There are several apps (amarok, skype, gaim, knotes, etc ) on my SUSE10 installation that "autostart" but none of them are in my .kde/Autostart directory. Rather, they are in the "system tray". I have been able to find ONE TINY SPACE on the panel/kicker that allows me to get to the "configure system tray" menu item, but that appears to only allow hide/show of current icons. I browsed the help system and the user manual, without finding what I am looking for. And a google provided really only a couple developer discussions .... So, my questions: 1) how does one add-remove items from the "system tray"? 2)WHY would one autostart an app from the "system tray" instead of putting a shortcut into .kde/Autostart? thnx! Peter -- A standing military force, with an overgrown Executive will not long be safe companions to liberty. The means of defence agst. foreign danger, have been always the instruments of tyranny at home. Among the Romans it was a standing maxim to excite a war, whenever a revolt was apprehended. Throughout all Europe, the armies kept up under the pretext of defending, have enslaved the people. James Madison Constitutional Convention (June 29, 1787)
On Saturday 20 May 2006 16:30, Peter Van Lone wrote:
There are several apps (amarok, skype, gaim, knotes, etc ) on my SUSE10 installation that "autostart" but none of them are in my .kde/Autostart directory.
Rather, they are in the "system tray".
I have been able to find ONE TINY SPACE on the panel/kicker that allows me to get to the "configure system tray" menu item, but that appears to only allow hide/show of current icons. I browsed the help system and the user manual, without finding what I am looking for. And a google provided really only a couple developer discussions ....
So, my questions:
1) how does one add-remove items from the "system tray"?
Usually by a right-click on its systemtray icon, followed by a click on 'Quit'.
2)WHY would one autostart an app from the "system tray" instead of putting a shortcut into .kde/Autostart?
That depends on the application. Some applications settle themselves automatically in the systemtray (e.g. KMix, KRandr), others have an option in their configuration (Settings dialog) to enable embedding in the systemtray (Amarok, KMail, Kaffeine). And there is another "proggy" whose name I forgot, that can embed any other application in the systemtray. BTW, systemtray and autostart are two different things. If an application cannot be 'autostarted' by itself (e.g. by embedding it in the system tray), then I would use the Autostart folder. Cheers, Leen
On 5/20/06, Leendert Meyer
1) how does one add-remove items from the "system tray"?
Usually by a right-click on its systemtray icon, followed by a click on 'Quit'.
well I think that just "hides" the app -- it is still in the system tray. And that does not address ADDING something to the tray.
2)WHY would one autostart an app from the "system tray" instead of putting a shortcut into .kde/Autostart?
That depends on the application. Some applications settle themselves automatically in the systemtray (e.g. KMix, KRandr), others have an option in their configuration (Settings dialog) to enable embedding in the systemtray (Amarok, KMail, Kaffeine). And there is another "proggy" whose name I forgot, that can embed any other application in the systemtray.
BTW, systemtray and autostart are two different things.
If an application cannot be 'autostarted' by itself (e.g. by embedding it in the system tray), then I would use the Autostart folder.
AHH -- I think I get it. You are saying that, a program needs to be "designed" to go into the system tray. If it is not, then you don't want to drag or otherwise move to the system tray, because it does not understand it. Is that right? So ... if an application shows up there, it is because it was designed to do so, and I can choose to hide it (or if it's config menu give me the choice, to remove it) from the system tray. But I can't add stuff myself. Every regular "user app" that I want to have autostart in KDE, I should add a link to it in .kde/Autostart. Correct? Finally ... do even "terminal" kinds of applications go into "Autostart"? Basically anything that I want to have running automagically AS ME and not as root or some other user, should be started from Autostart? Peter
On Saturday 20 May 2006 16:57, Peter Van Lone wrote:
On 5/20/06, Leendert Meyer
wrote: 1) how does one add-remove items from the "system tray"?
Usually by a right-click on its systemtray icon, followed by a click on 'Quit'.
well I think that just "hides" the app -- it is still in the system tray.
I think you're wrong. But you can find that out by yourself: Stop a systemtray app like I described. Start KDE System Guard (<Ctrl>-<Esc>) and check if the process is still running. If it is, it is hidden. If it isn't, you have stopped it. I bet it's the latter. OTOH, clicking the "Close" button usually hides the app (KMail, Kaffeine), if the app's window is open (how would you otherwise click the close button ;P).
And that does not address ADDING something to the tray.
Yes, I missed that one here.
2)WHY would one autostart an app from the "system tray" instead of putting a shortcut into .kde/Autostart?
That depends on the application. Some applications settle themselves automatically in the systemtray (e.g. KMix, KRandr), others have an option in their configuration (Settings dialog) to enable embedding in the systemtray (Amarok, KMail, Kaffeine). And there is another "proggy" whose name I forgot, that can embed any other application in the systemtray.
BTW, systemtray and autostart are two different things.
If an application cannot be 'autostarted' by itself (e.g. by embedding it in the system tray), then I would use the Autostart folder.
AHH -- I think I get it. You are saying that, a program needs to be "designed" to go into the system tray. If it is not, then you don't want to drag or otherwise move to the system tray, because it does not understand it. Is that right?
I don't know about dragging; besides that: yes.
So ... if an application shows up there, it is because it was designed to do so, and I can choose to hide it (or if it's config menu give me
hide = close
the choice, to remove it) from the system tray. But I can't add stuff myself.
Every regular "user app" that I want to have autostart in KDE, I should add a link to it in .kde/Autostart. Correct?
In theory, yes. I'm not sure what happens with e.g. KMix the second time you log in. BTW, there is also something called 'session management'. That means if you leave e.g. Konqueror open when you log out, then Konqueror starts again when you log in, pointing to the same web page. Most, if not all, KDE applications behave that way. If you have an unsaved file open in Kate of KWrite, and you choose to disregard it, the same file will open again if you login, just as you left it when you logged out.
Finally ... do even "terminal" kinds of applications go into "Autostart"?
Try this by yourself: ---------- #! /bin/bash echo 'I am running' echo 'I did run' >> $HOME/did_i_run.txt ---------- Put this little proggy in your Autostart directory as e.g. 'proggy.sh', and do chmod +x proggy.sh to make it executable. It will create a small file in your home dir. You will not see the output of the first echo. The proof of that it actually did run is in the file $HOME/did_i_run.txt.
Basically anything that I want to have running automagically AS ME and not as root or some other user, should be started from Autostart?
Yes. Cheers, Leen
Op za, 20-05-2006 te 09:30 -0500, schreef Peter Van Lone:
2)WHY would one autostart an app from the "system tray" instead of putting a shortcut into .kde/Autostart?
If i set a program to autostart in GNOME (sessions) that program is also autostarted in KDE. This is something new i think. I gues there is some new place where KDE and GNOME look for programs to be autostarted, but i haven't found it yet. Chris Maaskant.
participants (3)
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Chris Maaskant
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Leendert Meyer
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Peter Van Lone