is different from mine.... standby for a fix

[DeeZiD]

Hi, nice looking menu :D
I'll try it this evening after work.

And, what I want to let you know is, that I'll put a few mockups this evening from the xorg configuration tool this evening on this page ;)


regards Dennis

[chanders]

New fix!

Open system monitor and make sure you dont have

python /usr/bin/usp ..... running

If you do, kill the process and do not reload the applet when prompted....
Then install the newer deb (0.11).

Let me know if it works..

[chanders]

Hi, nice looking menu :D
I'll try it this evening after work.

And, what I want to let you know is, that I'll put a few mockups this evening from the xorg configuration tool this evening on this page ;)


regards Dennis

Excellent! Looking forward to it... I just saw a post about something similar... we will have to look at that too...

[outdooricon]

Wow, Impressive screeshots. Does this need to be done in edgy or can I try it out in dapper?

[chanders]

Wow, Impressive screeshots. Does this need to be done in edgy or can I try it out in dapper?

Indulge yourself ;) Dapper or Edgy welcome!

[Viper550]

OH NOES! You just trumped my slab...but due to the amount of (possible) bugs, and the fact that it looks a bit too complex for the average user, I think people won't be intimidated by Uslab as much as THIS complex thing.

[chanders]

OH NOES! You just trumped my slab...can I have the source code so I can mod it further for the next version of Uslab?

LOL, you'll never give up, will you 8) The source is distributed in the .deb. Open with package manager and look in /usr/bin filename is usp

Have fun! :-D

[chanders]

OH NOES! You just trumped my slab...but due to the amount of (possible) bugs, and the fact that it looks a bit too complex for the average user, I think people won't be intimidated by Uslab as much as THIS complex thing.

Possible bugs? Are you for real? You DEFINITELY need to read my sig!

[Note360]

I can't get this working. I installed from the .deb (thanks for supporting PPC) and rebooted whent to add panel and moved it over to the panel and it did nothing. Good job from the looks of it though

[Squalor]

Are you going to attach the .po file(s)? I'd love to translate this. :)

[chanders]

oops :-# double post

[chanders]

I can't get this working. I installed from the .deb (thanks for supporting PPC) and rebooted whent to add panel and moved it over to the panel and it did nothing. Good job from the looks of it though

run this in a terminal and post your results...

usp run-in-window

I will try to help...

@Squalor - it's way too early to do any translation but when I am ready I will pm you ;)

[Note360]

Here is what I got. Thanks for the fas service to.


/usr/bin/usp:483: GtkWarning: Attempting to add a widget with type GtkImage to a container of type GtkHBox, but the widget is already inside a container of type GtkHBox, the GTK+ FAQ at http://www.gtk.org/faq/ explains how to reparent a widget.
HBox1.add(PlaceIcon)
Warning! - Icon for item not found!
Traceback (most recent call last):
File "/usr/bin/usp", line 1249, in ?
menu_factory(app, None)
File "/usr/bin/usp", line 1240, in menu_factory
MenuWin(applet, iid)
File "/usr/bin/usp", line 1123, in __init__
self.mainwin = MainWindow()
File "/usr/bin/usp", line 92, in __init__
self.Todos()
File "/usr/bin/usp", line 457, in Todos
PlaceIcon = self.get_proper_icon(datalist[i][5:],icon_size)
File "/usr/bin/usp", line 415, in get_proper_icon
Image1 = gtk.image_new_from_icon_name(None, icon_size)
TypeError: image_new_from_icon_name() argument 1 must be string, not None

[darkmatter]

All in all its quite nice chanders... save for one smallish usability issue.

And that would be regarding the 'All Applications' 'menu'...

Having such small icons and no text is a bit of a hinderance... it is my suggestion to perhaps replace the current view with an embedded list... or better yet, a treeview... so by clicking on the All Applications.. it would then display a list of categories (Accessories, Games... blah blah) and clicking on each would extend the category, displaying the apps within. And it would have text!!!! :p

*Disclaimer*: The preceeding has been a random thought, and the author takes no resonsibility for any damage it may cause :mrgreen:

[chanders]

Here is what I got. Thanks for the fas service to.


/usr/bin/usp:483: GtkWarning: Attempting to add a widget with type GtkImage to a container of type GtkHBox, but the widget is already inside a container of type GtkHBox, the GTK+ FAQ at http://www.gtk.org/faq/ explains how to reparent a widget.
HBox1.add(PlaceIcon)
Warning! - Icon for item not found!
Traceback (most recent call last):
File "/usr/bin/usp", line 1249, in ?
menu_factory(app, None)
File "/usr/bin/usp", line 1240, in menu_factory
MenuWin(applet, iid)
File "/usr/bin/usp", line 1123, in __init__
self.mainwin = MainWindow()
File "/usr/bin/usp", line 92, in __init__
self.Todos()
File "/usr/bin/usp", line 457, in Todos
PlaceIcon = self.get_proper_icon(datalist[i][5:],icon_size)
File "/usr/bin/usp", line 415, in get_proper_icon
Image1 = gtk.image_new_from_icon_name(None, icon_size)
TypeError: image_new_from_icon_name() argument 1 must be string, not None


I know how to solve this. It's just I havent slept for 36hrs trying to get this ready so I am going to take a nap and when I wake up later it will be solved... have no fear ;)

[chanders]

All in all its quite nice chanders... save for one smallish usability issue.

And that would be regarding the 'All Applications' 'menu'...

Having such small icons and no text is a bit of a hinderance... it is my suggestion to perhaps replace the current view with an embedded list... or better yet, a treeview... so by clicking on the All Applications.. it would then display a list of categories (Accessories, Games... blah blah) and clicking on each would extend the category, displaying the apps within. And it would have text!!!! :p

*Disclaimer*: The preceeding has been a random thought, and the author takes no resonsibility for any damage it may cause :mrgreen:


In the next release, (few hours) the user will have the option to see all the applications as a list, a-la SLED also, hopefully categorised...

That was just a last minute 'feature' ;)

[chanders]

Standby for a fix.... for the problem, before I sleep....

[jarsonic]

Chanders. We can wait. Get some sleep :)

[Viper550]

I can't get this working. I installed from the .deb (thanks for supporting PPC) and rebooted whent to add panel and moved it over to the panel and it did nothing. Good job from the looks of it though

Here is what I got. Thanks for the fas service to.


/usr/bin/usp:483: GtkWarning: Attempting to add a widget with type GtkImage to a container of type GtkHBox, but the widget is already inside a container of type GtkHBox, the GTK+ FAQ at http://www.gtk.org/faq/ explains how to reparent a widget.
HBox1.add(PlaceIcon)
Warning! - Icon for item not found!
Traceback (most recent call last):
File "/usr/bin/usp", line 1249, in ?
menu_factory(app, None)
File "/usr/bin/usp", line 1240, in menu_factory
MenuWin(applet, iid)
File "/usr/bin/usp", line 1123, in __init__
self.mainwin = MainWindow()
File "/usr/bin/usp", line 92, in __init__
self.Todos()
File "/usr/bin/usp", line 457, in Todos
PlaceIcon = self.get_proper_icon(datalist[i][5:],icon_size)
File "/usr/bin/usp", line 415, in get_proper_icon
Image1 = gtk.image_new_from_icon_name(None, icon_size)
TypeError: image_new_from_icon_name() argument 1 must be string, not None


See, dissatified customers! And, let me rephrase what I said: USlab is easy enough, but this seems more like a Power-User version of USlab. If it were to be included ALONGSIDE USlab, that's fine with me!

[chanders]

Here is what I got. Thanks for the fas service to.


/usr/bin/usp:483: GtkWarning: Attempting to add a widget with type GtkImage to a container of type GtkHBox, but the widget is already inside a container of type GtkHBox, the GTK+ FAQ at http://www.gtk.org/faq/ explains how to reparent a widget.
HBox1.add(PlaceIcon)
Warning! - Icon for item not found!
Traceback (most recent call last):
File "/usr/bin/usp", line 1249, in ?
menu_factory(app, None)
File "/usr/bin/usp", line 1240, in menu_factory
MenuWin(applet, iid)
File "/usr/bin/usp", line 1123, in __init__
self.mainwin = MainWindow()
File "/usr/bin/usp", line 92, in __init__
self.Todos()
File "/usr/bin/usp", line 457, in Todos
PlaceIcon = self.get_proper_icon(datalist[i][5:],icon_size)
File "/usr/bin/usp", line 415, in get_proper_icon
Image1 = gtk.image_new_from_icon_name(None, icon_size)
TypeError: image_new_from_icon_name() argument 1 must be string, not None



Anyone with this error, try the new .deb (.12) and let me know if it works..

Install the deb (.12) and then logout and then log back in...

[handy]

USP installed fine on my system.

The Control Center does nothing when I click on it though.

I'm running 1600x1200 screen res', with all my fonts set at 22, to keep my old eyes from having to strain.

I had to set the font size down to about 12 for the written word to fit in USP, if you know what I mean.

Is there an easy solution to this. This problem does happen with other softwares occasionaly too.

Due to the fact that I set my computer display differently than the vast majority, I bring a problem or 2 upon myself...

I've learnt to live with it, sometime I won't use the software due to fonts not fitting properly, occasionaly I temporarily change my screen res'!

As far as USP is concerned, I won't be able to use it, due to the font size problem. :(

So, I do hope that there is a simple fix, it could be something simple that I don't know about yet in Ubuntu settings... I hope so!


Anyway, I think you have done a great job, & many people will be delighted with your work! :KS

[handy]

While I was composing my previous post, there were a few more posted, that I've just read...

I agree with them, get some sleep, it's such a nice thing to do... :)

[chanders]

USP installed fine on my system.

The Control Center does nothing when I click on it though.

I'm running 1600x1200 screen res', with all my fonts set at 22, to keep my old eyes from having to strain.

I had to set the font size down to about 12 for the written word to fit in USP, if you know what I mean.

Is there an easy solution to this. This problem does happen with other softwares occasionaly too.

Due to the fact that I set my computer display differently than the vast majority, I bring a problem or 2 upon myself...

I've learnt to live with it, sometime I won't use the software due to fonts not fitting properly, occasionaly I temporarily change my screen res'!

As far as USP is concerned, I won't be able to use it, due to the font size problem. :(

So, I do hope that there is a simple fix, it could be something simple that I don't know about yet in Ubuntu settings... I hope so!


Anyway, I think you have done a great job, & many people will be delighted with your work! :KS

Control center does not work because you dont have my Ubuntu Control Center installed :D You can download it in the other thread or you can just change then control center item in gconf-editor to 'gnome-control-center' or 'control-center' (if you have SLED installed)

As for the fonts, I might be able to create a 'large fonts' version... I will see what I can do. I know my friend Viper550 did some hacking to get the fonts bigger in USLED so maybe you can use that if it will suite you better...

Anything else, let me know ok?

