.desktop files on desktop not recognised/working anymore [LXQt / LXDE]

jonu_jobuwuzi · 2018-05-02 09:31:42

This issue came up with one of the lates updates and affects LXQt and LXDE here:

A .desktop file on the desktop does not start the corresponding application anymore.

Instead a windows pops up 'Execute File' claiming:
'This text file >>[someapp]<< seems to be executable. What would you like to do with it'

Can someone please confirm this and tell me, how to make .desktop files on desktop start the associated application.

Haller · 2018-05-02 10:43:31

I don't use LXDE or LXQt but according to the pop up, you should change execution rights like

chmod 644 example.desktop

ua4000 · 2018-05-02 16:54:08

The answer from Haller is wrong, .desktop files don't need an "x" flag, also this won't solve the issue.

I had the same issue with LXDE. Maybe it's a bug from LXDE, I didn't google it.

~~For me I solved it: run File Manager PCManFM > Edit > Preferences > Don't ask options on launch executable files > yes~~

Last edited by ua4000 (2018-05-04 15:03:58)

progandy · 2018-05-02 16:58:45

@ua4000: It looks as if the file already has the executable ("x") flag, but you should remove it since desktop files are not executable. Haller's command removes the executable flag.

Last edited by progandy (2018-05-02 16:59:36)

judd1 · 2018-05-02 18:45:25

I have the same problem as @jonu_jobuwuzi and I can not solve it yet.

peterklarc · 2018-05-02 21:10:13

Some problem...
...but if I drag and drop from the lxde menu the app to the desktop it works again without any problem

Haller · 2018-05-03 07:30:03

ua4000 wrote:

For me I solved it: run File Manager PCManFM > Edit > Preferences > Don't ask options on launch executable files > yes

It seems as if PCManFM asks how to deal with executable files.
So if you remove the x-flag, it should not ask...

Btw.: .desktop-files are normally not executable (in /usr/lib/..., KDE, GNOME etc.).

@peterklarc: Please report the file permission before and after dragging.

jonu_jobuwuzi · 2018-05-03 10:54:20

I assume this issue appears with the update of xdg-utils (1.1.2-1 -> 1.1.2-2) and/or desktop-file-utils (0.23-1 -> 0.23+4+g92af410-1).
Drag 'n drop from LXQt Menu to desktop does not make the popup disappear but the setting mentioned by ua4000 in pcmanfm-qt works.

I think it is simply a bug that .desktop files on desktop are not identified properly anymore. Or is it a feature?

ua4000 · 2018-05-03 16:56:29

@Haller: Sorry, I misread your first post, yes of course, "x" flag should be removed if present on .desktop files.

But either with or without "x" flag .desktop files are not executed anymore by PCmanFM.

The PCManFM option which solves the issue, "Don't ask options on launch executable files", is named maybe somehow confusing:

"executable files" are from PCManFM point of view files with "x" flag and also .desktop files.

So it's maybe a security change:
From PCManFM perspective there is no difference where a file is placed and if it's a executable file or a .desktop file - both could contain dangerous code. To reflect this, PCManFM now makes no difference between them anymore ?

Edit:

@jonu_jobuwuzi: For me it happend last week on these updates:

Package (31)                  Old Version       New Version       Net Change  Download Size

