Alacarte ignores XDG_MENU_PREFIX

Same problem with my fresh install of Xubuntu/Lubuntu 12.10 x64

ProblemType: Bug
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 12.10
Package: xubuntu-default-settings 12.10.7
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 3.5.0-17.28-generic 3.5.5
Uname: Linux 3.5.0-17-generic x86_64
ApportVersion: 2.6.1-0ubuntu3
Architecture: amd64
Date: Oct 19
InstallationMedia: Xubuntu 12.10 "Quantal Quetzal" - Release amd64 (20121017.1)
PackageArchitecture: all
SourcePackage: xubuntu-default-settings
UpgradeStatus: No upgrade log present (probably fresh install)

Status changed to 'Confirmed' because the bug affects multiple users.

I've also noticed this (Xubuntu 12.10 amd64). Nothing in alacarte actually does anything. Deleting items doesn't do anything, except sometimes it does work for the top two entries (Web Browser and Mail Reader). Hiding items doesn't work. Showing hidden items doesn't work. After changing the show toggle, the settings mysteriously revert back after a couple of seconds. Adding new menus or menu items doesn't do anything either. It's obvious from within alacarte that's something's wrong.

I've also tried running alacarte from the command line, to see if any error messages print out. Nothing. I tried running it using sudo and gksudo, but those both failed in different ways.

I've found that the changes are saved in ~/.config/menus/applications.menu, which is ignored by xfce. Renaming the file to xfce-applications.menu applies the changes -- a workaround.

@Marcel, I think I've noticed the same. I copied the system's xfce-applications.menu (either from /etc/xdg/menus/xfce-applications.menu or /etc/xdg/xdg-xubuntu/menus/xfce-applications.menu, I don't remember which) to my ~/.config/menus folder, and have been editing that file by hand. In the "Applications Menu" dialog that pops up when you right click the menu and choose properties, I have the custom menu file option selected, and I have it set to ~/.config/menus/xfce-applications.menu

I can confirm this bug as well. Following @Marcel's instructions worked as a great work around. A co-worker of mine also has this issue. Hopefully there is an update to fix this soon.

Looks like it's fixed upstream by http://git.gnome.org/browse/alacarte/commit/?id=a4db6799f41947b5cd08231e77d41c561d94170a and http://git.gnome.org/browse/alacarte/commit/?id=fe7211f2eb4c8bcf7cbddca75bf4e28ee7b98659.

Should be fixed in raring.

Uploaded to quantal-proposed, waiting for approval (so the test case steps above can't be followed yet).

Hello LaChild, or anyone else affected,

Accepted alacarte into quantal-proposed. The package will build now and be available at http://launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/alacarte/3.5.5-0ubuntu1.1 in a few hours, and then in the -proposed repository.

Please help us by testing this new package. See https://wiki.ubuntu.com/Testing/EnableProposed for documentation how to enable and use -proposed. Your feedback will aid us getting this update out to other Ubuntu users.

If this package fixes the bug for you, please change the bug tag from verification-needed to verification-done. If it does not, change the tag to verification-failed. In either case, details of your testing will help us make a better decision.

Further information regarding the verification process can be found at https://wiki.ubuntu.com/QATeam/PerformingSRUVerification . Thank you in advance!

Verified proposed package fixes this issue.

I've managed to enable Quantal proposed but I don't see alacarte anywhere. Would it have a different name?

Thanks.

The verification of this Stable Release Update has completed successfully and the package has now been released to -updates. Subsequently, the Ubuntu Stable Release Updates Team is being unsubscribed and will not receive messages about this bug report. In the event that you encounter a regression using the package from -updates please report a new bug using ubuntu-bug and tag the bug report regression-update so we can easily find any regresssions.

This bug was fixed in the package alacarte - 3.5.5-0ubuntu1.1

---------------
alacarte (3.5.5-0ubuntu1.1) quantal-proposed; urgency=low

  * debian/patches:
    - 40-xdg-menu-prefix: updated and reenabled to bring back support of
      $XDG_MENU_PREFIX. lp: #1069207
 -- Lionel Le Folgoc <email address hidden> Fri, 02 Nov 2012 20:22:40 +0100