[nicky.7]

Running from a terminal usp run-in-window i get this error:

/usr/bin/usp:483: GtkWarning: Attempting to add a widget with type GtkImage to a container of type GtkHBox, but the widget is already inside a container of type GtkHBox, the GTK+ FAQ at http://www.gtk.org/faq/ explains how to reparent a widget.
HBox1.add(PlaceIcon)
Traceback (most recent call last):
File "/usr/bin/usp", line 1249, in ?
menu_factory(app, None)
File "/usr/bin/usp", line 1240, in menu_factory
MenuWin(applet, iid)
File "/usr/bin/usp", line 1123, in __init__
self.mainwin = MainWindow()
File "/usr/bin/usp", line 92, in __init__
self.Todos()
File "/usr/bin/usp", line 439, in Todos
openfile = open(self.get_file_path(path), 'r')
IOError: [Errno 13] Permesso negato: '/usr/share/applications/net-gsambad.desktop'

If I run the same command with sudo it starts but i see a lot of glitches..

PS:You're doing a really good job man!!!!

[chanders]

Running from a terminal usp run-in-window i get this error:

/usr/bin/usp:483: GtkWarning: Attempting to add a widget with type GtkImage to a container of type GtkHBox, but the widget is already inside a container of type GtkHBox, the GTK+ FAQ at http://www.gtk.org/faq/ explains how to reparent a widget.
HBox1.add(PlaceIcon)
Traceback (most recent call last):
File "/usr/bin/usp", line 1249, in ?
menu_factory(app, None)
File "/usr/bin/usp", line 1240, in menu_factory
MenuWin(applet, iid)
File "/usr/bin/usp", line 1123, in __init__
self.mainwin = MainWindow()
File "/usr/bin/usp", line 92, in __init__
self.Todos()
File "/usr/bin/usp", line 439, in Todos
openfile = open(self.get_file_path(path), 'r')
IOError: [Errno 13] Permesso negato: '/usr/share/applications/net-gsambad.desktop'

If I run the same command with sudo it starts but i see a lot of glitches..

PS:You're doing a really good job man!!!!


It seems that you do not have permission to read this file - '/usr/share/applications/net-gsambad.desktop'

Open up /usr/share/applications as root and right click on the file, go to permission and make sure 'read' is checked for
'owner', 'group' and 'others'....

repeat for all files that you have this error for...

Let me know if it works....

I will fix this in the next release....

[nicky.7]

It works now! Thanks a lot.
Some suggestion for you. Copy something from sled menu!
- Border
- Application browser with favourite apps in the main menu.

[JoWilly]

Great stuff ! Installed on edgy64.

Problems:

1.Places & Applications: no places/applications are listed (they are listed if I click on "all applications)

2. Settings menu: Icons and title texts are too big (its bigger than the menu width (in system management sub menu its good). Icons in settings should be 1 size smaller, title text should be smaller, it is enough if its in bold. (I'm using 1280x1024)


Suggestions:

1."All applications" sould list all the apps one under the other (icon + text, so we can scroll through the list (better than only the icons).

PS : I have slab working very well.

[chanders]

Great stuff ! Installed on edgy64.

Problems:

1.Places & Applications: no places/applications are listed (they are listed if I click on "all applications)

2. Settings menu: Icons and title texts are too big (its bigger than the menu width (in system management sub menu its good). Icons in settings should be 1 size smaller, title text should be smaller, it is enough if its in bold. (I'm using 1280x1024)


Suggestions:

1."All applications" sould list all the apps one under the other (icon + text, so we can scroll through the list (better than only the icons).

PS : I have slab working very well.


When you say SLAB you mean NDL SLAB right?

You have to pin the USP and drag items in places and Applications for yourself... It comes blank for you to customize it yourself! ;)

I will try to make the font size and icon size configurable

In the next release, 'All Applications' will have an option to view as a list with labels so you can scroll to your heart's content (most likely it will be categorised too)

[JoWilly]

When you say SLAB you mean NDL SLAB right?

Yep. Said it was working so you know apps are displayed fine with slab.

You have to pin the USP and drag items in places and Applications for yourself... It comes blank for you to customize it yourself! ;)

Jeezzz ! Yeah, ... it was the same with slab... sorry for that.

I will try to make the font size and icon size configurable

In the next release, 'All Applications' will have an option to view as a list with labels so you can scroll to your heart's content (most likely it will be categorised too)

Excellent ! Looking forward to it :)

[Note360]

See, dissatified customers! And, let me rephrase what I said: USlab is easy enough, but this seems more like a Power-User version of USlab. If it were to be included ALONGSIDE USlab, that's fine with me!
I aint dissatisfied I had worse problems with USlab. I just got it working. All the dependancys and it still looks like crap and hardlye works, and dont forget the right click

[Note360]

Ok, this is amazing I got it working in the window, but I can't add it to the panel.

[Note360]

Wow, this is great I just got it working. Good job chanders

[outdooricon]

I won't get to install this app untill tonight... does it match whatever current theme is being used in gnome? If not, that's probably a good feature to plan in..

[lazyd2]

I won't get to install this app untill tonight... does it match whatever current theme is being used in gnome? If not, that's probably a good feature to plan in..
Yes it does match the current theme

[chanders]

Wow, this is great I just got it working. Good job chanders

You're welcome... It's amazing how much we can do by being positive... and offering a helping hand.... Some people will never learn.... But we shall continue to provide great software...

Thanks again Note360!

[lazyd2]

One more thing chanders, could the panel button be placed a little bit more to the left(less space between the ubuntu logo and the left edge of the panel)?

[chanders]

One more thing chanders, could the panel button be placed a little bit more to the left(less space between the ubuntu logo and the left edge of the panel)?

You got it! - Next release...

[lazyd2]

You got it! - Next release...
Just to clarify, not only the ubuntu logo but both(logo+"System")

Thank you for your great job:)

[Note360]

Wow, chanders get some sleep. Don't worry about it I remember the trouble I hade with USlab It was like a week of twiddling around getting things working then I gave up and eventually tried again. Oh and Viper never helped me. It is still buggy but what do you want from a .12 release (what is it super Alpha right now). Last thing you really should get this included into Edgy Eft.

[YourDoom123]

wow, this menu looks great. i've never really liked the idea of having a single menu, ala windows, but i'm sorely tempted by this one. i'm away from my comp for the next 3 weeks, but once i get back, i'll give it a try, and post my feedback...

[chanders]

Wow, chanders get some sleep. Don't worry about it I remember the trouble I hade with USlab It was like a week of twiddling around getting things working then I gave up and eventually tried again. Oh and Viper never helped me. It is still buggy but what do you want from a .12 release (what is it super Alpha right now). Last thing you really should get this included into Edgy Eft.

I am so happy to help, I cant sleep LOL, but I am sure I'll crash later... I will make a proposal to see how far it gets... the most frustrating thing is trying to get things done in the app the long way around when I am sure some guru could do it in a few lines.... There are some bugs, I could do with some help to squash...

So - Any pygtk / python developers, please let me know who you are (and you wont mind answering some questions)...



@YourDoom123 - The more the merrier :D

[chanders]

Bugfix!

0.13 now solves the problem of the USP not showing up on the correct desktop sometimes... (thanks to Mat)

Download in the first post...

[Note360]

Unfortuantly I am not a pythong programmer so I can't help you If I could I would. (I am a perl programmer). You know what we need next somethign to replace SUSE's Gnome-Application-Browser. That is the final piece.

Oh, and as for Viper don't mind him he is trying to copy off of SLED you are doing something much mroe valuble you are reinventing what Suse has to what it should be for Ubuntu.

[chanders]

Unfortuantly I am not a pythong programmer so I can't help you If I could I would. (I am a perl programmer). You know what we need next somethign to replace SUSE's Gnome-Application-Browser. That is the final piece.

Oh, and as for Viper don't mind him he is trying to copy off of SLED you are doing something much mroe valuble you are reinventing what Suse has to what it should be for Ubuntu.

maybe if I can integrate it properly, we wont need a whole application browser.... will come up with something...

[jimmygoon]

I agree. I don't like the way it handle "all applications" sorry... Otherwise... it looks interesting. I will test more tonight when I am more free

[Note360]

Hmm, sounds good. Don't know where to start but we probably should do something like that just to finish up the whole "We are better than SLED 10" thing.

[chanders]

Hmm, sounds good. Don't know where to start but we probably should do something like that just to finish up the whole "We are better than SLED 10" thing.

Yeah, thats the main reason I wrote the app (from scratch I might add ;) ) with bits and pieces from tutorials and sample code I found scattered around the web....

This community just gives you wings (sorry couldnt resist)...

[Note360]

Ok I am working a a patch that will change the more app viewer to the gnome-application-browser but I need to package that with it or you have to have vipers pre installed. Vipers source is free so I assume we can go through and pickout the application.

Oh and I need help pakcaging it into a .deb file.

[chanders]

Ok I am working a a patch that will change the more app viewer to the gnome-application-browser but I need to package that with it or you have to have vipers pre installed. Vipers source is free so I assume we can go through and pickout the application.

Oh and I need help pakcaging it into a .deb file.

No patch necessary! Just edit /apps/usp/more_applications in gconf-editor and put your favourite application browser there ;)

Foresight...

[Note360]

Lol, thats what I did actually I was just trying to make it the default but couldn't.

Nevermind I don't lnow enough about Python. I thought it would be simple.

[chanders]

Lol, thats what I did actually I was just trying to make it the default but couldn't.

Nevermind I don't lnow enough about Python. I thought it would be simple.

Yeah, I could have put it as default but not all users have (or even want) the application-browser.....So I opted for something that will work on all machines...

[chanders]

Going to grab some zzzzz's see you all in a few hours.... Have fun playing with the menu and have many questions for me when I get back ;)

[lazyd2]

Sweet dreams lol

[Note360]

Good night.
Any way I think that we probably should make our own Application Browser. However as previously stated I don't know python or how to work gtk. (Parrot will be a godsend)

[melalcoolique]

Mayday, I've got a serious problem here...

I'am running Edgy since the repositories are up. However, USP has killed my Gnome session. This happened when I launched "ALL APPLICATIONS" and tried to add "Archive Manager".

Actually, I'am in the failsafe session and I've absolutely no way to get my normal session working. I removed, purge USP and the applet and restarted but with no luck.

I've no clue about my problem except it could be related to D-bus.

I am absolutely zen but I'am affraid this time I'am stuck for real. Bad move. :mrgreen:

[Note360]

Hm, it's probably edgy.

[augied]

Weird bug.
I drag something into the places or the applications area. A few minutes later, I see the icon float across the screen and then disappear (like what happens if you try to drag a file in nautilus where it is not allowed.) If I had dragged multiple icons into the menu, the all float by one by one.

[kpolice]

haha I got the same, icons floating all around.

[lazyd2]

Weird bug.
I drag something into the places or the applications area. A few minutes later, I see the icon float across the screen and then disappear (like what happens if you try to drag a file in nautilus where it is not allowed.) If I had dragged multiple icons into the menu, the all float by one by one.Just log out and login again.

[augied]

Just to clarify, the bookmark/application does show up in the menu. This just happens about five minutes later. There is no missing functionality, it's just wierd and I wish it would stop.

[augied]

Feature request/suggestion: Have the places section work with the gtk-bookmarks file. The syntax of the file is a little different from the places.list file that is currently used, but I don't think it would be too hard to do (that said, I I'm not sure how to do it.) If someone could work out a way to have the other items in the gnome places menu show up, like the cd and usb drives that automatically appear, that would be great.
Also I'd love to have a recent documents section.

[cbudden]

I am getting nothing in the places section or the application section. If I press All Apps they show up.

Chanders, your doing some great work here, thanks very much!

