How to customize the System widget on mintMenu slab

[dasunsrule32]

In order to change different applications under the System widget, you will need to edit the following files (I wanted to replace the mintInstall application with the Add/Remove application typically seen in Ubuntu installs.). From my examples, you should be able to add whatever you want with a little thought and planning:

Open a terminal and type (If you're new, click Elyssa -> Terminal):

-- Make sure that you have gnome-app-install on your system, type in the terminal:

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sudo apt-get install gnome-app-install

Once that is done, continue on my friends!

Type in your terminal:

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gconf-editor

-- Scroll down to Apps -> mintMenu -> plugins -> system-management
-- Edit the 'install_software_cmd', change it to:

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/usr/bin/gnome-app-install

-- Close the editor

Now, run this next command in the terminal:

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sudo vi /usr/lib/linuxmint/mintMenu/plugins/system_management.py

or you can you use your favorite editor, for instance: gedit, I will be assuming you are using vi for this tutorial:

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sudo gedit /usr/lib/linuxmint/mintMenu/plugins/system_management.py

#PS - You can also do the aforementioned gconf edit here too by editing the following line:

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self.installSoftwareCmd = self.gconf.get( "string", "install_software_cmd", "/usr/lib/linuxmint/mintInstall/mintInstall.py").split()

and changing it to:

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self.installSoftwareCmd = self.gconf.get( "string", "install_software_cmd", "/usr/bin/gnome-app-install").split()

Doesn't matter, whatever you're more comfortable with.

-- Scroll down to:

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wTree.get_widget("label1").set_text(_("Software Portal"))

and change it to:

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wTree.get_widget("label1").set_text(_("Add/Remove..."))

-- If using vi, you will need to press the insert key to edit any lines in the configuration file.
-- Press escape to exit insert mode.
-- Now press and hold shift, and press z twice in immediate succesion to save your file.

To change the icon on the menu, do the following:

-- If you want the default gnome icon for the Add/Remove application, then run in the terminal:

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sudo cp /usr/share/icons/hicolor/scalable/apps/gnome-app-install.svg /usr/lib/linuxmint/mintMenu/plugins/gnome-app-install.svg

-- Now we need to edit the image down to size, run in the terminal:

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sudo gimp /usr/lib/linuxmint/mintMenu/plugins/gnome-app-install.svg

and render the vector image down to 22x22, is what I set mine to, click ok.
-- Go to file -> save as... -> in the name box type: gnome-app-install.png -> then click All Images and scroll down to PNG image (*.png) -> then click save.

Now we want to place our menu icon on the menu, do so by using your terminal and typing:

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sudo vi /usr/lib/linuxmint/mintMenu/plugins/system_management.glade

* Remember to press the insert key to edit in vi!

-- Go to the line:

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<property name="pixbuf">mintmenu_icon.png</property>

and change it to an icon that you like, couple things to note, make sure that it is in a 22x22 or 20x20 size, otherwise you will get some strange results.
-- Since we just made our icon from the vector image for the gnome-app-install, we will edit the line to look like this:

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<property name="pixbuf">gnome-app-install.png</property>

-- Now press shift + zz and that will save our config file.


Final steps now!

In the terminal, type:

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killall gnome-panel

-- This will kill your panel along the bottom, assuming you have a default install. DON'T PANIC!!! Your panel will restart momentarily.
-- When it's back up, you should see the changes wrought on the Elyssa menu -> Add/Remove...

That's it, we are now edited and can now use the gnome application installer.

EDIT: How to edit other portions of the System widget on the slab menu

Work with the same files as above:

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sudo vi /usr/lib/linuxmint/mintMenu/plugins/system_management.glade

(or substitute your favorite editor for vi, gedit for example)

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sudo vi /usr/lib/linuxmint/mintMenu/plugins/system_management.py

(or substitute your favorite editor for vi, gedit for example)

-- When looking at the files, you will see a matching information here, notice:

system_management.glade has:

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<widget class="GtkButton" id="install_software">

and system_management.py calls the widget in this line:

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self.installSoftwareBtn = wTree.get_widget( "install_software" )

now you see how and where it is calling the widgets at.

