11.04 timer-applet replacement?

**khughitt** · April 29th, 2011

Anyone know of a possible replacement for the Gnome timer applet?

**wujj123456** · May 1st, 2011

This is a really good app. I am not sure about Unity, but if you switch to ubuntu classic, which uses gnome 2, it's the same timer-applet. You can add timer from "Add to Panel".

Btw, I don't think you can add applets in Unity since it incorporates menus on top. Correct me if I am wrong. I will stick with classic gnome2 until unity gets more functionality.

**stinkeye** · May 5th, 2011

I searched for hours and couldn't find anything.
The only suitable thing I found was a script that outputs a count down to conky.

I managed to make a launcher, which uses the script, with presets that play a sound and send a notification when the timer is up.
You have to create a .desktop file and, install/setup conky.
It's a pretty long winded process to describe so if you can be bothered doing this
I will post how to.

**khughitt** · May 5th, 2011

Hmm. I already tend to use Conky, and have created .desktop files before to make things searchable in Gnome-Do/Dash, so I wouldn't mind so much. If you have the chance I would interested to see how you managed it

**stinkeye** · May 5th, 2011

Originally Posted by pwnedd

Hmm. I already tend to use Conky, and have created .desktop files before to make things searchable in Gnome-Do/Dash, so I wouldn't mind so much. If you have the chance I would interested to see how you managed it

I'm just on my way out.
I'll post the .desktop and countdown script and get back to you.

***Note***
The countdown script requires you have a ~/tmp folder.
Create a tmp folder in your home directory if you don't have one.
You need to install libnotify-bin for notify-send to work.
Remember to change all the paths and make the script executable.

Save this as countdown.sh and make executable.
Saving in ~/scripts makes it easier when changing the paths in ConkyTimer.desktop

Code:

#!/bin/bash
#
# countdown script 
# usage example: countdown.sh 00:10:00
# starts a 10min countdown and write the status to $COUNTDOWNFILE 
# (where conky is listening and displays the content in this setup)
#
# timer for teh perfect pizza
# 

  IFS=:
  OUTPUTFILE=$HOME/tmp/countdown
  COUNTDOWNSOUND=$HOME/Sounds/bell.wav
  
  time=$1
  if [ -z "$1" ]; then
    time=$(zenity --entry --text "How long?" --entry-text "00:00:00" --title "zeh countdowwn");
  fi

 
 
  if [ -n "$time" ] && [ "$time" != "00:00:00" ]; then
    set -- $time
    secs=$(( ${1#0} * 3600 + ${2#0} * 60 + ${3#0} ))
    while [ $secs -gt 0 ]
    do
      sleep 1 &
      printf "%02d:%02d:%02d\n" $((secs/3600)) $(( (secs/60)%60)) $((secs%60)) > $OUTPUTFILE
      secs=$(( $secs - 1 ))
      wait
    done
    echo "00:00:00" > $OUTPUTFILE
    notify-send -u critical -i /home/glen/Pictures/Bell.png "ConkyTimer" "Times Up" &
    aplay -q $COUNTDOWNSOUND
    rm $OUTPUTFILE  
    echo
  fi

Save this as ConkyTimer.desktop to your home folder.
To edit this file to show your own presets and correct paths, enter in the terminal gedit ~/ConkyTimer.desktop
Once edited drag and drop on the launcher.

Code:

#!/usr/bin/env xdg-open

[Desktop Entry]
Version=1.0
Type=Application
Terminal=false
Icon[en_US]=/home/glen/Pictures/Bell.png
Name[en_US]=ConkyTimer
Exec=/home/glen/scripts/countdown.sh
Name=ConkyTimer
Icon=/home/glen/Pictures/Bell.png

X-Ayatana-Desktop-Shortcuts=3 min;4 min;5 min;7 min;10 min;15 min;25 min;30 min;Stop Timer

[3 min Shortcut Group]
 Name=3 min
 Exec=/home/glen/scripts/countdown.sh 00:03:00
 TargetEnvironment=Unity

[4 min Shortcut Group]
 Name=4 min
 Exec=/home/glen/scripts/countdown.sh 00:04:00
 TargetEnvironment=Unity

[5 min Shortcut Group]
 Name=5 min
 Exec=/home/glen/scripts/countdown.sh 00:05:00
 TargetEnvironment=Unity

[7 min Shortcut Group]
 Name=7 min
 Exec=/home/glen/scripts/countdown.sh 00:07:00
 TargetEnvironment=Unity

