Menu in initial wxSmith program does not show up when executed

[Grouch]

When wxSmith is started to create a new project, a very minimal program is created as a beginning point. This program appears to have a main menu with two items, File and Help. When the project is compiled and run, however, no menu appears! Adding items to the menu does not help. No matter what I have tried, I get no main menu. Any help would be appreciated.

I am running Code::Blocks 11:05 on Ubuntu Linux 11:10 using the Gnome 3 desktop.  I did not have this problem with the previous stable version of Code::Blocks and pre-Unity versions of Ubuntu.

[MortenMacFly]

I did not have this problem with the previous stable version of Code::Blocks and pre-Unity versions of Ubuntu.

Are you sure the menu is not shown on some obscure place now (i.e. at the very top) introduced with the changes in Ubuntu?

[Grouch]

Thanks for your prompt reply. I have re-run the program and, yes, I am sure that the menu is not somewhere else. But I noticed some more things. To judge from the way Code::Blocks itself looks, the name of the program should be on the top line just to the right of the close, minimize, and maximize buttons. It is not there. The menu should be on a black bar extending all across the window and just below the top bar. The bar itself is not there. I have clicked all around that area thinking that maybe the font was the same color as the bar, but no luck. There is a panel across the bottom of the window, as usual, but there is no menu there.

The version that I have (on another computer) that works is CB 8.02 on Ubuntu 10.04.  I agree that the devil is probably lurking in the new Ubuntu Unity. I don't like it at all, but I fear I have to learn to live with it if I am to remain an Ubuntu user.

I would be very interested to know if other users of Code::Blocks on current Ubuntu releases are having the same problem.

[Grouch]

I can now add that I do NOT have the problem with Code::Blocks 10.05 on Ubuntu 10.04, so the problem seems to be clearly with the Ubuntu folks. I will go over and fuss on their forum.

[MortenMacFly]

I will go over and fuss on their forum.

Probably you should first start at the wxWidgets guys, if problems with wxMenu and this version of Ubuntu are known.

[oBFusCATed]

Grouch: Are you sure you're running the latest version of wxgtk? If I remember correctly you need 2.8.12+ for the menu to work on ubuntu.

[MortenMacFly]

Grouch: Are you sure you're running the latest version of wxgtk? If I remember correctly you need 2.8.12+ for the menu to work on ubuntu.

TRUE! See the changelog to wx 2.8.12:
2.8.12:
-------

[...]
wxGTK:

- Fix for missing menubar problem under some window managers where menu bar height is
  reported as 0 when the menu hasn't fully realized yet. Now updates the height during
  idle time if it is 0, otherwise no menu is shown.


Well done, oBFusCATed!!!

[Grouch]

Well done indeed to both of you! And many thanks.

I can report that the program, when built under Ubuntu 10.04, works correctly -- with menu -- on Ubuntu 11.10. 

I have checked my wxWidgets and it is indeed 2.8.11 instead of .12. That is, however, as well as I can tell, the latest in the Ubuntu depositories. So I face the question How can I update from the wxWidgets site? I got the wxGTK download, looked at it, and was lost. I've searched for instructions on how to update Ubuntu from the developer's  site and found nothing useful. I don't want to be a burden, but your advice would be much appreciated.