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For XFCE (v. 4.8), I'm searching for possible options to minimize windows to tray (iconify). This means that 1) they're not in the window listing and 2) they're not in the alt+TAB menu and 3) when closed OR minimized, the window hides (it disappears from window listing but still stays running).

  • alltray has some weird GTK-related bug ( https://bugs.launchpad.net/alltray/+bug/589831; windows hide but unhiding doesn't do anything; they stay in the tray icon until the user undocks them ) -- version 0.7.4dev+ has this fixed, but 1) when clicking 'X', it closes window instead of hiding it; 2) when minimizing, window stays in the taskbar; 3) there is no way to hide the window other than by clicking the icon (see item 3 of the first paragraph).
  • trayer complains that "another systray is already running" and if I remove the original 'notification area' where all the tray icons usually appear, then trayer would start over the screen bottom, overlaying over the existing bottom panel without an option of adding self to any existing panel as a new item.
  • kdocker works unreliably as some clicks unhide the window and then instantly hide it again; it also does not appear to be able to iconify a window when closed (it actually closed instead -- see item 3 of the first paragraph in this question).
  • docker creates a new systay at the left top of the screen and erases everything in the 'notification area' applet, so the things don't get restored after pkill'ing docker; the docker item overlaps on the existing panel and occupies a part of screen making it unusable; the docker item is only one icon wide and doesn't scroll.

What I want to iconify is xfce4-terminal, so any terminal which can iconify itself and works with xfce would be ok as a solution, too.

This question here is to ask about possible minimalistic (as everything in XFCE is) solutions which don't involve manual compiling, and aren't an overkill like cairo-dock is ( a rather bloated gnome-style application which creates a new large 'tray' instead of using the existing one ). Thanks!

2 Answers2

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There are two clear goals.:

  1. How to show only minimised windows
  2. how to show only un-minimized windows

These separation helps focus on work. They are not useless.

Answer 1) I added a new panel in XFCE4. added only windows button. and configured to "show only minimized windows".

Answer 2) Windows button have NO option to "show only un-minimized windows". Waiting for some source code change. It should be helpful.

ShaileshKumarMPatel
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kdocker ... it also does not appear to be able to iconify a window when closed (it actually closed instead).

As far as I understand no docker can do that. This has to be supported by the application (e.g. claws, vlc, etc). When you click on close the window manager signals the application to close, depending on its setup it closes or minimises to tray.

What I want to iconify is xfce4-terminal, so any terminal which can iconify itself and works with xfce would be ok as a solution, too.

I don't have an exact solution to this, but in terms of how it appears in window or Alt-Tab lists its identical. You could use a drop down terminal like guake. It lets you define a hotkey that will make the terminal appear and disappear. You can also add some window events as triggers for it to disappear (e.g. some other window raises itself). You can also configure other how and where it appears, what size it has. I like the fact that the terminal is always at the same place no matter when I call it and its always running at login.

The only missing feature I have found is, I can't control which display it appears on for dual display setups; it always uses the left most display.

suvayu
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