For any app foo, just create /usr/local/bin/foo with this in it:

#!/bin/sh

# This is a wrapper script that immediately maximizes the target application
# after its window appears. Script should be /usr/local/bin/foo where foo is 
# the name of the target application. 

app_name="$(basename "$0")"
app_path="$(which -a "$app_name" | tail -n 1)"
"$app_path" "$@" &
app_pid=$!

# wait for app to have a window
while true; do
	wmctrl -lp | awk '{print $3}' | grep $app_pid && break
	sleep 0.1
done

# get windowid of app
app_windowid=$(wmctrl -lp | awk "\$3 == $app_pid { print \$1 }")

# maximize app's window
wmctrl -ir $app_windowid -b add,maximized_vert,maximized_horz

Don't forget to make the script executable. All the script needs to work is its own name.

You're welcome

Thanks GNUser.

Glad I could help. Enjoy!

Did you remember to make the script executable? If it isn't, the first executable atril found in your PATH is the real one instead of our wraparound script, causing our fix to fail silently. Please do $ sudo chmod a+x /usr/local/bin/atril. Also, did you remember to $ sudo apt install wmctrl? Try these two, then give the desktop shortcut another shot.

(if (is (application_name) "Atril Document Viewer") (maximize))

into the file $HOME/.devilspie/maximize_atril.ds, then
c) run devilspie (e.g. via a session application startup thingy).

Thereafter, supposedly, atril will be maximized when started.

For atril, create /usr/local/bin/atril with this in it:

#!/bin/sh

/usr/bin/atril "$@" &
child_pid=$!

# wait for child to have a window
while true; do
	wmctrl -lp | awk '{print $3}' | grep $child_pid && break
	sleep 0.5
done

# get windowid of child
child_windowid=$(wmctrl -lp | awk "\$3 == $child_pid { print \$1 }")

# maximize child's window
wmctrl -ir $child_windowid -b add,maximized_vert,maximized_horz

Wow GNUser, thanks for that!   Pretty nice!

For atril, create /usr/local/bin/atril with this in it:

#!/bin/sh

/usr/bin/atril "$@" &
child_pid=$!

# wait for child to have a window
while true; do
	wmctrl -lp | awk '{print $3}' | grep $child_pid && break
	sleep 0.5
done

# get windowid of child
child_windowid=$(wmctrl -lp | awk "\$3 == $child_pid { print \$1 }")

# maximize child's window
wmctrl -ir $child_windowid -b add,maximized_vert,maximized_horz

How it works is basically this: Run target application, wait for a window associated with that application to exist, maximize that window. The wmctrl utility needs to be installed for this to work, of course.

For abiword, create /usr/local/bin/abiword identical to above except replace atril with abiword in the third line.

The Atril and AbiWord window size thing is irritating to me too, but I use JWM and can make window rules in its config file then windows will always appear the way I want.

Thanks golinux. I'm using Mate. The "Save Current Settings as Default" option didn't help. Any other ideas?

I suspect it's a Mate/Gnome thing rather than an application thing because it's working here even after a long idle time.  Check the Mate window manager options.  Also look for a Mate Settings Editor and find those apps.  I can't remember much of my Gnome2 days  . . . that wasn't long after Y2K.  LOL!