FreeDesktop is an informal standards body mostly (but not entirely) focused on graphical technologies of UNIX operating systems. The FreeDesktop website hosts both specifications and software.
Questions tagged [freedesktop]
94 questions
124
votes
6 answers
How to properly and easily configure `xdg-open` without any environment?
I'm using OpenBox window manager without any desktop environment.
xdg-open behaves strangely. It opens everything with firefox.
$ xdg-settings --list
Known properties:
default-web-browser Default web browser
I'm looking for a simple…
kravemir
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46
votes
3 answers
Why do some applications use ~/.config/appname for their config data while others use ~/.appname?
I've noticed that some applications put their configuration files to ~/.config/appname while others use ~/.appname (the classic way, AFAIK) for this. What's the sense in this distinction and what could be better to consider for an application of…
Ivan
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34
votes
1 answer
How does xdg-open do its work
According to the man page, xdg-open will open a file using the application the user has configured. But how is that application actually determined? I can see no config files associated with xdg-utils, so where are my settings stored and how can I…
MvG
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24
votes
4 answers
Is there an "open with" command for the command line?
Does the command line have a way to get a recommended list of programs used to open a particular file, based on the file type? For example, a .pdf file would have an open with... recommendation using the programs Evince and Document Viewer.
I use…
modulitos
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20
votes
2 answers
xdg-open default applications behavior
When I have no defaults.list and mimeapps.list, xdg-open opens text/plain with gvim. But when I create defaults.list in /usr/share/applications/ and add the following lines :
[Default Applications]
text/plain=emacs.desktop
it opens text files with…
Gradient
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19
votes
1 answer
How to validate/verify .desktop files?
I have a couple of .desktop files that aren't working as expected or not at all. I can't see any error anywhere and asking for help on each one seems unproductive. Is there a way I can verify that I'm using the correct syntax in the file, that it…
Braiam
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13
votes
2 answers
Drag-and-drop without the drag
I sometimes need to drag-and-drop files onto an application. (Example — but my question here is not installing Chrome userscripts.) One solution is to use Dragbox, which opens a window from which I can drag a file specified on the command line.
It's…
Gilles 'SO- stop being evil'
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12
votes
1 answer
How to change the default program for a chosen file type system-wide in kde or xfce?
I would like to have files of a chosen type (by their extension) to open with some specific programs. Which configuration files do I need to edit?
I've tried some in /usr/share/appplications/default.list but it doesn't work.
igor012
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11
votes
3 answers
How to utilize XDG directories and paths in Bash?
I wonder how to access not only the variables defined in ~/.config/user-dirs.dirs with xdg-user-dir, e.g. "$(xdg-user-dir VIDEOS)", but also the following standard…
Tim Friske
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11
votes
1 answer
Use M-C, M-V, M-A for Copy, Paste, Select All
I am using Kubuntu Linux 12.04 on a Macbook Pro, and I am seeking the ability to use the Command/Meta key for common shortcuts such as copy, paste, and select all.
Attempted solutions:
Remap Copy, Paste, Select All, and others in KDE's System…
Winston Green
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11
votes
2 answers
Gnome programs (eog/gnome-terminal) have a slow start and produce a DBus.Error.NoReply Warning
For some time, eog and gnome-terminal are starting very slowly on my (X)Ubuntu 13.10. I think other Gnome tools are affected too, but I don't use any others.
Now I get a org.freedesktop.DBus.Error.NoReply error every time gnome-terminal starts:
**…
polym
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10
votes
2 answers
How can I change the battery icon in the systray?
I have installed Gnome and Awesome window manager. The window manager has a panel that displays systray icons according to the freedesktop.org System Tray Protocol Specification. I'd like to change the icon of the battery in the system tray.
I…
Shawn J. Goff
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10
votes
2 answers
Find out the owner of a DBus service name
I can't find a way to find what program implements the org.freedesktop.Notifications service. Is it possible to ask DBus to tell me what program provides it?
The reason for asking this question is quite banal: I found a new desktop notifications…
Mael
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9
votes
5 answers
Why do freedesktop .desktop files not allow relative paths?
The .desktop files have become the de-facto standard to easily access applications on Linux desktops, with executables not being easily startable from the GUI otherwise and many launchers not using the app icon but only the icon specified in the…
Christian
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9
votes
6 answers
How to change Firefox icon shown on panel and menus?
I installed Firefox on Linux Mint Debian Edition with the Cinnamon desktop.
This Firefox package doesn't use the regular Firefox icon, with the fox curled around the world ; it has what I call the "orange eyeball" icon.
Is there a way to have…
user11583
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