XFCE: Hiding an application from the taskbar

Question

I am running Xubuntu 14.04.2 and running the standard window manager with the default window buttons applet through xfce4-panel. I need to hide an application from the taskbar so that it only appears on the Alt-Tab menu and not on the panel.

Any idea as to how this can be done? I know this is possible as the calendar utility Orage has this option in built. It should be possible to tinker around and make this possible for any app.

Solution 1

The fastest and easiest way to remove from taskbar a particular window is to use the special string :SELECT: in wmctrl:

wmctrl -r :SELECT: -b add,skip_taskbar

...now you will only have to click on the window that you want to hide.

If you need to return this window to the taskbar, use

wmctrl -r :SELECT: -b remove,skip_taskbar

---

Sourses:

• Muehe answer is helped me
• wmctrl -h

Solution 2

A way to do it without Devil's Pie (2):

• Do:

  xprop | grep "CLASS"

  and click on the window you want to remove from taskbar.

• This will return something like WM_CLASS(STRING) = "name", "name"

• Make a program startup script or run once, depending on your preference:

  wmctrl -x -r name.name -b add,skip_taskbar

Sources:

• https://forum.xfce.org/viewtopic.php?id=6755
• https://bbs.archlinux.org/viewtopic.php?id=133254
• Google

Comments

[Admin]

+1 because I have tested this works in Xubuntu 14.04 (Xfce 4.10). For Xfce, the option for 'skip' properties need to be unchecked similarly, otherwise the application will be hidden in Alt-Tab also.

[Admin]

The forum has mentioned the hiding setup will be lost when the window is quit, which I have confirmed. If this had a way to make the setup persistent for any registered windows, this may have been the easier solution than the Devil's Pie.

[abu_bua]

Hi Eneym! Placce a link of the answer and not of the poster (Muehe).