• kBang
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Topic: 8.10.02 Fresh Install: Desktop dir issue

I installed 8.10.02 twice, for reasons not important to this issue.

Each of these installations had the same issue:  Desktop directory is not created in the User's Home directory (/home/username/Desktop does not exist).

In pcmanfm the directory is default displayed in the pane view, selecting it will result in the selection returning to the base user directory.  Creating the Desktop directory under /home/username will not allow the use of pcmanfm's pane display of the Desktop dir.

Not sure if this is a personal anomaly or if this is a bug with the latest version.  Any tip on how to get the pane view Desktop to the newly created user Desktop directory?

Last edited by kBang (2009-01-21 06:46:50)

I view KDE like I view snow. It looks fun and marvelous, it's fun to play in, but after a while I just want someone to take it all away.
  • From: Ashdown, AR
  • Registered: 2009-01-10
  • Posts: 190

Re: 8.10.02 Fresh Install: Desktop dir issue

Do you have XDG_DESKTOP_DIR="$HOME/" set to XDG_DESKTOP_DIR="$HOME/Desktop" in ~/.config/user-dirs.dirs

I don't use pcman, or the new version, but a fresh install of lite 0.1 doesn't have a desktop.  It points Desktop to your home dir instead.

.files
dnyy in IRC & Urban Terror
  • kBang
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Re: 8.10.02 Fresh Install: Desktop dir issue

dannytatom wrote:

Do you have XDG_DESKTOP_DIR="$HOME/" set to XDG_DESKTOP_DIR="$HOME/Desktop" in ~/.config/user-dirs.dirs

I don't use pcman, or the new version, but a fresh install of lite 0.1 doesn't have a desktop.  It points Desktop to your home dir instead.

I knew there was a reason "we" kept you living on nicotine and caffeine!  tongue

Thanks, wasn't sure where to find that setting, and yes that resolved the "issue".  However, in .01 (I thought, maybe I missed an update?)  my Desktop directory functioned normally.  In any event either this is a bug OR if it is intended to have no Desktop directory (intended by Philip) perhaps that pane view directory should be removed from the display?  One or the other is wrong, IMO.

Desktop surely isn't a necessary directory, but I got used to using it to keep my user directory free of download packrititis.:D

Last edited by kBang (2009-01-21 06:58:32)

I view KDE like I view snow. It looks fun and marvelous, it's fun to play in, but after a while I just want someone to take it all away.
  • From: Ashdown, AR
  • Registered: 2009-01-10
  • Posts: 190

Re: 8.10.02 Fresh Install: Desktop dir issue

kBang wrote:
dannytatom wrote:

Do you have XDG_DESKTOP_DIR="$HOME/" set to XDG_DESKTOP_DIR="$HOME/Desktop" in ~/.config/user-dirs.dirs

I don't use pcman, or the new version, but a fresh install of lite 0.1 doesn't have a desktop.  It points Desktop to your home dir instead.

I knew there was a reason "we" kept you living on nicotine and caffeine!  tongue

Hahaha, finally someone appreciates the hard life of caffeine & cigarettes!

kBang wrote:

However, in .01 (I thought, maybe I missed an update?)  my Desktop directory functioned normally.  In any event either this is a bug OR if it is intended to have no Desktop directory (intended by Philip).

Lite .01 didn't have a Desktop directory, and I'm almost certain it's intended.  I'm guessing he decided to ditch it in every version this time.  I think the idea is that there's not an actual "desktop" for files to go, so a /downloads directory would do just as good without the confusion.

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dnyy in IRC & Urban Terror
  • kBang
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Re: 8.10.02 Fresh Install: Desktop dir issue

I agree "Desktop" isn't necessary, it's a crutch for windows users to have an easier time adjusting to Linux.  Downloads is obviously fine.

I don't use lite, and in the latest version pcmanfm is the default file manager (and I prefer it to others, myself, so normally I used that in previous #! systems I had).

In the future I guess the fix is to remove the "Desktop" directory displayed in pcmanfm's pane view.

