Permission denied for Screenshot via xdg-portal!

[HellmannK]

Hi,
I have normcap installed via AUR. It is working fine if I start via the cli. Unfortunately it is not working if I use the Desktop symbol . I get no response. I tried providing the full path to the .desktop file but that doesn't seem to be the problem according to journalctl:

Jan 08 22:17:57 myMachine xdg-desktop-por[2301]: Failed to show access dialog: GDBus.Error:org.freedesktop.DBus.Error.AccessDenied: Only the focused app is allowed to show a system access dialog
Jan 08 22:17:57 myMachine normcap.desktop[7444]: 22:17:57 - ERROR   - normcap.screengrab.dbus_portal:129 - Permission denied for Screenshot via xdg-portal! Message: <PySide6.QtDBus.QDBusMessage(type=Signal, service=":1.51", path="/org/freedesktop/portal/desktop/request/1_137/normcap_egaicacf", interface="org.freedesktop.portal.Request", member="Response", signature="ua{sv}", contents=(2, [Argument: a{sv} {}]) ) at 0x7fa10c7bd540>
Jan 08 22:17:57 myMachine normcap.desktop[7444]: 22:17:57 - CRITICAL - normcap:148 - Uncaught exception!
Jan 08 22:17:57 myMachine normcap.desktop[7444]: Traceback (most recent call last):
Jan 08 22:17:57 myMachine normcap.desktop[7444]:   File "/usr/bin/normcap", line 8, in <module>
Jan 08 22:17:57 myMachine normcap.desktop[7444]:     sys.exit(run())
Jan 08 22:17:57 myMachine normcap.desktop[7444]:              ^^^^^
Jan 08 22:17:57 myMachine normcap.desktop[7444]:   File "/usr/lib/python3.11/site-packages/normcap/app.py", line 101, in run
Jan 08 22:17:57 myMachine normcap.desktop[7444]:     app, tray = _prepare()
Jan 08 22:17:57 myMachine normcap.desktop[7444]:                 ^^^^^^^^^^
Jan 08 22:17:57 myMachine normcap.desktop[7444]:   File "/usr/lib/python3.11/site-packages/normcap/app.py", line 94, in _prepare
Jan 08 22:17:57 myMachine normcap.desktop[7444]:     tray = SystemTray(app, vars(args))
Jan 08 22:17:57 myMachine normcap.desktop[7444]:            ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Jan 08 22:17:57 myMachine normcap.desktop[7444]:   File "/usr/lib/python3.11/site-packages/normcap/gui/tray.py", line 147, in __init__
Jan 08 22:17:57 myMachine normcap.desktop[7444]:     self._show_windows(delay_screenshot=delay_screenshot)
Jan 08 22:17:57 myMachine normcap.desktop[7444]:   File "/usr/lib/python3.11/site-packages/normcap/gui/tray.py", line 199, in _show_windows
Jan 08 22:17:57 myMachine normcap.desktop[7444]:     screenshots = self._take_screenshots(delay=delay_screenshot)
Jan 08 22:17:57 myMachine normcap.desktop[7444]:                   ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Jan 08 22:17:57 myMachine normcap.desktop[7444]:   File "/usr/lib/python3.11/site-packages/normcap/gui/tray.py", line 509, in _take_screenshots
Jan 08 22:17:57 myMachine normcap.desktop[7444]:     screens = screengrab.capture()
Jan 08 22:17:57 myMachine normcap.desktop[7444]:               ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Jan 08 22:17:57 myMachine normcap.desktop[7444]:   File "/usr/lib/python3.11/site-packages/normcap/screengrab/main.py", line 43, in capture
Jan 08 22:17:57 myMachine normcap.desktop[7444]:     return capture_func()
Jan 08 22:17:57 myMachine normcap.desktop[7444]:            ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Jan 08 22:17:57 myMachine normcap.desktop[7444]:   File "/usr/lib/python3.11/site-packages/normcap/screengrab/dbus_portal.py", line 223, in capture
Jan 08 22:17:57 myMachine normcap.desktop[7444]:     result = _synchronized_capture(interactive=False)
Jan 08 22:17:57 myMachine normcap.desktop[7444]:              ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Jan 08 22:17:57 myMachine normcap.desktop[7444]:   File "/usr/lib/python3.11/site-packages/normcap/screengrab/dbus_portal.py", line 200, in _synchronized_capture
Jan 08 22:17:57 myMachine normcap.desktop[7444]:     raise error
Jan 08 22:17:57 myMachine normcap.desktop[7444]: normcap.screengrab.exceptions.ScreenshotPermissionError: Permission denied for Screenshot via xdg-portal! Message: <PySide6.QtDBus.QDBusMessage(type=Signal, service=":1.51", path="/org/freedesktop/portal/desktop/request/1_137/normcap_egaicacf", interface="org.freedesktop.portal.Request", member="Response", signature="ua{sv}", contents=(2, [Argument: a{sv} {}]) ) at 0x7fa10c7bd540>
Jan 08 22:17:57 myMachine normcap.desktop[7444]: 22:17:57 - CRITICAL - normcap:151 - System info: {'normcap_version': '0.5.3', 'python_version': '3.11.6', 'cli_args': '/usr/bin/normcap', 'is_briefcase_package': False, 'is_flatpak_package': False, 'is_appimage_package': False, 'platform': 'linux', 'desktop_environment': <DesktopEnvironment.GNOME: 1>, 'display_manager_is_wayland': True, 'pyside6_version': '6.6.1', 'qt_version': '6.6.1', 'qt_library_path': '/usr/lib/qt6/plugins, /usr/bin', 'locale': 'DEFAULT', 'config_directory': PosixPath('/home/karim/.config/normcap'), 'resources_path': PosixPath('/usr/lib/python3.11/site-packages/normcap/resources'), 'tesseract_path': PosixPath('/usr/bin/tesseract'), 'tessdata_path': None, 'envs': {'TESSDATA_PREFIX': None, 'LD_LIBRARY_PATH': None}, 'screens': [Screen(left=0, top=0, right=1919, bottom=1199, device_pixel_ratio=1.0, index=0, screenshot=None)]}
Jan 08 22:17:57 myMachine normcap.desktop[7444]: 22:17:57 - CRITICAL - normcap:152 - Unfortunately, NormCap has to be terminated due to an unknown problem.
Jan 08 22:17:57 myMachine normcap.desktop[7444]: Please help improve NormCap by reporting this error, including the output above, on
Jan 08 22:17:57 myMachine normcap.desktop[7444]: https://github.com/dynobo/normcap/issues/new
Jan 08 22:17:57 myMachine normcap.desktop[7444]: Thanks!

