Silly request - applications centred at launch

[zaklinux]

This may seem trivial, but I was wondering if anyone knew how to get applications (like Firefox) to launch in the middle / centre of the screen / desktop as opposed to tacked to a corner.

Thanks

[niteshifter]

Hi,

No, not trivial. A principle point of FOSS is control belongs with the user, not some suit in a cube ;) FF state information is contained a file located at ~/.mozilla/firefox/XXXXXXX.default/localstore.rdf where XXXXXXX will be some sequence of random characters.

In that file look for this section:

<RDF:Description RDF:about="chrome://browser/content/browser.xul#main-window"
sizemode="normal"
width="1044"
height="798"
screenY="52"
screenX="4" />


Change your positions and sizes there.
Important: Backup the file first and do not have FF open while
editing it.

Edited again: Wow, that'll teach me ... I pulled the above from my notes from when I ran Edgy, sans compiz. I just tried it on Gutsy with compiz - no joy. Methinks FF gets placed by compiz? As this entry does get updated by FF when it's manually moved yet stubbonly insists on far left top corner on FF start.

[zaklinux]

Awesome thanks, but what does ~ mean?

[ConMan318]

Awesome thanks, but what does ~ mean?

It's short for your home directory, just a shortcut.



home/yourname/directory = ~/directory

[Grishka]

run ccsm and check the options in "place windows" plugin.

[Anduu]

This has been a long standing point of contention between the Gnome devs and the app devs since time began.

The app devs believe it is the window manager's job to set/remember the placement of app windows while the Gnome devs believe otherwise.

[niteshifter]

Hi,


This has been a long standing point of contention between the Gnome devs and the app devs since time began.

The app devs believe it is the window manager's job to set/remember the placement of app windows while the Gnome devs believe otherwise.

I think they're both correct: It's someone else's job. Which means, of course, that we need a windows registry :twisted:

<ducking, running>

To recap for anyone following this thread:

Use the technique I posted if you don't use compiz (or similar?)
Use Griska's method if you do run compiz (ccsm, aka System/Preferences/Advanced Desktop Effects Settings)

[kpkeerthi]

And there is also Window Manager and Application independent way of controlling the window attributes: devilspie & wmctrl

https://help.ubuntu.com/community/Devilspie
http://ubuntu-tutorials.com/2007/07/25/how-to-set-default-workspace-size-and-window-effects-in-gnome/
http://burtonini.com/blog/computers/devilspie
(wmctrl) http://www.linux.com/feature/122471?theme=print