# Forcing apps to certain desktop

**URL:** <https://forum.maboxlinux.org/t/forcing-apps-to-certain-desktop/440>\
**Category:** Technical Issues\
**Created:** [March 24, 2021, 6:34pm UTC](https://forum.maboxlinux.org/t/forcing-apps-to-certain-desktop/440 "2021-03-24T18:34:01Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 6\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![bootz](https://forum.maboxlinux.org/user_avatar/forum.maboxlinux.org/bootz/32/694_2.png) [@bootz](https://forum.maboxlinux.org/u/bootz)\
**Post date:** [March 24, 2021, 6:34pm UTC](https://forum.maboxlinux.org/t/forcing-apps-to-certain-desktop/440/1 "2021-03-24T18:34:02Z")

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Hi,

I changed the rc.xml by adding some rules to force programs to open on a fixed desktop number/name. It’s working fine but I have one ^&#%$%&(- application that’s not compliant. Maybe I’m making a mistake but it seems that firefox is not complying to these settings. I was wondering if someone else uses this type of workplace placement and if, if he/she has the same issues.

Regards,

BootZ

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**Author:** ![napcok](https://forum.maboxlinux.org/user_avatar/forum.maboxlinux.org/napcok/32/410_2.png) [@napcok](https://forum.maboxlinux.org/u/napcok)\
**Post date:** [March 24, 2021, 6:44pm UTC](https://forum.maboxlinux.org/t/forcing-apps-to-certain-desktop/440/2 "2021-03-24T18:44:22Z")

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Works fine for me with this line in rc.xml.

```auto
  <application name="Navigator" class="firefox" role="browser" type="normal"><desktop>2</desktop></application>

```

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![bootz](https://forum.maboxlinux.org/user_avatar/forum.maboxlinux.org/bootz/32/694_2.png) [@bootz](https://forum.maboxlinux.org/u/bootz)\
**Post date:** [March 24, 2021, 6:47pm UTC](https://forum.maboxlinux.org/t/forcing-apps-to-certain-desktop/440/3 "2021-03-24T18:47:01Z")

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let me try this one. Almost the same, I don’t use role

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**Author:** ![bootz](https://forum.maboxlinux.org/user_avatar/forum.maboxlinux.org/bootz/32/694_2.png) [@bootz](https://forum.maboxlinux.org/u/bootz)\
**Post date:** [March 24, 2021, 6:53pm UTC](https://forum.maboxlinux.org/t/forcing-apps-to-certain-desktop/440/4 "2021-03-24T18:53:28Z")

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Doesn’t work. What happens is it starts FF and it’s minimized, desktop looks like it is going to the correct desktop but really stays on the current one. I will try without plank and without polybar, you never know…

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**Author:** ![bootz](https://forum.maboxlinux.org/user_avatar/forum.maboxlinux.org/bootz/32/694_2.png) [@bootz](https://forum.maboxlinux.org/u/bootz)\
**Post date:** [March 24, 2021, 7:06pm UTC](https://forum.maboxlinux.org/t/forcing-apps-to-certain-desktop/440/5 "2021-03-24T19:06:44Z")

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okay the weird part. it seems it’s something with polybar and openbox. When i set to open FF on desktop 1 the first time it opens, iconifies , openbox signals to goto desktop 1 but it stays on the current. When a start a second one…yup, desktop 1  
wow

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![bootz](https://forum.maboxlinux.org/user_avatar/forum.maboxlinux.org/bootz/32/694_2.png) [@bootz](https://forum.maboxlinux.org/u/bootz)\
**Post date:** [March 24, 2021, 7:50pm UTC](https://forum.maboxlinux.org/t/forcing-apps-to-certain-desktop/440/6 "2021-03-24T19:50:33Z")

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done some testing with vivaldi. that works really perfectly