Problems getting Skype to autostart. [SOLVED]

[AndyInMokum]

Sunday greetings from a very sunny morning in Amsterdam.  I'm trying to get Skype to autostart after a 15sec delay.  I've created a little sleep script that's been tested and it works.

Code: [Select]

#!/bin/bash
sleep 15
display=:0.0 skype -c /usr/share/applications/Skype

This is where I'm stuck.  This is what I have in my Autostart for Skype:

Code: [Select]

[Desktop Entry]
Name=SkypeAutostart
Comment=Run Skype delay script
Exec=/home/andy/.config/autostart/skype-15sec-delay.sh
Terminal=false

When I log in or, boot, autostart doesn't find skype-15sec-delay.sh.  I have to be doing something really stupid and I can't see it.  Any suggestions? 

Just to add: I have other items in Autostart and when I open them I see that files such as my Conky Autostart have colours in the text after it is saved.  The file I created for Skype remains in monochrome after it is has been saved.  I don't know if this indicates something or not. 

[PCNetSpec]

Try adding a "Type=Application" line to your .desktop file

Code: [Select]

[Desktop Entry]
Type=Application
Name=SkypeAutostart
Comment=Run Skype delay script
Exec=/home/andy/.config/autostart/skype-15sec-delay.sh
Terminal=false

if that still doesn't work, post the output from:

Code: [Select]

ls -a ~/.config/autostart

[AndyInMokum]

Thanks for that.  I tried inserting that line, saved and did a restart.  It still didn't work.  Here is the requested output from

Code: [Select]

ls -a ~/.config/autostart

:

Spoiler (click here to view / hide)

andy@andy-AMILO-Li3710 ~ $ ls -a ~/.config/autostart
.                               skype-15sec-delay.sh
..                              spideroak-custom-autostart.desktop
conky-autostart-5sec-delay.sh~  spideroak-custom-autostart.desktop~
conky-autostart-6sec-delay.sh   terminator-autostart-25sec-delay.sh
conky-autostart.desktop         terminator-autostart.desktop
conky-autostart.desktop~        touchpad-pause.desktop
docky.desktop                   Unstarted
dropbox.desktop                 xfce4-power-manager.desktop
gnome-keyring-gpg.desktop       xfce4-power-manager.desktop~
shutter.desktop
andy@andy-AMILO-Li3710 ~ $

[close]

[PCNetSpec]

So where is the file that reads:

Code: [Select]

[Desktop Entry]
Type=Application
Name=SkypeAutostart
Comment=Run Skype delay script
Exec=/home/andy/.config/autostart/skype-15sec-delay.sh
Terminal=false

and what is it called ?

[AndyInMokum]

So where is the file that reads:

Code: [Select]

[Desktop Entry]
Type=Application
Name=SkypeAutostart
Comment=Run Skype delay script
Exec=/home/andy/.config/autostart/skype-15sec-delay.sh
Terminal=false

and what is it called ?

Sorry, I'm not sure if I'm understanding the question correctly.  I have the Skype delayed start script located at:

Code: [Select]

/home/andy/.config/autostart

The name of the file is:

Code: [Select]

skype-15sec-delay.sh

I hope that is what you are looking for.

[PCNetSpec]

In your original post you said...

This is what I have in my Autostart for Skype:

Code: [Select]

[Desktop Entry]
Name=SkypeAutostart
Comment=Run Skype delay script
Exec=/home/andy/.config/autostart/skype-15sec-delay.sh
Terminal=false

You then went on to say

The file I created for Skype remains in monochrome after it is has been saved.

Where is this file, and what is it called ?

[AndyInMokum]

In your original post you said...

This is what I have in my Autostart for Skype:

Code: [Select]

[Desktop Entry]
Type=Application
Name=SkypeAutostart
Comment=Run Skype delay script
Exec=/home/andy/.config/autostart/skype-15sec-delay.sh
Terminal=false

You then went on to say

The file I created for Skype remains in monochrome after it is has been saved.

Where is this file, and what is it called ?

Sorry, I had to think for a moment.  I think we've got our wires crossed.

The file I created for Skype remains in monochrome after it is has been saved.

This should have read:

This  file I just created for the Skype autostart remains in monochrome after it is has been saved.

  It is this file I'm speaking of:

Code: [Select]

[Desktop Entry]
Type=Application
Name=SkypeAutostart
Comment=Run Skype delay script
Type=Application
Exec=/home/andy/.config/autostart/skype-15sec-delay.sh
Terminal=false

After this is saved, the labels: Name, Comment, Exec and Terminal remain in regular mono chrome.  Other autostart items that I have created, the labels change colour on save.  I hope that's ironed out the confusion.  Sorry about that  !

[AndyInMokum]

In your original post you said...

This is what I have in my Autostart for Skype:

Code: [Select]

[Desktop Entry]
Type=Application
Name=SkypeAutostart
Comment=Run Skype delay script
Exec=/home/andy/.config/autostart/skype-15sec-delay.sh
Terminal=false

You then went on to say

The file I created for Skype remains in monochrome after it is has been saved.

Where is this file, and what is it called ?

Sorry, I had to think for a moment.  I think we've got our wires crossed.

The file I created for Skype remains in monochrome after it is has been saved.

This should have read:

This  file I just created for the Skype autostart remains in monochrome after it is has been saved.

  It is this file I'm speaking of:

Code: [Select]

[Desktop Entry]
Type=Application
Name=SkypeAutostart
Comment=Run Skype delay script
Type=Application
Exec=/home/andy/.config/autostart/skype-15sec-delay.sh
Terminal=false

After this is saved, the labels: Name, Comment, Exec and Terminal remain in regular mono chrome.  Other autostart items that I have created, the labels change colour on save.  I hope that's ironed out the confusion.  Sorry about that  !

