Jgmenu configuration- to replace the standard xfce app finder

[PPC]

By popular demand (well just one person :-) ) I start this thread about jgmenu.

Jgmenu is a stand alone menu that is very light (can even be configured not to stay resident on the RAM, so it only uses memory when running). Out of the box if displays the standard debian categories, automaticaly updated...
It has a very usufull feature- if you open it and start typing, it shows only apps matching the characters you typed (to me, the biggest missing feature in the fluxbox menu).
It is the perfect partner to the now default MXFB toolbar because it can even get the color and fonts used by tint2 and match them (cool, I know)
It's very customizable, it can display the standard Debian menu or act like an app launcher that displays all availables apps (a la Gnome, etc).

But it's hard to customize it when you go far from the default options.
In my case I wanted a menu with this settings:
-A search box
-Pinned apps
-Categories and an All apps section
-Costume icons that are always available (like an Exit Icon, a Configurations Icon, etc)

... And I went beyond that- I usually describe my menu and toolbar like a cross between Windows 10, Windows 11 and a Linux like MX-Linux: the menu shows a search box, pinned apps, all apps (without categories, Windows 10 style- It kind of grew one me, and if I want categories, I have good old fluxbox menu a right click away), a Power Button, a Control Center (antiX lingo) Button, etc. I can click menu and instantly pin or unpin an app, on the go, no need to restart the menu, oh, and "Tile" like huge icons I can toggle on and off (useful because of my bad sight)...

Without further ado, the config files (to be placed in ~.config/jgmenu):

jgmenurc:

Code: Select all

csv_cmd             = apps
tint2_look          = 1
menu_width          = 400
menu_padding_right  = 2
menu_height_min     = 510
menu_height_max     = 510
menu_padding_top    = 40
menu_padding_bottom = 1
menu_padding_left   = 46
menu_border         = 1
item_height         = 35
item_width          = 5
item_radius         = 2
#item_border         = 2
color_menu_bg       = #212121 100
color_menu_border   = #eeeeee 20
#
#color_norm_fg       = #eeeeee 100
#color_sel_bg        = #ffffff 20
color_sel_bg        = #212121 8
#color_sel_fg        = #eeeeee 100
color_sel_fg        = #FFFF00 100
#color_sel_border    = #eeeeee 8
color_scroll_ind    = #000000 0
csv_name_format     = %n\n<span size="x-small">%g</span>
csv_no_dirs         = 1

append.csv:

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###			LIST OF PINNED APPS
###Format of Pinned apps, one per line: [App_name],[executable],[icon]
Pinned Apps:  (click here to manage them), geany ~/.config/jgmenu/append.csv:
Terminal,roxterm,utilities-terminal
###Keep the next line, it's the separator, between the pinned apps and the All Apps
^sep()

prepend.csv
(this one need heavy editing I did not time to make, sorry, it's still formated for antiX, so, take a look and get the feel of how to edit it, the "Tiles" are NOT configured for MXFB, you can remove that section)

