Understanding Acers XFCE4 Desktop

I like to keep certan config files well commented for future refrence, but alot of people seem to be struggling with addin icons to there default desktop.

So here is the main config file from /home/user/.config/xfce4/desktop/group-app.xml

Understanding this config, will make adding icons simpler in the future.
Remember these things.

Sequence is important, if 2 applications have the same seqence, you will see icon over icon on the panel.
Open any of the .desktop files modify it for your application (ill make post like this or maybe add it here) and remember to save it under a diffrent name ie. applicationname.desktop

Code:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>




<xfdesktop>
	<upperbutton>/usr/share/desktop-directories/upperbutton.desktop</upperbutton>
        <setting exec="">/usr/share/desktop-directories/Settings.directory</setting>
        <help exec="">/usr/share/desktop-directories/help.directory</help>
<group>
       <id>1</id>
       <sequence>0</sequence>
       <directory_file exec="" tag_background="/usr/share/backgrounds/images/home-blue-title.png">/usr/share/desktop-directories/Connect.directory</directory_file>
       <background_picture>/usr/share/backgrounds/images/blue-bk.png</background_picture>
       <app is_arrow="1" name="" sequence="3">/usr/share/applications/blue-more.desktop</app>
</group>
  <group>
       <id>2</id>
       <sequence>1</sequence>
       <directory_file exec="" tag_background="/usr/share/backgrounds/images/home-orange-title.png">/usr/share/desktop-directories/Works.directory</directory_file>
       <background_picture>/usr/share/backgrounds/images/orange-bk.png</background_picture>
	 <app is_arrow="1" name="" sequence="3">/usr/share/applications/orange-more.desktop</app>
 </group> 
  <group>
       <id>3</id>
       <sequence>2</sequence>
       <directory_file exec="" tag_background="/usr/share/backgrounds/images/home-yellow-title.png">/usr/share/desktop-directories/Fun.directory</directory_file>
       <background_picture>/usr/share/backgrounds/images/yellow-bk.png</background_picture>
	 <app is_arrow="1" name="" sequence="3">/usr/share/applications/yellow-more.desktop</app>
        
</group>  

 <group>
	 <id>4</id>
	 <sequence>3</sequence>
       <directory_file exec="" tag_background="/usr/share/backgrounds/images/home-green-title.png">/usr/share/desktop-directories/Files.directory</directory_file>
	 <background_picture>/usr/share/backgrounds/images/green-bk.png</background_picture>
	 <app is_arrow="1" name="" sequence="3">/usr/share/applications/green-more.desktop</app>
 </group> 



<group>
       <id>5</id>
       <sequence>4</sequence>
       <directory_file exec="" tag_background="/usr/share/backgrounds/images/blue-bk-title.png">/usr/share/desktop-directories/Connect.directory</directory_file>
       <background_picture>/usr/share/backgrounds/images/blue-bk-large.png</background_picture>
	 <app is_arrow="1" name="" sequence="0">/usr/share/applications/blue-back.desktop</app>
	 <app sequence="3" acs="email">/usr/share/applications/AME.desktop</app>
         <app sequence="2" acs="im">/usr/share/applications/acerim.desktop</app>
         <app sequence="1">/usr/share/applications/linpus-web.desktop</app>
         <app sequence="4">/usr/share/applications/acerrss.desktop</app>
      	 <app sequence="6">/usr/share/applications/edesktop/googlemap.desktop</app>
	 <app sequence="5">/usr/share/applications/edesktop/wikipedia.desktop</app>
	 <app sequence="8">/usr/share/applications/edesktop/webmail.desktop</app>
</group>
<!-- Panel Key
Sequence	Command						Actual Application Launched
   0		Not Used					Controller for the BLUE Expansion Arrow [Do Not Modify]
   1		linpus-web.desktop				Firefox Browser Service
   2		acerim.desktop					Acer Instant Messenger
   3		AME.desktop					Acer One Email
   4		acerrss.desktop					Acer RSS Feeder
   5		wikipedia.desktop				Wiki Pedia Lookup Service
   6		googlemap.desktop				Google Maps
   7		Not Used					Not Used
   8		webmail.desktop					Hotmail Webmail
END PANEL KEY -->




  <group>
       <id>6</id>
       <sequence>5</sequence>
       <directory_file exec="" tag_background="/usr/share/backgrounds/images/orange-bk-title.png">/usr/share/desktop-directories/Works.directory</directory_file>
       <background_picture>/usr/share/backgrounds/images/orange-bk-large.png</background_picture>
         
