Where is the taskbar Activities button? #309
Replies: 12 comments 23 replies
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Steps
keep orginal gnome-shell top panel
Show Activities Button
CommandIt can also be set via commands. Open Terminal, then run dconf write /org/gnome/shell/extensions/dash-to-panel/stockgs-keep-top-panel true
dconf write /org/gnome/shell/extensions/arcmenu/show-activities-button true
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The following supplementary information related to this topic may help you better operate I will explain this in several paragraphs. |
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Keybind / Overview
Toggle Overviewrun gsettings list-recursively | grep keybind | grep overviewshow
Searchrun gsettings list-recursively | grep '<Super>s'show Another setting has a key binding of In essence, it should be the function of |
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Keybind / Application Overview
Toggle Application Overviewrun gsettings list-recursively | grep keybind | grep toggleshow There are currently no key bindings set. How to setexample 1keybind gsettings set org.gnome.shell.keybindings toggle-application-view "['<Alt>F3']"example 2or keybind
gsettings set org.gnome.shell.keybindings toggle-application-view "['<Super>grave']"example 3or, you can bind two sets of key combinations to trigger you can press gsettings set org.gnome.shell.keybindings toggle-application-view "['<Super>grave', '<Alt>F3']"LinkI've introduced this setting in another discussion thread. |
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Hot Corner
Set via GUI
Set via CLIIt can also be set via commands. run gsettings list-recursively | grep hot-cornershow Execute the following command to enable the gsettings set org.gnome.desktop.interface enable-hot-corners true |
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^^^ NONE of this does me any good. I simply want to have the Activities button on my taskbar. Does ANYONE know how to get it there? |
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I'd like to clarify something first:
img1 
img2 
Link
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I have found a way to achieve this goal. The steps are a bit complicated, so I will explain them in several paragraphs. I'm documenting them here to provide a starting point for anyone interested in exploring this further. |
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surveyInitially, I used the keyword: gnome shell application overview command line to search. I found the discussion thread - Invoking GNOME "Show Applications" from command line, and learned that I can communicate with gnome-shell via dbus it provides a sample script. However, when I tried it at first, I found that it didn't work. Next, I used the keyword: org.gnome.Shell.Eval to search. I found another discussion thread - dbus calls to gnome shell don't work under Ubuntu 22.04, I learned that the example scripts will only work if gnome-shell is switched to unsafe mode. Therefore, we need to install the gnome-shell-extension / unsafe-mode-menu to help us switch to unsafe mode. I made minor modifications to the example script, and the test results achieved the desired effect. So I can finally put my original idea into practice. The following is a simplified record of the relevant operating steps. |
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install unsafe-mode-menuRefer to the instructions from unsafe-mode-menu and execute the following commands to install. git clone https://github.com/linushdot/unsafe-mode-menu.git
mkdir -p ~/.local/share/gnome-shell/extensions/
cp -rfT ./unsafe-mode-menu/unsafe-mode-menu@linushdot.local ~/.local/share/gnome-shell/extensions/unsafe-mode-menu@linushdot.local
then logout gnome-session-quitand login enable extension / via GUI
enable extension / via CLIenable / gnome-shell-extension / unsafe-mode-menu@linushdot.local gnome-extensions enable unsafe-mode-menu@linushdot.local
config dconf write /org/gnome/shell/extensions/unsafe-mode-menu/enable-on-startup true
set to unsafe mode dconf write /org/gnome/shell/extensions/unsafe-mode-menu/state true
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pin toggle-tool to taskbarvia GUIvia Application Overview 
via ArcMenu 
via CLIrun to pin toggle-tool to taskbar gsettings set org.gnome.shell favorite-apps "['firefox-esr.desktop', 'org.gnome.Nautilus.desktop', 'org.gnome.Software.desktop', 'gnome-shell-toggle-overview.desktop', 'gnome-shell-toggle-application-overview.desktop']"Final ResultToggle Overview 
Toggle Applicaion Overview 
Demo FileThe relevant files mentioned above are available on github for reference. Additional IdeasPerhaps someone can write a separate gnome-shell-extension to implement the functionality of these two buttons, so there's no need to switch to unsafe mode. |
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I do NOT want a top panel. The whole point of this distro is to have a simple, Windows-like experience with ONE taskbar at the bottom. Help! |
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Let me briefly record the new findings regarding this current topic. This is intended as a reference for those interested in exploring it further. ============================================================ My original intention was to imitate ArcMenu's approach and implement two buttons that could be displayed in the Dash to Panel. The theory is feasible, but I haven't implemented it yet. ============================================================ During my exploration, I discovered another method, the implementation of which is similar to the method I mentioned above. I've written an example, which I've uploaded to GitHub. This example is reference from dash-to-plank. Write a Gnome Shell Extension, and then implement the desired functionality as a Dbus Interface. This way, we don't need to switch the Gnome Shell to I will explain the operation steps in several paragraphs.
