[Solved] How to stop desktop icons from auto-arranging?

Forum rules
Before you post read how to get help. Topics in this forum are automatically closed 6 months after creation.
Locked
pht900

[Solved] How to stop desktop icons from auto-arranging?

Post by pht900 »

How to stop desktop icons from auto-arranging in Mint XFCE 17 64-bit?
It seems to be new in Mint 17 and is very inconvenient. No problems with 32-bit version.

Thank you.
Last edited by LockBot on Wed Dec 28, 2022 7:16 am, edited 2 times in total.
Reason: Topic automatically closed 6 months after creation. New replies are no longer allowed.
pht900

Re: How to stop desktop icons from auto-arranging?

Post by pht900 »

Never mind, it started working properly by itself yesterday.
But if you know if Uncheck Auto-Arrange Deskop Icons function hidden somewhere, please, share.
gary.zw

Re: How to stop desktop icons from auto-arranging?

Post by gary.zw »

This seemed to work for me

At certain events (such as opening the panel settings dialog) icons on the desktop rearrange themselves. This is because icon positions are determined by files in the ~/.config/xfce4/desktop/ directory. Each time a change is made to the desktop (icons are added or removed or change position) a new file is generated in this directory and these files can conflict.
To solve the problem, navigate to the directory and delete all the files.
pht900

Re: How to stop desktop icons from auto-arranging?

Post by pht900 »

Thank you. There were only two files, removed one, all the same.

Few months later, problem continues: before auto-arranging started irregularly, now always at start.

For a few weeks, each time I dragged icons on desktop where they have to be, but last week few dragged folders disappeared, absent it file manager too. Had to move all content to Documents and post only shortcuts on desktop, not happy.
shengchieh

Re: How to stop desktop icons from auto-arranging?

Post by shengchieh »

Another possibility (not sure, I haven't tested it) is save session at logout. I.e.,

menu
-> settings
-> session and startup

and save your session.

Sheng-Chieh
pht900

Re: How to stop desktop icons from auto-arranging?

Post by pht900 »

Thank you! Checked, it was already set on Autosave Session.

I updated kernel for a mouse problem, will see if this affects desktop.
pht900

Re: How to stop desktop icons from auto-arranging?

Post by pht900 »

Accidentally found solution, everything is good for now.

I Installed new Linux kernel for mouse malfunction, see http://forums.linuxmint.com/viewtopic.p ... 06#p992366 for details, and now there is no more auto-arranging desktop icons without requesting it.
pht900

Re: [Solved] How to stop desktop icons from auto-arranging?

Post by pht900 »

After installation of xfce4-timer-plugin, partial auto-rearranging of desktop icons started again. Not all, some of them. Make me to miss the function " Do not auto arrange desktop icons".
User avatar
Pjotr
Level 23
Level 23
Posts: 19888
Joined: Mon Mar 07, 2011 10:18 am
Location: The Netherlands (Holland) 🇳🇱
Contact:

Re: [Solved] How to stop desktop icons from auto-arranging?

Post by Pjotr »

You might try this, but it does require some work:

1. Disable "save session" (menu button - Settings - Session and Startup).

2. Launch your file manager.

3. Make all hidden files and folders visible by the key combination Ctrl h

4. Navigate to the folder .config/xfce4/desktop/
(note the dot before the name, which makes it invisible)

5. You see several files with the name icons.screen0*. Delete all but the latest.

6. Open the latest icons.screen0 with your text editor (Mousepad) and change row and column number for every entry, until they are like you want them. Save the edited file and close it.

7. Make all hidden files and folders invisible again, by the key combination Ctrl h

8. Log off and on again for the result to show.
Tip: 10 things to do after installing Linux Mint 21.3 Virginia
Keep your Linux Mint healthy: Avoid these 10 fatal mistakes
Twitter: twitter.com/easylinuxtips
All in all, horse sense simply makes sense.
User avatar
Flemur
Level 20
Level 20
Posts: 10097
Joined: Mon Aug 20, 2012 9:41 pm
Location: Potemkin Village

Re: [Solved] How to stop desktop icons from auto-arranging?

Post by Flemur »

Open the latest icons.screen0 with your text editor (Mousepad) and change row and column number for every entry, until they are like you want them. Save the edited file and close it.

OP might also need to make those files unwritable, and the directory as well:
$ chmod -R a-w ~/.config/xfce4/desktop
Please edit your original post title to include [SOLVED] if/when it is solved!
Your data and OS are backed up....right?
BigEasy
Level 6
Level 6
Posts: 1282
Joined: Mon Nov 24, 2014 9:17 am
Location: Chrząszczyżewoszyce, powiat Łękołody

Re: [Solved] How to stop desktop icons from auto-arranging?

Post by BigEasy »

All posted tips isn't really way to solution. I have /.config/xfce4/desktop unwritable from the time of my first experience with XFCE. It is long time bug of XFCE itself. Seems nobody form XFCE team care about it. But bug still exists not only in Mint XFCE but everywhere. Common symptomps: sometimes icons appeared in place, sometimes some of them not, sometimes all icons appeared arranged by who knows how.
Windows assumes I'm stupid but Linux demands proof of it
Locked

Return to “Xfce”