• dubois
  • The Old Codger
  • Offline
  • From: Austin, Texas
  • Registered: 2010-09-03
  • Posts: 2,193

Topic: [SOLVED] Openbox GUI Menu Editor Doesn't Open

Although it may have nothing to do with it, the Openbox GUI Menu Editor stopped opening [on a two-day old install of OB] just after I applied this fix   http://crunchbanglinux.org/forums/topic … pipe-menu/  for Places on the menu.  Like I said, they may have nothing to do with each other.  smile

I suppose I could edit the menu by hand but this is one of those things that will sit in the back of my head and bug the tar out of me if I don't fix it.  A search brought up this  http://crunchbanglinux.org/forums/topic … -starting/  which is identical [??] to my situation but I don't understand the solution because I can't see it for the code.  I mean, the answer is there but I don't know what to look for.

Terminal output of my obmenu errors, if it'll help

christopher@1015PEM:~$ obmenu
Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "/usr/bin/obmenu", line 621, in <module>
    app.init()
  File "/usr/bin/obmenu", line 614, in init
    self.createTree(None, None)
  File "/usr/bin/obmenu", line 41, in createTree
    if self.menu.getMenu(it["id"]) and it["action"] == "":
  File "/usr/lib/pymodules/python2.5/obxml.py", line 334, in getMenu
    d = self._get_menu_props(i)
  File "/usr/lib/pymodules/python2.5/obxml.py", line 132, in _get_menu_props
    mid = node.attributes["id"].nodeValue
  File "/usr/lib/python2.5/xml/dom/minidom.py", line 529, in __getitem__
    return self._attrs[attname_or_tuple]
KeyError: 'id'

or would it be better, safer, to

start with a clean menu.xml and try obmenu again

as mentioned here  https://bbs.archlinux.org/viewtopic.php?id=104544 

Which brings up a new question: would I have to set up the new menu from scratch or not?  I ask being new to OB.  <sigh>  Xfce was so comfortable.  wink


EDIT -- SOLUTION 1 -- I followed the comment here  https://bbs.archlinux.org/viewtopic.php?id=104544  by anonymous who's advice has always been solid.

EDIT -- SOLUTION 2 -- I used the newly working menu editor and highlighted the places option and removed the ~ [tilde] from that line, not in the menu.xml, then clicked reconfigure > restart and the places works in the menu.

Last edited by dubois (2011-11-24 02:09:58)

My formula for living is quite simple. I get up in the morning and I go to bed at night. In between, I occupy myself as best I can.
Cary Grant
  • Registered: 2011-03-09
  • Posts: 3,221

Re: [SOLVED] Openbox GUI Menu Editor Doesn't Open

wow, that post you linked to is from when gutterslob had just joined the forums! nice smile

anyway, i'd suggest you do the same he did, namely post your menu.xml so people can look at it. from what i gather, the last thing you did to edit the menu was the 'Places' section, right?

bash :: @script :: system :: fclean
  • dubois
  • The Old Codger
  • Offline
  • From: Austin, Texas
  • Registered: 2010-09-03
  • Posts: 2,193

Re: [SOLVED] Openbox GUI Menu Editor Doesn't Open

Yes, I changed the places config, shutdown for the night and this morning <surprise!>  And you're right about the date but it's all I could find that was relevant.  Oh, here's my menu.xml 

