Linux:config:desktop

From Linux How-To Repository

1 Modifying Nautilus' "Open with" Menu List
2 Putting Icons on the Desktop
3 Menu Transparency Using Compiz
4 Conky

Modifying Nautilus' "Open with" Menu List

When you right click on a file icon, you get an "Open with" list for the file type. If you want to add a program to the list, it's simple:

  Right click > Properties > Add > Filename > Add

These menu items are controlled by these files:

  /usr/share/applications/defaults.list
  /usr/share/applications/mimeinfo.cache

Each line in defaults.list contains a desktop file followed by a mimetype. For example, the line

  text/plain=gedit.desktop

shows that Gedit is the preferred application for text files. Each line in mimeinfo.cache contains a desktop file followed by a list of mimetypes. For example, this line shows what would be listed to open gif files.

  image/gif=gthumb.desktop;gimp-2.2.desktop;gnome-eog.desktop;

At the user level there are parallel files

  ~/.local/applications/defaults.list
  ~/.local/applications/mimeinfo.cache

These may have to be created.

Gnome constructs the mimeinfo.cache file by processing the mimetypes found in the desktop files. It comes with a pre-built system-wide defaults.list. Here is the list of MIMEs and associated applications (for all users):

   /etc/gnome/defaults.list

The best way to remove application from "Open with" is to edit corresponding application.desktop and remove the MIME from the MimeType section. And after that do this:

   sudo update-desktop-database

The update does a rebuild of application associations.

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Putting Icons on the Desktop

Controlling what icons appear on the desktop can be done through this program:

  Applications > System Tools > Configuration Editor

To change desktop icons, go to this section:

   apps > nautilus > desktop

It's all straight forward. You can manually change your splash screen and background and things like that the config editor.

   apps > gnome-session > options >  splash_image

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Menu Transparency Using Compiz

Go to System > Preferences > Advanced Desktop Effects Settings > General Options > Opacity Settings

Under Window Opacities, choose New and in the popup that appears paste in the following on one line:

((type=Menu | PopupMenu | DropdownMenu | Tooltip | Notification | Combo | Dnd | name=sun-awt-X11-XWindowPeer) | 
(type=Normal & override_redirect=1)) & !(name=sun-awt-X11-XFramePeer | name=sun-awt-X11-XDialogPeer)

Then adjust the opacity level as you see fit. Make sure you adjust it, or the menus will be invisible!

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