IDLE (using Python 3.2 or 2.7) Icon Doesn't Show in Launcher

[Michael Devenish]

Binary package hint: unity

The icon for IDLE for both Python 2.7 and 3.2 doesn't show in the launcher. It displays a question mark on a grey background and says "Top Level" when the mouse pointer is over it. Screenshot attached.

I'm using Natty alpha 3 with updates applied today (17 March).

ProblemType: Bug
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 11.04
Package: unity 3.6.4-0ubuntu1
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 2.6.38-7.35-generic 2.6.38
Uname: Linux 2.6.38-7-generic i686
Architecture: i386
CompizPlugins: [core,bailer,detection,composite,opengl,decor,mousepoll,vpswitch,regex,animation,snap,expo,move,compiztoolbox,place,grid,imgpng,gnomecompat,wall,ezoom,workarounds,staticswitcher,resize,fade,unitymtgrabhandles,scale,session,unityshell]
CompositorRunning: compiz
DRM.card0.LVDS.1:
 status: connected
 enabled: enabled
 dpms: On
 modes: 1024x600
 edid-base64: AP///////wAGr8IRAAAAAAESAQOAFAt4CvpWklZUmCQaT1QAAAABAQEBAQEBAQEBAQEBAQEBsBMAQEFYGSAYiDEAw3EAAAAYAAAADwAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAgAAAA/gBBVU8KICAgICAgICAgAAAA/gBCMDg5QVcwMSBWMSAKAFg=
DRM.card0.VGA.1:
 status: disconnected
 enabled: disabled
 dpms: Off
 modes:
 edid-base64:
Date: Thu Mar 17 19:46:27 2011
DistUpgraded: Log time: 2011-03-08 21:51:16.573821
DistroCodename: natty
DistroVariant: ubuntu
GraphicsCard:
 Intel Corporation Mobile 945GME Express Integrated Graphics Controller [8086:27ae] (rev 03) (prog-if 00 [VGA controller])
   Subsystem: Acer Incorporated [ALI] Device [1025:015b]
   Subsystem: Acer Incorporated [ALI] Device [1025:015b]
InstallationMedia: Ubuntu 11.04 "Natty Narwhal" - Alpha i386 (20110302)
InstallationMedia_: Ubuntu 11.04 "Natty Narwhal" - Alpha i386 (20110302)
InstallationMedia__: Ubuntu 11.04 "Natty Narwhal" - Alpha i386 (20110302)
MachineType: Acer AOA110
ProcEnviron:
 LANGUAGE=en_GB:en
 LANG=en_GB.UTF-8
 SHELL=/bin/bash
ProcKernelCmdLine: BOOT_IMAGE=/boot/vmlinuz-2.6.38-7-generic root=UUID=11a39bb8-ee63-4244-bf7e-c29da5053917 ro quiet splash vt.handoff=7
ProcVersionSignature_: Ubuntu 2.6.38-7.35-generic 2.6.38
ProcVersionSignature__: Ubuntu 2.6.38-7.35-generic 2.6.38
Renderer: Unknown
SourcePackage: unity
UpgradeStatus: Upgraded to natty on 2011-03-11 (6 days ago)
dmi.bios.date: 05/09/2008
dmi.bios.vendor: INSYDE
dmi.bios.version: v0.3109
dmi.board.asset.tag: Base Board Asset Tag
dmi.board.name: Base Board Product Name
dmi.board.vendor: Intel Corp.
dmi.board.version: Base Board Version
dmi.chassis.type: 1
dmi.chassis.vendor: Chassis Manufacturer
dmi.chassis.version: Chassis Version
dmi.modalias: dmi:bvnINSYDE:bvrv0.3109:bd05/09/2008:svnAcer:pnAOA110:pvr1:rvnIntelCorp.:rnBaseBoardProductName:rvrBaseBoardVersion:cvnChassisManufacturer:ct1:cvrChassisVersion:
dmi.product.name: AOA110
dmi.product.version: 1
dmi.sys.vendor: Acer
version.compiz: compiz 1:0.9.4-0ubuntu5
version.libdrm2: libdrm2 2.4.23-1ubuntu3
version.libgl1-mesa-glx: libgl1-mesa-glx 7.10.1-0ubuntu3
version.xserver-xorg: xserver-xorg 1:7.6~3ubuntu11
version.xserver-xorg-video-ati: xserver-xorg-video-ati 1:6.14.0-0ubuntu2
version.xserver-xorg-video-intel: xserver-xorg-video-intel 2:2.14.0-4ubuntu2
version.xserver-xorg-video-nouveau: xserver-xorg-video-nouveau 1:0.0.16+git20110107+b795ca6e-0ubuntu5

[Henrique Sant'Anna (hsantanna)]

The same here on naty.

[Omer Akram (om26er)]

the issue i believe should be fixed in the .desktop file of Idle.

[Michael Devenish (mdevenish)]

Using Oneiric Beta, if I do a new install of IDLE from the software centre and select the "add to launcher" option when installing from the program info page of software centre, the icon does appear in the launcher and IDLE launches when clicked. However, if I install it without clicking "add to launcher" from the software centre and run it from the Dash, the grey question mark is displayed in the launcher (displays "Python Shell" when the mouse is over it). Right clicking on the question mark allows me to select "keep in launcher", which it does, but it doesn't start IDLE when clicked.

[Someone (temp4746)]

This issue still happens in Oneiric stable.

[Calvin Li (calvin-li-lt)]

NB: This is due to a well-known problem: /usr/bin/idle does not open any windows itself; rather, it is a script that tells python to open windows. For example, xprop gives

WM_NAME(STRING) = "Python Shell"
WM_CLASS(STRING) = "37676240", "Toplevel"

So Unity cannot tell what application opened the window, and thus cannot assign an icon.

[Endika Ibarlucea (skilh49)]

This issue still happens in Precise Pangolin LTS.

[nuovodna (nuovodna)]

same situation on Raring

[Alberto Salvia Novella (es20490446e)]

Status changed to 'Triaged' because the bug is:

- Valid.
- Well described.
- Reported in the upstream bug tracker (Launchpad).
- Ready to be worked on by a developer.

[Alberto Salvia Novella (es20490446e)]

If you are experiencing this bug in any currently supported Ubuntu version, please:

1. Into the tag list, add the affected release name.
2. Set this bug status back to "confirmed".

Thank you.

[Hans Joachim Desserud (hjd)]

I just tested this on Ubuntu 16.04. Both Idle and Idle3 displays an icon in the launcher as expected, so I believe this can be marked fix released.

[Michael Devenish (mdevenish)]

The icon for Idle (both Python 2.7 and 3.x) also displays in the launcher, as expected, for me on Ubuntu 16.04 and 14.04. I haven't tested it on 12.04 or 15.10.