Plank, dock used in Elementary OS It stands out for its simplicity, for its simplicity, a quality that users who want to simply have a functional dock, but that does not have as many extras as Cairo Dock (Cairo-Dock consumes me more than 50MB of RAM… 50MB !!).
The problem with Plank is that we can enjoy it using Elementary OS or some .DEB distro (Debian, Ubuntu, etc) and add the ElementaryOS PPA, and then install Plank from the PPA, Plank and a utility will be installed to customize it.
But what about those of us who don't use Deb distros?
I myself like many of you use right now ArchLinux (and I'm delighted 😀), I was able to install Plank (plank-bzr) from AUR with yaourt, and now the question: how to change the icons that Plank shows me in applications?
Plank uses the .desktop files on our system, files like this: /usr/share/applications/vlc.desktop
In that file .desktop We will find data that will be used when we execute that application (VLC), for example the name, description and (here the important thing) the icon that it will have.
In that file you will find a line that says:
Icon = vlc
Which means: Use the icon set in the icon pack.
If we want you to use this icon for example: /home/MyUsuario/Iconos/vlc-cool.png then we must leave it like this:
Icon = / home / MyUser / Icons / vlc-cool.png
The same philosophy that we use for the .desktop files of / usr / share / applications / we can use it for /home/MyUsuario/.local/share/applications/
Summarizing
If we want to change any application icon that is shown in Plank, one way to do it is by looking for the .desktop of that application in /home/MyUsuario/.local/share/applications/ or in / usr / share / applications / and edit it, we specifically modify the line that says Icon = ??? and let's change whatever is to the right of the equal sign (=) for the path of the new icon, see above the example I used if you have doubts.
Something important to mention is that when we update an application and its .desktop of / usr / share / applications / is updated, the icon that comes by default will be set, then we will have to change it again.
To avoid this I recommend copying the application's .desktop to /home/MiUsuario/.local/share/applications/ and edit that new one, in this way when the .desktop of / usr / shared / applications / no is changed with an update will matter, because ours in /home/MiUsuario/.local/share/applications/ (which Plank gives priority to) will not undergo changes 😀
Using this tip I managed to have my desktop like this:
Notice how Plank has different icons than the popular icon sets 😀
Anyway, nothing more to add.
If anyone has any questions let me know, I will try to help you in any way I can.
Greetings ^ - ^
Excellent tutorial, good contribution. Regards.
Thanks for commenting 🙂
And I do not see any shaft to the docks ... Some desktop environments scream for one, such as Gnome Classic or Fluxbox, but many others (KDE, Gnome 3.8, LXDE, etc) are like they do not go with it ... No I know if I explain myself.
Anyway, nice article ^^
That it is 100% necessary, exact, it is not, but sometimes a change to the desktop comes in handy and a dock is a utility / tool that refreshes everything 🙂
Thanks for your comment
Pff if you are like me, to hell, you do not use or task manager, Krunner and keyboard shortcuts are all xD
Once you know the "dark side" of openbox, there is no going back. There is nothing like dmenu and desktop shortcuts.
Similarly, docks continue to have significant visual appeal, especially Plank.
Very good post!
I went through that stage, but I gave in to the seductive akonadi + nepomuk hahaha xD
Thanks bro 😉
I love Openbox but Plank and Elementary open the door to new GNU users. Although if a distro is made with Openbox, Tint2 and Plank we will have something very good that brings together all the advantages. 🙂
very true, but i prefer a window manager to a desktop environment so leave kde to use awesome wm
I have loved the end result, ahorsi we can put the teeth long to the users of windows and mac, who unfortunately it seems that they only care about appearance.
Very cool your writing and thank you very much for the tutorial :). By the way .. Didn't you have Debian Wheezy?
It seems that the new fashion is to be on the cutting edge with Arch, although it is already convincing me to use Slackware and incidentally, also try Arch Linux (although the latter makes me want to ditch the Firefox that it has by default and replace it with Iceweasel).