[_simon_]

The places window does not auto populate - you need to drag and drop what you want in there. :)

[PsyberOneZero]

I'm loving the work on this and gControl.

I just had a few suggestions:
1) Be able to add seperators (hlines) not just spaces.
2) Integrate either Deskbar (I think that's python) or atleast a run dialog
3) Add a small border around the box, just a few pixels to set it off the desktop
4)Keep up the great work!

[augied]

1) Be able to add seperators (hlines) not just spaces.

Crap, I was going to suggest that but I forgot.

[sethmahoney]

I tried the modified slab, and got rid of it within 5 minutes. This, however, is awesome! Thanks for the fantastic work!

The only issues I'm having is that there doesn't appear to be enough room in the settings panel, leaving me with a funkity scroll bar on the far right (fortunately the settings panel can be hidden - nice touch!), and that it is labeled "System" rather than "Apps" or something, but that I can get used to.

[lazyd2]

I tried the modified slab, and got rid of it within 5 minutes. This, however, is awesome! Thanks for the fantastic work!

The only issues I'm having is that there doesn't appear to be enough room in the settings panel, leaving me with a funkity scroll bar on the far right (fortunately the settings panel can be hidden - nice touch!), and that it is labeled "System" rather than "Apps" or something, but that I can get used to.Check posts #103, #104 here.;) (http://www.compiz.net/viewtopic.php?id=2112&p=7)

[Who]

Chanders,

Nice work :D - it was beginning to worry me slightly that we keep playing with Novell toys - who else is innovating... Looks like that question has been answered :)

Are you going to write a spec for this, put it on Lunchpad and mail the devel list? Even if you target Edgy+1 or +2 Launchpad seems to be TUW (the Ubuntu Way)... (if you want to work on the code/don't have any interest in Launchpad (and you ask very nicely :P) I may have time to do some speccing for you)

[mattisking]

I like to use Transparency on my Gnome panels. Is there any way we could get transparency support into this applet? The standard "Menu Bar" works great for this. Also, is there a nice ReadMe that lays out how everything should work? Would you be accepting of ideas and feedback towards this? Also, what language is used? I might enjoy helping out on this. My C is rusty but workable, but I don't know Python at all (wouldn't imagine it would be hard to learn though).

[chanders]

Weird bug.
I drag something into the places or the applications area. A few minutes later, I see the icon float across the screen and then disappear (like what happens if you try to drag a file in nautilus where it is not allowed.) If I had dragged multiple icons into the menu, the all float by one by one.

Lol, thos ghost icons are a known issue, I will look into it as soon as the app gets a little more polished..

Feature request/suggestion: Have the places section work with the gtk-bookmarks file. The syntax of the file is a little different from the places.list file that is currently used, but I don't think it would be too hard to do (that said, I I'm not sure how to do it.) If someone could work out a way to have the other items in the gnome places menu show up, like the cd and usb drives that automatically appear, that would be great.
Also I'd love to have a recent documents section.

The nautilus bookmark file is a good idea, and could probably be done as long as i figure out the file layout... The USB and CD drives may require D-BUS and I havent dabbled into D-BUS yet but I am getting there...

I'm loving the work on this and gControl.

I just had a few suggestions:
1) Be able to add seperators (hlines) not just spaces.
2) Integrate either Deskbar (I think that's python) or atleast a run dialog
3) Add a small border around the box, just a few pixels to set it off the desktop
4)Keep up the great work!

*Hlines sound great and most likely will make it into the nextversion ;)
*Integtrating deskbar is also D-BUS so when I get on that train we could solve all of those requests..
*Border will be added and I will try to make it configurable
*Trying my best to keep up the good work :-D

I tried the modified slab, and got rid of it within 5 minutes. This, however, is awesome! Thanks for the fantastic work!

The only issues I'm having is that there doesn't appear to be enough room in the settings panel, leaving me with a funkity scroll bar on the far right (fortunately the settings panel can be hidden - nice touch!), and that it is labeled "System" rather than "Apps" or something, but that I can get used to.

Yeah, the settings panel will lose the scroll bar, have no fear...

Chanders,

Nice work :D - it was beginning to worry me slightly that we keep playing with Novell toys - who else is innovating... Looks like that question has been answered :)

Are you going to write a spec for this, put it on Lunchpad and mail the devel list? Even if you target Edgy+1 or +2 Launchpad seems to be TUW (the Ubuntu Way)... (if you want to work on the code/don't have any interest in Launchpad (and you ask very nicely :P) I may have time to do some speccing for you)

Glad you liked it! My hands are so full with coding but I am asking nicely ;), would you mind terribly helping out with the speccing?


I like to use Transparency on my Gnome panels. Is there any way we could get transparency support into this applet? The standard "Menu Bar" works great for this. Also, is there a nice ReadMe that lays out how everything should work? Would you be accepting of ideas and feedback towards this? Also, what language is used? I might enjoy helping out on this. My C is rusty but workable, but I don't know Python at all (wouldn't imagine it would be hard to learn though).


Getting the applet itself (on the panel) transparent will be one of the first things I will try to address.. As for the readme, if someone would like to host a small site I could come up with a really good manual (This app is only 16kb!).. The introduction in the first post should get you started however...

I would love ideas and feedback, please feel free... This app is written in PyGTK with the backend as Python... If you would like to help, just let me know ;-)

[Iandefor]

works OOB here. Love it!

Excellent work, Chanders!

[chanders]

works OOB here. Love it!

Excellent work, Chanders!

Glad you like it!

[sethmahoney]

Check posts #103, #104 here.;) (http://www.compiz.net/viewtopic.php?id=2112&p=7)

Fantastic news (and the icon size thing was bugging me a little too, so hey, good news there, too!)! Thanks!

[Iandefor]

Just hit the ghost icon issue, but I trust you'll have a fix at some point soon :twisted:.

[Note360]

Wow dude you need a server I got one (small), justdont over flood my bandwith cause I have another site on it

[Note360]

Defending you guys against Viper is tough work. That guy is a pompous ***.

[chanders]

Wow dude you need a server I got one (small), justdont over flood my bandwith cause I have another site on it

Nice! I am currently coding the next release... When I am finished with the web site/manual I will pm you... Hopefuly others with more bandwidth would offer their services too... Thanks so much...

[Note360]

Well think of it as that crummy motel (I think in metaphors to much) your welcome in for as long as you want for cheap until you can get your bearings. (no prostitutes allowed though).

Edit: Oh I think you should roll your little collection of apps into one package as well as distribute them seperatly. (Ubuntu Control Pack?)

[Iandefor]

Well think of it as that crummy motel (I think in metaphors to much) your welcome in for as long as you want for cheap until you can get your bearings. (no prostitutes allowed though). ROFL... oh dear.

[Note360]

What I can't joke around? LoL

[Iandefor]

What I can't joke around? LoL No... I was just laughing lol.

[Note360]

I too was just joking when I said what I can't joke.

[handy]

Control center does not work because you dont have my Ubuntu Control Center installed :D You can download it in the other thread or you can just change then control center item in gconf-editor to 'gnome-control-center' or 'control-center' (if you have SLED installed)

As for the fonts, I might be able to create a 'large fonts' version... I will see what I can do. I know my friend Viper550 did some hacking to get the fonts bigger in USLED so maybe you can use that if it will suite you better...

Anything else, let me know ok?

Thanks Chanders, you are a cool frude! 8)

I will be watching this thread like a hawk, you respond so quickly... :KS

[Edit:]

Even if the window could be resized & set to allways open at that size, that would solve my font problem, providing the System Management options expanded proportionately?

[chanders]

Thanks Chanders, you are a cool frude! 8)

I will be watching this thread like a hawk, you respond so quickly... :KS

[Edit:]

Even if the window could be resized & set to allways open at that size, that would solve my font problem, providing the System Management options expanded proportionately?

Right now I am coding the font settings... You will now bw able to set the font size according to your liking... Having the menu resizeable would not be such a good idea though...

Can you tell me exactly which labels are too large? That way I can put a setting in for it...

[jimmygoon]

The red was the default color, I was too lazy to change the text size and I only did this because I like what you've made and I want to see it get even better!

[handy]

Right now I am coding the font settings... You will now bw able to set the font size according to your liking... Having the menu resizeable would not be such a good idea though...

Does that mean that the fonts will be adjustable seperately for the menu?

I have installed GCC, great stuff. :KS

I then posted on that thread that the font problem exists in GCC too. I sound like a whinger! :(

I'm not, I think your work is positively wonderful! 8) :KS

[chanders]

The red was the default color, I was too lazy to change the text size and I only did this because I like what you've made and I want to see it get even better!


LOL...Ok...

* The in the places area I will try to have computer there by default...
* The small button (pin button) doesnt have any graphic because I couldnt find a good one to put ;-) (ideas?)
* Tiny text on button will be increased
* Large text in system is/will now be configurable... Icon sizes in a subsequent release..
* I Cant really do anything about the missing title other than put a placement like "Edit me!" or something....
* What do you suggest for the alignment of the system management buttons?

[zacbarton]

This is great Chanders.

On my desktop I use just the bottom panel and its set to 49px in height. It looks like the USP menu is sitting behind my gnome panel and I cant see the bottom of the USP menu.

A screenshot displays this easier.
http://www.zacbarton.com/USP.png

Keep up the great work :-)

[Horizon]

Great App. Although not as polished as the slab menu applet it's getting there. I'm really tempted to keep using the slab menu because it's more polished but I guess I'll use this for a while and see if it doesn't grow on me.

If it was a bit smarter about placement (like drawing over the panel shadow instead of under, because it looks really wrong with the shadow over it) and the look was a bit more customisable (like the option to add a border that looks like the slab menu applet's border because it looks way too flat right now) it would blow slab out of the water. I think it also needs an option to have it forget the layout. So I can click places and go to my music folder but when I come back to the menu it goes back to a specific arrangement (like having only the applications section showing).

Well, I'm looking foward to seeing how this develops, it looks really promising.

Here's a screenshot:
http://img154.imageshack.us/img154/6313/screenshot58thumbmc3.png (http://img213.imageshack.us/img213/5203/screenshot58bs7.png)

PS: This really needs a preferences dialogue/window. Are you planning to have one?

[Who]

Hiya Chanders,

A little bug I have noticed
*When I start the panel (from my double height panel) it is slightly underneath the panel

I think you could do away with the need for your own application organiser by adding the current applications menu to the side of the usp - It means we don't regress on any fuinctionality and makes transition (for users and devs) much easier


so for example

|F |S |Accessories > |
| a | y |Education > |
| v | s |Internet > |
| A |C |Office > |
| p | o |System Tools >|
| p | n |Blah > |
| s| f|Places > |


Also, I'd love to see it possible to make plugins (probably whenDbus comes along) so that you can have things like
'Current Song'
'Next Tasks'
'New Emails' in a new pane aswell

Keep going, it's wicked!

Who

[chanders]

Hiya Chanders,

A little bug I have noticed
*When I start the panel (from my double height panel) it is slightly underneath the panel

I think you could do away with the need for your own application organiser by adding the current applications menu to the side of the usp - It means we don't regress on any fuinctionality and makes transition (for users and devs) much easier


so for example

|F |S |Accessories > |
| a | y |Education > |
| v | s |Internet > |
| A |C |Office > |
| p | o |System Tools >|
| p | n |Blah > |
| s| f|Places > |


Also, I'd love to see it possible to make plugins (probably whenDbus comes along) so that you can have things like
'Current Song'
'Next Tasks'
'New Emails' in a new pane aswell

Keep going, it's wicked!