        <app is_arrow="1" name="" sequence="0">/usr/share/applications/orange-back.desktop</app>
	<app sequence="1">/usr/share/applications/openoffice.org-1.9-writer.desktop</app>
	<app sequence="2">/usr/share/applications/openoffice.org-1.9-calc.desktop</app>
	 <app sequence="3">/usr/share/applications/openoffice.org-1.9-impress.desktop</app>
	 <app sequence="4">/usr/share/applications/acercalendar.desktop</app>
	 <app sequence="5">/usr/share/applications/acercontact.desktop</app>
	 <app sequence="6">/usr/share/applications/galculator.desktop</app>			 
	 <app sequence="8">/usr/share/applications/xpad.desktop</app>			 
</group>
<!-- Panel Key
Sequence	Command						Actual Application Launched
   0		Not Used					Panel Arrow Icon
   1		openoffice.org-1.9-writer.desktop		Open Office Writer
   2		openoffice.orf-1.9-calc.desktop			Open Office Spreadsheet?
   3		openoffice.org-1.9-impress.desktop		Unknown
   4		acercalendar.desktop				Acer Calander
   5		acercontact.desktop				Acer Contacts
   6		galculator.desktop				Calculator
   7		Not Uned					Not Used
   8		xpad.desktop					Notepad?
END PANEL KEY -->




  <group>
       <id>7</id>
       <sequence>6</sequence>
       <directory_file exec="" tag_background="/usr/share/backgrounds/images/yellow-bk-title.png">/usr/share/desktop-directories/Fun.directory</directory_file>
       <background_picture>/usr/share/backgrounds/images/yellow-bk-large.png</background_picture>
	 <app is_arrow="1" name="" sequence="0">/usr/share/applications/yellow-back.desktop</app>
         <app sequence="1">/usr/share/applications/pcmmvp.desktop</app>
         <app sequence="2">/usr/share/applications/pcmphoto.desktop</app>
	 <dir sequence="3" dir_id="1">/usr/share/desktop-directories/Games.directory</dir>
	 <app sequence="4">/usr/share/applications/ucview.desktop</app>
         <app sequence="5">/usr/share/applications/kolourpaint.desktop</app>
</group>
<!-- Panel Key
Sequence	Command						Actual Application Launched
   0		Not Used					Panel Arrow
   1		pcmvp.desktop					Media Master
   2		pcmphoto.desktop				Photo Manager
   3		Games.directory					DIRECTORY Of Games
   4		ucview.desktop					Webcam
   5		kolourpaint.desktop				Paint 
   6
   7
   8
END PANEL KEY -->



 <group>
	 <id>8</id>
	 <sequence>7</sequence>
       <directory_file exec="" tag_background="/usr/share/backgrounds/images/green-bk-title.png">/usr/share/desktop-directories/Files.directory</directory_file>
	 <background_picture>/usr/share/backgrounds/images/green-bk-large.png</background_picture>
	 <app is_arrow="1" name="" sequence="0">/usr/share/applications/green-back.desktop</app>
	 <app sequence="1">/usr/share/applications/Document.desktop</app>
	 <app sequence="3">/usr/share/applications/Picture.desktop</app>
	 <app sequence="2">/usr/share/applications/Music.desktop</app>
	 <app sequence="4">/usr/share/applications/Video.desktop</app>
	 <app sequence="5">/usr/share/applications/Download.desktop</app>
         <app sequence="6">/usr/share/applications/Thunar.desktop</app>
	 
 </group> 
<!-- Panel Key
Sequence	Command						Actual Application Launched
   0		Not Used					Panel Arrow
   1		Document.desktop				Open My Documents
   2		Picture.desktop					Open My Pictures
   3		Music.directory					Open My Music
   4		Video.desktop					Open My Video
   5		Downloads.desktop				Open Downloads
   6		Thunar.desktop					Open Desktop
   7
   8
END PANEL KEY -->



  <group>
	    <id>9</id>
	    <sequence>8</sequence>
       <directory_file exec="" icon="" tag_background="/usr/share/backgrounds/images/gray-bk-title.png">/usr/share/desktop-directories/Settings.directory</directory_file>
    	<background_picture>/usr/share/backgrounds/images/gray-bk-large.png</background_picture>
         <app is_arrow="1" name="" sequence="0">/usr/share/applications/settings-back.desktop</app>
         <app sequence="8">/usr/share/applications/gsynaptics.desktop</app>
         <app sequence="6">/usr/share/applications/system-config-date.desktop</app>
         <app sequence="10">/usr/share/applications/linpus-printconf-gui.desktop</app>
         <app sequence="1">/usr/share/applications/xfce-display-settings.desktop</app>
         <app sequence="5">/usr/share/applications/sysinfo.desktop</app>
	 <app sequence="9">/usr/share/applications/onlineupdate.desktop</app>
	 <app sequence="12">/usr/share/applications/redhat-userpasswd.desktop</app>
	 <app sequence="3">/usr/share/applications/networkcenter.desktop</app>
	 <app sequence="4">/usr/share/applications/audio.desktop</app>
	 <app sequence="2">/usr/share/applications/powercenter.desktop</app>
	 <app sequence="11">/usr/share/applications/linpus-scim-setup.desktop</app>
  </group>
<!-- Panel Key
Sequence	Command						Actual Application Launched
   0		Not Used					Panel Arrow
   1		xfce-display-settings.desktop			Display Settings
   2		powercenter.desktop				Power Manager
   3		networkcenter.desktop				Network Manager
   4		audio.desktop					Audio Manager
   5		sysinfo.desktop					System Information
   6		system-config-date.desktop			Time and Date Settings
   7		Not Used
   8		gsynaptics.desktop				Synaptic Touchpad Manager
   9		onlineupdate.desktop				System Update
   10		linpus-printconf-gui.desktop			Printer Manager
   11		linpus-scim-setup.desktop			SCIM Management
   12		redhat-userpasswd.desktop			Pasword Management
END PANEL KEY -->