community/acpid               2.0.29-1          2.0.29-2            0,00 MiB       0,05 MiB
extra/chromium                66.0.3359.117-1   66.0.3359.139-1     0,00 MiB      44,57 MiB
extra/colord                  1.4.2-3           1.4.3-1             0,25 MiB       1,57 MiB
extra/gamin                                     0.1.10-8            0,16 MiB               
core/gcc-libs                 7.3.1+20180312-2  7.3.1+20180406-1   -0,03 MiB      17,24 MiB
core/glibc                    2.26-11           2.27-2              3,57 MiB       9,05 MiB
core/gpgme                    1.10.0-2          1.11.1-1            0,05 MiB       0,38 MiB
extra/ldb                     1.3.1-1           1.3.2-1             0,00 MiB       0,16 MiB
extra/libbytesize             1.1-1             1.2-1               0,00 MiB       0,01 MiB
extra/libepoxy                1.5.0-1           1.5.1-1             0,00 MiB       0,35 MiB
extra/libetonyek              0.1.7-1           0.1.8-1             4,85 MiB       1,58 MiB
community/libfm               1.2.5-2           1.3.0-1             2,17 MiB       0,49 MiB
community/libfm-extra         1.2.5-2           1.3.0-1             0,00 MiB       0,01 MiB
community/libfm-gtk2          1.2.5-2           1.3.0-1             0,00 MiB       0,15 MiB
core/libnsl                                     1.2.0-1             0,19 MiB       0,06 MiB
extra/libwbclient             4.7.6-1           4.8.0-2             0,00 MiB       0,03 MiB
core/linux                    4.16.3-1          4.16.4-1            0,00 MiB      69,59 MiB
core/linux-api-headers        4.14.8-1          4.16.1-1            0,11 MiB       0,92 MiB
extra/nvidia-340xx            340.106-29        340.106-30          0,00 MiB       4,56 MiB
core/pam                      1.3.0-1           1.3.0-2            -0,31 MiB       0,54 MiB
community/pcmanfm             1.2.5-2           1.3.0-1             0,04 MiB       0,26 MiB
core/perl                     5.26.1-2          5.26.2-1            0,08 MiB               
extra/perl-uri                1.73-1            1.74-1              0,00 MiB       0,08 MiB
core/pinentry                 1.1.0-1           1.1.0-2            -0,02 MiB       0,10 MiB
extra/python                  3.6.5-1           3.6.5-2            -0,87 MiB      34,48 MiB
extra/python2                 2.7.14-2          2.7.14-3            0,30 MiB      12,07 MiB
extra/smbclient               4.7.6-1           4.8.0-2            -0,04 MiB       5,74 MiB
community/smplayer            18.3.0-1          18.4.0-1            0,05 MiB       3,25 MiB
extra/tcl                     8.6.8-2           8.6.8-3            -0,01 MiB       2,36 MiB
core/thin-provisioning-tools  0.7.5-1           0.7.6-1            -0,01 MiB       0,38 MiB
extra/xkeyboard-config        2.23.1-2          2.23.1-3            0,46 MiB       0,66 MiB

So the suspects are pcmanfm, libfm-extra, libfm-gtk2 - I think

Edit 2:
Downgrading libfm libfm-extra libfm-gtk2 reverts the issue.
Looking into the project page, https://blog.lxde.org/ shows, they were aware of the bug, and released already a fix :-)

Last edited by ua4000 (2018-05-03 18:21:33)

Haller · 2018-05-04 04:40:07

@ua4000: Thanks for information and solution.

judd1 · 2018-05-04 12:09:18

ua4000 wrote:

So the suspects are pcmanfm, libfm-extra, libfm-gtk2 - I think

Edit 2:
Downgrading libfm libfm-extra libfm-gtk2 reverts the issue.
Looking into the project page, https://blog.lxde.org/ shows, they were aware of the bug, and released already a fix :-)

Thank you for your time, very kind of you!

My respects.

ua4000 · 2018-05-04 15:03:06

The new arch package is already out: libfm 1.3.0.2-1

Don't forget to revert my proposal #3, "Don't ask options on launch executable files"

But:
Now there is a further issue, self created .desktop files in the $HOME/Desktop folder are still not executed, even with the patch.
Only .desktop files which are fresh dragged from the startmenue to the Desktop are executed at once.

Seems you need to place your own .desktop files into /usr/share/applications at first, and then Drag+Drop them from the startmenu to the desktop.
This works, but you need root right to do this...

Arch Linux

#1 2018-05-02 09:31:42

.desktop files on desktop not recognised/working anymore [LXQt / LXDE]

#2 2018-05-02 10:43:31

Re: .desktop files on desktop not recognised/working anymore [LXQt / LXDE]

#3 2018-05-02 16:54:08

Re: .desktop files on desktop not recognised/working anymore [LXQt / LXDE]

#4 2018-05-02 16:58:45

Re: .desktop files on desktop not recognised/working anymore [LXQt / LXDE]

#5 2018-05-02 18:45:25

Re: .desktop files on desktop not recognised/working anymore [LXQt / LXDE]

#6 2018-05-02 21:10:13

Re: .desktop files on desktop not recognised/working anymore [LXQt / LXDE]

#7 2018-05-03 07:30:03

Re: .desktop files on desktop not recognised/working anymore [LXQt / LXDE]

#8 2018-05-03 10:54:20

Re: .desktop files on desktop not recognised/working anymore [LXQt / LXDE]

#9 2018-05-03 16:56:29

Re: .desktop files on desktop not recognised/working anymore [LXQt / LXDE]

#10 2018-05-04 04:40:07

Re: .desktop files on desktop not recognised/working anymore [LXQt / LXDE]

#11 2018-05-04 12:09:18

Re: .desktop files on desktop not recognised/working anymore [LXQt / LXDE]

#12 2018-05-04 15:03:06

Re: .desktop files on desktop not recognised/working anymore [LXQt / LXDE]

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