Who

Already Implemented! See new version;)

As for the plugins I am in the process of writing an API for them. DBUS will have to come along a little later as i couldnt find too much on the net to learn from... But I will get there...

[Who]

Already Implemented! See new version;)

As for the plugins I am in the process of writing an API for them. DBUS will have to come along a little later as i couldnt find too much on the net to learn from... But I will get there...

Have you talked to iXce from Compiz.net - didn't he do the Compiz DBus stuff?

[Who]

Already Implemented! See new version;)


Wicked - does anyone have any screenshots?

[chanders]

Wicked - does anyone have any screenshots?

Go for it... Post them up when you do ;)

[Who]

Go for it... Post them up when you do ;)

I'm not actually on Ubuntu now :S I was hoping someone else could post some

[lazyd2]

Some screenshots

http://img73.imageshack.us/img73/9946/screenshotco2.th.jpg (http://img73.imageshack.us/my.php?image=screenshotco2.jpg) http://img239.imageshack.us/img239/995/screenshot2ku6.th.jpg (http://img239.imageshack.us/my.php?image=screenshot2ku6.jpg)
http://img83.imageshack.us/img83/6325/screenshot1xf7.th.jpg (http://img83.imageshack.us/my.php?image=screenshot1xf7.jpg) http://img239.imageshack.us/img239/8852/screenshotrk4.th.jpg (http://img239.imageshack.us/my.php?image=screenshotrk4.jpg)

[atie]

I have few wishes with 0.20-1 version.

1. I had changed "search command" with beagle-search by gconf, but unexpectedly USP keeps filtering programs as seen on the attached. However, pressing "search" button brings beagle UI though. If possible, I'd like to have both command filter and search filter independently(?).

2. I could use "use custom color" to distinguish border from background color, but overall it's quite difficult to users so a menu with USP to control border, color and font would be nice.

3. Compared to gnome-main-menu, I think I am missing "recently used documents".

4. Depending on font, small size fonts are not so looking good so that same size font with regular/bold combination may better, IMO.

5. I'd like to have smaller "Place" section and bigger "Application" section so maybe have two-colums list for programs same as gnome-main-menu.

Thanks for nice program, Chanders :)

[Note360]

Looks good (just woke up) installing the new version now.

[Note360]

Cant believe how stupid I was. I got it jut upgraded to .21.

[outdooricon]

* The small button (pin button) doesnt have any graphic because I couldnt find a good one to put ;-) (ideas?)


How about something like the one here... http://chakuriki.sakura.ne.jp/wema/image/pin.png

[jarredmt]

So far USP is looking great. I made some mock ups on how I feel the USP show look and feel. Take a look and see if you like any of the ideas to implement into USP. Most of the changes are reorganizing of items. I do feel that the three sections are out of order. It should stick to the order of the Menu Bar (Applications, Places then System)

http://ubuntuforums.org/gallery/data/4/jarred.jpg

http://ubuntuforums.org/gallery/data/4/Favorites.jpg

BTW, I just updated USP and the new Applications USP is great.

[Iandefor]

I like how USP .21-1 has the ability to filters apps by type, but it's a little screwy in how it does it. Unless the menu editor was really just a boring game all along and you just got it sorted right, and "apply theme" is appropriate for an office environment :-D.

[augied]

Small annoyance: When you use the filter and open an app, the filter does not reset, meaning that you have to manually reset it. The same happens when you run a search. Maybe this should be a setting (autoclear.)
I think someone already suggested having a configurable default layout that the menu always resets itself to when reopened. Maybe there could be a set default button on the menu.

Also, when the applications menu is in the favorite apps view and you start typing, the filter loses focus.

[augied]

I like how USP .21-1 has the ability to filters apps by type, but it's a little screwy in how it does it. Unless the menu editor was really just a boring game all along and you just got it sorted right, and "apply theme" is appropriate for an office environment :-D.
Software Update appears to be a game.

[Iandefor]

Software Update appears to be a game. It is! What a boring game... watch the progress bar go... *yawns*.

I like tetravex better!

[chanders]

Ok guys, just got up after a few hours sleep :yes: Iwill be looking at the suggestions and the bugs and will be working actively on USP today...

[augied]

It is! What a boring game... watch the progress bar go... *yawns*.

I like tetravex better!
Personally, I like the one where you try to turn all the little boxes green by double clicking on them. What's that one called?

[augied]

Ok guys, just got up after a few hours sleep :yes: Iwill be looking at the suggestions and the bugs and will be working actively on USP today...
That's the problem with writing good software. We never let you sleep. We may tell you to, but that's just to guilt you into working harder.

[Note360]

Yerp we are just that cruel

[chanders]

Yerp we are just that cruel

LOL, I have fun doing it so no worries ;)

@Note360 - Havent got around to the site yet thats why I havent contacted yu... I am still coding like crazy...:D

[Note360]

Lol, sorry just wondering I woke up and I am like wow this .21 is great wonder why chanders didnt contact me. HMMM. Let me ask him.

Oh also I am thinking about learning python.

[chanders]

This is great Chanders.

On my desktop I use just the bottom panel and its set to 49px in height. It looks like the USP menu is sitting behind my gnome panel and I cant see the bottom of the USP menu.

Hmmm... If you have SLED installed, how does it show up? In line with the panel or on top the panel? (will help with coming up with a solution)

I have few wishes with 0.20-1 version.

1. I had changed "search command" with beagle-search by gconf, but unexpectedly USP keeps filtering programs as seen on the attached. However, pressing "search" button brings beagle UI though. If possible, I'd like to have both command filter and search filter independently(?).

2. I could use "use custom color" to distinguish border from background color, but overall it's quite difficult to users so a menu with USP to control border, color and font would be nice.

3. Compared to gnome-main-menu, I think I am missing "recently used documents".

4. Depending on font, small size fonts are not so looking good so that same size font with regular/bold combination may better, IMO.

5. I'd like to have smaller "Place" section and bigger "Application" section so maybe have two-colums list for programs same as gnome-main-menu.

Thanks for nice program, Chanders :)

* Not sure how to implement a search and filter simultaneously without adding two entry boxes :-k Any ideas?
* Custom color for the border is #1 on the list today
* Recently used not implemented yet... stay tuned
* Font sizes are now customizable not weight though
* Will look at it, not a priority though..

I like how USP .21-1 has the ability to filters apps by type, but it's a little screwy in how it does it. Unless the menu editor was really just a boring game all along and you just got it sorted right, and "apply theme" is appropriate for an office environment :-D.

Yeah, it was late/early :D Not sure how GNOME does the sorting though but This will be fixed in the next release

Small annoyance: When you use the filter and open an app, the filter does not reset, meaning that you have to manually reset it. The same happens when you run a search. Maybe this should be a setting (autoclear.)
I think someone already suggested having a configurable default layout that the menu always resets itself to when reopened. Maybe there could be a set default button on the menu.

Also, when the applications menu is in the favorite apps view and you start typing, the filter loses focus.

* Will add auto-clear on search/minimise
* Will fix focus bug in the next release

[Hells_Dark]

Hi, i posted my problem on the compiz forum.
I put it here too :
Hi,

Great stuff.
But i have a few problems. The main problem have been resolved with the new deb version, but i still have a problem with the icons (Gnome theme) :
http://pix.nofrag.com/4e/07/fd9364d229f5834e7043c925fde2t.jpg (http://pix.nofrag.com/4e/07/fd9364d229f5834e7043c925fde2.html)
(lock screen icon "for the size", computer icon "for the icon"..)

Thanks
Is anybody have a similar problem ?

[augied]

Can we get a way to remove the text from the panel button? (thus making the button much smaller)

[chanders]

Hi, i posted my problem on the compiz forum.
I put it here too :

Is anybody have a similar problem ?
have you tried changing the theme? See if it works then... USP uses the default gnome names for icons so it has to do with your icon theme is my guess....

The 'size' problem will be fixed in the next release...

Can we get a way to remove the text from the panel button? (thus making the button much smaller)
This is not usually configurable, but I will se what I can do ;)

[Note360]

I think the order of the different areas should be configurable.

ex)
Applications Places System

or

System Places Applications

I should be able to change the order. (Plugin support might be a good idea to include at some point, so you dont have to do everything)

[Hells_Dark]

have you tried changing the theme? See if it works then... USP uses the default gnome names for icons so it has to do with your icon theme is my guess....

I tried a lot of themes.
I have the same problem with a lot of them (crux,crystal svg,flat blue, GNOME....)
And it works with a few ones (Human, Tango, Tangerine..)

Strange :sad:

And i wanna keep my gnome icon theme.
The 'size' problem will be fixed in the next release...
Thanks ;)

[AlexC_]

Great work! I like it, BUT It's too big IE it takes up a lot of desktop screen space. I've seen a lot of linux users complain how big the XP Menu is, well this is like twice as big - maybe even more. I think for the next version(s) you should aim to make it smaller

[lazyd2]

Great work! I like it, BUT It's too big IE it takes up a lot of desktop screen space. I've seen a lot of linux users complain how big the XP Menu is, well this is like twice as big - maybe even more. I think for the next version(s) you should aim to make it smallerYou can make it quite smaller...Since it has 3 tabs you select what you want. If it starts getting smaller (IMO) there gonna be problems with fonts, icons, etc.

[AlexC_]

You can make it quite smaller...Since it has 3 tabs you select what you want. If it starts getting smaller (IMO) there gonna be problems with fonts, icons, etc.
I know you can enable/disable the different tabs, I mean - the height and way it's laid out makes it feel big, and the use of big fonts/icons really doesn't help. I don't know why but most linux dev's make there applications phyiscaly big and use big icons/text - just using smaller fonts and icons can make the application much much smaller in size ( desktop wise ).

[NNois]

Hello thanks chandler for this great app ! Very good work !
I have a small problem and can't found the solution on the last version 0.21
when I launch app with the new "all app" mostly of this apps won't run because a parameter %U is passed. but when this app is in favorites no problem... Did I'm alone with this problem ?

[chanders]

Hello thanks chandler for this great app ! Very good work !
I have a small problem and can't found the solution on the last version 0.21
when I launch app with the new "all app" mostly of this apps won't run because a parameter %U is passed. but when this app is in favorites no problem... Did I'm alone with this problem ?

Will fix this in the next release.. ;)

[ironfistchamp]

Woah this is amazing. Worked straight away. Wish I had skills to do this. I still can't create a glassy effect in GIMP.

Anyway I really like this. Has replaced my main menu thingy.

Couple of issues/suggestions. I am comapring v20 and v21. In v20 there was a regular window border. Hitting the X messed it up but I like the border (maybe just remove the X). In v21 it was gone and looked very odd. Didn't fit in the with the whole scheme. Can it be put back or have it as some configurable option.

In v20 mine seems to hover an inch or so above the panel. Odd.

In both of them places that I have dragged into the places area don't do anything. Are they ment to yet?

Some screens

http://i104.photobucket.com/albums/m163/ironfistchamp/panelv20.png
http://i104.photobucket.com/albums/m163/ironfistchamp/panelv21.png

What does the pin button acutally do? Also it would eb great if the menu closed when I clicked outside of it like a normal menu. Just a suggestion.

