[SOLVED] Why can't I add to the Startup Appications?

[extraspecialbitter2]

I've been trying to add conky and xscreensaver to my list of startup applications via the GUI. It appears to fairly straightforward:

startup_apps_screenshot_20200727.png

However, after selecting "Close", my additions disappear. I am running Ubuntu 20.04.

[Dennis N]

Try this to get xscreensaver going. Make a text file containing:

[Desktop Entry]
Type=Application
Name=X Screensaver
Comment=Use real screensavers
Icon=preferences-desktop-screensaver
Exec=xscreensaver -nosplash
NoDisplay=true

and save it as xscreensaver.desktop in ~/.config/autostart

Restart and it should start monitoring for inactivity upon login.

[monkeybrain20122]

This is yet another way that gnome devs make the desktop experience frustrating for users. In gnome shell you have go through the extra step to create a .desktop file for a command or a user script in order to make it autostart (see Dennis N's post above). I am using unity on 20.04 and all I have to do is type in the command in startup applications like before.

[ActionParsnip]

I've always done it this way. Works universally so doesn't matter the desktop environment. Do you have full access to the autostart folder as your user?

[extraspecialbitter2]

Try this to get xscreensaver going. Make a text file containing:

[Desktop Entry]
Type=Application
Name=X Screensaver
Comment=Use real screensavers
Icon=preferences-desktop-screensaver
Exec=xscreensaver -nosplash
NoDisplay=true

and save it as xscreensaver.desktop in ~/.config/autostart

Restart and it should start monitoring for inactivity upon login.

Thanks for the reply! At the moment, ~/.config/autostart is a flat file:

nitrogen --restore &
compton --config ~/.config/compton.conf &
lxpanel &
conky &

Given that conky is not being started up automatically, I'm guessing it's not being used, so I'm tempted to save it off somewhere and try out your suggestion.

[extraspecialbitter2]

I've always done it this way. Works universally so doesn't matter the desktop environment. Do you have full access to the autostart folder as your user?

I'm not sure what you mean by "autostart folder". I navigated to the "Startup Applications" icon on the "Activities" bar.

startup_apps_screenshot_20200728.jpg

[slickymaster]

Please do not post large images into your posts. Many of our users have slow internet connections and data limits. Large images can take a long time to load -- and may even cost a user extra money. Use the attachment functionality provided by the paperclip button above the text entry box.

[extraspecialbitter2]

Please do not post large images into your posts. Many of our users have slow internet connections and data limits. Large images can take a long time to load -- and may even cost a user extra money. Use the attachment functionality provided by the paperclip button above the text entry box.

Thanks for the guidance and for modifying my post accordingly.

[deadflowr]

At the moment, ~/.config/autostart is a flat file:

nitrogen --restore &
compton --config ~/.config/compton.conf &
lxpanel &
conky &

Given that conky is not being started up automatically, I'm guessing it's not being used, so I'm tempted to save it off somewhere and try out your suggestion.

Based on the image in the next post nothing in that file is running.

~/.config/autostart is a folder not a file, and needs to have .desktop file formatted files like Dennis N's example in order to utilize them.
Perhaps try making the folder and then see what happens.

[CatKiller]

At the moment, ~/.config/autostart is a flat file

I'm pretty sure it should be a directory with .desktop files in.