Last edited by kBang (2009-01-21 07:15:21)

I view KDE like I view snow. It looks fun and marvelous, it's fun to play in, but after a while I just want someone to take it all away.
  • From: Ashdown, AR
  • Registered: 2009-01-10
  • Posts: 190

Re: 8.10.02 Fresh Install: Desktop dir issue

Hm, PCMan says here that if the Desktop directory doesn't exist in the user-dirs.dirs or in the home folder, it'll disable it in the side pane.  Unless I'm reading it wrong.

.files
dnyy in IRC & Urban Terror
  • kBang
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Re: 8.10.02 Fresh Install: Desktop dir issue

dannytatom wrote:

Hm, PCMan says here that if the Desktop directory doesn't exist in the user-dirs.dirs or in the home folder, it'll disable it in the side pane.  Unless I'm reading it wrong.

PCMan wrote:

* Correctly handle desktop directory in the side pane. (Get the path of desktop directory from ~/.config/user-dirs.dirs. Hide the item if the directory didn't exist.)

You are correct, however it fails to do this in the current version of #!.  It's to late for me to check what version is included, etc., so I will go to bed assuming it is a "bug" or an intended feature that didn't make it in to that last release.

I view KDE like I view snow. It looks fun and marvelous, it's fun to play in, but after a while I just want someone to take it all away.
  • From: Ashdown, AR
  • Registered: 2009-01-10
  • Posts: 190

Re: 8.10.02 Fresh Install: Desktop dir issue

Hm, the version in the repos is a few versions newer than the one the post is referring to.  I installed it and gave it a go, and like you said, it's still there.

Philip might have to look into this one.

.files
dnyy in IRC & Urban Terror
  • From: Lincoln, UK
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Re: 8.10.02 Fresh Install: Desktop dir issue

Hello guys smile

Just to clarify, yes it is intended that there be no "Desktop" directory by default, and no it is not intended that the "Desktop" menu item appear in the side-pane of PCManFM. Thank you for spotting this, I have put it on my todo list as something to look into. smile

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  • kBang
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Re: 8.10.02 Fresh Install: Desktop dir issue

As root, pcmanfm does NOT display the "Desktop" dir in the pane view.  Hrm...

I view KDE like I view snow. It looks fun and marvelous, it's fun to play in, but after a while I just want someone to take it all away.
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Re: 8.10.02 Fresh Install: Desktop dir issue

Nothing wrong I guess with having no Desktop directory...
But since the Firefox browser default download location is the desktop, where does the downloaded files go?

Edit: I am not at my crunchbang laptop to check... wink

Last edited by Cope57 (2009-01-21 17:11:07)

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  • kBang
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Re: 8.10.02 Fresh Install: Desktop dir issue

I would expect, since Firefox in 8.10.02 is set to it's general download default directory of /home/username/Desktop, it would default to downloading files to /home/username.

I view KDE like I view snow. It looks fun and marvelous, it's fun to play in, but after a while I just want someone to take it all away.
  • From: Lincoln, UK
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Re: 8.10.02 Fresh Install: Desktop dir issue

Cope57 wrote:

Nothing wrong I guess with having no Desktop directory...
But since the Firefox browser default download location is the desktop, where does the downloaded files go?

Edit: I am not at my crunchbang laptop to check... wink

I believe Firefox will create the "Desktop" when you attempt to download a file, unless you have manually changed the download directory preference. I am not sure if this is something that can be changed without having to repackage Firefox. Thank you for raising this, I will look into it.

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  • From: California, USA
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Re: 8.10.02 Fresh Install: Desktop dir issue

Im using Thunar and when I right-click an item there is a "Send To" menu with an item "Desktop (Create link)".

Since there is no desktop, I assume it does nothing?

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  • Registered: 2008-12-31
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Re: 8.10.02 Fresh Install: Desktop dir issue

I would think that it makes a link to your Desktop folder (~/Desktop).
Just because the desktop can't display the files it has, doesn't mean that the link isn't created. After all, it's just a file.

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  • From: California, USA
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Re: 8.10.02 Fresh Install: Desktop dir issue

Well I decided to test it; Thunar will only create the links if the Desktop folder exists.

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  • skwid
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Re: 8.10.02 Fresh Install: Desktop dir issue

I am having the same problem but it's no big deal.  Weird though.