It is as if the .desktop file I created is not being recognized.

[PCNetSpec]

I repeat .. where is the .desktop file ?

and what is it called ?

Gimme the full path to the .desktop file.

[AndyInMokum]

Hi and thanks for the help.  Sorry for being thick but I am not too sure what the .desktop file is. I'm hoping that this is it. 

Code: [Select]

/home/andy/config/autostart/SkypeAutostart

I was having trouble yesterday with my screen blanking out ever 10 min.  Mac suggested I enter

Code: [Select]

xset s 0 0

to disable the blanking for the session.  To make it more permanent, the Lubuntu forum suggests editing .profile by adding

Code: [Select]

xset s 0 0

to the start of the file so it looks like this:

Spoiler (click here to view / hide)

xset s 0 0
# ~/.profile: executed by the command interpreter for login shells.
# This file is not read by bash(1), if ~/.bash_profile or ~/.bash_login
# exists.
# see /usr/share/doc/bash/examples/startup-files for examples.
# the files are located in the bash-doc package.
# the default umask is set in /etc/profile; for setting the umask
# for ssh logins, install and configure the libpam-umask package.
#umask 022
# if running bash
if [ -n "$BASH_VERSION" ]; then
    # include .bashrc if it exists
    if [ -f "$HOME/.bashrc" ]; then
   . "$HOME/.bashrc"
    fi
fi

# set PATH so it includes user's private bin if it exists
if [ -d "$HOME/bin" ] ; then
    PATH="$HOME/bin:$PATH"
fi

[close]

Could this be causing the problem?  I hope not because it appears to be working.  I hope this helps and more importantly, I hope I've given you the right info.  Many thanks

[PCNetSpec]

No ..

What's causing the problem is the file that is in monochrome .. it needs fixing

But here's MY problem .. you keep saying yoou've changed it's contents, but I have NO IDEA where this file is on your system or what it's called.

You SAY it's at
/home/andy/config/autostart/SkypeAutostart
(is that a typo btw "config" instead of ",config" ?)

but your earlier listing of that directory doesn't show it

Code: [Select]

andy@andy-AMILO-Li3710 ~ $ ls -a ~/.config/autostart
.                               skype-15sec-delay.sh
..                              spideroak-custom-autostart.desktop
conky-autostart-5sec-delay.sh~  spideroak-custom-autostart.desktop~
conky-autostart-6sec-delay.sh   terminator-autostart-25sec-delay.sh
conky-autostart.desktop         terminator-autostart.desktop
conky-autostart.desktop~        touchpad-pause.desktop
docky.desktop                   Unstarted
dropbox.desktop                 xfce4-power-manager.desktop
gnome-keyring-gpg.desktop       xfce4-power-manager.desktop~
shutter.desktop
andy@andy-AMILO-Li3710 ~ $ 

I could easily tell you how to add a .desktop file that would autostart your script .. but you may end up with 2 .. so It would be nice to track down the file and either delete it, or fix it.

What's the output from:

Code: [Select]

grep -ir skype ~/.config/autostart

[AndyInMokum]

Sorry Mark.  Yes that is a definite typo.  The path should read:

Code: [Select]

/home/andy/.config/autostart/SkypeAutostart

The SkypeAutostart being the file name.  The only two files I have created are the little sleep script that works when tested and the SkypeAutostart one. Here is the output that you have requested. 

Spoiler (click here to view / hide)

andy@andy-AMILO-Li3710 ~ $ grep -ir skype ~/.config/autostart
/home/andy/.config/autostart/skype-15sec-delay.sh:display=:0.0 skype -c /usr/share/applications/Skype
/home/andy/.config/autostart/SkypeAutostart:Name=SkypeAutostart
/home/andy/.config/autostart/SkypeAutostart:Comment=Run Skype delay script
/home/andy/.config/autostart/SkypeAutostart:Exec=/home/andy/.config/autostart/skype-15sec-delay.sh
andy@andy-AMILO-Li3710 ~ $

[close]

I am sorry, it was the .desktop file that threw me for a loop.   That and old wonky eyes. As I said in a previous quote. I added the line:

Code: [Select]

xset s 00

to the top of the file:

Code: [Select]

~/.profile

to resolve a screen blanking issue.  That is the last edit I did before the autostart issue showed itself.

All of the autostart items I have previously made, Conky and Terminator continue to function normally and as expected.

[PCNetSpec]

OK, run:

Code: [Select]

cd ~/.config/autostart

then

Code: [Select]

rm -v SkypeAutostart

then

Code: [Select]

gedit /home/andy/.config/autostart/skype_autostart.desktop

and make it read:

Code: [Select]

[Desktop Entry]
Type=Application
Name=SkypeAutostart
Comment=Run Skype delay script
Exec=/home/andy/.config/autostart/skype-15sec-delay.sh
Terminal=false

SAVE the file.

Log off/on to test.

[AndyInMokum]

That did the trick.  I now have to go and read some more to find out what I was doing wrong  .  Many thanks  .

[PCNetSpec]

Please remember to mark the FIRST posting in the topic (SOLVED), not the last one

I've done this one for you.


You'd named the file "SkypeAutostart", insted of say "SkypeAutostart.desktop"

The file needs to be called

some_name_or_other.desktop

Though once you populate it correctly it will display in pcmanfm by the name in the
Name=
line.

.desktop files are odd in this respect, their ACTUAL name needs to end with .desktop .. but when you add a "Name=" line to them their name will APPEAR to change in the GUI file manager .. but not in the command line.