Package Inclusion Questions

supusr · 2016-04-14 18:05:24

If I install bunsenlabs linux, will I get the libreoffice suite? If I install that or any other deb package in the repositories from the terminal, will they show up automatically in the openbox menus?

damo · 2016-04-14 18:28:03

The live iso, and the basic install, includes LO Writer. You get the option in the post-install script to install the LO suite, and the main menu also has options to install the LO components. If you use these automated installation methods then the menu will automatically include LO.

There are some pipemenus in the main menu which have install options, but generally anything you install won't show - Openbox doesn't have an auto-updating menu by default.

Menu -> Help -> Bunsen Help Files -> How to Edit Menu

supusr · 2016-04-14 19:03:13

OK. Thanks very much for the clear answer. Three follow ups: Isn't the lack of automatic menu updating a real disadvantage of the otherwise lightweight and efficient openbox set-up? How difficult is it to learn to do it manually? (I have been using linux exclusively on my desktop for 2.5 years, and believe myself to be an intermediate user.)

Head_on_a_Stick · 2016-04-14 19:53:26

supusr wrote:

Isn't the lack of automatic menu updating a real disadvantage of the otherwise lightweight and efficient openbox set-up?

Not if you know exactly how you want your menu to look and don't like the desktop messing with it

supusr wrote:

How difficult is it to learn to do it manually?

Not difficult at all

The Openbox documentation covers the easiest method here:
http://openbox.org/wiki/Help:Menus#The_Debian_menu

You will need to install the menu package then add:

<menu id="/Debian" />

in ~/.config/openbox/menu.xml wherever you want the menu to appear, it will be titled "Debian" with the standard sub-menus branching off.

There are other methods available, ArchBang uses obmenu-generator, for example.

Also, that was only two questions...

EDIT: it just occurred to me that you actually meant "how easy is it to edit the openbox menu manually" (sorry, I'm tired) :8

That's easy as well -- you can use:

obmenu

to edit the menu in a nice little GUI.

Alternatively, refer to TFM:
http://openbox.org/wiki/Help:Menus#Static_menus

Last edited by Head_on_a_Stick (2016-04-14 20:02:52)

supusr · 2016-04-14 20:03:53

Yes, you are right - two questions. My bad. Thanks for the two clear responses. I will read and experiment based on your information.

cloverskull · 2016-04-14 20:15:55

Manually managed openbox menu is a blessing, not a curse! I prefer my menu system to be lightweight and avoid any cruft, and I notice that automatic menu generation allows a bunch of random things to creep into my menu, creating an adverse signal to noise ratio.

damo · 2016-04-14 21:21:49

supusr wrote:

Isn't the lack of automatic menu updating a real disadvantage of the otherwise lightweight and efficient openbox set-up?

IMO it is a wonderful breath of fresh air: it absolutely fits with the "lightweight and efficient" ethos of Openbox. A by-product is that you have to learn a little of how your system is managed, which can only be an advantage.

Editing the menu is easy, as others have said. You can manually edit menu.xml, or use the gui in the menu, and there are extensive help links in the menu for configuration.

Horizon_Brave · 2016-04-14 22:11:57

damo wrote:

IMO it is a wonderful breath of fresh air: it absolutely fits with the "lightweight and efficient" ethos of Openbox. A by-product is that you have to learn a little of how your system is managed, which can only be an advantage.
.

This! Digging a little deeper in Bunsen has open(box)ed my eyes to the inner workings of how the OS actually works... I desperately try to retain it all!

#1 2016-04-14 18:05:24

Package Inclusion Questions

#2 2016-04-14 18:28:03

Re: Package Inclusion Questions

#3 2016-04-14 19:03:13

Re: Package Inclusion Questions

#4 2016-04-14 19:53:26

Re: Package Inclusion Questions

#5 2016-04-14 20:03:53

Re: Package Inclusion Questions

#6 2016-04-14 20:15:55

Re: Package Inclusion Questions

#7 2016-04-14 21:21:49

Re: Package Inclusion Questions

#8 2016-04-14 22:11:57

Re: Package Inclusion Questions

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