Mate Menu is freaking out.

MattX

It don't know what's going on but my Mate Menu's items are not in the same categories as in the Menu Editor. Also a new category called 'collection' (kolekcja in polish) with a star icon appeared in the menu from nowhere containg all the stuff I installed in past few days. It's not visible in the editor, so I can't remove it. The Classic Menu applet seems to look fairly normal but that 'collection' category is still there. Brisk Menu freaked out the most.

kyrios

I can't reproduce this issue. There is a "All" menu item with a star as icon, but it is the 2nd one on your screenshot.

According to the screenshot you are using brisk-menu.
Could you try with another menu applet like mate-menu or mate-menus (one of them appears as Advanced MATE Menu and the other as Classic Menu I think).

If it doesnt work, you can try to reset the panel to default with mate-panel --reset

MattX

kyrios I did what you recommended. I knew this command before but I didn't want to lose my GNOME 2 layout (that's not a big problem. I can set it up in few minutes). The 'collection' category disappeared (I don't know for how long), but there's still a weird thing with Steam and Linux Steam Integration shortcuts. In the editor they are in the proper category (Games), but in the menu Steam is in the Internet category and Linux Steam Integration in the Preferences category. Unchecking and checking them again in the editor doesn't solve this.

Edit: I unchecked the mentioned shortcuts in the wrong categories and unchecked and checked in the right one. It worked. For now. I will setup my layout and let you know if it freaks out again. Thanks for your help. 😀

MattX

kyrios Could you tell me where panel layout config file is, so I will make a backup in case if I will need to reset the panels again?

kyrios

You can launch dconf Editor and look somewhere under / org / mate

MattX

I had to install dconf-editor and I've found something under org.mate.panel but I don't know how to make a backup. This tool looks like something that can make a lot of mess when used wrong.

WetGeek

MattX I don't know how to make a backup

If you do a forum search for "restic," the first result might be a help. And yeah, the dconf editor can wreak a path of destruction if you aren't careful. It can also fix a lot if you are careful.

MattX

I checked the contents of Classic Menu and Compact menu Mate applets and this 'collection' category with a star for an icon is still there, but there's no such a thing in the menu editor. Weird stuff.

WetGeek That's why I'm not going to mess with it.

WetGeek

MattX That's why I'm not going to mess with it.

😄

MattX

WetGeek Seriously, I'm scared if I start clicking those toggles my Solus will turn into Cyberpunk 2077 like f*ckery.

MattX

Unfortunately the menu contents freak out when new app is installed. As before only Compact Menu and Classic Menu applets have everything in proper categories as in editor, but this weird 'collection' category is still there. In the Brisk Menu there's a mess.

Edit: After reseting the panels it goes back to normal, but after reboot and login it's wrong again. 😅

Edit: And it seems to happen only when panel is modified from the Default layout. When I reset the the panel to default, don't modify it to my layout and reboot then menu looks normal, without this weird 'collection' category in all of the available menu applets. 🤔

elfprince

MattX Why don't you try another DE, say Budgie, and see how it works for you? 😃

WetGeek

elfprince Why don't you try another DE
MattX

Indeed. There's probably a reason why MATE is the least-downloaded DE on my torrent server. (Maybe because it's billed as the DE for low-powered computers?)

I personally use Plasma on my daily-use laptop and other computer here, and Budgie on the ones I seldom use (only because I haven't bothered to install Plasma on those yet). Until you try Solus' other DEs, you won't know how they'll work for you, but it seems like you're not having a lot of fun with MATE. Why continue?

I started out with Budgie, and was happy with that DE for years.

MattX

WetGeek Mate is awesome but it has it's quirks. I'm a nostalgic jackass. I switched to Linux in GNOME 2 Ubuntu era.

And I use it because I got HP550 laptop. This is a kind of machine that homeless hobos use as a beer coaster.

Axios

I have been messing with gnome extensions I installed arc menu from gnome extensions you can have all types of menus But that does not address your problem. But I have had no problems with arc menu. (just a thought) Oh stay away from menu editors they can really mess things up! they should not but do.

MattX

For now I'm using the default layout because the menu looks normal that way. I hope the bug will disappear one day so I will be able to use my custom layout without menu being messed up. 😅 Mate still fits me the best. Solus theme looks awesome and the OS is fast and responsive on my 🥔. This weird bug won't make me to switch to another distro or DE. Budgie is great but it's not a good choice for over 10 old office-grade laptop. The same for GNOME 4. KDE could be ok, but it's kinda overwhelming and too fancy for my taste.