---
name: "deskmenu"
section: "1"
platform: "linux"
package: "deskmenu"
version: "1.4.5+b2"
release: "Debian 11 (Bullseye)"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/deskmenu"
---

# deskmenu(1)

A root menu for X

## NAME

deskmenu - A root menu for X

## SYNTAX

deskmenu \<*argument*\>

## DESCRIPTION

DeskMenu is a root menu program which is activated by clicking the root window. It is configured from a .deskmenurc file in your home directory, see example\_rc for more details.

You can use deskmenu for session management by making it the last line of your .xinitrc and using the --quit command line option, which adds a quit option to the menu.

NOTE: Deskmenu will do nothing unless you have a ${HOME}/.deskmenurc file or a /etc/deskmenurc (/etc/deskmenurc.debian is automatically generated)\
 This manpage is specific to the debian package of deskmenu.\
 **IMPORTANT NOTE:** You have to set a keycode, when using this version of keylaunch, in your config file.

## OPTIONS

- **-b, --button=n**

  Sets which mouse button is used to invoke deskmenu

- **-f, --file=n**

  Sets which config file will be used for deskmenu

- **--quit-menu**

  Display a "Quit-Menu" in the deskmenu

- **--verbose**

  Print more information

- **-h, --help**

  Display a short help and exit

- **-V, --version**

  Output version information and exit

- **--display**

  Use an alternative display instead of $DISPLAY

The most common ways of invoking deskmenu

deskmenu --button=\[1...5\] --file=/home/user/.deskmenurc.example

## FILES

*${HOME}/.deskmenurc*\
 */etc/deskmenurc.debian*

## RCFILE

\# menuitem=label:command\
 \# submenu=label\
 \# menuitem=label:command\
 \# endmenu=\
 \# divider=\
 \# windowlist=label\
 \# workspaces=label\
 \# include=/path/to/include\_file\
 \# keycode=modifier+keyname\
 \#   for example Control+Escape\
 \#   this keycode is used as "hotkey"\
 \#   to display the menu.\
 \#\

menuitem=Terminal:x-terminal-emulator\
 divider=\
 submenu=Programs\
 menuitem=The Gimp:gimp\
 menuitem=Netscape:netscape\
 endmenu=\
 menu=Multimedia\
 menuitem=GQmpeg:gqmpeg\
 menuitem=Audio Mixer:gmix\
 endmenu=\
 divider=\
 include=/etc/extra\_menu\
 divider=\
 windowlist=Window List\
 workspaces=Workspaces

## AUTHORS

Ken Lynch \<kenlynch@blueyonder.co.uk\> (c) 2001\
 Ken stopped developing on Deskmenu in late 2001.\
 Stefan Pfetzing \<dreamind@dreamind.de\> (c) 2002-2010\
 The current developer of Deskmenu.

This manpage was written for the Debian GNU/Linux package of this program by  Brandon L. Griffith \<brandon@debian.org\>  because the origonal program did not include one. You are free to edit, translate, convert, or otherwise do anything you wish with this manpage. This program was patched with a diff from Martin Hedenfalk \<mhe@hjome.se\> to allow submenu recursion. Updated and added to the official deskmenu by Stefan Pfetzing \<dreamind@dreamind.de\>

## SEE ALSO

[desklaunch(1)](/desklaunch/1.md) [keylaunch(1)](/keylaunch/1.md) [oroborus(1)](/oroborus/1.md) dfm(1)