Customizable main programs menu

[regularguy]

Is there a flavor of Ubuntu that allows:

• List menu in custom order (Lubuntu LXQt desktop doesn't allow non-alphabetical menu sorting)
• Programs launched from the desktop
• (optional) drag and drop

Gnome flashback worked just fine but Ubuntu 20.04 doesn't seem to let you use the desktop for anything but looking at your wallpaper. Thanks in advance for any suggestions.

[halogen2]

Is there a flavor of Ubuntu that allows:

• List menu in custom order (Lubuntu LXQt desktop doesn't allow non-alphabetical menu sorting)
• Programs launched from the desktop

Xubuntu can do both of these.

• (optional) drag and drop

what do you mean? to drag what and drop it onto what to accomplish what?

[ml9104]

The second two points are no problem.
Drag 'n drop: just open the application menu and drag the program icon onto the desktop. If the icon has an exclamation point, right click on it and tick "Trust this executable". Then it's active.
Yuo can also drag 'n drop to the taskbar if you like.

[regularguy]

"Drag 'n drop: just open the application menu and drag the program icon onto the desktop."

Doesn't seem to work in Ubuntu 20.04, although does work for other flavors as far as I know.

You can also drag 'n drop to the taskbar if you like.

Doesn't seem to work in Lubuntu, may be another flavor though. Thanks for the info.

Xubuntu can do both of these.

Thanks. (Can the whisker menu be changed into a plain list menu?)

what do you mean? to drag what and drop it onto what to accomplish what?

Drag a menu item to where ever I want it to go in the menu (unsorted). Drag a Firefox address to the desktop to have a link to a website. To accomplish not having to write a .desktop file for every link and so I don't have to use Alacarte or MenuLibre for editing menus.

[ml9104]

You talk about Ubuntu and then about Lubuntu. Could you make up your mind, please?

[halogen2]

Thanks. (Can the whisker menu be changed into a plain list menu?)

You can remove the Whisker menu and instead add an Applications Menu.

Drag a Firefox address to the desktop to have a link to a website.

Looks like this one can be done in Xubuntu.

[regularguy]

You talk about Ubuntu and then about Lubuntu. Could you make up your mind, please?

I was wondering which flavor (Ubuntu, Kubuntu, Xubuntu, Edubuntu, Lubuntu, ect.) had the features I was looking for so that I could make up my mind. Sorry for any confusion.

Looks like this one can be done in Xubuntu.

Can confirm, easy to drag and drop URL's directly from firefox to desktop in Xubuntu. Thanks.

I did have trouble placing things in non-aplabetical order though in Xubuntu:

Maby I'm just doing it wrong?

[halogen2]

I did have trouble placing things in non-aplabetical order though in Xubuntu:

I find alacarte usually easier to use and makes cleaner menu files than Menulibre. I can place the categories and launchers in Xubuntu in a custom order using either alacarte or Menulibre. The edits take effect right away both in Applications Menu and in Whisker menu.

In Menulibre in your screenshot, are you creating valid launchers for actually installed executables? Seems it's finicky about that.

[regularguy]

Although I didn't change the icon and filename to mach, those were all valid Firefox launchers. I don't think being in a live session would prevent it from working. I'll do some more experimenting and see if I can get it to work...

Edit: Got it to work, thanks for all your suggestions.