Thanks for some wonderful work. You have done an amazing job.

Ironfistchamp

[Note360]

The places work on mine and try fooling around with the border length in gconf. (The pin keeps the window open even after a app is launched I think)

[chanders]

Woah this is amazing. Worked straight away. Wish I had skills to do this. I still can't create a glassy effect in GIMP.

Anyway I really like this. Has replaced my main menu thingy.

Couple of issues/suggestions. I am comapring v20 and v21. In v20 there was a regular window border. Hitting the X messed it up but I like the border (maybe just remove the X). In v21 it was gone and looked very odd. Didn't fit in the with the whole scheme. Can it be put back or have it as some configurable option.

In v20 mine seems to hover an inch or so above the panel. Odd.

In both of them places that I have dragged into the places area don't do anything. Are they ment to yet?

Some screens

http://i104.photobucket.com/albums/m163/ironfistchamp/panelv20.png
http://i104.photobucket.com/albums/m163/ironfistchamp/panelv21.png

What does the pin button acutally do? Also it would eb great if the menu closed when I clicked outside of it like a normal menu. Just a suggestion.

Thanks for some wonderful work. You have done an amazing job.

Ironfistchamp

That border was a bug :D You will be able to add your own in the next release...

The window closes when you click away... You need to un-pin it by clicking on the smallest button on the top left...

Glad you like it ;)

[Note360]

Wow how many lines of code is it now?

[sethmahoney]

I think it also needs an option to have it forget the layout. So I can click places and go to my music folder but when I come back to the menu it goes back to a specific arrangement (like having only the applications section showing).

I second this idea. I usually only have applications open, then I open places to go to my home folder, and have to manually make it close places (so once again only applications is showing). It would be nice if it did this automatically.

[handy]

Hi Chanders,

I have changed the font size a variety of times, all the way down to 2. Does not solve my problem. I still have unusably large fonts in USP... :(

I've attached an image for your perusal... :?:

[chanders]

Hi Chanders,

I have changed the font size a variety of times, all the way down to 2. Does not solve my problem. I still have unusably large fonts in USP... :(

I've attached an image for your perusal... :?:

WOW :shock: From the looks of it, no matter what size of fonts you use, USP wont work well because of the layout of the panel :-(

[zacbarton]

Hmmm... If you have SLED installed, how does it show up? In line with the panel or on top the panel? (will help with coming up with a solution)

Heres a screenshot with USP and SLED, hope it helps :-)
http://www.zacbarton.com/USP2.png

[chanders]

Heres a screenshot with USP and SLED, hope it helps :-)


Thanks... There is one critical item I need to solve for this to work.... Will work on it as soon as is possible..

[handy]

WOW :shock: From the looks of it, no matter what size of fonts you use, USP wont work well because of the layout of the panel :-(

Is there a solution?

[the_thunderbird]

Is there any CVS or Subversion access? I would like to do some work on the source, to see if I can add a bit of extra polish to it.

[handy]

I haven't looked, but I think the source is supplied in the .deb...

[Hells_Dark]

Hey,

What people think about the order of names in favorite applications ?
I mean the name in small and the generic name in strong..

I find it weird, i would prefer the opposite, don't you ?

[augied]

Hey,

What people think about the order of names in favorite applications ?
I mean the name in small and the generic name in strong..

I find it weird, i would prefer the opposite, don't you ?
I agree. It looks especially wierd when the app doesn't have a generic name (which is often the case) or if it's a (semi) long description.

[Horizon]

Hey,

What people think about the order of names in favorite applications ?
I mean the name in small and the generic name in strong..

I find it weird, i would prefer the opposite, don't you ?
Nope, i find this better. Because I have one application of each type in there (browser, email client, irc client etc.). Some of their names are long and it looks much neater this way. Kind of like the "Internet Browser" and "Email" entries in the XP start menu.

Maybe this could be an option? I'd love to be able to specify which two labels from the launcher show...then I could have say, the japanese name in big (GenericName['jp'] or however they list it in the launcher file) and the english name below for when I forget what the japanese means XD

I agree. It looks especially wierd when the app doesn't have a generic name (which is often the case) or if it's a (semi) long description.

When they don't have a generic name you can right click and edit the labels for now...

[bojzi]

This is very nice chanders! Thank you for this great panel app! :)

I've tried it on Dapper and I noticed a few bugs.
1. When I click on it, it's displayed like a new window, not like a menu (meaning it has a titlebar with an x button to close it).
Screenshots: http://img143.imageshack.us/img143/3840/usp1dc2.th.jpg (http://img143.imageshack.us/my.php?image=usp1dc2.jpg) http://img143.imageshack.us/img143/114/usp2ba1.th.jpg (http://img143.imageshack.us/my.php?image=usp2ba1.jpg)
(could this be dapper related?)
2. When I click on the System button and try to click elsewhere (not on the menu) it won't disappear. I have to first click on the menu (to make the window active) and then it'll close with clicking outside of it.
3. Clicking on the x to close it really closes it but the System button stays activated (like being pushed) and I can't access the menu again. I have to remove it from the panel and add it again to be able to use it.
4. It can't be moved with the middle mouse button (like the other stuff on the panel). I have to choose move and then move it.

That's all for now. Again, thanks for this I really like it!

[Hells_Dark]

This is very nice chanders! Thank you for this great panel app! :)

I've tried it on Dapper and I noticed a few bugs.

Some of those bugs have already been fixed in the new version (i mean the 1, 2 and 3. The 4 still remaining..).
If you don't find it here, try there : http://www.compiz.net/viewtopic.php?id=2112&p=1
Edit : this one : 0.21-1 version (http://ubuntuforums.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=13248&d=1153912534) ;)

[bojzi]

Ouch, now I see that I took the .20 version from the first page of this thread... Thanks! *feels stupid :)*

[ironfistchamp]

Used this some more after having some coffee so I am fully alert.

Anyway this is even better than I thought it was. I got the places working. I re-dragged them and all was well. Could have been v20 probs I don't know. I love the fact that this worked and Sled 10 complained of broken pipes (I thought electricity used wires :p ).

Yeh it doesn't close when I click outside. Sometimes it will loose focus but will still be up.

On the All Applications bit some apps are listed twice (Synaptic, Bug Report) and others are not listed at all (amarok, Banshee). Why might that be?

Keep up the good work.

[chanders]

Is there a solution?
Not without hacking the panel... I will give you some tips to get this done as soon as I get some spare time..


Is there any CVS or Subversion access? I would like to do some work on the source, to see if I can add a bit of extra polish to it.
I dont have a CVS setup for this yet but I will hopefully soon... You can hack the source code (it's the /usr/bin/usp file) and post up your hacks ;)


I agree. It looks especially wierd when the app doesn't have a generic name (which is often the case) or if it's a (semi) long description.
Right click, make it what you want ;)



4. It can't be moved with the middle mouse button (like the other stuff on the panel). I have to choose move and then move it.

That's all for now. Again, thanks for this I really like it!
This stems from the fact that I dont have too much experience with panel buttons but it is on my list of things to do...



Yeh it doesn't close when I click outside. Sometimes it will loose focus but will still be up.

On the All Applications bit some apps are listed twice (Synaptic, Bug Report) and others are not listed at all (amarok, Banshee). Why might that be?

Keep up the good work.
Make sure you dont have it 'pinned' (small button top left) for the focus to work...

Double applications fixed in the next version ;)

[Hells_Dark]

Right click, make it what you want ;)

Yeah, but it would be great nevertheless if we could switch generic name and name emplacements in a configuration pannel.

[bojzi]

Just one little request that would mean the world to me... :)
Can it be made so that when I select "All Aplications" it stays remembered after restarting?

And a bigger but not so important thing... Can it be made so that we could switch the placement of the parts of the menu (as in switch the places of the applications part and the places part, for example)?

[melalcoolique]

Mayday, I've got a serious problem here...

I'am running Edgy since the repositories are up. However, USP has killed my Gnome session. This happened when I launched "ALL APPLICATIONS" and tried to add "Archive Manager".

Actually, I'am in the failsafe session and I've absolutely no way to get my normal session working. I removed, purge USP and the applet and restarted but with no luck.

I've no clue about my problem except it could be related to D-bus.

I am absolutely zen but I'am affraid this time I'am stuck for real. Bad move. :mrgreen:

Well, I saved my Good old Ubuntu installation but it was very very close.

Very surprised to be the only one to report a breakdown like this.

I will stick a bit with the Gnome menu.

Phewww...

[LordMau]

This is a great project. No problems so far. No wonder no ones posting on the other slab related threads!

Err please verify, is this still dependent on nautilus?

[reacocard]

Wow. Just installed this, and it's awesome. no more boring old gnome menus for me!

[Note360]

was it ever dependant on nautalius (just for the more app button I think which is by default hidden).

[monchichi]

Thanks, Chanders.

I hated slab until I came across your version-- it's way better! Good work! Intuitive, functional, and nice looking...

[LordMau]

Bug (on my system):

Clicking an item on Places starts nautilus but without --no-desktop option. This causes my xfce handled desktop via xfdesktop to be killed then the desktop overwritten by nautilus. Closing the browser window doesnt close the desktop handling, had to kill the nautilus process then manually restart xfdesktop.

Can you let nautilus handle folders as browser and with --no-desktop on? Can we manually set this? Checking via gconf I didn't see how.

Also, quit doesn't work in the USP.

Thanks.

EDIT: Also noticed, aside from killing xfdesktop, it also kills the xfce session manager. This also prevents quitting via the desktop menu.

[LordMau]

was it ever dependant on nautalius (just for the more app button I think which is by default hidden).

Like I noted in other thread re: slab, any version of the slab always crashes on my system unless I installed nautilus. Note I had an xfce desktop with minimal gnome deps as much as possible.

[Hells_Dark]

Can we already do that :
http://img105.imageshack.us/img105/1299/allapplicationswh9.jpg
I don't know how -_-

[chanders]

People we have a problem.

I have spent all morning trying to solve the zombie problem. Essentially when applications are closed they are zombied(takes no resources and does not use any cpu but unsightly). I have tried double forking, waiting etc but to no avail... Anyone with any info/ help please come forward... It really breaks my spirit when I cant solve things like these....

In the mean time I will do something a little less brain killing and try to finish up some more features... Just to keep you piqued on the next release..

* The border is working now. Color and size configurable 138
* Entry focus fixed
* Double entries in 'All applications' removed
* Now lists kde and other apps previously missing
* No more %U problems
and more...

To all the posts I havn't replied to since this morning I will shortly...

Quickly...
* The nautilus dependency can be easily fixed
* The above feature was removed... people didnt seem to like all the icons...
* Placement of panes coming soon...
* Should work with no problems on edgy .. dunno what happned with yours

[Note360]

Well edgy is edgy it could be anything. Oh and I am liking Python alot ( much neater than Perl but a few things bug me (the lack of confusion :p is one I grew so used to the Perlisms I almost cant live without em) )

[chanders]

Well edgy is edgy it could be anything. Oh and I am liking Python alot ( much neater than Perl but a few things bug me (the lack of confusion :p is one I grew so used to the Perlisms I almost cant live without em) )

Glad to know! Learn quickly so you can help me with the zombie problem :(

[chanders]

Zombie problem - Solved!

