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List:       kde-devel
Subject:    standardizing desktop entry files
From:       <pbrown () redhat ! com>
Date:       1999-05-01 19:10:59
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A few weeks ago, we discussed the possibility of standardizing the desktop
entry files so that both KDE and GNOME can use the same file format
without any sort of conversion steps in between.

Right now, the two formats are largely identical.  There are a few minor
differences:

1. GNOME desktop entries have the extension .desktop, KDE ones .kdelnk.
GNOME also seems to be able to "do the right thing" when the extension is
missing based on magic mime stuff, and KDE largely does as well.  At least
KFM does... the panel does not.  This could easily change. I suppose we
would make it look for .desktop files first, followed by .kdelnk files for
backwards compatibility, finally use mime-magic to look for a desktop file
without an extension.

2. KDE entries contain the toplevel group [KDE Desktop Entry].  GNOME
entries simplified this to [Desktop Entry].  This seems reasonable and
generic.  I would motion that we adopt Desktop Entry, and fall back to KDE
Desktop Entry if this group isn't present.  This would be some work in
KConfig of course, but nothing difficult.

3. GNOME uses png files almost exclusively.  KDE largely makes use of XPM
instead.  However, they both have the ability to read the other file
format...I'm just not sure KPanel/KFM/Konquerer currently understand .png
format icons.  I know that GNOME does (support XPM icons), because I
worked closely with the RHAD labs on integrating KDE menu support into
their panel for Red Hat Linux 6.0.

There may be some other issues that I haven't addressed, but I can only
see this as a good thing.  If people disagree, please make your concerns
known, and give specifics of the problems you are finding.  Otherwise,
let's go forward with this.

---
  Preston Brown                                    Systems Engineer
  pbrown@redhat.com                                Red Hat Software, Inc. 

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