Application widgets don't work

[Thwompin]

If I right click an application and select "Add to Panel (widget)", the resulting widget in the panel does not work. If clicked on, a "blank file" icon appears in the panel and quickly closes, and nothing happens.

[kc1di]

Which version of Kubuntu are you using? It's working well on my 22.04 (updated) here. No problem. So give us a little more to go on, thanks.

[oshunluvr]

I'm going to assume you're using 22.04, but where and how are you right-clicking on an application to select "Add to Panel" ?

[Snowhog]

The simplest way to accomplish this is to launch the application, then right-click on the icon in the Panel and click Pin to Panel (or words to that effect).

[oshunluvr]

I get nothing about pinning to any Panel. That's why I asked for more info. Here, I can pin to the Task Manager, but the Panel only accepts widgets AFAIK.

[oshunluvr]

Ahh, I am using the "Application Dashboard" and it doesn't allow pinning Applications to the panel unless you go into the Applications list. If I switch to either of the alternatives - Application Launcher or Application Menu - they appear to allow pinning to the panel directly from the menu.

[oshunluvr]

BTW, using Application Launcher, I had no trouble pinning an Application to the Task Manager.

[Thwompin]

I am back on Kubuntu, I am sorry for not following up on this thread! I was busy and distrohopping like crazy.
I am happy to see that my other issues with Kubuntu 22.04 no longer happen as of 22.04.2, but this one is still happening.
I initially tried doing this right after I installed the system and it worked, but after I installed all my software it no longer works.
Here's a video demonstrating this issue: https://files.catbox.moe/fnad1h.mp4

The software I installed: Steam, qBittorrent, mpv, psensor, gimp, kdenlive, gnome disk utility, gsmartcontrol, OBS Studio, Steam, nvme-cli. I have a suspicion Steam triggered it, but I don't know for sure.

And if you're wondering why I want to use this widget feature, it's because I find it useful to create "launcher" type icons that let me open multiple instances of an application.

Edit: it turns out I can just middle click to achieve the same effect, oh well

[claydoh]

Something is definitely busted.
Of course, it works for me.

But it also works simply using drag-and-drop onto the panel from the menu, but DON"T drag it onto the task manager section. That pins it there. Dragging it anywhere else on the panel will create a widget. Either directly to the right of the start menu (the task manager widget will slide out of the way) or near the systray. Then it should be a widget, and you can place it where you want (except inside the Task Manager of course.)

[Thwompin]

Something is definitely busted.
Of course, it works for me.

But it also works simply using drag-and-drop onto the panel from the menu, but DON"T drag it onto the task manager section. That pins it there. Dragging it anywhere else on the panel will create a widget. Either directly to the right of the start menu (the task manager widget will slide out of the way) or near the systray. Then it should be a widget, and you can place it where you want (except inside the Task Manager of course.)

I managed to make a widget by dragging and dropping, but it's broken in the same way.

[Thwompin]

The problem was wslu which hijacks and breaks links to other things, no idea why. I removed wslu and the problem seems to be gone.
wslu is installed as a dependency of gimp-help-en which is recommended by the system as a language pack after you install gimp. If the system asks you to install language packs after removing wslu, it will be reinstalled unless you have another package that meets a condition gimp-help-en needs.
Read top answer here for more info: https://askubuntu.com/questions/1410...es-do-not-open

[Schwarzer Kater]

Thanks for letting us know.