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I want to open a startup application in background, but i dont want too see it in common Unity panel at the left side.

At the worst it will be at the task bar (where there is a clock).
Thanks for your time.

PrtSc: running "test.desktop" with "gcalctool". You see its icon with picture "question mark!" Link to PrtSc

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2 Answers 2

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I don't think it'd be possible in Unity, because the top bar is reserved for menus. But if you want it, you can install any other Desktop Environment like XFCE or LXDE. Then you can install some dock like AWN, Cairo Dock, etc.

Xubuntu with dock

enter image description here

Lubuntu with dock

enter image description here

More on docks: http://www.omgubuntu.co.uk/2010/04/you-choose-the-best-dock-for-ubuntu-poll.

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  • Thanks for article about docks. But now i stay on Unity and i hope the trouble may be solved.
    – Nwbie
    Sep 1, 2012 at 12:56
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The way an application is represented in Unity is defined in its .desktop file. In case we do not want an icon to appear in the Unity Launcher we may call an application from a .desktop file where we do not reference an icon, e.g.

[Desktop Entry]
Name=Calculator No Icon
Comment=Perform arithmetic, scientific or financial calculations
Exec=gcalctool
Terminal=false
Icon=
Type=Application

You can test this by saving this example in ~/.local/share/applications/<anyname>.desktop. Give this file executable permission to be able to run it from double click in Nautilus. Notice that the icon in the Launcher will be replaced by an empty space.

enter image description here

There is no guarantee that removing the Icon= reference in its .desktop file prevents showing an icon as every window may define an icon representation at runtime. This can be seen when we remove the /usr/share/applications/gcalctool.desktop file. Still gcalctool will show its icon in the Launcher when run from a terminal.

In any case we are not able to remove the empty placeholder for a graphical application that opens a window on the desktop.

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  • 1. I want to hide a graphical app TeamViewer at all. Is it impossible, right? 2. I have opened this file, but there are any same strings (Exec=gksu /usr/bin/x-terminal-emulator) in it. Could i add new?
    – Nwbie
    Sep 1, 2012 at 21:49
  • Sorry, could i make "try.desktop" instead or addition old file? Will it file launch after reboot?
    – Nwbie
    Sep 2, 2012 at 9:33
  • I tried with gcalctool (even with "NoDisplay=true"). However there is a icon at the common panel which picture is "question mark". Sad ;/
    – Nwbie
    Sep 3, 2012 at 21:28
  • Interesting moment: when i close Rhythmbox it does not close. However its icon disappear.
    – Nwbie
    Sep 3, 2012 at 22:07
  • Sorry, could you tell me about situation ".desktop" and gcalctool ? is it graphical application or not? It does not disappear from Unity Launcher (test with gcalctool).
    – Nwbie
    Sep 4, 2012 at 18:25

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