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<openbox_menu xmlns="http://openbox.org/" xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance" xsi:schemaLocation="http://openbox.org/                 file:///usr/share/openbox/menu.xsd">
    <menu id="root-menu" label="Openbox 3.5">
        <item label="Run Program">
            <action name="Execute">
                <execute>
                    gmrun
                </execute>
            </action>
        </item>
        <separator/>
        <item label="Firefox ">
            <action name="Execute">
                <execute>
                    /opt/firefox/firefox
                </execute>
            </action>
        </item>
        <item label="Terminal">
            <action name="Execute">
                <execute>
                    terminator
                </execute>
            </action>
        </item>
        <separator/>
        <item label="PCMan File Manager">
            <action name="Execute">
                <execute>
                    pcmanfm
                </execute>
            </action>
        </item>
        <item label="Thunar File Manager">
            <action name="Execute">
                <execute>
                    thunar
                </execute>
            </action>
        </item>
        <separator/>
        <menu id="accessories" label="Accessories">
            <item label="Archive Manager">
                <action name="Execute">
                    <execute>
                        file-roller
                    </execute>
                </action>
            </item>
            <item label="Catfish File Search">
                <action name="Execute">
                    <execute>
                        catfish
                    </execute>
                </action>
            </item>
            <item label="ClamTK Anti Virus">
                <action name="Execute">
                    <execute>
                        clamav
                    </execute>
                </action>
            </item>
            <item label="gedit Text Editor">
                <action name="Execute">
                    <execute>
                        gedit
                    </execute>
                </action>
            </item>
            <item label="gedit Text Editor (root)">
                <action name="Execute">
                    <execute>
                        gksudo gedit
                    </execute>
                </action>
            </item>
            <item label="PCMan File Manager">
                <action name="Execute">
                    <execute>
                        pcmanfm
                    </execute>
                </action>
            </item>
            <item label="PCMan File Manager (root)">
                <action name="Execute">
                    <execute>
                        gksudo pcmanfm
                    </execute>
                </action>
            </item>
            <item label="Thunar File Manager">
                <action name="Execute">
                    <execute>
                        thunar
                    </execute>
                </action>
            </item>
            <item label="Thunar File Manager (root)">
                <action name="Execute">
                    <execute>
                        gksudo thunar
                    </execute>
                </action>
            </item>
            <item label="Terminator Terminal">
                <action name="Execute">
                    <execute>
                        terminator
                    </execute>
                </action>
            </item>
            <item label="Terminator Terminal (root)">
                <action name="Execute">
                    <execute>
                        gksudo terminator
                    </execute>
                </action>
            </item>
            <item label="Zim Wiki">
                <action name="Execute">
                    <execute>
                        zim
                    </execute>
                </action>
            </item>
        </menu>
        <menu id="graphics" label="Graphics">
            <item label="GIMP">
                <action name="Execute">
                    <execute>
                        gimp
                    </execute>
                </action>
            </item>
            <item label="Viewnior Image Viewer">
                <action name="Execute">
                    <execute>
                        viewnior
                    </execute>
                </action>
            </item>
            <menu id="graphicsScreenshots" label="Take Screenshot">
                <item label="Now">
                    <action name="Execute">
                        <execute>
                            scrot '%Y-%m-%d--%s_$wx$h_scrot.png' -e 'mv $f ~/images/ &amp; viewnior ~/images/$f'
                        </execute>
                    </action>
                </item>
                <item label="In 5 Seconds...">
                    <action name="Execute">
                        <execute>
                            scrot -d 5 '%Y-%m-%d--%s_$wx$h_scrot.png' -e 'mv $f ~/images/ &amp; viewnior ~/images/$f'
                        </execute>
                    </action>
                </item>
                <item label="In 10 Seconds...">
                    <action name="Execute">
                        <execute>
                            scrot -d 10 '%Y-%m-%d--%s_$wx$h_scrot.png' -e 'mv $f ~/images/ &amp; viewnior ~/images/$f'
                        </execute>
                    </action>
                </item>
                <item label="Selected Area... (click &amp; drag mouse)">
                    <action name="Execute">
                        <execute>
                            scrot -s '%Y-%m-%d--%s_$wx$h_scrot.png' -e 'mv $f ~/images/ &amp; viewnior ~/images/$f'
                        </execute>
                    </action>
                </item>
            </menu>
            <separator/>
            <menu id="graphicsOnline" label="Online Tools">
                <item label="Colour Lovers">
                    <action name="Execute">
                        <execute>
                            x-www-browser http://www.colourlovers.com/
                        </execute>
                    </action>
                </item>
                <item label="Color Hunter">
                    <action name="Execute">
                        <execute>
                            x-www-browser http://colorhunter.com/
                        </execute>
                    </action>
                </item>
                <item label="Vector Magic">
                    <action name="Execute">
                        <execute>
                            x-www-browser http://vectormagic.stanford.edu/
                        </execute>
                    </action>
                </item>
                <item label="FavIcon from Pics">
                    <action name="Execute">
                        <execute>
                            x-www-browser http://www.htmlkit.com/services/favicon/
                        </execute>
                    </action>
                </item>
            </menu>
        </menu>
