On Kubuntu SimDock can't load the background

[Giuseppe Cardone]

Binary package hint: simdock

On Kubuntu SimDock shows two error messages on start:

"Can't load image from file '/usr/share/backgrounds/warty-final-ubuntu.png': file does not exist"

And:

"Error! Could not load Background Image!"

The problem is that gconf doesn't correctly report the current wallpaper. The fix I've found is to run:

gconftool -t str -s /desktop/gnome/background/picture_filename "$(dcop kdesktop KBackgroundIface currentWallpaper foo)"

This should fix the problem on KDE 3.x. A possible fix would be to wrap simdock in a bash script and run gconftool if the current desktop environment is KDE.

[Saivann Carignan (oxmosys)]

Thanks for your bug report. Can your confirm that you are using the latest Kubuntu Hardy release? I also had this problem with Linux Ubuntu Hardy alpha 4 but it's fixed since alpha 5.

[Giuseppe Cardone (ippatsuman)]

I just did a clean install of Kubuntu 8.04 Alpha 5 and I can confirm the bug.
Running gconftool -g /desktop/gnome/background/picture_filename returns:

No value set for `/desktop/gnome/background/picture_filename'

Executing gconftool -t str -s /desktop/gnome/background/picture_filename "$(dcop kdesktop KBackgroundIface currentWallpaper foo)"
fixes it.

[Kevin (kevin64-deactivatedaccount)]

Confirmed in Ubuntu 8.04 final relase

[spydouglas (ben-wibking)]

This bug still appears to exist in Jaunty; is there a status update?

[Saivann Carignan (oxmosys)]

Sadly, simdock last update was on 2007.. That's not very promising.

[Jesse Katzman (j-kat)]

For those who haven't heard of it, please try "cairo-dock". It is the best dock I've found for Linux.

[[e-mail] (don-borsto)]

gconftool -g /desktop/gnome/background/picture_filename on Jaunty returns:

    /usr/share/backgrounds/warty-final-ubuntu.png

Does anyone have a workaround for XFCE?

[actionparsnip (andrew-woodhead666)]

I just sorted this out. Run gconf-editor and browse to /desktop/gnome/background/
Doubleclick picture_filename and set it to whatever image you are using as your desktop wallpaper (full path).

Works a treat