-- Simple concept to get, the system_management.glade file is the actual menu layout and coding for the menu itself and the system_management.py file is the actual code to what the system_management.glade is calling to execute.

-- So, to change any application to run in the system widget, you can edit this portion of the system_management.py:

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self.installSoftwareCmd = self.gconf.get( "string", "install_software_cmd", "/usr/lib/linuxmint/mintInstall/mintInstall.py").split()
                self.packagemanagerCmd = self.gconf.get( "string", "package_manager_cmd", "gksu /usr/sbin/synaptic").split()
                self.controlCenterCmd = self.gconf.get( "string", "control_center_cmd","gnome-control-center" ).split()
                self.terminalCmd = self.gconf.get( "string", "terminal_cmd","gnome-terminal" ).split()
                self.quitSessionCmd = self.gconf.get( "string", "quit_cmd", "gnome-session-save --kill" ).split()
                self.hideseparator = self.gconf.get( "bool", "hide_separator", False )

Now you can see how it is calling the files, just look at your slab menu and coordinate it with what you have here and the directions that have been given above and you will be able to change whatever you want there easily! Again, you can edit what is being executed in the above code, or use the directions at the top of the page for gconf. Cheers!

Use your imagination to place whatever applications you need under the system widget. Hope this was helpful. Please give me your feedback to help build upon or add to this. Thanks!

* Coming soon, how to customize the places widget on the mintMenu slab and how to customize the Applications menu on the mintMenu slab, will just extend this post and change the heading to customizing the entire slab menu.

[Acid_1]

Very nice tutorial. Well written. I would just like to say one thing though, if you were to write a future How To, and your tutorial only works with a specific editor (unlikely), it would be wise to use an easier one. I don't even know how to use vi. But that's a suggestion only. Good job man

[msuggs]

Please give me your feedback

Clever hack and nicely set out tutorial but if I wanted this I think I'd just install Ubuntu

[dasunsrule32]

Please give me your feedback

Clever hack and nicely set out tutorial but if I wanted this I think I'd just install Ubuntu

It will work with whatever application you want to place there. Change it and customize it. I just wanted that particular app, but anything you want!

[dasunsrule32]

Very nice tutorial. Well written. I would just like to say one thing though, if you were to write a future How To, and your tutorial only works with a specific editor (unlikely), it would be wise to use an easier one. I don't even know how to use vi. But that's a suggestion only. Good job man

All that has to happen is substitute wherever I use vi and use gedit, that will do it.

[msuggs]

It will work with whatever application you want to place there. Change it and customize it. I just wanted that particular app, but anything you want!

Ah of course, very nice

[msuggs]

Maybe you should add to the tutorial that you need to install gnome-app-install first because it isn't installed by default.

[dasunsrule32]

Maybe you should add to the tutorial that you need to install gnome-app-install first because it isn't installed by default.

Good call out, I think it is installed on Elyssa by default on the full disk. But simple enough edit to make it easier. Thanks.

[msuggs]

I think it is installed on Elyssa by default on the full disk.

I've just installed Elyssa r1 on the machine I'm sitting on and it's not there as a default.

[dasunsrule32]

I think it is installed on Elyssa by default on the full disk.

I've just installed Elyssa r1 on the machine I'm sitting on and it's not there as a default.

Interesting, I am running 5-R1 also, and it was installed by default. Either way, I edited it to include install instructions for the gnome app installer.

[dasunsrule32]

in linux mint 6 felicia, you only have to edit this file

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sudo gedit /usr/lib/linuxmint/mintMenu/plugins/system_management.py

then you can direct the icon and the open program of menu.

Ok, I will take a look at it. Thanks.

[piratesmack]

Nice tutorial

But "sudo gedit" and "sudo gimp" should be:

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gksu gedit

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gksu gimp

Running GUI apps with sudo can sometimes cause problems because the program is being run with root privileges, but the user's configuration files are being used.
http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=801136
https://answers.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+s ... tion/51521