        <menu id="multimedia" label="Multimedia">
            <item label="Movie Player">
                <action name="Execute">
                    <execute>
                        totem
                    </execute>
                </action>
            </item>
            <item label="VLC Media Player">
                <action name="Execute">
                    <execute>
                        vlc
                    </execute>
                </action>
            </item>
            <item label="Volume Control">
                <action name="Execute">
                    <execute>
                        xfce4-mixer
                    </execute>
                </action>
            </item>
            <item label="Xfburn">
                <action name="Execute">
                    <execute>
                        xfburn
                    </execute>
                </action>
            </item>
        </menu>
        <menu id="network" label="Network">
            <item label="Firefox ">
                <action name="Execute">
                    <execute>
                        /opt/firefox/firefox
                    </execute>
                </action>
            </item>
            <item label="gFTP Client">
                <action name="Execute">
                    <execute>
                        gftp
                    </execute>
                </action>
            </item>
            <item label="Transmission BitTorrent Client">
                <action name="Execute">
                    <execute>
                        transmission
                    </execute>
                </action>
            </item>
            <item label="Wifi Radar">
                <action name="Execute">
                    <execute>
                        gksudo wifi-radar
                    </execute>
                </action>
            </item>
            <item label="XChat IRC Client">
                <action name="Execute">
                    <execute>
                        xchat
                    </execute>
                </action>
            </item>
        </menu>
        <menu id="office" label="Office">
            <item label="AbiWord ">
                <action name="Execute">
                    <execute>
                        abiword
                    </execute>
                </action>
            </item>
            <item label="Calculator">
                <action name="Execute">
                    <execute>
                        galculator
                    </execute>
                </action>
            </item>
            <item label="Dictionary">
                <action name="Execute">
                    <execute>
                        xfce4-dict
                    </execute>
                </action>
            </item>
            <item label="Gnumeric">
                <action name="Execute">
                    <execute>
                        gnumeric
                    </execute>
                </action>
            </item>
            <item label="PDF Viewer">
                <action name="Execute">
                    <execute>
                        epdfview
                    </execute>
                </action>
            </item>
        </menu>
        <separator/>
        <menu execute="/home/christopher/.config/openbox/pipemenus/recently_opened_menu.sh" id="recent" label="Recent Files"/>
        <menu execute="/home/christopher/.config/openbox/pipemenus/dash_places_menu.sh" id="places" label="Places"/>
            <menu execute="/home/christopher/.config/openbox/pipemenus/dash_places_menu.sh --recent"/>
        <separator/>
        <menu id="settings" label="Settings">
            <menu execute="cb-compmgr" id="CompositingPipeMenu" label="Compositing"/>
            <menu id="conkyconfig" label="Conky Config">
                <item label="Edit .conkyrc">
                    <action name="Execute">
                        <execute>
                            gedit ~/.conkyrc
                        </execute>
                    </action>
                </item>
                <item label="Restart Conky">
                    <action name="Execute">
                        <execute>
                            conkywonky
                        </execute>
                    </action>
                </item>
                <separator label="Help?"/>
                <item label="man page">
                    <action name="Execute">
                        <execute>
                            terminator --command=&quot;man conky&quot;
                        </execute>
                    </action>
                </item>
                <item label="Wiki Page">
                    <action name="Execute">
                        <execute>
                            x-www-browser http://crunchbanglinux.org/wiki/conky
                        </execute>
                    </action>
                </item>
            </menu>
            <menu id="dmenuconfig" label="dmenu Config">
                <item label="Edit start-up script">
                    <action name="Execute">
                        <execute>
                            gedit ~/.config/dmenu/dmenu-bind.sh
                        </execute>
                    </action>
                </item>
                <separator label="Help?"/>
                <item label="man page">
                    <action name="Execute">
                        <execute>
                            terminator --command=&quot;man dmenu&quot;
                        </execute>
                    </action>
                </item>
            </menu>
            <menu id="gmrunconfig" label="gmrun Config">
                <item label="Edit config file">
                    <action name="Execute">
                        <execute>
                            gedit ~/.gmrunrc
                        </execute>
                    </action>
                </item>
                <separator label="Help?"/>
                <item label="man page">
                    <action name="Execute">
                        <execute>
                            terminator --command=&quot;man gmrun&quot;
                        </execute>
                    </action>
                </item>
            </menu>
            <menu id="obConfig" label="Openbox Config">
                <item label="Edit menu.xml">
                    <action name="Execute">
                        <execute>
                            gedit ~/.config/openbox/menu.xml
                        </execute>
                    </action>
                </item>
                <item label="Edit rc.xml">
                    <action name="Execute">
                        <execute>
                            gedit ~/.config/openbox/rc.xml
                        </execute>
                    </action>
                </item>
                <item label="Edit autostart.sh">
                    <action name="Execute">
                        <execute>
                            gedit ~/.config/openbox/autostart.sh
                        </execute>
                    </action>
                </item>
                <item label="GUI Menu Editor">
                    <action name="Execute">
