Help me understand Alt-F2 or the LXDE Run Command

**utu** · 11-11-2011, 03:30 AM

.
I would expect to be able to put an executable command like
mc, ifconfig, vrms, or even less /var/log/syslog into the
little applet that appears either with Alt-F2 or the LXDE
menu choice 'Run'. But neither of these work for me.

Can anyone help me with this?

**Werner P. Schulz** · 11-11-2011, 09:54 AM

The starter from LXDE can only run GUI tools, not CLI tools because it doesn't offer the ability to run an application in a terminal. It's another thing with the starters from Gnome, KDE or XFCE4.

Greetings Werner

**utu** · 11-11-2011, 04:48 PM

Hi, Werner

I don't see how Alt-F2 or the 'Run' choice are even useful in LXDE.

**Werner P. Schulz** · 11-11-2011, 05:38 PM

With 'Run' from LXDE you can only start GUI-tools (which are in the users path)!

With 'Run' from Gnome you can start GUI-tools and CLI-tools.

Greetings Werner * http://www.wp-schulz.de/knoppix/summary.html
Own Rescue-CD (Knoppix V6.7.1 remaster)

**utu** · 11-11-2011, 06:23 PM

I understand that, but the GUI tools are already menu choices.
Moreover, the LXDE MENUs allow cli entries as well as gui entries.

And, confusingly, the Run/Alt-F2 gui OFFERS a lot of cli choices that don't work,
and even one, alsamixer, that causes a cpu problem;
at least it does on my dual-cpu laptop.

The forum has identified (and corrected) several small flaws in 6.7.1 this year.
I think Run/Alt-F2 may be another area worth a critique.

**Werner P. Schulz** · 11-11-2011, 08:57 PM

It is not a flaw from Knoppix!

LXDE

Code:

lxpanelctl run

don't offer this feature to start CLI tools in a terminal. Please ask in the LXDE forum why not.

**utu** · 11-11-2011, 09:39 PM

Hi again, Werner

I greatly respect and appreciate your comments.

I'm not suggesting that irregularities in Run/Alt-F2 are KK's fault,
except, possibly, in the choice of LXDE as the desktop.

I was hoping when I started this thread to discover a better way of
handling several LXDE Run/Alt-F2 idiosyncracies which I've identified.
Just tolerating these imperfections is not what I had in mind.

I get the feeling that change comes very slowly in LXDE, at least in this
Debian adaptation. I would wonder if Knoppix might do as well or better
with XFCE, which seems to me to be a more actively developed product.

Staying with LXDE, I am inclined to edit my LXDE menu to delete the
Run alternative, and to add a new separate submenu of my own
populated with a dozen or so of my favorite cli choices.
Being lazy as I am, I was hoping there might be an easier way.