Any further Information needed?

Thanks,
Hellmann

[dynobo]

@HellmannK , thanks for reporting.

I think on Wayland permissions are somehow tied to the exact filename of the .desktop-file: it has to match a specific format. Can't remember the details though...

I'll try to look into it in the next days.

[dynobo]

He @HellmannK ,

could you please try renaming normcap.desktop to com.github.dynobo.normcap.desktop?

E.g. via:

 sudo mv /usr/share/applications/normcap.desktop /usr/share/applications/com.github.dynobo.normcap.desktop

Does this fix the permission problem?

[HellmannK]

He @HellmannK ,

could you please try renaming normcap.desktop to com.github.dynobo.normcap.desktop?

E.g. via:

 sudo mv /usr/share/applications/normcap.desktop /usr/share/applications/com.github.dynobo.normcap.desktop

Does this fix the permission problem?

No, it does not help. I tried to get the StartupWMClass with xprop | grep WM_CLASS but it had no output. Is there any? Maybe it would help to add? I also ran desktop-file-validate but there was no error or warning shown.

Out of curiosity I tried to start the .desktop file from cli with gtk-launch com.github.dynobo.normcap.desktop - that works as well...

[dynobo]

I was able to reproduce this issue in a fresh Arch VM. It seems like this is somewhat related to this issue flatpak/xdg-desktop-portal#1070

The issue is about keyboard shortcuts, but the workaround mentioned there worked for me also for the desktop shortcuts:

1. Create a helper script /some/path/start_normcap.sh with the following content:

#!/bin/bash
/usr/bin/normcap

2. Copy the desktop file to be able to modify it:

cp /usr/share/applications/normcap.desktop ~/.local/share/applications/normcap.desktop

3. Edit the new file to point to the helper script (instead to normcap):

exec=/path/to/start_normcap.sh

4. Launch "NormCap" through the application menu

Does it work for you, too?

[HellmannK]

Oh yes, thanks! That works. Thank you for your investigation! That really deserves the term workaround.. haha.

