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Idea #21169: .desktop file new WM_CLASS key

Written by a.shaferov the 24 Aug 09 at 08:15. Category: System. Related project: Nothing/Others. Status: New
Rationale
Hi.

I am the author of DockBar. This is taskbar like applet for Gnome desktop environment.
http://gnome-look.org/content/show.php?content=97822

In the process of creation of DockBar I've found a big problem in that there is no perfect way to found .desktop-file for launched application.
There are several ways to do it, but they are all far from perfection and not always works.

There are some troubles in creation such programs (like DockBar/AWN/Gnome-Do/etc....) because of the above mentioned problem:
- hard to find normal icon
- hard to find localized name for app
- hard to use launchers

Please take a look to launchers in DockBarX
http://www.gnome-look.org/content/show.php/Dockbar+Experimental?content=101604
Users need to enter wm_class by hands.

Or take a look to Gnome-Do's sources
E.g. http://bazaar.launchpad.net/~do-core/do/0.8/annotate/head%3A/Do.Interface.Wink/ src/Do.Interface.Wink/WindowUtils.cs
There is list of commandline prefixes and so on to find .desktop-file for application.

38
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Solution #1: Add WM_CLASS key
Written by a.shaferov the 24 Aug 09 at 08:15.
I propose to add a new key to .desktop-files.
Add WM_CLASS key and _make it required_.

P.S. Sorry for bad English.

Propose your solution

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Comments
Lachu wrote on the 25 Aug 09 at 15:17
Why don't looks for application path in .desktop instead of window class?

Lachu wrote on the 25 Aug 09 at 15:19
The problem should be fixed :-) - why we should provide window localized name in many place?

a.shaferov wrote on the 26 Aug 09 at 21:23
>Why don't looks for application path in .desktop instead of window class?
Command line? Command line may differ from /proc//cmdline.

a.shaferov wrote on the 27 Aug 09 at 09:03
I've also posted idea to xdg mailing list:
http://lists.freedesktop.org/archives/xdg/2009-August/010981.html


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