Code: Select all

#The next 3 lines are the search box :
@rect,,44,4,392,36,2,left,top,#000000 0,#656565 50,
@search,,59,4,240,36,2,left,top,#eeeeee 80,#000000 0,
@icon,,416,12,22,22,2,left,top,#000000 50,#000000 50,/home/paulo/.config/jgmenu/greeneye-search.svg
#This line creates a backgound for the applications listed, without it, errors happen when selection applications:
@rect,,44,44,390,462,2,left,top,#000000 0,#282828 90,
#@rect,^filter(*),4,4,142,35,2,left,top,#000000 0,#000000 0,
#@text,,9,4,142,35,2,left,top,#e6e6e6 100,#000000 0,All apps
#@rect,^filter(#Accessories #Util #Archiving #Compression #TextEditor ),4,39,142,35,2,left,top,#000000 0,#000000 0,
#@text,,9,39,142,35,2,left,top,#e6e6e6 100,#000000 0,Accessories
#@rect,^filter(#Development #Build #Debug #IDE #Profiling #RevisionControl ),4,74,142,35,2,left,top,#000000 0,#000000 0,
#@text,,9,74,142,35,2,left,top,#e6e6e6 100,#000000 0,Development
#@rect,^filter(#Game ),4,109,142,35,2,left,top,#000000 0,#000000 0,
#@text,,9,109,142,35,2,left,top,#e6e6e6 100,#000000 0,Games
#@rect,^filter(#Graphics #Scanning #Photography ),4,144,142,35,2,left,top,#000000 0,#000000 0,
#@text,,9,144,142,35,2,left,top,#e6e6e6 100,#000000 0,Graphics
#@rect,^filter(#Internet #Network #Email #FileTransfer #WebBrowser ),4,179,142,35,2,left,top,#000000 0,#000000 0,
#@text,,9,179,142,35,2,left,top,#e6e6e6 100,#000000 0,Internet
#@rect,^filter(#Multimedia #Player #Audio #Video #Recorder ),4,214,142,35,2,left,top,#000000 0,#000000 0,
#@text,,9,214,142,35,2,left,top,#e6e6e6 100,#000000 0,Multimedia
#@rect,^filter(#Office #Calendar #Contact #Dictionary #Chart #Finance #Presentation #Spreadsheet #WordProcessor #Publishing #Viewer ),4,249,142,35,2,left,top,#000000 0,#000000 0,
#@text,,9,249,142,35,2,left,top,#e6e6e6 100,#000000 0,Office
#@rect,^filter(#Settings #Security #Preferences ),4,284,142,35,2,left,top,#000000 0,#000000 0,
#@text,,9,284,142,35,2,left,top,#e6e6e6 100,#000000 0,Settings
#@rect,^filter(#System #Emulator #FileManager #TerminalEmulator #Filesystem #Monitor ),4,319,142,35,2,left,top,#000000 0,#000000 0,
#@text,,9,319,142,35,2,left,top,#e6e6e6 100,#000000 0,System
##File Manager:
@icon,thunar,3,400,22,22,2,left,top,#e6e6e6 100,#000000 0,/usr/share/icons/hicolor/16x16/apps/org.xfce.thunar.png
##Xkill:
@icon,xkill,3,430,22,22,2,left,top,#e6e6e6 100,#000000 0,/usr/share/icons/Papirus/16x16/emblems/emblem-error.svg
###Settings:
@icon,mx-tools,3,455,22,22,2,left,top,#e6e6e6 100,#000000 0,/usr/share/icons/Papirus/16x16/actions/cm_options.svg
###Exit
@icon,exit-options,3,485,22,22,2,left,top,#e6e6e6 100,#000000 0,/usr/share/icons/gnome/16x16/actions/application-exit.png
##########################################
###"Tiles"
#Tile01
@icon,desktop-defaults-run -fm,450,3,52,52,2,left,top,#e6e6e6 100,#000000 0,/usr/share/icons/papirus-antix/48x48/places/user-home.png
@text,,450,54,220,22,2,left,top,#e6e6e6 100,#000000 0, Files
#Tile02
@icon,desktop-defaults-run -b,504,3,52,52,2,left,top,#e6e6e6 100,#000000 0,/usr/share/icons/papirus-antix/48x48/apps/web-browser.png
@text,,508,54,220,22,2,left,top,#e6e6e6 100,#000000 0, Web
#Tile03
@icon,galculator,566,3,52,52,2,left,top,#e6e6e6 100,#000000 0,/usr/share/icons/papirus-antix/64x64/apps/galculator.png
@text,,566,54,220,22,2,left,top,#e6e6e6 100,#000000 0, Calculator
#Tile04
@icon,desktop-defaults-run -t,450,68,52,52,2,left,top,#e6e6e6 100,#000000 0,/usr/share/icons/papirus-antix/48x48/apps/xfce-terminal.png
@text,,450,118,220,22,2,left,top,#e6e6e6 100,#000000 0, Terminal
#Tile05
@icon,desktop-defaults-run -e,504,68,52,52,2,left,top,#e6e6e6 100,#000000 0,/usr/share/icons/papirus-antix/64x64/apps/xfce-mail.png
@text,,510,118,220,22,2,left,top,#e6e6e6 100,#000000 0, E-mail
#Tile06
@icon,desktop-defaults-run -te,558,68,52,52,2,left,top,#e6e6e6 100,#000000 0,/usr/share/icons/papirus-antix/48x48/apps/text-editor.png
@text,,565,118,220,22,2,left,top,#e6e6e6 100,#000000 0, Text
#Tile07
@icon,desktop-defaults-run -v,450,136,52,52,2,left,top,#e6e6e6 100,#000000 0,/usr/share/icons/papirus-antix/48x48/apps/video-player.png
@text,,455,186,220,22,2,left,top,#e6e6e6 100,#000000 0, Video
#Tile08
@icon,desktop-defaults-run -a,504,136,52,52,2,left,top,#e6e6e6 100,#000000 0,/usr/share/icons/papirus-antix/48x48/mimetypes/x-content-audio-player.png
@text,,510,186,220,22,2,left,top,#e6e6e6 100,#000000 0, Audio
#Tile09
@icon,desktop-defaults-run -i,558,136,52,52,2,left,top,#e6e6e6 100,#000000 0,/usr/share/icons/papirus-antix/48x48/apps/image-viewer.png
@text,,565,186,220,22,2,left,top,#e6e6e6 100,#000000 0, Pictures
#Tile10
@icon,libreoffice --writer,448,210,52,52,2,left,top,#e6e6e6 100,#000000 0,/usr/share/icons/papirus-antix/48x48/apps/libreoffice-writer.png
@text,,458,256,220,22,2,left,top,#e6e6e6 100,#000000 0, Writer
#Tile11
@icon,libreoffice --calc,504,210,52,52,2,left,top,#e6e6e6 100,#000000 0,/usr/share/icons/papirus-antix/48x48/apps/libreoffice-calc.png
@text,,515,256,220,22,2,left,top,#e6e6e6 100,#000000 0, Calc
#Tile12
@icon,libreoffice --impress,556,210,52,52,2,left,top,#e6e6e6 100,#000000 0,/usr/share/icons/papirus-antix/48x48/apps/libreoffice-impress.png
@text,,565,256,220,22,2,left,top,#e6e6e6 100,#000000 0, Impress
#Tile13
@icon,transmission-gtk %U,448,280,52,52,2,left,top,#e6e6e6 100,#000000 0,/usr/share/icons/papirus-antix/48x48/apps/transmission.png
@text,,452,328,220,22,2,left,top,#e6e6e6 100,#000000 0, Torrent
#Tile14
@icon,brave-browser %U,504,280,52,52,2,left,top,#e6e6e6 100,#000000 0,brave-browser
#@text,,510,328,220,22,2,left,top,#e6e6e6 100,#000000 0, brave-browser
#Tile15
#@icon,transmission-gtk %U,556,280,52,52,2,left,top,#e6e6e6 100,#000000 0,/usr/share/icons/papirus-antix/48x48/apps/transmission.png
#@text,,560,328,220,22,2,left,top,#e6e6e6 100,#000000 0, Torrent

