re: gnome panel memory problems

[Ivan Uemlianin <i a uemlianin celtic co uk>]

>> Problem: the panel refuses to remember added applets.  For example, if I
>> right click on a panel and choose
>>
>> Panel | Add to panel | $anything
>>
>> the chosen object is added to the panel.  However, next time I log on,
>> it has disappeared.  Choosing 'Save current session' from the Control
>> Centre has no effect.
>
>I believe the file in question is ~/.gnome/panel. Make sure it's
>writable. If that doesn't work try logging out of gnome, backing up
>~/.gnome, and logging back into gnome, letting it recreate your
>preferences directory.
>
>--Ben

Thanks very much for your help.  However, none of this worked.  My 
frustration mounted to such a level that I resolved to work it out for 
myself.  I have found the problem and a work-around.  Here is the story:

The problem actually occurs with 'Add to panel | Launcher from Menu' but 
'Add to panel | Launcher ...' works OK.  My work around is that I do 
'Add launcher from menu', copy down the properties, remove the launcher, 
and then do 'Add launcher ...' typing in the properties manually.

The file involved is ~/.gnome/panel.d/default/Applet_config.  Adding a 
launcher to a panel adds the following entry to this file.  'Add 
launcher ...' also writes a launcher properties file (frobate-*.desktop) 
into launchers/.

# for 'Add launcher from menu'
[Applet_1]
id=Launcher
base_location=Emacs.desktop
position=355
panel=0
unique_panel_id=1241608193
right_stick=true

# for 'Add launcher ...'
[Applet_2]
id=Launcher
base_location=frobate-003d7b7c47.desktop
position=406
panel=0
unique_panel_id=1241608193
right_stick=true

For some reason my Gnome startup is unable to resolve the 
'base_location=Emacs.desktop' in the launcher-from-menu entries. 
Putting an absolute path doesn't help.  Any ideas?

Best wishes

Ivan