Change default browser in openbox [Solved]

[kc1di]

How do I change the default browser in openbox?
Thanks,
dave
 

[djohnston]

I think you mean the "Browser" in the main menu. Open ~/.config/openbox/menu.xml in a text editor. Scroll about halfway down and you'll see a section with <menu id = "root-menu" label="Openbox 3">. Look for the line <item label="Web Browser">. The next line down, beginning with <action name=, you'll see the name of the web browser being called. Change just the name of the executable that calls the browser you want. For example, to call Firefox, the line would read:

<action name="Execute"><command>firefox</command></action>

(~ is your home directory)

[kc1di]

Thanks for the reply djohnston,
But that did not seem to work.
 

[djohnston]

Log out and log back in.

[kc1di]

did that still didn't work.
When I click on a link in Slypheed it always opens firefox. I was trying to get it to use Chromium.
it's not big deal just wanted to change it .

[djohnston]

When I click on a link in Slypheed it always opens firefox. I was trying to get it to use Chromium.
it's not big deal just wanted to change it .

Okay, that's a totally different situation than the one I described, which is changing the Web Browser called from the Openbox menu.

Look at Sylpheed Claw's settings.

EDIT: You don't change Openbox settings. You change the browser's. Start Chromium. Find the option to make it the default browser and set it. (I don't know where the option is.)

[Neal ManBear]

Try this:     
In your terminal

Code:

libfm-pref-apps

     
This will launch libfm's preferred applications wizard. (Libfm is the lib for PCManFM.) Enter chromium-browser in the web browser field.     

[Taco.22]

I'm not sure what the issue with Chromium-browser is, but Neal's suggestion didn't work for me, and if you go into Chromium's preferences it states "Chromium cannot determine or set the default browser".  It is something I noticed a while ago as other browsers give you the option of setting them as default.

PS - don't apt-get install Chromium - you wind up with a @#$%& game

[kc1di]

I'm not sure what the issue with Chromium-browser is, but Neal's suggestion didn't work for me, and if you go into Chromium's preferences it states "Chromium cannot determine or set the default browser".  It is something I noticed a while ago as other browsers give you the option of setting them as default.

PS - don't apt-get install Chromium - you wind up with a @#$%& game

Yes that the same problem I'm experiencing haven't had a chance to try Neal's fix yet will later today. (Thank you Neal)

[marcin82]

Check out if you have installed package:

Code:

update-alternatives

If the package is installed simply type (#):

Code:

update-alternatives --config x-www-browser

and choose default browser ;]

[djohnston]

This was done on my Openbox installation:

[darrel@Duron ~]$ update-alternatives --config x-www-browser
No alternatives for x-www-browser.
update-alternatives: unable to open /var/lib/rpm/alternatives/x-www-browser.rpm-new for write: Permission denied
[darrel@Duron ~]$ su
Password:
[root@Duron darrel]# update-alternatives --config x-www-browser
No alternatives for x-www-browser.
[root@Duron darrel]#

If Neal's method doesn't work, try adding export BROWSER="/usr/bin/google-chrome" to the end of your ~/.bashrc file. I'm not sure of the path or executable filename for Chromium, so you'll have to substitute it for "/usr/bin/google-chrome". I believe this should work for LXDE, as well.

[Neal ManBear]

"google-chrome" won't work. The browser's name is "chromium-browser."    
So /usr/bin/chromium-browser would be the path.     

[kc1di]

Thanks guys for all the suggestions so far no gold star though FF is still the default browser.

Will keep looking got to be some way to do it in openbox.

Dave

[Taco.22]

Yep, tried marcin82's idea - no go.  Tried djohnston's ~/.bashrc file idea with "chromium-browser" - no go.  Tried FF as default browser - bingo, it works.  The problem seems to lie with Chromium.  I did a bit of googling - this is not an uncommon issue - and found this - http://crunchbanglinux.org/forums/topic/13777/solved-wrong-web-browser-launched-ie-not-the-default-web-browser/.  Feel free to wade through it - it gets more interesting as you go.  I'm still trying to digest it!!     

[Taco.22]

Got it!!  Found the answer here - http://www.andyheasman.com/linux/cookbook.htm.  Make sure gconf is installed, then launch Chromium from the terminal with "GNOME_DESKTOP_SESSION_ID=1 chromium-browser".  Chromium will launch with a pulldown menu that asks if you want it to be the default browser.  Click yes and all will be set.  Now links in Thunderbird open automatically in Chromium!  Give it a go - it worked for me.  Solves a minor irritant I've been putting up with for some time.

Note - kc1di - no such thing as a silly question .  Well done.