(The script to edit pinned apps and toggle the tiles on/off is experimental, so, I'm not, for now, divulging it here, sorry)
Enjoy,
P

[Jerry3904]

Lots of work there--thanks for sharing!

[ceeslans]

Thanks @PPC, there sure is a lot to play with

For now, I took your advice to leave out the Tiles section - maybe will try to solve that puzzle at a later stage.'
Here's what I got sofar:


The config files will follow as soon as I got that stabilized...

[PPC]

@ceeslans Very cool system! It runs very light, without any compromises about the looks.

Like I said, I find this particular kind of jgmenu config very useful and nice looking. And seeing your screen grab reminded me that I did everything, except post a pic of my own menu.

@Jerry3904 Do you see now why, a while ago I suggested replacing the xfce app finder with jgmenu? It fits right in with the toolbar and it's, in fact a menu, not a regular app,

I forgot to mention the only real possible "Con" I found in jgmenu: some may call it a "con", I consider it a feature- it has no slide bar, you move up and down the menu with the slide button on your mouse/touch pad (or just using the keyboard)- it takes a bit to get used to, but then it makes sense (it's the way we usually scroll trough web pages, or use our smart phones and tablets...

P.

[Jerry3904]

@PPC: I always saw it,man, just didn't think it was right. Maybe change next time...

[PPC]

I tinkered a bit more, and reached a simpler, more conventional menu, with a search field and categories. It's minimalist, moer in tune with the MXFB vibe.
Just in case anyone wants to take it for a spin, here are the config files:

jgmenurc:

Code: Select all

tint2_look          = 1
csv_cmd             = apps
position_mode       = pointer
menu_width          = 134
menu_padding_top    = 24
menu_padding_right  = 0
menu_padding_bottom = 0
menu_padding_left   = 0
menu_radius         = 1
sub_spacing         = 6
item_margin_x       = 1
item_margin_y       = 1
item_height         = 21
sep_height          = 4
sep_halign          = right
font                = Sans 10
arrow_string        = ›
arrow_width         = 8
color_sel_bg        = #bc4b4f 100
color_sel_border    = #bc4b4f 100
sep_markup =
hover_delay         = 30
csv_name_format     = %n

prepend.csv:
(you can pin any app you want to the top of the menu, I left the terminal there, just as an example. add new lines following this syntax: [App name to show in the menu], [executable], [icon, optional]

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@text,,6,6,150,20,2,left,top,auto,#000000 0,<span size="large"></span>
@search,,24,3,150,20,2,left,top,auto,#000000 0,
@icon,,4,2,22,22,1,left,top,#000000 50,#000000 50,/usr/share/icons/Papirus-Dark/24x24/actions/gtk-find.svg
^sep()
Terminal,roxterm,
#^sep()
#Applications,^checkout(apps)
^sep()

PS: if you want to make the menu look more full featured, you can add an append.csv file, for example, with the Exit menu, Configurations, etc... (see my OP)

P.

[ceeslans]

Sorry for necro-posting in this older topic, just wanted to show what can be accomplished with jgmenu in a fluxbox environment.

Below is a composed screenshot showing the 'regular' application menu, and a 'places' menu of my home directory plus a 'recent-files' menu.
All three popup menus are invoked from tint2 panel buttons.
The 'places' menu uses a wonderful pipemenu script by bunsenlabs' lead dev @johnraff, slightly modified by @sleekmason for his lilidog distro.

[Jerry3904]

Looks good. You have disliked app finder for a long time so I'm glad to see you at peace.

[ceeslans]

Looks good. You have disliked app finder for a long time so I'm glad to see you at peace