                        <execute>
                            obmenu
                        </execute>
                    </action>
                </item>
                <item label="GUI Config Tool">
                    <action name="Execute">
                        <execute>
                            obconf
                        </execute>
                    </action>
                </item>
                <item label="Reconfigure">
                    <action name="Reconfigure"/>
                </item>
                <item label="Restart">
                    <action name="Restart"/>
                </item>
            </menu>
            <menu id="terminatorconfig" label="Terminator Config">
                <item label="Edit config file">
                    <action name="Execute">
                        <execute>
                            gedit ~/.config/terminator/config
                        </execute>
                    </action>
                </item>
                <separator label="Help?"/>
                <item label="man page">
                    <action name="Execute">
                        <execute>
                            terminator --command=&quot;man terminator_config&quot;
                        </execute>
                    </action>
                </item>
            </menu>
            <menu id="tint2config" label="tint2 Panel Config">
                <item label="Edit config file">
                    <action name="Execute">
                        <execute>
                            gedit ~/.config/tint2/tint2rc
                        </execute>
                    </action>
                </item>
                <item label="GUI Config Tool">
                    <action name="Execute">
                        <execute>
                            tint2conf
                        </execute>
                    </action>
                </item>
                <separator label="Help?"/>
                <item label="man page">
                    <action name="Execute">
                        <execute>
                            terminator --command=&quot;man tint2&quot;
                        </execute>
                    </action>
                </item>
                <item label="Online Help">
                    <action name="Execute">
                        <execute>
                            x-www-browser http://code.google.com/p/tint2/wiki/Welcome
                        </execute>
                    </action>
                </item>
            </menu>
            <menu id="DisplaySettings" label="Display Settings">
                <item label="Adjust with grandr">
                    <action name="Execute">
                        <execute>
                            grandr
                        </execute>
                    </action>
                </item>
                <separator label="Help?"/>
                <item label="man xrandr">
                    <action name="Execute">
                        <execute>
                            terminator --command=&quot;man xrandr&quot;
                        </execute>
                    </action>
                </item>
            </menu>
            <menu id="NotificationsSettings" label="Notifications">
                <item label="Edit config file">
                    <action name="Execute">
                        <execute>
                            gedit ~/.notify-osd
                        </execute>
                    </action>
                </item>
                <item label="Send test notification">
                    <action name="Execute">
                        <execute>
                            cb-fortune
                        </execute>
                    </action>
                </item>
            </menu>
            <item label="Choose Wallpaper">
                <action name="Execute">
                    <execute>
                        nitrogen ~/images/wallpapers/
                    </execute>
                </action>
            </item>
            <item label="Edit Default Applications">
                <action name="Execute">
                    <execute>
                        terminator --command=&quot;sudo update-alternatives --all&quot;
                    </execute>
                </action>
            </item>
            <item label="Power Management">
                <action name="Execute">
                    <execute>
                        xfce4-power-manager-settings
                    </execute>
                </action>
            </item>
            <item label="Screensaver">
                <action name="Execute">
                    <execute>
                        xscreensaver-demo
                    </execute>
                </action>
            </item>
            <item label="User Interface Settings">
                <action name="Execute">
                    <execute>
                        lxappearance
                    </execute>
                </action>
            </item>
        </menu>
        <menu id="system" label="System">
            <item label="Disk Manager">
                <action name="Execute">
                    <execute>
                        palimpsest
                    </execute>
                </action>
            </item>
            <item label="Disk Usage Analyser">
                <action name="Execute">
                    <execute>
                        baobab
                    </execute>
                </action>
            </item>
            <item label="GDM Login Set-up">
                <action name="Execute">
                    <execute>
                        gksudo gdmsetup
                    </execute>
                </action>
            </item>
            <item label="GParted">
                <action name="Execute">
                    <execute>
                        gksudo gparted
                    </execute>
                </action>
            </item>
            <item label="GRSync">
                <action name="Execute">
                    <execute>
                        grsync
                    </execute>
                </action>
            </item>
            <item label="Hard  Drive Info">
                <action name="Execute">
                    <execute>
                        gksudo hardinfo
                    </execute>
                </action>
            </item>
            <menu execute="cb-printing-pipemenu" id="PrintingPipeMenu" label="Printers"/>
            <item label="Synaptic Package Manager">
                <action name="Execute">
                    <execute>
                        gksudo synaptic
                    </execute>
                </action>
            </item>
        </menu>
        <menu execute="cb-help-pipemenu" id="help" label="Help"/>
        <separator/>
        <item label="Lock Screen">
            <action name="Execute">
                <execute>
                    cb-lock
                </execute>
            </action>
        </item>
        <item label="Exit">
            <action name="Execute">
                <execute>
                    openbox-logout
                </execute>
            </action>
        </item>
    </menu>
</openbox_menu>

