tips for fluxbox [Part 1]

Message

_mikec_ · Post by **_mikec_** » Sat Feb 26, 2005 11:16 am

cool, the app is working, thanks appreciate it.

Morimando · Post by **Morimando** » Sat Feb 26, 2005 1:31 pm

real transparency: Have a look at xcompmgr (is in portage).. that'll do for the eyecandy.
Anyone knows of an iconbox for Flux? I liked the iconbar of enlightenment and having on in flux would be nice indeed

Arainach · Post by **Arainach** » Tue Mar 01, 2005 5:04 pm

OK, I need some help here. I love the Auto-select wallpaper menu. For reference, here's the syntax from my menu:

Code: Select all

[submenu] (Wallpapers)
     [wallpapers] (/stuff/wallpaper) {fbsetbg -f}
[end]

Now, I can change backgrounds just fine. The problem is that when I have fbsetbg -l set in my .fluxbox/startup file, it refuses to load the last wallpaper I set. Upon investigation of my .fluxbox/lastwallpaper file, I found the following:

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$full|/usr/wallpaper/Gentoo Lightning|:0
$full|/usr/wallpaper/Infinity|:0.0

The one with :0 is the last one I set manually, and the one with :0.0 is the one I set from the menu. If I remove the first entry, fbsetbg -l complains about having no last entry for display :0 until I remove the .0 from the second line. Is there any way to fix my menu command so that fbsetbg either saves my Desktop image as :0 or loads the Desktop image from :0.0 on startup?

stahlsau · Post by **stahlsau** » Sun Mar 06, 2005 8:39 am

hey, great thread, thanks @ all!
Someone asked about configuring gtk-themes, i´d suggest "gtk-theme-switch", it´s in portage and doesn´t have big dependencies (none for me). Also it features a nice gui and a preview-window.
And i encourage everyone to read the excellent documentation on fluxbox.org, available in lots of languages and providing an easy way to configure flux.

jm2c
stahlsau

joker · Post by **joker** » Tue Mar 08, 2005 8:39 pm

with alt + right/left mousebutton u can move or maximize the window

is there any possibility to turn this off ?

Morbo · Post by **Morbo** » Tue Mar 08, 2005 10:26 pm

Nemein wrote:I'm currently using Fluxbox and have been loving it since day one. A question I would like to ask you all is what file manager seems to be the lighest in terms of usage of system resources that can be put into function harmoniously with fluxbox? I've taken a brief look at ROX and Evidence and ROX seems to be a bit more than a filemanager (more like a WM itself) and what I'm just looking for is a slim, good-looking and fully functional file manager for Flux. What would you guys suggest?

ROX-Filer is just a file manager and it's seperate from the rest of ROX. It's by far the lowest resource file manager I've seen outside of terminal apps like mc.

zanzer7 · Post by **zanzer7** » Mon Mar 14, 2005 6:01 pm

Arainach wrote:OK, I need some help here. I love the Auto-select wallpaper menu. For reference, here's the syntax from my menu:
Code: Select all
[submenu] (Wallpapers)
     [wallpapers] (/stuff/wallpaper) {fbsetbg -f}
[end]
Now, I can change backgrounds just fine.

Thanks, just was I was looking for... I remembered this from last time I used fluxbox (~2 months ago), but couldn't remember the format, and "man fluxbox" didn't help much...
I CANNOT emphasize this enough (thanks again Arainach):
USE fluxbox's built-in wallpaper menu generator, and leave "fluxbox-generate_menu" alone; it removes all the menu additions/tweaks you've done yourself
Now, my menu as an example (if the above isn't good enough):

Code: Select all

[submenu] (backgrounds)
      [submenu] (anime)
            [submenu] (ecchi)
                  [wallpapers] (~/.fluxbox/backgrounds/anime/ecchi/) {fbsetbg -f}
            [end]
            [submenu] (chobits)
                  [wallpapers] (~/.fluxbox/backgrounds/anime/chobits/) {fbsetbg -f}
            [end]
            [wallpapers] (~/.fluxbox/backgrounds/anime/) {fbsetbg -f}
      [end]
      [submenu] (linux)
            [wallpapers] (~/.fluxbox/backgrounds/linux/) {fbsetbg -f}
      [end]
      [submenu] (backdrops)
            [wallpapers] (~/.fluxbox/backgrounds/backdrops/) {fbsetbg -f}
      [end]
      [wallpapers] (~/.fluxbox/backgrounds/) {fbsetbg -f}
[end]

And in case you're wondering; yes, I DO know how to capitalize, I just happen to like my menu items decapitalized

kamisama · Post by **kamisama** » Mon Mar 14, 2005 7:59 pm

Do any of you guys have seti progress in your torsmo file? And if so, can you post your config? I can't get it working and in the other threads I've posted noone has decided to help. I'm thinking this thread has the highest likelihood of someone actually using the setup I'm trying to get.

zanzer7 · Post by **zanzer7** » Mon Mar 14, 2005 10:32 pm

Haven't tried seti, to be honest I hadn't noticed torsmo had that

(tries right away)
But since we're talking about torsmo... I can't seem to get $battery to work, any experiences with this?

rhill · Post by **rhill** » Mon Mar 14, 2005 11:15 pm

Morbo wrote:ROX-Filer is just a file manager and it's seperate from the rest of ROX. It's by far the lowest resource file manager I've seen outside of terminal apps like mc.

