Arch Linux

benedict_0

Member

Registered: 2019-11-08

Posts: 71

[SOLVED][GNOME] Where is the notification area?

Hi!

I can't seem to have a notification area in my Gnome setup and I am confused with the concept of app indicators.
I have installed the pacakge https://aur.archlinux.org/packages/gnom … indicator/

Problems are as follows :
- MEGAsync: when I minimize the window, it vanishes and it goes to the left panel, which is not the behavior I expect. I would expect an icon exists in the top panel.
- Mattermost: when I close the window, it vanishes and goes to the left panel. Because no option is offered, I can't terminate the app, it always runs in the background unless I use a task manager.
- Discord: when I close the window, it vanishes and doesn't go anywhere. It runs in the background and I can't terminate the app.

Screenshot: https://imgur.com/a/zXcNRR0

I can totaly imagine I missed something, but what?

Any help appreciated!
Best,
benedict

Last edited by benedict_0 (2020-04-20 08:46:47)

azagthoth

Member

From: Germany

Registered: 2019-03-12

Posts: 16

Re: [SOLVED][GNOME] Where is the notification area?

Are you talking about a systray? There should be one in the top right corner.
I never used gnome but if it actually doesn't have one try installing stalonetray or trayer

nisby

Member

Registered: 2020-04-05

Posts: 5

Re: [SOLVED][GNOME] Where is the notification area?

https://extensions.gnome.org/extension/ … -reloaded/

benedict_0

Member

Registered: 2019-11-08

Posts: 71

Re: [SOLVED][GNOME] Where is the notification area?

Yes I am actually talking of a systray.

So I understand that to install this GNOME extension, I have to install an add-on in Firefox named GNOME Shell integration https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefo … tegration/
AND THEN a "native connector for this extension to work". I quote

For Arch Linux there is a PKGBUILD available in the AUR: https://aur.archlinux.org/packages/chro … -shell-git

Is all that procedure normal for such a simple thing?

azagthoth

Member

From: Germany

Registered: 2019-03-12

Posts: 16

Re: [SOLVED][GNOME] Where is the notification area?

Yes I am actually talking of a systray.

So I understand that to install this GNOME extension, I have to install an add-on in Firefox named GNOME Shell integration https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefo … tegration/
AND THEN a "native connector for this extension to work". I quote

For Arch Linux there is a PKGBUILD available in the AUR: https://aur.archlinux.org/packages/chro … -shell-git

Is all that procedure normal for such a simple thing?

Neither of those links have anything to do with a systray (as far as I can see). And such a procedure would defenetly NOT be normal.
I would still just go with a standalone systray and see if that works for you.

sevendogs

Member

From: Texas

Registered: 2016-01-24

Posts: 209

Re: [SOLVED][GNOME] Where is the notification area?

The only way to get Gnome to do things the developers did not build in, is to install extensions. The Firefox addon is so the Gnome extensions web site can talk to the Gnome shell directly and install extensions. Incredibly stupid idea if you ask me but that's what the genius's at the Gnome dev team decided to do...

Some extensions work regardless of shell version and some require a specific shell version. You will have to keep that in mind as you upgrade Gnome packages. There is a web site https://extensions.gnome.org/ has a bunch of extensions available.

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"Give a man a truth and he will think for a day. Teach a man to reason and he will think for a lifetime"

benedict_0

Member

Registered: 2019-11-08

Posts: 71

Re: [SOLVED][GNOME] Where is the notification area?

Thank you sevendogs, so my understanding was correct. I know GNOME is intended KISS but still I am amazed the systray isn't a part of it (I come from Ubuntu) and maybe even more amazed by the absurdity of the extensions system.

sevendogs

Member

From: Texas

Registered: 2016-01-24

Posts: 209

Re: [SOLVED][GNOME] Where is the notification area?

You are very welcome. Gnome advertises as simple, however it is anything but. I was a mod on the now defunct gnomesupport.org web site years ago and did application UI testing against the Gnome HIG (Human Interface Guidelines). Those were the glory days of Gnome 2. I jumped ship when Gnome 3 hit because it was so different. I have used it on and off but every iteration seems to be more resource intensive and less functional.

---

"Give a man a truth and he will think for a day. Teach a man to reason and he will think for a lifetime"

benedict_0

Member

Registered: 2019-11-08

Posts: 71

Re: [SOLVED][GNOME] Where is the notification area?

So what do you use now as a DE?

jasonwryan

Anarchist

From: .nz

Registered: 2009-05-09

Posts: 30,426

Website

Re: [SOLVED][GNOME] Where is the notification area?

I know GNOME is intended KISS...

That is a very odd conception of KISS you have. Gnome is the antithesis of KISS.

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Arch + dwm   •   Mercurial repos  •   Surfraw

Registered Linux User #482438

benedict_0

Member

Registered: 2019-11-08

Posts: 71

Re: [SOLVED][GNOME] Where is the notification area?

OK I happen to have a real issue here so let's not start a flame war.

sevendogs

Member

From: Texas

Registered: 2016-01-24

Posts: 209

Re: [SOLVED][GNOME] Where is the notification area?

Good point, my apologies. I normally use fluxbox and pcmanfm for file duties. Lite, fast, works well.

---

"Give a man a truth and he will think for a day. Teach a man to reason and he will think for a lifetime"

V1del

Forum Moderator

Registered: 2012-10-16

Posts: 24,759

Re: [SOLVED][GNOME] Where is the notification area?

You've mentioned you installed an extension, is it enabled? Are the the "optional" dependencies, the respective libappindicator-gtk{2,3] libraries installed?

benedict_0

Member

Registered: 2019-11-08

Posts: 71

Re: [SOLVED][GNOME] Where is the notification area?

No problem sevendogs, your posts were actually informative. I will definitely try another DE in the near future.

But for now on... I installed the extension through this clunky procedure. It solves my problems for Discord and MEGAsync (though for the latter sending the app to the systray is really not intuitive).

Mattermost does not seem to work.

benedict_0

Member

Registered: 2019-11-08

Posts: 71

Re: [SOLVED][GNOME] Where is the notification area?

Well Mattermost works now that I ticked the correct box ^^

So except the weird behavior of the MEGAsync tray icon, I consider the problem solved.

Thanks to everybody that helped!

svituz

Member

Registered: 2017-12-09

Posts: 5

Re: [SOLVED][GNOME] Where is the notification area?

Hi benedict_0, how did you manage to make mattermost work?
I checked the "Show icon in the notification area" and "Leave app running in the notification area when application window closed".
I'm using "tray icon: reloaded" as extension and other applications work like a charm: telegram, rambox, dropbox ecc.
My mattermost desktop version is 4.4.0

Thanks

Last edited by svituz (2020-05-06 08:37:49)

benedict_0

Member

Registered: 2019-11-08

Posts: 71

Re: [SOLVED][GNOME] Where is the notification area?

Hi svituz,

Sorry I didn't see your message. I checked the same boxes as you did, so I don't know what the problem could be in your case.