[k1gen]

Arch, Gnome 45, Wayland:

$ normcap
12:33:52 - ERROR   - normcap.screengrab.dbus_portal:129 - Permission denied for Screenshot via xdg-portal! Message: <PySide6.QtDBus.QDBusMessage(type=Signal, service=":1.48", path="/org/freedesktop/portal/desktop/request/1_106/normcap_giggdebe", interface="org.freedesktop.portal.Request", member="Response", signature="ua{sv}", contents=(2, [Argument: a{sv} {}]) ) at 0x55b54d804f00>
12:33:52 - WARNING - normcap.screengrab.permissions:205 - Screenshot permissions on Wayland seem missing.
Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "/usr/lib/python3.11/site-packages/normcap/screengrab/permissions.py", line 200, in _dbus_portal_has_screenshot_permission
    result = dbus_portal.capture()
             ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
  File "/usr/lib/python3.11/site-packages/normcap/screengrab/dbus_portal.py", line 223, in capture
    result = _synchronized_capture(interactive=False)
             ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
  File "/usr/lib/python3.11/site-packages/normcap/screengrab/dbus_portal.py", line 200, in _synchronized_capture
    raise error
normcap.screengrab.exceptions.ScreenshotPermissionError: Permission denied for Screenshot via xdg-portal! Message: <PySide6.QtDBus.QDBusMessage(type=Signal, service=":1.48", path="/org/freedesktop/portal/desktop/request/1_106/normcap_giggdebe", interface="org.freedesktop.portal.Request", member="Response", signature="ua{sv}", contents=(2, [Argument: a{sv} {}]) ) at 0x55b54d804f
00>
12:33:55 - ERROR   - normcap.screengrab.dbus_portal:129 - Permission denied for Screenshot via xdg-portal! Message: <PySide6.QtDBus.QDBusMessage(type=Signal, service=":1.48", path="/org/freedesktop/portal/desktop/request/1_106/normcap_efififgd", interface="org.freedesktop.portal.Request", member="Response", signature="ua{sv}", contents=(2, [Argument: a{sv} {}]) ) at 0x55b54d81b940>
12:33:55 - CRITICAL - normcap:148 - Uncaught exception!
Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "/usr/lib/python3.11/site-packages/normcap/screengrab/permissions.py", line 181, in accept_button_pressed
    self.capture = dbus_portal._synchronized_capture(interactive=True)
                   ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
  File "/usr/lib/python3.11/site-packages/normcap/screengrab/dbus_portal.py", line 200, in _synchronized_capture
    raise error
normcap.screengrab.exceptions.ScreenshotPermissionError: Permission denied for Screenshot via xdg-portal! Message: <PySide6.QtDBus.QDBusMessage(type=Signal, service=":1.48", path="/org/freedesktop/portal/desktop/request/1_106/normcap_efififgd", interface="org.freedesktop.portal.Request", member="Response", signature="ua{sv}", contents=(2, [Argument: a{sv} {}]) ) at 0x55b54d81b940>
12:33:55 - CRITICAL - normcap:151 - System info: {'normcap_version': '0.5.4', 'python_version': '3.11.6', 'cli_args': '/usr/bin/normcap', 'is_briefcase_package': False, 'is_flatpak_package': False, 'is_appimage_package': False, 'platform': 'linux', 'desktop_environment': <DesktopEnvironment.GNOME: 1>, 'display_manager_is_wayland': True, 'pyside6_version': '6.6.1', 'qt_version': '6.6.1', 'qt_library_path': '/usr/lib/qt6/plugins, /usr/bin', 'locale': 'DEFAULT', 'config_directory': PosixPath('/home/olk/.config/normcap'), 'resources_path': PosixPath('/usr/lib/python3.11/site-packages/normcap/resources'), 'tesseract_path': PosixPath('/usr/bin/tesseract'), 'tessdata_path': None, 'envs': {'TESSDATA_PREFIX': None, 'LD_LIBRARY_PATH': None}, 'screens': [Screen(left=0, top=0, right=1919, bottom=1079, device_pixel_ratio=1.0, index=0, screenshot=None)]}
12:33:55 - CRITICAL - normcap:152 - Unfortunately, NormCap has to be terminated due to an unknown problem.
Please help improve NormCap by reporting this error, including the output above, on
https://github.com/dynobo/normcap/issues/new
Thanks!

after modifying the .desktop, it doesn't appear in the Gnome overview

[dynobo]

after modifying the .desktop, it doesn't appear in the Gnome overview

@k1gen , can you please share the content of your .desktop ? If it doesn't show up at all in the overview, it very likely contains a syntax error or points to an unexisting executable (incorrect path).