Missing tray icons if processes start before Unity does

[igi]

Binary package hint: unity

Since I prefer some applications are minimized in the tray bar (Skype, Pidgin, Mobloquer, etc.), I have added them to the Unity whitelist. These applications are also set to start at logon.
Now, sometimes it happens that these applications are not visible in the traybar. If I check in system monitor, I can see they are actually running. If I kill their processes and start them again, icons are correctly shown.
I guess this is due to the fact Unity is not able to "grab" these application at startup, maybe because they start before Unity is loaded.

ProblemType: Bug
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 11.04
Package: unity 3.8.8-0ubuntu2
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 2.6.38-8.42-generic 2.6.38.2
Uname: Linux 2.6.38-8-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]
Date: Tue Apr 19 00:22:35 2011
InstallationMedia: Ubuntu 11.04 "Natty Narwhal" - Beta i386 (20110413)
ProcEnviron:
 LANGUAGE=it_IT:en
 LANG=it_IT.UTF-8
 SHELL=/bin/bash
SourcePackage: unity
UpgradeStatus: No upgrade log present (probably fresh install)

[Bilal Akhtar (bilalakhtar)]

Could you try killing these applications and making them start again and see if the icons come up?

[igi (igor-cali)]

@Bilal: yes, I forgot to mention... Killing processing and restarting resuls in the correct behaviour.
Bug description updated.

[Kieran Hogg (xerosis)]

Confirming this, I see a 1px x 1px dot instead of my skype icon in the tray. Restarting the process shows the icon properly.

[Luis Fernando Planella Gonzalez (luisfpg)]

As a temporary workaround, I've created a script which sleeps a few seconds before starting skype, and added it as the session start.

[satyadeep.1991 (satyadeep-1991)]

The pidgin icon does not come up in the tray. When the pidgin is closed, it is still running but not even visible in the launcher and tray.

[Dmitry Murat (dmitry-murat)]

Confirmed at 11.04 x64 updated from 10.10.
I also get green pixel 1x1 instead of standard Skype icon.
If I'm not mistaken by its placement it's top left point of skype icon.
And if I close and reopen Skype its is shown correctly.

[Martin Wolfertz (mwolfer1-gmail)]

Problem occurs in Ubuntu Classic as well. Closing and re-opening does not resolve the problem.

[Kieran Hogg (xerosis)]

Just to be clear, if the app is not skype or a wine or java application, this is by design.

[Willem (withaar)]

Hi all,

I have had the same problem. I also used the sleep option mentioned above and it works like a charm. The script below is a wrapper script I use for skype - it also fixes an interfacing problem with the webcam for me (upside down image). Create a script "skype-wrapper" in /usr/bin, copy the text in it, and make it executable. Run it instead of skype and all should be well.

This is a kluge fix though - long term skype should be packaged for unity/ubuntu to work without delay or fixes.

[Vasil Gyurdzhekliev (mast3rboy)]

Got the same problem in Ubuntu Classic. Killing the process does not help.

[Travis Pew (travisp)]

"Just to be clear, if the app is not skype or a wine or java application, this is by design."

It's by design that it creates 1px dots? It's also by design that if a script sleeps for a few seconds and then starts the application that the tray icon then *does* appear?

Besides this, I think Unity should respect the "whitelisting" setting, it does not for applications in the startup applications list, regardless of whether or not they are whitelisted. Only, if they are not whitelisted, you won't see a little pixel spot.