[ironfistchamp]

Wahey no more zombie... whats zombie?

[reacocard]

I have the zombie effect and I'm using Dapper.

[chanders]

I have the zombie effect and I'm using Dapper.

Well guess what?! You wont have it in the next release... I just solved the problem....Yay!

[augied]

Zombie problem - Solved!
How?

[Amaranth]

I _really_ don't want to read through all of those posts so I'm not sure if someone has suggested it yet or not but you should use python-gmenu to read the applications menu. It's a python wrapper around the actual code that the applications menu uses so you get the same result (no permissions bugs, sorting oddities, etc). Also if you're using edgy alacarte 0.9.x has a python package 'Alacarte' installed with some code to do this and feed you menu items.

[chanders]

How?

Here is the code, basically spawn a child process of a child process and kill the first one. The Grand child is then inherited by init so when it exists, the system cleans up the zombie...

def RunControl(self,widget,cmd):
pid = os.fork()
if pid:
os.spawnvp(os.P_NOWAIT,cmd[0], cmd)
os._exit(0)

I _really_ don't want to read through all of those posts so I'm not sure if someone has suggested it yet or not but you should use python-gmenu to read the applications menu. It's a python wrapper around the actual code that the applications menu uses so you get the same result (no permissions bugs, sorting oddities, etc). Also if you're using edgy alacarte 0.9.x has a python package 'Alacarte' installed with some code to do this and feed you menu items.

Thank you very much Amaranth. I wish I had found this earlier as I did everything from scratch! I am tempted to use 'import Alacarte' but I am sure there are lots of dapper users who would like to use USP...

I will definitely take a look at python-gmenu. If you have a link for the docs, please post... Thanks again

[Hells_Dark]

I am sure there are lots of dapper users who would like to use USP...

I approve :smile:

Well done for the zombie bug (even if i love zombies....brains, eat brains...).

That smell good for the next release.
Anyway, think to sleep...a little a least ;-)

[dcubed20]

This might have been said earlier, but I didn't see it. I think that whenever the menu window gets smaller, for whatever reason, it should shrink from the top instead of from the bottom. I don't really like the gap between it and the panel, and it only gets worse if I select/deselect one of the panes and the whole thing shrinks upward.

Otherwise, impressive work.

[Note360]

Congrats on the zombie problem that was an annoying little bug.

[Amaranth]

There are no docs, sorry. :/ btw, the following code does "daemonize" the "correct" way, which is what I think you're trying to do.import os
import sys
import resource

UMASK = 0
if os.getuid() == 0:
WORKDIR = '/'
else:
WORKDIR = os.getcwd()
MAXFD = 1024

if (hasattr(os, 'devnull')):
REDIRECT_TO = os.devnull
else:
REDIRECT_TO = '/dev/null'

def createDaemon():
try:
pid = os.fork()
except OSError, e:
raise Exception, '%s [%d]' % (e.strerror, e.errno)

if (pid == 0):
os.setsid()
try:
pid = os.fork()
except OSError, e:
raise Exception, '%s [%d]' % (e.strerror, e.errno)

if (pid == 0):
os.chdir(WORKDIR)
os.umask(UMASK)
else:
os._exit(0)
else:
os._exit(0)

maxfd = resource.getrlimit(resource.RLIMIT_NOFILE)[1]
if (maxfd == resource.RLIM_INFINITY):
maxfd = MAXFD

for fd in range(0, maxfd):
try:
os.close(fd)
except OSError:
pass

os.open(REDIRECT_TO, os.O_RDWR)
os.dup2(0, 1)
os.dup2(0, 2)
return (0)


If you rely on paths for anything you probably want to change WORKDIR.

[Amaranth]

Quick python-gmenu example:

import gmenu
class MenuExample:
def __init__(self):
self.tree = gmenu.lookup_tree('applications.menu')

def getMenus(self, parent=None):
if parent == None:
#gives top-level "Applications" item
yield self.tree.root
else:
for menu in parent.get_contents():
if menu.get_type() == gmenu.TYPE_DIRECTORY and self.__isVisible(menu):
yield menu

def getItems(self, menu):
for item in menu.get_contents():
if item.get_type() == gmenu.TYPE_ENTRY and item.get_desktop_file_id()[-19:] != '-usercustom.desktop' and self.__isVisible(item):
yield item

def __isVisible(self, item):
if item.get_type() == gmenu.TYPE_ENTRY:
return not (item.get_is_excluded() or item.get_is_nodisplay())
if item.get_type() == gmenu.TYPE_DIRECTORY and len(item.get_contents()):
return True

This code has one known bug: if all of the items in a menu are hidden it should be hidden too. For a solution to this look at Alacarte 0.9's /usr/lib/python2.4/site-packages/Alacarte/MenuEditor.py

[chanders]

Thank you so much for the tips! I am about to release the next version, I will try to include your code in this release+1. Thank you again..

[chanders]

New release

Ver 0.25-1 Jul 27 23:00 (GMT -4)
* Border added
* Able to configure border size and color
* Able to set pane order in /apps/pane_order
* Added swap generic name and app name
* No more zombie apps
* Entry focus fixed
* Double entries in 'All applications' removed
* Now lists kde and other apps previously missing
* No more %U problems
* Added setting item to 'All Applications'

Known bug : Sometimes hiding 'Places' also hides 'Applications'.... will fix later

When you all have it configured properly, post screenshots.. I am writing a site for UCC and USP and I need some screenies

Chanders

[mattisking]

Unfortunately, this one isn't working for me. :( When I add it to my panel all I see is a small DOT that I can't select. I saw this same behavior on one of your first versions but that went away later.

I can remove the dot by dragging the entire panel to the side instead of top of the screen at which point it shows up I can then right-click it to lock it in place or unlock it but that's it. I removed it, and when I try to add it now, it just blows up.

[lazyd2]

Yeap, he's working on it....

[mattisking]

Well, I'm not really sure what "Ver 0.26-1 Jul 23:25:00 (GMT -4)" means about fixing a no KDE dir... whatever as I'm running Gnome... but this version appears to be working fine.

I still wish I had transparency though. (hint) :)

[agurk]

Unfortunately, this one isn't working for me. :( When I add it to my panel all I see is a small DOT that I can't select. I saw this same behavior on one of your first versions but that went away later.

I can remove the dot by dragging the entire panel to the side instead of top of the screen at which point it shows up I can then right-click it to lock it in place or unlock it but that's it. I removed it, and when I try to add it now, it just blows up.
I confirm seeing this with version 0.26-1.

[chanders]

I confirm seeing this with version 0.26-1.

Install 0.27 and logout/log back in.... let me know if it works...

[mattisking]

Working for me.

[zacbarton]

Looking good Chanders

One thing I have noticed is USP is still sitting behind my gnome panel. It seems to sit infront of the panel until I close the "add to panel" window. After that it sits under the panel again.

Im using a panel of 48px high and USP .27-1.

Another thing that would be good to have is make the "System" button grow in height when a panel does so are equal height.

Keep going its getting better and better.

Z

[augied]

Great updates!
I have a few complaints which may have been mentioned already, but I'm too tired to remember.
1. The icons in the places pane aren't lined up perfectly.
2. It would be nice if you could make the panes auto-resize to fit long text (I know you can change the font, but still.)
3. I really want the search field to auto-clear.
4. Apps that I had hid from the gnome menu show up here (maybe that will be taken care of if you use gmenu)
5. The menu appears to be pinned whether or not the pin button is selected.
6. It's just too damn pretty. WTF!

P.S. I'm also waiting on the edge of my seat for a default layout setting.

[agurk]

Install 0.27 and logout/log back in.... let me know if it works...
Yep, works now, thanks! The USP button doesn't adhere to the opacity level set for the panel though (see pic).
Oh, and the Screen Resolution button text did not show my resolution until I had run the screen res selection app once.

[Hells_Dark]

Thanks for the new release.

But i still having some problem with my GNOME icon theme.
http://pix.nofrag.com/d0/ae/5abab79760ea40b574fea23c4061t.jpg (http://pix.nofrag.com/d0/ae/5abab79760ea40b574fea23c4061.html)

Is anybody have the same problem or, could tell me if he have the same when he put the GNOME theme icon ?
Edit : i asked to some people (2), they say they have the same.

[bojzi]

Very nice! It looks much more polished now!

Could you just please add an option to gconf that could remembers if All Applications are selected? I don't use the favorite applications part and this would be a very nice finishing touch. :)

For all those using the Gilouche theme - set the border colors to (59637, 55705, 48496) if you want to have the border somewhat darker but still in theme with the background or put in (24914, 36061, 45896) if you want to have it like SLAB (blue).

If anybody needs I type a little tutorial here on how to get these colors (it's the same for custom_color and custom_heading_color)...

[lazyd2]

If anybody needs I type a little tutorial here on how to get these colors (it's the same for custom_color and custom_heading_color)...
Reply With QuotePlease do...

[outdooricon]

I ahven't gotten to install this yet, grr... but there is someting I've noticed from the screenshots... the 'Quit' text doesn't line up with the other two above it... It's looking great though otherwise.

[fuoco]

I thought the whole idea started with novell doing research to see exactly what makes the best usability. Is it really a good idea to deviate from that just for the sake of being innovative and unlike suse ?

[Hells_Dark]

I thought the whole idea started with novell doing research to see exactly what makes the best usability. Is it really a good idea to deviate from that just for the sake of being innovative and unlike suse ?

Of course, it's a good idea to create our own pannel !
And the choice always do linux better.

[bojzi]

HOW TO GET THE COLOR YOU WANT FOR YOUR BORDER (or else colors in this format)

1. Choose which color you want to use on your desktop, a web site, a screenshot or something else. I'll be using a SLAB screenshot for this one.
http://diego.aureal.com.pe/wp-content/uploads/wii.png

2. Now open up gimp and load up this image. Now, use the color selection tool
(either clicking or typing "O" on the keyboard) and select the blue border color.
After you do that the Color Picker will pop up with some information. The important information are the percentages (Red, Green and Blue - if you don't have the percentages select RGB from the drop down menus).

3. Fire up your Calculator and make the calculations yourself. You have to multiply 65535 with the percentage of the color.
In my example Red is at 38% so you have to multiply 65535 by 0.38 and you get 24903,3 - just round it up to the smaller or bigger number, I usually take the bigger one so I get 24904 for Red.
Do the same for the other colors.

4. Input the colors in the same orders (Red, then Green, then Blue) into the field in the gconf utility.

That's it! :)

[the_thunderbird]

Yep, works now, thanks! The USP button doesn't adhere to the opacity level set for the panel though (see pic).
Oh, and the Screen Resolution button text did not show my resolution until I had run the screen res selection app once.

I've just fixed this and Chanders will release it when he comes online ;)

[Note360]

Another great improvement chanders.

[ironfistchamp]

Just got the new version. It's looking great. Something I notcied on two machines is that if I log off or shutdown with programs open I get a message saying that X doesn't support session saving.

I think it is related to the panel. Maybe you could look into it. Has anyone else noticed this?

Ironfistchamp

[Hells_Dark]

Thanks for the new release.

