Messaging Applet

[wmichaelb]

As feedback, I'm running Sparky Linux with LXDE on an older Dell X1 laptop. The biggest complaint that I have is the lack of a messaging applet as found in
Gnome 3 or Cinnamon. I run Linux Mint with Cinnamon on another laptop, and find myself using the "create a message" functionality almost constantly. It is
much quicker and more convenient to send an email that way than to open Thunderbird/Evolution/Claws/SeaMonkey/pick an email client, and on a daily basis,
that applet is the one piece of software that I personally use more than any other. Regrettably, I'm not a programmer, and can't help with that part of the solution.
I would be happy to work with folks on this issue.

Thanks for your time!

[Rex Bouwense]

Not exactly sure which applet you are talking about, but if you want to have a quick launch messaging applet to whichever messaging program you use (lets say pidgin for example) merely right click on the LXPanel and choose Add/Remove Panel Items. Choose Panel Applets and then Application Launcher Bar and then edit. Navigate to your application and add it to the LXPanel. If this is not what you are looking for, could you please be more specific.

[wmichaelb]

Rex: thanks for your reply. I'm currently out of town, but on my return, I'll post some screen shots.

[wmichaelb]

OK..on my old Ubuntu 10.04 machine running Gnome 2.6, I have an applet on the upper panel that looks like an envelope. Upon clicking on it, I get a dialog box that contains entries for:

- Chat
- Mail
- Compose new message
- Contacts
- Broadcast Account
- Pidgin

Clicking on "Compose New Message" opens a "Compose Message" window right out of Thunderbird with places to enter:

- To
- Cc:
- Subject
- Space for Content

All with the usual control entries on the top panel for File, Edit, View, Insert, Format, Security, and Send, plus some editing icons.

Similar applets are currently offered in Gnome 3.4 to 3.10, and in Cinnamon. Most work with Thunderbird, which would be my own
preference, but the old Gnome one works with Evolution, and that would work as well. Ubuntu/Unity has one, but it works only with
Gmail. KDE doesn't seem to offer it, nor does XFCE.

I prefer the applet because my ISP uses an IMAP server, and I prefer to keep my emails there, rather than to fully open an email client
and download all the emails. Yes, there are ways to prevent the download, but I've had trouble with them in the past and have lost
large blocks of my emails to those troubles. Yes, I could simply open a tab on a browser, but the applet has worked extremely well
for my daily work flow. The applet allows one to set up a specific account to send an email with, and specific accounts for chat and
IM as well, all in one place. It is the single most frequently used piece of software that I run every day after a browser.

Thanks for your time and concern!

[seppalta]

Wouldn't a direct link to your email accomplish the same end email-wise as the applet you describe? See http://lxlinux.com/#11.

[wmichaelb]

It seems like it would work, but we have a package deal with our ISP that includes DSL, unlimited local and long distance on our land line, and two cell phones for a short price. The interface to the IMAP server is a multi-step process (security?) and often means that I have to re-log in more than once. The Gnome messaging applet gets away from all that and adds IM capability, all in the same place. I simply click on the applet, click on email, and get an open compose email dialog box.

[drooly]

try

Code: Select all

thunderbird -compose

in a terminal window.
does this give the desired result?
if yes, it can be easily made into a panel launcher. we can help you with that.