How To: Main Menu Icons NOT in a Submenu

Some time ago I emailed the author of LXmed (LXmenu Editor). He said he would include this technique in a future release: the ability to simply add items to the Lxpanel main menu, NOT in a submenu! I've also posted this/got help from LXDE's forums, but I wanted to spread it around for the species of reptilian ground-dweller who uses LXDE.

Here's a mini tutorial on how to get something like this for your main menu:

Doing this could not be easier, or handier for customization compulsives.

Step 1

Go to ~/.config/lxpanel/LXDE/panels and open the configuration file "panel"
Laugh at the suggestion at the top of the file advising you not to change it.

Step 2

Change the "plugins" section to refer DIRECTLY to your programs of choice. Here is my full plugins section for ease:

Code:

Plugin {
type = menu
Config {
image=/home/churly/Pictures/multi-start.png
item {
action=xfe
image=/home/churly/Pictures/startmenu/mainmenu-stable-cyan2.png
name=Files
}
item {
action=chromium
image=/home/churly/Pictures/startmenu/mainmenu-stable-cyan2.png
name=Web
}
item {
action=leafpad
image=/home/churly/Pictures/startmenu/mainmenu-stable-cyan2.png
name=Write
}
item {
action=deluge
image=/home/churly/Pictures/startmenu/mainmenu-stable-cyan2.png
name=Torrent
}
item {
action=lostirc
image=/home/churly/Pictures/startmenu/mainmenu-stable-cyan2.png
name=Chat
}
item {
action=mtpaint
image=/home/churly/Pictures/startmenu/mainmenu-stable-cyan2.png
name=Draw
}
item {
action=lxterminal
image=/home/churly/Pictures/startmenu/mainmenu-stable-cyan2.png
name=Terminal
}
system {
}
}
}

So if these are not obvious:

action = the command you want to run
image = path to a custom picture
name = the name you want to appear on the main menu

Please notice after the custom entries, there is a "system" entry. I believe this allows new programs to show up on the main menu, but they will not be pretty, they will resurrect the submenus, and will in general destroy the beautiful plainness. So if you don't want programs appearing AT ALL on the main menu after they are installed/upgraded, just remove the "system" entry, and you will have complete, manual control over your main menu.

Make your changes and save the file. You may have wanted to back up that file first. Too late now!

Step 3

Run the command:
lxpanelctl restart

This should be enough to refresh your new main menu. There's also:
openbox --reconfigure
But neither that, nor a reset, should be necessary.

Step 4

Optional: Use LXmed to delete, or make invisible, entries/menus that you want to tweak, especially if you are choosing to keep "system".

Step 5

Tell princethrash how to add a colored border around his main menu, because he obviously doesn't know.

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