But i still having some problem with my GNOME icon theme.
http://pix.nofrag.com/d0/ae/5abab79760ea40b574fea23c4061t.jpg (http://pix.nofrag.com/d0/ae/5abab79760ea40b574fea23c4061.html)

Is anybody have the same problem or, could tell me if he have the same when he put the GNOME theme icon ?
Edit : i asked to some people (2), they say they have the same.
So what's about this ? There is this bug with a lot of themes, that's quite important, isn't it ? :sad:

PS: i was already talking about it here (http://ubuntuforums.org/showpost.php?p=1303250&postcount=126).

Another screenshot to visualize problems :
http://pix.nofrag.com/20/aa/67a5871d011a2fda963e44b07129t.jpg (http://pix.nofrag.com/20/aa/67a5871d011a2fda963e44b07129.html)

(I just ask if that's a priority, i know Chanders is sooo busy ;-) )

[xtacocorex]

This is by far the fastest I've seen development on a program that is very usable.

I will have to get the newest version tonight (since I'm about 3 or so behind now), when I get home.

Keep up the good work chanders!

An idea for the tall panel height problem:
Is there a gconf entry that specifies the height of the gnome-panel? If there is, couldn't you read that entry, and then have it draw the menu starting from that height location? From the little GTK I know, I'm sure that you can control where the window goes with coordinates.

(Opened up X forwarded ssh to find info)

Ok, that's way to slow for me to use to find useful stuff.

Back to the idea. Once you read the panel height, you'd also have to read the panel location and then draw the offset accordingly, who knows, someone may have a really thick panel at the top, odd to me, but useful to them.

Sorry for the randomness in the idea, I was trying to inline prove some of the concepts, but couldn't as ssh with -X is slow at my office for my work computer.

EDIT: (To clean up the idea after slowly searching around gconf-editor for a fifth time)
1 - On add to panel, USP sets a gconf key telling itself what panel it is set on
2 - On add to panel/panel size change, USP (re)sets a gconf key telling itself the height of the panel
3 - USP sets menu offset coordinates based upon the above 2 items (also gconf keys so it knows what to load on login/logout)
4 - User click will draw menu offset from panel as it knows what to do

I'll keep researching this option.

[Amaranth]

Icon loading code: (never tested, based on alacarte's code)
def getIcon(item):
pixbuf = None
if item == None:
return None
if isinstance(item, str):
iconName = item
else:
iconName = item.get_icon()
if iconName and not '/' in iconName and iconName[-3:] in ('png', 'svg', 'xpm'):
iconName = iconName[:-4]
icon_theme = gtk.icon_theme_get_default()
try:
pixbuf = icon_theme.load_icon(iconName, 24, 0)
except:
if iconName and '/' in iconName:
try:
pixbuf = gtk.gdk.pixbuf_new_from_file_at_size(iconName, 24, 24)
except:
pass
if pixbuf == None:
if item.get_type() == gmenu.TYPE_DIRECTORY:
iconName = 'gnome-fs-directory'
elif item.get_type() == gmenu.TYPE_ENTRY:
iconName = 'application-default-icon'
try:
pixbuf = icon_theme.load_icon(iconName, 24, 0)
except:
return None
if pixbuf == None:
return None
if pixbuf.get_width() != 24 or pixbuf.get_height() != 24:
pixbuf = pixbuf.scale_simple(24, 24, gtk.gdk.INTERP_HYPER)
return pixbuf


Of course to use this as-is you have to be using python-gmenu.

[_profox]

* I Cant really do anything about the missing title other than put a placement like "Edit me!" or something....
You could use the "subtitle" (Name) to become the title (Generic name) and make the "subtitle" (Name) empty, perhaps?

[LordMau]

Hi. Just upgraded to 0.27 USP. With reference to my previous posts some comments:

a) Nautilus now behaves properly, doesnt override xfce desktop nor sessions manager; Places now opens ok!

b) Quit.. button still doesn't work.

c) Thunar (and its other .desktop variations) do not open, either as a Favorite in the main panel, or via the application browser. So far this is the only app that does this.

So far those are what I've seen. Otherwise great update, and I hope the above can help in tweaking USP.

Thanks!

[chanders]

You could use the "subtitle" (Name) to become the title (Generic name) and make the "subtitle" (Name) empty, perhaps?

This was addressed in 0.27-1, you can now swap between Name and Generic name, so no more spaces :D

Hi. Just upgraded to 0.27 USP. With reference to my previous posts some comments:

a) Nautilus now behaves properly, doesnt override xfce desktop nor sessions manager; Places now opens ok!

b) Quit.. button still doesn't work.

c) Thunar (and its other .desktop variations) do not open, either as a Favorite in the main panel, or via the application browser. So far this is the only app that does this.

So far those are what I've seen. Otherwise great update, and I hope the above can help in tweaking USP.

Thanks!

* Quit will not work as USP is using gnome's logout command. If you can tell me what is the command to logout of the XFCE desktop I could probably include it..
* Post the lines in your thunar.desktop file here so I can look at it.. (without the translations so it will be smaller)

[Hells_Dark]

This was addressed in 0.27-1, you can now swap between Name and Generic name, so no more spaces :D


Yeah, that's great !
But there is a bug :
When we edit the labels, it switch automatically..

[_profox]

This was addressed in 0.27-1, you can now swap between Name and Generic name, so no more spaces :D

Oh, sorry ;) I was reading all 21 pages and came across this in the middle.. Anyway, you're razing along with development! And you listen to your userbase alot.
Very good :) very good :)

I am hacking into the python code a little bit to try to fix some bugs and/or add some functionality, but I'm not very experienced with python yet :) but it's a good way to learn.

About the website; is it taken care of?
Is 25GB bandwidth/month enough?
Then I can probably create and host a website for you on my hosting :)

[chanders]

Yeah, that's great !
But there is a bug :
When we edit the labels, it switch automatically..

Ahh.. oversight... will be fixed in the next release..

[LordMau]

* Quit will not work as USP is using gnome's logout command. If you can tell me what is the command to logout of the XFCE desktop I could probably include it..

Not sure if I can tell the command, may ask around, but I'm not sure there's any difference between gnome and xfce logout. Curious though as the default Gnome Menu and gnome-main-menu/slab/uslab logout/exit button work fine.

* Post the lines in your thunar.desktop file here so I can look at it.. (without the translations so it will be smaller)

Here's the default one:


[Desktop Entry]
Encoding=UTF-8
Name=Thunar File Manager
<snip>
Comment=Browse the filesystem with the file manager
<snip>
GenericName=File Manager
<snip>
Exec=Thunar %F
Icon=Thunar
Terminal=false
StartupNotify=true
Type=Application
Categories=Application;System;Utility;Core;GTK;Fil eManager;

# vi:set encoding=UTF-8:
X-Ubuntu-Gettext-Domain=Thunar



Here's the one in the .usp folder:


[Desktop Entry]
Encoding=UTF-8
Name=Thunar File Manager
Comment=Browse the filesystem with the file manager
Exec=Thunar %F
Icon=Thunar
GenericName=File Manager
Terminal=false


Also launching via nautilus or thunar the .desktop file in .usp also successfully launches Thuanr.

Thanks.

[chanders]

Ok just as a test, remove the %F in the file in .usp folder...
Remove the applet and re-add it..
Tell me if it works...

[Note360]

I think I have the hosting all patched up with 50gb per month, however I have another site running on the server so we will see how good it holds up. Just send the stuff over when your ready chanders. i'll put it up at zephyrwood.org/chanders

[chanders]

I think I have the hosting all patched up with 50gb per month, however I have another site running on the server so we will see how good it holds up. Just send the stuff over when your ready chanders. i'll put it up at zephyrwood.org/chanders

Excellent... New release in a few hrs ;)

[gruvsyco]

Here's something, perhaps not related directly to USP... I notice some of my apps when favorited, are only one line. If I add Rhythm Box for example, it shows in the menu like:

Music Player
Rhythm Box Music Player

But, if I certain other apps like, Blender, it only shows:

Blender 3D modeller

and, the text appears as if it is the second line and the first line is blank. So, is there a way to fix this either by:
A. adding the appropriate text for items missing it.
B. removing the first line from the ones that do have it.
C. centering the ones that don't so it's inline with the icon


BTW, I switched from Slab to USP this morning... far enough along now I like it better.

BTW 2.0, Congratulations on getting your own forums for USP and UCC!

[chanders]

Here's something, perhaps not related directly to USP... I notice some of my apps when favorited, are only one line. If I add Rhythm Box for example, it shows in the menu like:

Music Player
Rhythm Box Music Player

But, if I certain other apps like, Blender, it only shows:

Blender 3D modeller

and, the text appears as if it is the second line and the first line is blank. So, is there a way to fix this either by:
A. adding the appropriate text for items missing it.
B. removing the first line from the ones that do have it.
C. centering the ones that don't so it's inline with the icon


BTW, I switched from Slab to USP this morning... far enough along now I like it better.

BTW 2.0, Congratulations on getting your own forums for USP and UCC!

Thanks!

Ok, two ways to solve your problem...
1. Right click on the item, select edit, and enter the labels yourself
2. In gconf-editor, check swap_generic_name (that way you wont have any blanks ;-) )

[_profox]

Feature request/suggestion: Have the places section work with the gtk-bookmarks file. The syntax of the file is a little different from the places.list file that is currently used, but I don't think it would be too hard to do (that said, I I'm not sure how to do it.)
Where is the gtk-bookmarks file? I can't find it :confused:

[gruvsyco]

Thanks!

Ok, two ways to solve your problem...
1. Right click on the item, select edit, and enter the labels yourself
2. In gconf-editor, check swap_generic_name (that way you wont have any blanks ;-) )

Thanks that worked but I just realized something else now... "All Applications" is not showing all my applications now. They still show in the original Gnome Menu and are available via Alt-F1

[chanders]

Are thay showing any at all? Applications that dont have proper .desktop files are not shown (for now) I will have to fix that later

[_profox]

Where is the gtk-bookmarks file? I can't find it :confused:
Seems like Nautilus doesn't make use of this file for its locations.

I was working on an option to "sync with nautilus locations" but it seems like the nautilus locations aren't very user configurable by default.
Maybe you mean something else with the gtk-bookmarks file? what do you have in the file? It could be that you added some custom stuff somewhere..

But since this certainly isn't the case for most people, I think I am going to do it like this:

When you open the new USP the first time it will check wether you already have places or not, if you have no places, these default places will be added automatically:

Default places is: desktop, home folder, computer, cd/dvd, networkservers

If you already have places, your places will remain the same.

But: 2 new options will also be added to the right click menu of "Places"
edit: this will be a new popup menu when you right click the LABEL Places
- Clear all places [needs confirmation]
- Add default places

The first option will clear all your places, and the second option will append the default places to your current places.

Is this a good way to solve this? Now the only thing I'm looking for is an easy way to find the information I need. Are those default locations saved somewhere? They are taken from the default ubuntu menu -> locations, but I don't know where it gets its info from...

Edit: think I found it, give me some time

[gruvsyco]

Are thay showing any at all? Applications that dont have proper .desktop files are not shown (for now) I will have to fix that later

Yes it does show some apps. Come to think of it, an early version of your USP that opened a window to an apps folder, I think was missing these same apps so, likely they don't have a proper .desktop file associated with them.

