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How to install Plank on Ubuntu 17.04

How to install Plank on Ubuntu 17.04

Plank is the default dock app on Elementary OS used for launching applications. It is easy to edit and rearrange the applications present on it without editing its configuration file. It can be easily installed on any Ubuntu based systems. This article explains the installation of Plank on Ubuntu 17.04.

Installation procedure

To start with the installation procedure, add the dependency package for plank via ppa.

root@linuxhelp:~# add-apt-repository ppa:ricotz/docky
 Docky/Plank testing packages
 More info: https://launchpad.net/~ricotz/+archive/ubuntu/docky
Press [ENTER] to continue or ctrl-c to cancel adding it
gpg: keybox ' /tmp/tmpw3xhhcua/pubring.gpg'  created
gpg: /tmp/tmpw3xhhcua/trustdb.gpg: trustdb created
gpg: key 75CFD31C9E5DB0C8: public key " Launchpad PPA for Rico"  imported
gpg: Total number processed: 1
gpg:               imported: 1
OK

After adding the dependency packages. Update the machine by executing the apt-get update command. 

root@linuxhelp:~#  apt-get update
Get:1 http://ppa.launchpad.net/ricotz/docky/ubuntu zesty InRelease [15.4 kB]
Hit:2 http://in.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu zesty InRelease                  
Get:3 http://in.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu zesty-updates InRelease [89.2 kB]    
Get:4 http://security.ubuntu.com/ubuntu zesty-security InRelease [89.2 kB]     
.
.
Fetched 287 kB in 2s (114 kB/s)                                                
Reading package lists... Done

The target system is updated with the required repositories. Now install plank by executing the following command. 

root@linuxhelp:~# apt-get install plank
Reading package lists... Done
Building dependency tree       
Reading state information... Done
The following additional packages will be installed:
  libplank-common libplank1
.
.
Setting up libplank1:amd64 (0.11.4+git20170614.a99649ec-0ubuntu1~17.04~ricotz1) ...
Setting up plank (0.11.4+git20170614.a99649ec-0ubuntu1~17.04~ricotz1) ...
Processing triggers for libc-bin (2.24-9ubuntu2.2) ...

The plank is installed in the target system. To run the application, type the plank application in the Ubuntu dashboard and click on the icon to run the application.

The plank application is running successfully.

The installation of plank application is done successfully.

Tag : Ubuntu Plank
FAQ
Q
How to remove plank-icon from plank?
A
launch dconf editor, go to net > launchpad > plank > docks > dock1 and uncheck show-dock-item.
Q
It is possible to run multiple plank docks at once?
A
Directories for each dock are stored under ~/.config/plank/. Under these directories, there is a directory named 'launchers'. Going further, under this directory, docklets are stored. When the plank command is run, it either defaults to the dock1 directory or creates it if it is non-existent. If you were to run:

$ plank -n newdock
Q
Where Can I Get Help in plank?
A
IRC: #plank on FreeNode - irc://irc.freenode.net/#plank
Common problems and solutions
https://answers.launchpad.net/plank
Q
how to set themes in plank?
A
The theme can be changed by selecting a choice in the drop-down menu of Preferences > Appearance > Theme. Themes are stored globally under /usr/share/plank/themes/ or locally under ~/.local/share/plank/themes/.

These custom themes can be installed to give your plank dock an eyecandy touch :

plank-theme-numixAUR: Numix theme for Plank
plank-theme-pantheon-bzrA
Q
What is the stable ppa to be used for this?
A
execute the command as below" add-apt-repository ppa:ricotz/docky".