Thanks, rhowaldt, I had the feeling I'd forgotten something.  Nice catch!  wink

Last edited by dubois (2011-11-23 22:53:45)

My formula for living is quite simple. I get up in the morning and I go to bed at night. In between, I occupy myself as best I can.
Cary Grant
  • From: Portugal
  • Registered: 2011-10-22
  • Posts: 62

Re: [SOLVED] Openbox GUI Menu Editor Doesn't Open

<separator/>
        <menu execute="~/.config/openbox/pipemenus/recently_opened_menu.sh" id="recent" label="Recent Files"/>
        <menu execute="~/.config/openbox/pipemenus/dash_places_menu.sh ~" id="places" label="Places"/>
        <menu execute="cb-dropbox-pipemenu" id="dropbox" label="Dropbox"/>
        <separator/>

that is my places section, in yours, the third entry doesn't have an id and it's like the recent files entry, I don't know if it's on purpose...

ASUS eeePC 1015 PEM 2GB 1666MHz - Crunchbang-10-20111125 - Linux 2.6.39-bpo.2-486 kernel

"If we knew what it was we were doing, it would not be called research, would it?" Albert Einstein
  • dubois
  • The Old Codger
  • Offline
  • From: Austin, Texas
  • Registered: 2010-09-03
  • Posts: 2,193

Re: [SOLVED] Openbox GUI Menu Editor Doesn't Open

Thanks for your answer, Nergal.  Um, when you say third entry, are you referring to Dropbox -- if so, I don't use it, that's why it's not there.  Let me copy your two lines of code and I'll post back later with the results.

Just for the record, I used a backup menu.xml which had been saved just prior to making those changes, following the comment here  https://bbs.archlinux.org/viewtopic.php?id=104544  by anonymous, whose advice has always been solid.

