Preferred applications ignored in LXDE

[Lars Noodén]

I installed xxxterm in Lubuntu and then when I clicked on links in Sylpheed (and other
apps) it got called up instead of Chromium-browser. I have set Chromium
as the preferred application in LXDE Menu->Preferences->Preferred
Applications, yet these settings are ignored.

update-alternatives --display x-www-browser shows different
values than LXDE Menu->Preferences->Preferred Applications.

It worked to manually set the preferences via update-alternatives --config x-www-browser

It should have been possible to set the application preferences in the Preferred Applications menu.

ProblemType: Bug
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 12.10
Package: libfm-gtk-bin 1.0.1-0ubuntu1
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 3.5.0-17.27-generic 3.5.5
Uname: Linux 3.5.0-17-generic x86_64
ApportVersion: 2.6.1-0ubuntu1
Architecture: amd64
Date: Tue Oct 9 20:47:43 2012
InstallationMedia: Lubuntu 12.10 "Quantal Quetzal" - Beta amd64+mac (20120926)
SourcePackage: libfm
UpgradeStatus: No upgrade log present (probably fresh install)

[Launchpad Janitor (janitor)]

Status changed to 'Confirmed' because the bug affects multiple users.

[ԜаӀtеr Ⅼарсһуnѕkі (wxl)]

First, it seems to me that this is a frontend to update-alternatives (could be wrong) and as such I would expect libfm-pref-apps to affect update-alternatives, e.g. adding an option to libfm-pref-apps should add to update-alternatives. It is not the case, however. Similarly, if all the options are the same, changing to a different option, does not change any behavior in update-alternatives.

If I am wrong and libfm-pref-apps acts entirely differently and outside of update-alternatives, I would seek to question its utility. It would appear redundant and problematic, especially considering the user-friendly option (libfm-pref-apps as update-alternatives requires the terminal) doesn't work as expected.

I should also add in 12.04 xxxterm does not install itself as an alternative to x-www-browser, but that's more of a problem with the xxxterm package.

[Lars Noodén (larsnooden)]

This bug is still present in 13.04 devel. I have Firefox set in the preferred apps, yet Ubuntu-bug and Konversation keep firing up Chromium-browser when a web page is loaded.

[LStranger (andrej-rep)]

This is not a bug but just misjudging of the application. The libfm-pref-apps was never meant to change your default browser or mail program. It is to change application which will be open when you CLICK on some Web-link in some application (in the text processor, in the About dialog, etc.), the same about mail application - the setting will be applied when you click onto e-mail address in some program. It is per-user setting, not system one, and you know that you never can use update-alternatives on per-user basis. The issue is invalid and should be closed therefore. Thank you.