How to change Openbox static menu to dynamic pipe menu

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stu90

How to change Openbox static menu to dynamic pipe menu

#1 Post by stu90 »

Here is a guide to turn Puppy's static file openbox menu into a dynamically generated openbox pipe menu.

Why would you want to do this?

1. remove the need for fix menus - any /usr/share/applications/ .desktop file added or removed will instantly be updated in the openbox menu.

2. Simplification of the openbox menu.xml file - for puppy this is normally split over several different files making it complicated to customize - now it is all confined to one file /root/.config/openbox/menu.xml file that is less than 50 lines!

3. Menu management - Sub menus can easy be added or removed in the /etc/xdg/openbox/obmenu/obmenu script.

Image

How to use:
Download the below obmenu.tar.gz file and extract then move the obmenu directory to the /etc/xdg/openbox/ directory.

Then open a terminal and run the setup script:
/etc/xdg/openbox/obmenu/setup -install

Now you will need to comment out any openbox entry in fixmenus as they will over write your new menu file.
run command:
geany /usr/sbin/fixmenus

Towards the bottom of the file look for anything relating to openbox and comment it out with a hash # at the start of the line - then save file.
#[ `which obmenu-refresh` ] && obmenu-refresh
#[ `which openbox` ] && ob-xdgmenu
#[ `which openbox` ] && obmenu-update


To customize the menu layout / quick launch applications and additional pipe menus etc edit file /root/.config/openbox/menu.xml

To customize what menu entries are displayed add/remove .desktop files in /usr/share/applications/ directory
- or -
i included a simple terminal menu entry manager in Ob Settings > Menu Manager

To customize / add / remove Sub Menus edit scritp /etc/xdg/openbox/obmenu/obmenu

To revert back to your old menu setup run in terminal script:
/etc/xdg/openbox/obmenu/setup -uninstall

Warning this might not work or could even break your puppy openbox setup so use at your own discretion.
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obmenu.tar.gz
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musher0
Posts: 14629
Joined: Mon 05 Jan 2009, 00:54
Location: Gatineau (Qc), Canada

#2 Post by musher0 »

Thanks, stu.

Trying it now !
musher0
~~~~~~~~~~
"You want it darker? We kill the flame." (L. Cohen)

ProgRob
Posts: 67
Joined: Wed 13 Feb 2013, 12:39

#3 Post by ProgRob »

Just trying this on Precise 5.5 and I'm getting a compile error. If I try to run the script in a terminal I get:

Code: Select all

Can't locate feature.pm in @INC (@INC contains: /etc/perl /usr/local/lib/perl/5.14.2 /usr/local/share/perl/5.14.2 /usr/lib/perl5 /usr/share/perl5 /usr/lib/perl/5.14 /usr/share/perl/5.14 /usr/local/lib/site_perl .) at /usr/lib/perl/5.14/File/Glob.pm line 7.
BEGIN failed--compilation aborted at /usr/lib/perl/5.14/File/Glob.pm line 7.
Compilation failed in require at ./obmenu line 116.
BEGIN failed--compilation aborted at ./obmenu line 116.
Any suggestion how to fix?

Thanks,
Rob

DNS
Posts: 3
Joined: Tue 30 Jul 2013, 12:16

#4 Post by DNS »

this is nice, but somehow when i shutdown puppy and log in back the application menu isnt working, i mean is gone. any solution to help me?! :(

hamoudoudou

understand all that mean

#5 Post by hamoudoudou »

bookmarked for understand all that mean
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XenialDog 32 bits
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Flash
Official Dog Handler
Posts: 13071
Joined: Wed 04 May 2005, 16:04
Location: Arizona USA

#6 Post by Flash »

Ham, I don't see what your post has to do with this ancient topic. Could you please explain?

hamoudoudou

static menu, dynamic pipe menu What is that ?

#7 Post by hamoudoudou »

static menu, dynamic pipe menu What is that ?
"First of all, what are pipe menus?" well, i will know what they mean soon
https://www.techrepublic.com/blog/linux ... r-openbox/
Current month calendar, weather Forecast, System monitor, are pipe menus..
many openbox pipe menus here.
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04_openbox_weather.png
weather
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03_openbox_calendar.png
one of them
(29.82 KiB) Downloaded 174 times

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