Adding new computing apps

In the "computing" screen can be added new applications.

To add a new application, a template must be used, and the window class for that application must be known. Window class is a property of every X11 application.

The WM_CLASS property (of type STRING without control characters) contains two consecutive null-terminated strings. These specify the Instance and Class names to be used by both the client and the window manager for looking up resources for the application or as identifying information.

On a LinuxMCE computer

Go to computing screen.

Press admin => firefox should appear

Press Ctrl-Alt-F2 => you are at a login prompt

Log in

run the command

   export DISPLAY=:0

now you can launch GUI applications from this console

   launch your application

Press Ctrl-Alt-F7 and wait until your application appears

Press Ctrl-Alt-F3 and log in again

type these commands

   export DISPLAY=:0
   xprop | grep WM_CLASS

Press Ctrl-Alt-F7 => the cursor changed his shape to "+"

   Click somewhere in your application

=> the cursor changes back to "normal" cursor

Press Ctrl-Alt-F3 and look into your console: a line like this should appear

   WM_CLASS(STRING) = "class_instance", "class_Name"

   class_instance.class_Name is the string that will be used in the template for your application
   Remember this string, and pay attention to lowercase and uppercase characters

You can close your application an your consoles now

On another computer

Launch a terminal

Launch your application

Type in your terminal:

   xprop | grep WM_CLASS

=> the cursor changed his shape to "+"

   Click somewhere in your application

=> the cursor changes back to "normal" cursor

Look in your terminal: a line like this should appear

   WM_CLASS(STRING) = "class_instance", "class_Name"

   class_instance.class_Name is the string that will be used in the template for your application
   Remember this string, and pay attention to lowercase and uppercase characters

You can close your application an your terminal now

Using the WM_CLASS string in the template

A new application can be added to the computing screen from the media director detail page. There is a button Edit for the Computing application: The new popup window - Edit Computing Applications, will be opened with list of all available computing applications: Press the link on the bottom of that window to go to edit screen: There is another link - Add quick start template on the Edit Quick Start templates which opens a form: where you should type description for your app, the path to the binary and Window class from the previous steps. Here is an example for Skype: After submitting that form, close the Edit Quick Start templates and refresh the page Edit Computing Applications. Then tick the checkbox near added application to activate it, save it and close the window.

That's it. After a quick reloading of router the new application should appear on the left side of the computing screen.

Troubleshooting

By some reason, after adding new application the path is displayed for each apps on the computing screen instead of description. Probably the Orbiter should be fully regenerated.