<dir id="1" parent_dir_id="0">
	<directory_file exec="" tag_background="/usr/share/backgrounds/images/yellow-bk-title.png">/usr/share/desktop-directories/FunGames.directory</directory_file>
       <background_picture>/usr/share/backgrounds/images/yellow-bk-large-games.png</background_picture>
        <app is_arrow="1" name="" sequence="0">/usr/share/applications/yellow-back.desktop</app>
        <app sequence="1">/usr/share/applications/ltris.desktop</app>
	<app sequence="2">/usr/share/applications/linpus-frozen-bubble.desktop</app>
	<app sequence="3">/usr/share/applications/tuxpuck.desktop</app>
	<app sequence="4">/usr/share/applications/llk_linux.desktop</app>
	<app sequence="5">/usr/share/applications/supertux.desktop</app>
	<app sequence="6">/usr/share/applications/bubbleshooter.desktop</app>
	<app sequence="8">/usr/share/applications/ButterFlight.desktop</app>
	<app sequence="9">/usr/share/applications/snooker.desktop</app>
	<app sequence="10">/usr/share/applications/checkers.desktop</app>
	<app sequence="11">/usr/share/applications/mahjong.desktop</app>
	<app sequence="12">/usr/share/applications/volleyballey.desktop</app>
</dir>
<!-- Panel Key
Sequence	Command					Actual Application Launched
   0		Not Used				Panel Arrow
   1		ltris.desktop				Tetris
   2		linpus-frozen-bubble.desktop		Frozen Bubble
   3		tuxpuk.desktop				Tuz Puk
   4		llk-linux.desktop			
   5		supertux.desktop			
   6		bubbleshooter.desktop			
   7		Not Used
   8		butterflight.desktop			
   9		snooker.desktop				
   10		checkers.desktop			
   11		mahjong.desktop				
   12		vollyball.desktop			
END PANEL KEY -->

</xfdesktop> 

Example .desktop file.

To add icons to the panel you need to create a desktop file for it this is actually simple
[Desktop Entry]
Encoding=UTF-8
Type=Application
Name=Volleyballey <Application Name>
Exec=/usr/share/games/VOLLEYBALLEY/volleyball < Command to Execute
Comment=Volleyballey Game. <Edit the Comment
MimeTypes=
Icon=vb.png <icon name or location

now save it (I use /home/user/.xfce-desktop (you will have to create it) so ive saved it as /home/user/.xfce-desktop/vollyball.game.desktop

now i add the following line to the main config
Remember to make adjust the sequence <app sequence="12">/usr/share/applications/volleyballey.desktop</app>

in the sequence i should point out there the order displayed, put simple, 1 2 & 3 are the first 3 icons so on and so forth

Hope this helps you understand the xfce4 desktop

 

Hi Monaro, your group-app.xml seems to be structured as per the initial release of the system.
i.e. Arrow = seq 0 with applications sequencing from 1..6 (and NOT 7) 8...

When I last did a live update (16/10/08) they had changed these conventions.
When I reinstalled my modified group-app, I had to change the app sequences to begin at 0,
NOT omit 7 and use (say) -10 for the arrow. I guess they were eradicating a bug.

Subsequently I downloaded some updates from the Acer.com site (filezilla.sh.zip etc) and,
when run, they successfully appended the app icons to my group-app (amazingly)

When was your last liveupdate ? have you not had any problems with that of the 16/10 ?
Regards
bjc

 

Hi BJC,

Unfortunatly i refuse to use the acer live update system, i find it incredibly badly constructed, however your oberservations are correct, at least to some extent, i update my system with only the packages i want.

I will crack out my spare AAO and use the live update feature and report back at the earliest, i appolagise to all if this creates confustion please bear with me.

Please note, this wasnt ment to be a guide as such, simply a well broken down (IE Commented) Version of the desktop configuration, When i release the latest version of this i will do so in this post, by modifying it, ill call it The BJC Update V1.02 so thanks to BJC for bringing this to my attention!

Cheers

Mark

 

Thanks Mark but, on the basis of prior work, credit should go to "Deskdata"
viewtopic.php?f=48&t=3947#p27882

The applications on the Acer site seem well worth the live update though
Cheers bjc