Link |
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install shell-export-dbus-portalclonerun to clone demo-gnome-shell-extension-export-dbus-portal git clone https://github.com/samwhelp/demo-gnome-shell-extension-export-dbus-portal
install extensionrun to install shell-export-dbus-portal@localhost.home to mkdir -p ~/.local/share/gnome-shell/extensions
cp -rfT ./demo-gnome-shell-extension-export-dbus-portal/shell-export-dbus-portal@localhost.home ~/.local/share/gnome-shell/extensions/shell-export-dbus-portal@localhost.home
then logout gnome-session-quitand login enable extension / via GUI
enable extension / via CLIenable / gnome-shell-extension / shell-export-dbus-portal@localhost.home gnome-extensions enable shell-export-dbus-portal@localhost.home
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install toggle-toolinstall the following two files
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pin toggle-tool to taskbarvia GUIvia ArcMenu 
via CLIrun to pin toggle-tool to taskbar gsettings set org.gnome.shell favorite-apps "['firefox-esr.desktop', 'org.gnome.Nautilus.desktop', 'org.gnome.Software.desktop', 'gnome-shell-toggle-show-activities.desktop', 'gnome-shell-toggle-show-applications.desktop']"
Final ResultToggle show Activities 
Toggle show Applications 
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I finally installed Debian and made my own version of Zorin/Anduin. 
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Congratulations! You've successfully customized your own operating system to your liking. |
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Cool! AnduinOS is desiged to be easy to use out of box. Since you have the ability to setting everything up, it's indeed the best way to use Linux!! And thanks a lot for @samwhelp 's help!! |
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It works perfectly except ArcMenu and Dash to Panel don't respect lite/dark mode switching despite the Legacy Theme Auto Switcher extension being installed (it works on other apps). So I made them transparent black. I'm in Dark Mode 95% of the time anyway. I even managed to install a startup sound. Being Debian, it won't change much for another 1.5 years unless I manually update the kernel or go to Sid. But my new Brother laser print works perfectly, which is more than I can say for Anduin where it only works in Firefox, which I don't use (it won't even print a text file) and so does my wifi dongle. I run old, quad-core biz desktops that I get for $60, BTW. Zorin 18 I don't much like. Stupid floating taskbar and windows (which I turned off by setting clearances to zero). The taskbar flickers and the tiling system causes my web browsers to encroach on each other despite my trying to turn it off. BTW, I highly recommend Pinta (graphics), Sweet Home 3D (architectural design) and Input Remapper (mouse & KB remapping). |
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Regarding the software mentioned by @TabNumlock, I did some research and summarized the findings in the table below. Debian
Ubuntu
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I see Zorin no longer comes with Gimp, like Anduin. They should add Pinta instead, as should Anduin. Glad to see Anduin also leaves out LibreOffice. If the Anduin guy fixes his buggy printers and makes the Activities button visible. I may use it. |
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I just figured out how to set it up. Now I can answer your initial question. |
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Way 1 / via-dconf-writerun dconf write /org/gnome/shell/extensions/arcmenu/show-activities-button true
dconf write /org/gnome/shell/extensions/dash-to-panel/panel-element-positions "'{\"AUO-0x00000000\":[{\"element\":\"activitiesButton\",\"visible\":true,\"position\":\"stackedTL\"},{\"element\":\"showAppsButton\",\"visible\":true,\"position\":\"stackedTL\"},{\"element\":\"leftBox\",\"visible\":true,\"position\":\"stackedTL\"},{\"element\":\"centerBox\",\"visible\":true,\"position\":\"stackedBR\"},{\"element\":\"taskbar\",\"visible\":true,\"position\":\"centerMonitor\"},{\"element\":\"rightBox\",\"visible\":true,\"position\":\"stackedBR\"},{\"element\":\"systemMenu\",\"visible\":true,\"position\":\"stackedBR\"},{\"element\":\"dateMenu\",\"visible\":true,\"position\":\"stackedBR\"},{\"element\":\"desktopButton\",\"visible\":true,\"position\":\"stackedBR\"}],\"unknown-unknown\":[{\"element\":\"activitiesButton\",\"visible\":true,\"position\":\"stackedTL\"},{\"element\":\"showAppsButton\",\"visible\":true,\"position\":\"stackedTL\"},{\"element\":\"leftBox\",\"visible\":true,\"position\":\"stackedTL\"},{\"element\":\"centerBox\",\"visible\":true,\"position\":\"stackedBR\"},{\"element\":\"taskbar\",\"visible\":true,\"position\":\"centerMonitor\"},{\"element\":\"rightBox\",\"visible\":true,\"position\":\"stackedBR\"},{\"element\":\"systemMenu\",\"visible\":true,\"position\":\"stackedBR\"},{\"element\":\"dateMenu\",\"visible\":true,\"position\":\"stackedBR\"},{\"element\":\"desktopButton\",\"visible\":true,\"position\":\"stackedBR\"}]}'"
It's done. Please See Final Result. |
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Way 2 / via-dconf-load[org/gnome/shell/extensions/arcmenu]
show-activities-button=true
[org/gnome/shell/extensions/dash-to-panel]
panel-element-positions='{"AUO-0x00000000":[{"element":"activitiesButton","visible":true,"position":"stackedTL"},{"element":"showAppsButton","visible":true,"position":"stackedTL"},{"element":"leftBox","visible":true,"position":"stackedTL"},{"element":"centerBox","visible":true,"position":"stackedBR"},{"element":"taskbar","visible":true,"position":"centerMonitor"},{"element":"rightBox","visible":true,"position":"stackedBR"},{"element":"systemMenu","visible":true,"position":"stackedBR"},{"element":"dateMenu","visible":true,"position":"stackedBR"},{"element":"desktopButton","visible":true,"position":"stackedBR"}],"unknown-unknown":[{"element":"activitiesButton","visible":true,"position":"stackedTL"},{"element":"showAppsButton","visible":true,"position":"stackedTL"},{"element":"leftBox","visible":true,"position":"stackedTL"},{"element":"centerBox","visible":true,"position":"stackedBR"},{"element":"taskbar","visible":true,"position":"centerMonitor"},{"element":"rightBox","visible":true,"position":"stackedBR"},{"element":"systemMenu","visible":true,"position":"stackedBR"},{"element":"dateMenu","visible":true,"position":"stackedBR"},{"element":"desktopButton","visible":true,"position":"stackedBR"}]}'
dconf load / < config.ini
It's done. Please See Final Result.
dconf load / << __EOF__
[org/gnome/shell/extensions/arcmenu]
show-activities-button=true
[org/gnome/shell/extensions/dash-to-panel]
panel-element-positions='{"AUO-0x00000000":[{"element":"activitiesButton","visible":true,"position":"stackedTL"},{"element":"showAppsButton","visible":true,"position":"stackedTL"},{"element":"leftBox","visible":true,"position":"stackedTL"},{"element":"centerBox","visible":true,"position":"stackedBR"},{"element":"taskbar","visible":true,"position":"centerMonitor"},{"element":"rightBox","visible":true,"position":"stackedBR"},{"element":"systemMenu","visible":true,"position":"stackedBR"},{"element":"dateMenu","visible":true,"position":"stackedBR"},{"element":"desktopButton","visible":true,"position":"stackedBR"}],"unknown-unknown":[{"element":"activitiesButton","visible":true,"position":"stackedTL"},{"element":"showAppsButton","visible":true,"position":"stackedTL"},{"element":"leftBox","visible":true,"position":"stackedTL"},{"element":"centerBox","visible":true,"position":"stackedBR"},{"element":"taskbar","visible":true,"position":"centerMonitor"},{"element":"rightBox","visible":true,"position":"stackedBR"},{"element":"systemMenu","visible":true,"position":"stackedBR"},{"element":"dateMenu","visible":true,"position":"stackedBR"},{"element":"desktopButton","visible":true,"position":"stackedBR"}]}'
__EOF__
It's done. Please See Final Result. |
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Final Result
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Tried it on the live ISO and it didn't work. [org/gnome/shell/extensions/arcmenu] That just flips on the Show Actives Button in ArcMenu settings. I don't need all this. I just want the button to show: panel-element-positions='{"AUO-0x00000000":[{"element":"activitiesButton","visible":true,"position":"stackedTL"},{"element":"showAppsButton","visible":true,"position":"stackedTL"},{"element":"leftBox","visible":true,"position":"stackedTL"},{"element":"centerBox","visible":true,"position":"stackedBR"},{"element":"taskbar","visible":true,"position":"centerMonitor"},{"element":"rightBox","visible":true,"position":"stackedBR"},{"element":"systemMenu","visible":true,"position":"stackedBR"},{"element":"dateMenu","visible":true,"position":"stackedBR"},{"element":"desktopButton","visible":true,"position":"stackedBR"}],"unknown-unknown":[{"element":"activitiesButton","visible":true,"position":"stackedTL"},{"element":"showAppsButton","visible":true,"position":"stackedTL"},{"element":"leftBox","visible":true,"position":"stackedTL"},{"element":"centerBox","visible":true,"position":"stackedBR"},{"element":"taskbar","visible":true,"position":"centerMonitor"},{"element":"rightBox","visible":true,"position":"stackedBR"},{"element":"systemMenu","visible":true,"position":"stackedBR"},{"element":"dateMenu","visible":true,"position":"stackedBR"},{"element":"desktopButton","visible":true,"position":"stackedBR"}]}' |
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The steps recorded above were all tested and screenshotted by booting the device using AnduinOS-1.4.2-en_US.iso. I just retested the script I mentioned last time, and it works. I will add some additional explanations in separate paragraphs. |
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I just retested the script I mentioned last time, and the Top Panel does not appear. dconf load / << __EOF__
[org/gnome/shell/extensions/arcmenu]
show-activities-button=true
[org/gnome/shell/extensions/dash-to-panel]
panel-element-positions='{"AUO-0x00000000":[{"element":"activitiesButton","visible":true,"position":"stackedTL"},{"element":"showAppsButton","visible":true,"position":"stackedTL"},{"element":"leftBox","visible":true,"position":"stackedTL"},{"element":"centerBox","visible":true,"position":"stackedBR"},{"element":"taskbar","visible":true,"position":"centerMonitor"},{"element":"rightBox","visible":true,"position":"stackedBR"},{"element":"systemMenu","visible":true,"position":"stackedBR"},{"element":"dateMenu","visible":true,"position":"stackedBR"},{"element":"desktopButton","visible":true,"position":"stackedBR"}],"unknown-unknown":[{"element":"activitiesButton","visible":true,"position":"stackedTL"},{"element":"showAppsButton","visible":true,"position":"stackedTL"},{"element":"leftBox","visible":true,"position":"stackedTL"},{"element":"centerBox","visible":true,"position":"stackedBR"},{"element":"taskbar","visible":true,"position":"centerMonitor"},{"element":"rightBox","visible":true,"position":"stackedBR"},{"element":"systemMenu","visible":true,"position":"stackedBR"},{"element":"dateMenu","visible":true,"position":"stackedBR"},{"element":"desktopButton","visible":true,"position":"stackedBR"}]}'
__EOF__
If we want to ensure that the Top Panel does not appear, we can add dconf load / << __EOF__
[org/gnome/shell/extensions/arcmenu]
show-activities-button=true
[org/gnome/shell/extensions/dash-to-panel]
stockgs-keep-top-panel=false
panel-element-positions='{"AUO-0x00000000":[{"element":"activitiesButton","visible":true,"position":"stackedTL"},{"element":"showAppsButton","visible":true,"position":"stackedTL"},{"element":"leftBox","visible":true,"position":"stackedTL"},{"element":"centerBox","visible":true,"position":"stackedBR"},{"element":"taskbar","visible":true,"position":"centerMonitor"},{"element":"rightBox","visible":true,"position":"stackedBR"},{"element":"systemMenu","visible":true,"position":"stackedBR"},{"element":"dateMenu","visible":true,"position":"stackedBR"},{"element":"desktopButton","visible":true,"position":"stackedBR"}],"unknown-unknown":[{"element":"activitiesButton","visible":true,"position":"stackedTL"},{"element":"showAppsButton","visible":true,"position":"stackedTL"},{"element":"leftBox","visible":true,"position":"stackedTL"},{"element":"centerBox","visible":true,"position":"stackedBR"},{"element":"taskbar","visible":true,"position":"centerMonitor"},{"element":"rightBox","visible":true,"position":"stackedBR"},{"element":"systemMenu","visible":true,"position":"stackedBR"},{"element":"dateMenu","visible":true,"position":"stackedBR"},{"element":"desktopButton","visible":true,"position":"stackedBR"}]}'