[dcubed20]

This is really great. I have a few feature requests, though. First off, I think it ought to behave like the gnome-menu does with respect to when you click off it. When I want to close the gnome-menu, I never re-click the menu icon; i just click somewhere else on the screen and the menu closes. I think USP should do the same thing. Also, I like the "quick find" feature for applications, but it would be nice to be able to operate the entire thing from the keyboard. Here's an example:

The way it works now: you click in the quick find box, you type whatever you want, you click the option(s) that appear above.

The way I think it should work: you click in the quick find box, you type whatever you want, you either press enter (if there is only one result) and the program opens, or you choose which result you want with arrow keys and press enter.

I think these things would do a lot for functionality, and I bet other people would agree too. Thanks for all the hard work you're putting in to this.

[_profox]

This is really great. I have a few feature requests, though. First off, I think it ought to behave like the gnome-menu does with respect to when you click off it. When I want to close the gnome-menu, I never re-click the menu icon; i just click somewhere else on the screen and the menu closes.
This should happen with USP too, IF you have the Pin button in the off state (small button in the upper left corner) Try it, if it doesn't work, you are the 2nd person that has experienced this. This shouldn't happen if the Pin button is off.

Also, I like the "quick find" feature for applications, but it would be nice to be able to operate the entire thing from the keyboard. Here's an example:

The way it works now: you click in the quick find box, you type whatever you want, you click the option(s) that appear above.

The way I think it should work: you click in the quick find box, you type whatever you want, you either press enter (if there is only one result) and the program opens, or you choose which result you want with arrow keys and press enter.
This is already in the feature list :) In the future it's probably going to be user configurable. Atleast if chanders finds the time to program all these wishes, AND fix the little bugs ;) But he's doing his very best.

[_profox]

I have to catch some sleep now, but the 'auto populate' for the places menu, when it's empty, should be done tomorrow :) maybe in some hours if I can't sleep. (It's late here)

[dcubed20]

This should happen with USP too, IF you have the Pin button in the off state (small button in the upper left corner) Try it, if it doesn't work, you are the 2nd person that has experienced this. This shouldn't happen if the Pin button is off.


Oh so thats what that does. Lol, thanks.


This is already in the feature list :) In the future it's probably going to be user configurable. Atleast if chanders finds the time to program all these wishes, AND fix the little bugs ;) But he's doing his very best.

I didn't see it in the list, but that's good to know. Don't get me wrong, I don't want to rush chanders, and I really appreciate all the hard work he is putting into it. I thought I'd contribute my two cents, that's all.

[chanders]

Ver 0.28-1 28 Jul 21:30:00 (GMT -4)
* Applet follows panel transparency settings (Thanks the_thunderbird)
* Search entry set to auto-clear when clicked
* Icon theme problems fixed
* 'Quit' text mis-alignment fixed
* Fixed bug when entry was edited and swap_generic was set
* Filter now includes application command name
* 'Filter' label removed
* 'More Applications' button repositioned and white space removed
* Now accepts color in the format #RRGGBB (Thanks PsyberOne)

Notes:
See 'currently working on' thread to know what is in the pipeline
Add your wishlist to the 'What I would like to see' thread
Add screenshots to 'Screenshots' thread

[Note360]

What happened?

[chanders]

What happened?

Huh? ;)

[delfick]

i think he just woke up after a big night with lots of alcohol and doesn't know where he is :p

[chanders]

@Note360
You mean getting the forum dont you :)

[Note360]

Ya I went to see a Jazz Saxaphonist and eat and stuff for the past 4 hours and I have no Idea what is going on with the forums I come back and I am like wtf

[chanders]

Ya I went to see a Jazz Saxaphonist and eat and stuff for the past 4 hours and I have no Idea what is going on with the forums I come back and I am like wtf

Tell me about it ;) Now we have our own little place to do all the configuring and tinkering that we like...

[Note360]

Lol without Viper

[lazyd2]

Lol without Viper:lol::-\"

[Note360]

dang my panel border wotn change colour

[lazyd2]

Remove it and add it again.

[Note360]

Er thanks that was a stupid problem

[chanders]

Ver 0.29 out (fixes window settings especially for compiz users)

[darkmatter]

ummm... bugs r back (looks mostly like gconf stuff)

Traceback (most recent call last):
File "/usr/bin/usp", line 1517, in ?
menu_factory(app, None)
File "/usr/bin/usp", line 1508, in menu_factory
MenuWin(applet, iid)
File "/usr/bin/usp", line 1373, in __init__
self.mainwin = MainWindow()
File "/usr/bin/usp", line 93, in __init__
self.Todos()
File "/usr/bin/usp", line 584, in Todos
openfile = open(self.get_file_path(path), 'r')
IOError: [Errno 13] Permission denied: '/home/darkmatter/.local/share/applications/googleearth.desktop'

[delfick]

Ver 0.29 out (fixes window settings especially for compiz users)

where can this gotten from?

[augied]

where can this gotten from?

There should be a separate thread for releases and release notes

[delfick]

just found it...the first post of this thread....:D

thnx Chanders...it wobbles again :D

[LordMau]

Ok just as a test, remove the %F in the file in .usp folder...
Remove the applet and re-add it..
Tell me if it works...

Great that worked! Thanks. Hope you can also check out the logout/ exit button thing.

[Hells_Dark]

Hi,

Thanks for the new release.
My Gnome Theme icon is supported :)

Anyway, i still have a size problem with it :
http://pix.nofrag.com/54/64/996caaa6844f6e6c673b0f58c8eet.jpg (http://pix.nofrag.com/54/64/996caaa6844f6e6c673b0f58c8ee.html)

(i'll post it in the bugs topic ;))

But, that's a really good job Chanders ;)

Edit : and what about the languistic support ?
How to translate the app' ?

[_profox]

Languistic support is also planned for the future :) but we have a very big wishlist that is being added to daily ;) hmm.. I think we should make a little php page so people can vote for the most wanted features/wishes.

[Hells_Dark]

Languistic support is also planned for the future :) but we have a very big wishlist that is being added to daily ;) hmm.. I think we should make a little php page so people can vote for the most wanted features/wishes.

Ok, thanks :)
My main wish remains the bugs suppression ^_^
And this ugly size icon problem, i talked about earlier.

[_profox]

Hey guys, I need some help, so I can continue with the auto-population.

The only thing I miss is the cd/dvd right now. I don't know where the gnome menu gets that information from.
It doesn't appear when unmounted, so how does it know?
Someone please enlighten me.

[_profox]

Maybe I can check "mount" and find iso9660 and use that mount point to create a .desktop file? would this be a good solution?

[_profox]

I came across some bugs:
+ Can't drag desktop to places (Fixed! Also fixed icon. See below.)
+ The ".." delimiter that is used when place/app names are too large doesn't care about the font size or about the width of the letters ~ low priority
+ Can't drag cd drives from Computer into USP
+ cd drives dragged from menu have no correct icon
And the "ghost icon drag" bug is still flying across the screen ;) :(

In my auto populate function I also ran into a problem. I'm searching for a good way to find all cd/dvd devices attached to the computer. Until then I'm stuck here. But I will auto populate with "Home, Desktop, Computer and Network servers" in one of the following releases :) cd/dvd devices maybe later. (when I find some info for the cd/dvd devices)

Here is the fix so you can drag the desktop:
I hope it's clean enough :)

(manually delete the lines with - and add the lines with +, i used diff so it is more clear in which context you need to change things, paste the code in an editor that supports syntax highlighting for .diff files, like gedit, and use diff highlighting (or save as a .diff file) and you will see in colors what you need to change)

EDIT: Removed patch. See next post.

[_profox]

I modified the source code to add 4 places if you start the program for the first time (if you have none that is)

I also want to create a popupmenu. Rightclick on the label "Places"
~ Clear all (backs up current places.list and /places to places.backup and /places-backup, then removes places.list and /places, then removes all the places buttons)
~ Restore cleared (removes current places.list and /places and places the backups back, and reloads the places buttons)
~ Add default places (appends 4 default places like happens in my code below to the current places)

I am able to write the code for this, but I'm not sure how/where to add the code for the popupmenu. I'm a rookie in Python :) 1 day now, but I like Python, and I love the way you HAVE to structurize your sourcecode :)

And I still have the second problem, but I will just leave it as it is for now, with the CD/DVD devices. I'm not sure what's the best way to obtain all CD/DVD devices attached.

----

Patch Description: On startup we check wether there are places or not. If there are none, 4 default places (5 if you count the space) get added automatically. (home, desktop, [space], computer, network servers)

Includes the fix of my previous post so you can add the Desktop entry to your Places

Includes the fix of my previous post so you can hardcode other icon entries for directories (like we did for Desktop)

Attached patch:
--- usp 2006-07-29 05:43:27.000000000 +0200
+++ usp 2006-07-29 17:58:21.000000000 +0200
@@ -148,8 +148,16 @@

PlacesFile = open (os.path.join(os.path.expanduser("~"), ".usp/places.list"),"r")
PlacesList = PlacesFile.readlines()
- for i in range(len(PlacesList)):
- self.Add_Button(PlacesList[i][:-1],"place",True)
+ if len(PlacesList) == 0:
+ print "Empty places.list: Populating"
+ self.Add_Button("/usr/share/applications/nautilus-home.desktop","place",False)
+ self.Add_Button(os.path.join(os.path.expanduser("~"),"Desktop"),"place",False,"gnome-fs-desktop")
+ self.Add_Button("space","place",False)
+ self.Add_Button("/usr/share/applications/nautilus-computer.desktop","place",False)
+ self.Add_Button("/usr/share/applications/network-scheme.desktop","place",False)
+ else:
+ for i in range(len(PlacesList)):
+ self.Add_Button(PlacesList[i][:-1],"place",True)

ApplicationsFile = open (os.path.join(os.path.expanduser("~"), ".usp/applications.list"),"r")
ApplicationsList = ApplicationsFile.readlines()
@@ -456,6 +464,9 @@
return True

def got_data(self, widget, context, x, y, selection, targetType, timestamp):
+ customIcon = ""
if widget.name == "scrolledwindow1":
Add_to = "application"
if widget.name == "scrolledwindow2":
@@ -472,9 +483,12 @@
if selection.data[:-2] == 'x-nautilus-desktop:///network':
data = '/usr/share/applications/network-scheme.desktop'
specialcase = True
-
+ if selection.data == 'Desktop':
+ data = os.path.join(os.path.expanduser("~"),"Desktop")
+ specialcase = True
+ customIcon = "gnome-fs-desktop"
if specialcase:
- self.Add_Button(self.get_file_path(data),Add_to,Fa lse)
+ self.Add_Button(self.get_file_path(data),Add_to,Fa lse,customIcon)
else:
self.Add_Button(self.get_file_path(selection.data) ,Add_to,False)

@@ -676,7 +690,7 @@



- def Add_Button(self,selection,where,Init):
+ def Add_Button(self,selection,where,Init,customIcon=""):

PlaceName=PlaceComment=PlaceExec=PlaceIconName=Gen ericName=WhatWasDropped=""
FileExists=False
@@ -915,7 +929,11 @@

print PlaceName
PlaceExec = "nautilus "+ self.get_file_path(selection)
- PlaceIconName = "gnome-fs-directory"
+ if customIcon == "":
+ PlaceIconName = "gnome-fs-directory"
+ else:
+ PlaceIconName = customIcon
+
PlaceIcon = self.get_proper_icon(PlaceIconName,icon_size)

Button1 = gtk.Button(Button_Name,"ok",True)