Calibre fails to work with system tray in Linux Mint 18.2 Cinnamon

benmordecai · 06-30-2017, 06:58 PM

To start Calibre in the system tray, normally you can execute the command:

Code:

calibre --start-in-tray

When I do it, it always fails and opens in a normal window. Executing the above instruction in the terminal tells me:

Code:

Failed to create system tray icon, your desktop environment probably does not support the StatusNotifier spec

It would surprise me if this was really true, since I have other tray icons working like Teamviewer, Fl.ux, and Syncthing-GTK working in the tray.

I tried installing KDE and booting into it, and the problem was solved, but I don't plan on continuing to use KDE and Cinnamon side-by-side on the same OS install. Also, in my troubleshooting, I learned the devs recommend uninstalling the version of Calibre that is in the OS repositories and instead install the binary with a wget command from the Calibre website.

Is the calibre system tray icon really incompatible with the Cinnamon tray? If so, is there another tray I could install?

kovidgoyal · 07-01-2017, 12:23 AM

Yes, it really is. You need a tray that implements the StatusNotifier spec. calibre does not support the obsolete X window based status icons as they have many issues.

benmordecai · 07-01-2017, 12:31 AM

Kovid, I am humbled you took the time to respond, thank you. I will research how to add a new system tray.

06-30-2017, 06:58 PM	#1
benmordecai Junior Member Posts: 2 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jun 2017 Device: iPad, Kindle, Google Play Books for Android	Calibre fails to work with system tray in Linux Mint 18.2 Cinnamon To start Calibre in the system tray, normally you can execute the command: Code: calibre --start-in-tray When I do it, it always fails and opens in a normal window. Executing the above instruction in the terminal tells me: Code: Failed to create system tray icon, your desktop environment probably does not support the StatusNotifier spec It would surprise me if this was really true, since I have other tray icons working like Teamviewer, Fl.ux, and Syncthing-GTK working in the tray. I tried installing KDE and booting into it, and the problem was solved, but I don't plan on continuing to use KDE and Cinnamon side-by-side on the same OS install. Also, in my troubleshooting, I learned the devs recommend uninstalling the version of Calibre that is in the OS repositories and instead install the binary with a wget command from the Calibre website. Is the calibre system tray icon really incompatible with the Cinnamon tray? If so, is there another tray I could install?

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07-01-2017, 12:23 AM	#2
kovidgoyal creator of calibre Posts: 43,930 Karma: 22669822 Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Mumbai, India Device: Various	Yes, it really is. You need a tray that implements the StatusNotifier spec. calibre does not support the obsolete X window based status icons as they have many issues.

07-01-2017, 12:31 AM	#3
benmordecai Junior Member Posts: 2 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jun 2017 Device: iPad, Kindle, Google Play Books for Android	Kovid, I am humbled you took the time to respond, thank you. I will research how to add a new system tray.

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