Thank you
Since I have a new laptop, elav convinced me to give Arch another chance after stopping using it for over a year, delighted so far 🙂
The sandy returning to fanboyism in 3… 2… 1 xDDDDD
These flat icons are better than the Windows 8 icons (Wait a second: what happened to the Firefox 23 logo? As far as I know, the new Firefox logo is flat but at least I like the low relief it has).
The icons are a set called Plex, Google it or check Artescritorio.com 🙂
The desk is great ... and plank is elegant simply elementary ...
Thank you ^ - ^
Yes, I quite like it hahaha
I like the icons where do I get them?
Here 🙂 http://artescritorio.com/iconos-flat-para-personalizar-nuestro-dock
Can they be used as icons for KDE?
You can do this: https://blog.desdelinux.net/cambiar-icono-a-un-tipo-de-archivo-en-kde/
Or Right-Click on the Applications Menu, edit it and change the icon of each application and save.
Because if you mean to make an icon pack for KDE / Gnome with these, I don't think it's anything but nothing simple.
What laziness I stay with the Kotenza better 😛
Showing off ee Desk
Yes the truth is that too 😉
50 MB !!! Care xdd, just google chrome, after an hour of use, it takes me like 1 Gb xD
For a dock yes, 50mb I consider it too much 🙂
@KZ Wrote:
«I myself, like many of you, use ArchLinux right now (and I'm delighted 😀) […]»
fuck yeah 😀
hahahaha. This Arch with my new hardware is an airplane, very fast 😀
what is your new hardware gaara? tell us your specifications;).
PS: Welcome to Arch 😀
Google this: HP EliteBook 8460p 😉
That desk really looks fantastic, very nice to look at and very simple. Can't change the "e" in Elementary to the Arch icon?
Greetings.
Yes, any KDE menu / launcher allows it 🙂
It's true, what's more, I've changed it countless times xD, I focused the question wrong, I found it curious that it didn't replace the icon with Arch, thank you very much for your answer.
Greetings.
Nah is that with ElementaryOS I am doing well, that is, I like it 🙂
Then I change the icon for one of HP or something like that ... I'll see
It's great for me because I'm looking for a light and customizable dock since docky in kade gives me two or three problems that I have not been able to solve
Simple dock? ... well, Plank is one of the most 🙂
greetings and thanks for your comment
Buuaaahhh, it's beautiful! o_O
I think it's the most beautiful desk you've ever owned by far.
HAHA yeah yeah, it's definitely the sexiest I've ever had 😀
get inspired by your desktop and personalize my XFCE
http://goo.gl/ryFNAq
LOL!!! You found the same wallpaper that I use and everything LOL !!
The desktop was good for you 😉
Yes, I liked it a lot and thanks to you for the contribution
I've been using plank for a long time and it's really light, it's my favorite dock ^^ it was a bit annoying when they changed the way the themes are applied (and there was no documentation, it was irritating) but in general, I don't change it for another dock, it is simple and light, as God intended xD
[off topic]
KZKG ^ Gaara didn't know you were using arch now, great !!!!
[/ off-topic]
Well yes, since Docky came out I had my eye on that dock. With Plank things were much better 😀
Now I read this comment 🙂
Yes, so far I'm doing great with Arch, my re-encounter with him has been nice ^ - ^
KZKG ^ Gaara, wouldn't you be interested in sharing your conky? 😀 He's very cool.
Hello, how are you?
I don't actually use Conky, I use LittleClock, a plasmoid for KDE: https://blog.desdelinux.net/little_clock-reloj-para-kde-inspirado-en-windows-8/
I have seen that
I have seen that you use Arch + KDE could you pass me the installation guide you follow, I installed it a few days ago and I have a couple of problems.
Hello, I recommend you visit the forum DesdeLinux where you can explain your problem in detail and surely receive help to solve it promptly.
Greetings.
Greetings, when editing the route it doesn't let me save the changes and therefore I can't change the icons. My session is started as administrator, could you help me to save the changes and thus be able to change the icons. Thank you
Hello,
That may be because you are not editing it as root, try putting "sudo" (without the quotes) before the command.
thanks for the tuto, the problem I have is that I do not see the .desktop files in those directions only the icons of the programs.
Very good, right now I will install them in my file and try to customize it.
thanks for the info 😀