[10 min Shortcut Group]
 Name=10 min
 Exec=/home/glen/scripts/countdown.sh 00:10:00
 TargetEnvironment=Unity

[15 min Shortcut Group]
 Name=15 min
 Exec=/home/glen/scripts/countdown.sh 00:15:00
 TargetEnvironment=Unity

[25 min Shortcut Group]
 Name=25 min
 Exec=/home/glen/scripts/countdown.sh 00:25:00
 TargetEnvironment=Unity

[30 min Shortcut Group]
 Name=30 min
 Exec=/home/glen/scripts/countdown.sh 00:30:00
 TargetEnvironment=Unity

[Stop Timer Shortcut Group]
 Name=Stop Timer
 Exec=bash -c "pkill countdown.sh & rm /home/glen/tmp/countdown & pkill aplay"
 TargetEnvironment=Unity

Clicking the launcher runs countdown.sh and you will get a popup
to input a countdown in the form of HH:MM:SS

Right clicking and choosing a preset runs countdown.sh HH:MM:SS
eg the 3 min preset runs countdown.sh 00:03:00

The line for conky (The timer only shows when running.ie ~/tmp/countdown exists)

Code:

${if_existing /home/glen/tmp/countdown}${voffset 2}${font StyleBats:size=10}${color2}o${voffset -2}${font LCDMono:bold:size=12} Timer: ${color yellow}${exec tail -n1 ~/tmp/countdown}${endif}

Goodluck

**stinkeye** · May 5th, 2011

Something else I just discovered.
If you use own_window_type override in your conky config
You can position it in a transparent panel.

conky config

Code:

####
## Use XFT? Required to Force UTF8 (see below).
#
use_xft yes
xftfont GE Inspira:bold:size=10
xftalpha 0.8
text_buffer_size 2048

####
## Force UTF8? Requires XFT (see above).
## Displays degree symbol, instead of Â°, etc.
#
override_utf8_locale yes

####
## Daemonize Conky, aka 'fork to background'.
#
background no

####
## Update interval in seconds.
#
update_interval 1.0

####
## This is the number of times Conky will update before quitting.
## Set to zero to run forever.
#
total_run_times 0

####
## Create own window instead of using desktop (required in nautilus)?
#
own_window yes
own_window_colour 0A0C1C
own_window_title conkytimer
own_window_type override
own_window_transparent yes
own_window_hints undecorated,above,sticky,skip_taskbar,skip_pager
default_color 2B367C
#own_window_argb_visual yes
#own_window_argb_value 180

####
## Use double buffering? Reduces flicker.
#
double_buffer yes

####
## Draw shades?
#
draw_shades no

####
## Draw outlines?
#
draw_outline no

####
## Draw borders around text?
#
draw_borders no
default_outline_color 7E88C4
####
## Draw borders around graphs?
#
draw_graph_borders no

####
## Print text to stdout?
## Print text in console?
#
out_to_ncurses no
out_to_console no

####
## Text alignment.
#
alignment tr

####
## Minimum size of text area.
#
minimum_size 100 0
maximum_width 250

####
## Gap between text and screen borders.
#
gap_x 400
gap_y 2

####
## Shorten MiB/GiB to M/G in stats.
#
short_units yes

####
## Pad % symbol spacing after numbers.
#
pad_percents 0

####
## Pad spacing between text and borders.
#
border_inner_margin 2

####
## Limit the length of names in "Top Processes".
#
top_name_width 10

####
## Subtract file system -/+buffers/cache from used memory?
## Set to yes, to produce meaningful physical memory stats.
#
no_buffers yes

####
## Set to yes, if you want all text to be in UPPERCASE.
#
uppercase no

####
## Number of cpu samples to average.
## Set to 1 to disable averaging.
#
cpu_avg_samples 2

####
## Number of net samples to average.
## Set to 1 to disable averaging.
#
net_avg_samples 2

####
## Add spaces to keep things from moving around?
## Only affects certain objects.
#
use_spacer right

####
## My colors (suit yourself).
#
color0 White
color1 Ivory
color2 Ivory2
color3 Ivory3
color4 Tan1
color5 Tan2
color6 Gray
color7 AntiqueWhite4
color8 DarkSlateGray
color9 Black



TEXT
${if_existing /home/glen/tmp/countdown}${voffset 2}${font StyleBats:bold:size=10}${color2}o${voffset -2}${font LCDMono2:bold:size=12} ${color yellow}${exec tail -n1 ~/tmp/countdown}${endif}

Change path.

LCDMono,StyleBats fonts and icon attached.