My formula for living is quite simple. I get up in the morning and I go to bed at night. In between, I occupy myself as best I can.
Cary Grant
  • From: Portugal
  • Registered: 2011-10-22
  • Posts: 62

Re: [SOLVED] Openbox GUI Menu Editor Doesn't Open

 <separator/>
        <menu execute="/home/christopher/.config/openbox/pipemenus/recently_opened_menu.sh" id="recent" label="Recent Files"/>
        <menu execute="/home/christopher/.config/openbox/pipemenus/dash_places_menu.sh" id="places" label="Places"/>
            <menu execute="/home/christopher/.config/openbox/pipemenus/dash_places_menu.sh --recent"/>
        <separator/>

I meant the third entry there, I took that from your post.

ASUS eeePC 1015 PEM 2GB 1666MHz - Crunchbang-10-20111125 - Linux 2.6.39-bpo.2-486 kernel

"If we knew what it was we were doing, it would not be called research, would it?" Albert Einstein
  • dubois
  • The Old Codger
  • Offline
  • From: Austin, Texas
  • Registered: 2010-09-03
  • Posts: 2,193

Re: [SOLVED] Openbox GUI Menu Editor Doesn't Open

^ Oh, I misunderstood you.  I followed the comment here  https://bbs.archlinux.org/viewtopic.php?id=104544  by anonymous who's advice has always been solid.  The GUI Menu Editor is now working and restored to the moments before I began editing the menu.xul last night.  If I add that third line it knocks the editor out, however if I remove it, the editor works. 

If I had my choice of the two I'd take the editor.  Thank you for your help.  smile


EDIT -- If you have any other options I'm still very much open to them.

Last edited by dubois (2011-11-24 01:46:20)

My formula for living is quite simple. I get up in the morning and I go to bed at night. In between, I occupy myself as best I can.
Cary Grant
  • From: Portugal
  • Registered: 2011-10-22
  • Posts: 62

Re: [SOLVED] Openbox GUI Menu Editor Doesn't Open

dubois wrote:

<snip>

EDIT -- If you have any other options I'm still very much open to them.

I'm afraid I haven't, I don't know much about that but I love read the posts, I always learn something, and I spotted that, from your first post the problem seems to be an 'id' one though.

ASUS eeePC 1015 PEM 2GB 1666MHz - Crunchbang-10-20111125 - Linux 2.6.39-bpo.2-486 kernel

"If we knew what it was we were doing, it would not be called research, would it?" Albert Einstein
  • dubois
  • The Old Codger
  • Offline
  • From: Austin, Texas
  • Registered: 2010-09-03
  • Posts: 2,193

Re: [SOLVED] Openbox GUI Menu Editor Doesn't Open

I really like your attitude!  big_smile

Check this out -- I used the newly working menu editor and highlighted the places option and removed the ~ [tilde] from that line, not in the menu.xml, then clicked reconfigure > restart and the places works in the menu.  Now how about that?!?  Thanks again for your help -- we both learned something tonight.  wink

I'm marking this [SOLVED]

My formula for living is quite simple. I get up in the morning and I go to bed at night. In between, I occupy myself as best I can.
Cary Grant
  • From: Dusk Till Dawn
  • Registered: 2009-07-02
  • Posts: 4,439

Re: [SOLVED] Openbox GUI Menu Editor Doesn't Open

A little addition: http://crunchbanglinux.org/forums/topic … x-upgrade/

It seems to be related to Openbox 3.5

Nothing right in the left brain. Nothing left in the right brain.
  • dubois
  • The Old Codger
  • Offline
  • From: Austin, Texas
  • Registered: 2010-09-03
  • Posts: 2,193

Re: [SOLVED] Openbox GUI Menu Editor Doesn't Open

machinebacon wrote:

A little addition: http://crunchbanglinux.org/forums/topic … x-upgrade/

It seems to be related to Openbox 3.5

Many thanks machinebacon.  I'd seen that thread, and the original that johnraff had written, however it seems that removing the tilde in the script and in the menu editor is what finally worked for me.  You know, I would have posted those threads as links in my original post but I couldn't find them in mt history -- too busy trying to find a solution, I reckon.  You've insured that they stay related though.  Thanks, again.  smile

My formula for living is quite simple. I get up in the morning and I go to bed at night. In between, I occupy myself as best I can.
Cary Grant