__EOF__
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After making the above adjustments, we can open the Terminal. run dconf dump /or run dconf dump /org/gnome/shell/extensions/dash-to-panel/to find the dash-to-panel settings. One of the settings can be found as follows: panel-element-positions='{"AUO-0x00000000":[{"element":"showAppsButton","visible":false,"position":"stackedTL"},{"element":"leftBox","visible":true,"position":"stackedTL"},{"element":"centerBox","visible":true,"position":"stackedBR"},{"element":"taskbar","visible":true,"position":"centerMonitor"},{"element":"activitiesButton","visible":true,"position":"stackedTL"},{"element":"rightBox","visible":true,"position":"stackedBR"},{"element":"systemMenu","visible":true,"position":"stackedBR"},{"element":"dateMenu","visible":true,"position":"stackedBR"},{"element":"desktopButton","visible":true,"position":"stackedBR"}],"unknown-unknown":[{"element":"showAppsButton","visible":false,"position":"stackedTL"},{"element":"leftBox","visible":true,"position":"stackedTL"},{"element":"centerBox","visible":true,"position":"stackedBR"},{"element":"taskbar","visible":true,"position":"centerMonitor"},{"element":"activitiesButton","visible":true,"position":"stackedTL"},{"element":"rightBox","visible":true,"position":"stackedBR"},{"element":"systemMenu","visible":true,"position":"stackedBR"},{"element":"dateMenu","visible":true,"position":"stackedBR"},{"element":"desktopButton","visible":true,"position":"stackedBR"}]}'
Final ScriptNext, modify the script mentioned above as follows: dconf load / << __EOF__
[org/gnome/shell/extensions/arcmenu]
show-activities-button=true
[org/gnome/shell/extensions/dash-to-panel]
stockgs-keep-top-panel=false
panel-element-positions='{"AUO-0x00000000":[{"element":"showAppsButton","visible":false,"position":"stackedTL"},{"element":"leftBox","visible":true,"position":"stackedTL"},{"element":"centerBox","visible":true,"position":"stackedBR"},{"element":"taskbar","visible":true,"position":"centerMonitor"},{"element":"activitiesButton","visible":true,"position":"stackedTL"},{"element":"rightBox","visible":true,"position":"stackedBR"},{"element":"systemMenu","visible":true,"position":"stackedBR"},{"element":"dateMenu","visible":true,"position":"stackedBR"},{"element":"desktopButton","visible":true,"position":"stackedBR"}],"unknown-unknown":[{"element":"showAppsButton","visible":false,"position":"stackedTL"},{"element":"leftBox","visible":true,"position":"stackedTL"},{"element":"centerBox","visible":true,"position":"stackedBR"},{"element":"taskbar","visible":true,"position":"centerMonitor"},{"element":"activitiesButton","visible":true,"position":"stackedTL"},{"element":"rightBox","visible":true,"position":"stackedBR"},{"element":"systemMenu","visible":true,"position":"stackedBR"},{"element":"dateMenu","visible":true,"position":"stackedBR"},{"element":"desktopButton","visible":true,"position":"stackedBR"}]}'
__EOF__
Final Result
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Has anyone gotten this to work? Can someone translate it into simpler terms? Anyway. Printers still don't work properly and I'm liking Debian. Seems very zippy. Maybe because I eliminated two levels of complexity. Gonna try it on my two dual cores. My printer, wifi and bluetooth worked even before I enabled nonfree drivers. Maybe in six months I'll upgrade to Sid just for fun. |
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Open terminal, download 003.sh and run it. Just one line. bash <(curl -L https://raw.githubusercontent.com/samwhelp/demo-for-anduinos-discussion/refs/heads/main/demo/gnome-shell-extension/dash-to-panel/demo-config-visible-activities-button/via-dconf-load-here-documents/additional/001/003.sh)
It's done, then you can see the final result.
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OK, I fixed the final problem with my Debian version of Zorin/Anduin. I got ArcMenu and Dash to Panel to respect lite/dark modes by simply turning on the Light Style extension that comes with Debian. Works perfectly. Anduin should be based on Debian. I have no bugs at all and my Brother laser printer actually works. Bluetooth, wifi and camera also work, even before enabling non-free drivers. It's also very zippy, probably because I've eliminated two layers of complexity.
I even got a login sound to work. https://www.reddit.com/r/debian/comments/1rg65dw/heres_how_to_enable_a_loginstartup_sound/ Extensions I used: |
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I enabled it in Arc Menu settings but it doesn't show up in Dash to Panel settings. It used to in a previous a version of Anduin.
This is the one thing that keeps me from using Anduin instead of Zorin.
Edit: Actually, my Brother laser printer only prints from Firefox and nothing else.
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