ROX-Filer isn't seperate from the rest of ROX. the pinboard and panel are run by the same executable, just with different switches. i used to run the pinboard with openbox, but it has a long ways to go. the filer is pro tho.

zanzer7 · Post by **zanzer7** » Tue Mar 15, 2005 9:56 am

I've been fiddling a bit with torsmo, but unfortunately I can't get the SETI variables to work... however, I managed to get $battery and $acpiacadapter working; just had to compile the 'ACPI battery & ACPI ac adapter' modules in the kernel...
Also, for torsmo, try this:

Code: Select all

root@z10n # emerge genlop
root@z10n # nano -w .torsmorc
...
${execi 30 genlop -c | grep /}
...

I know it's an ugly way to do it, but it works

shows what you are currently compiling!

kamisama · Post by **kamisama** » Tue Mar 15, 2005 12:55 pm

thanks zanzer, at least I know I'm not the only one.

zanzer7 · Post by **zanzer7** » Fri Mar 18, 2005 10:18 am

Addition/tweak to the wallpaper section (supposing you used fbsetbg with esetroot before);

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root@z10n # emerge unmerge eterm
root@z10n # emerge feh
...and recommendably:
root@z10n # emerge aterm

It's really just a personal preference, but I like aterm much more than eterm (which you'll need an alternative to, unless you can settle with xterm), and didn't really ever use eterm anyways, so I was happy when I found out I could use the lightweight imageviewer feh (which ALSO has correct fileparsing of filenames with whitespace in them... I don't know if this is still a problem with fbsetbg, but Pwnz3r pointed this out on his site, so I thought I'd just add it here as well)... we NEED fluxbox tips/info

Code: Select all

FILE: ~/.fluxbox/menu
...
[submenu] (wallpapers)
     [exec] (random) {feh -r --bg-scale ~/.fluxbox/backgrounds/}
     [wallpapers] (~/.fluxbox/backgrounds/) {feh --bg-scale}
[end]
...

The first (random) will set a random picture from ~/.fluxbox/backgrounds/ as background, and the second (wallpapers) will add all images in ~/.fluxbox/backgrounds/ to the menu, and when you click any one, it'll be set as background.
Optionally you can make fluxbox load a random wallpaper when it's started (this is what I do):

Code: Select all

FILE: ~/.fluxbox/init
...
session.screen0.rootCommand:    feh -r --bg-scale ~/.fluxbox/backgrounds/
...

I MUST ADMIT that I don't really remember if the -r flag is right (as I'm not in linux atm), please do correct me if I'm wrong though

=======

Still no enlightenment on the SETI issues with torsmo? :S

kamisama · Post by **kamisama** » Fri Mar 18, 2005 3:33 pm

No update so far.. I submitted a bug for it, my first bug ever, watch them prolly call me stupid and invalidate it. Lol..

They need to hurry up and fix it, all the SETI monitors SUCK. A torsmo bar would be so hot.

http://bugs.gentoo.org/show_bug.cgi?id=85633

rhill · Post by **rhill** » Sat Mar 19, 2005 8:50 am

novalis wrote:I also felt in love with fluxbox and so I created a little configuration tool, that makes the configuration of flux easy.

http://www.makoe.com/fluxbox

Perhaps it helps to raise the popularity of flux

i like it.

one problem - the install.sh script fails because it can't create /usr/share/fluxcenter/lib. you have to use the -p option to mv.

Code: Select all

echo "########################################"
echo "# This script will install FluxCenter. #"
echo "# (Please run as root)                 #"
echo "########################################"

mkdir -p /usr/share/fluxcenter/lib

and when it starts up, you get a file open dialog, but nothing to indicate what it's looking for. what are you supposed to choose there?

rhill · Post by **rhill** » Sun Mar 20, 2005 1:58 am

maybe another fluxboxer can help solve my biggest annoyance.

is there any way to turn off window grouping? not tabbing, but like when you open, say, the preferences panel in firefox, it always opens with the dimensions of the main window. i know it's probably due to the remember option matching the subwindow, but is there any way of stopping it?

Mandr4ke · Post by **Mandr4ke** » Sun Mar 20, 2005 3:31 am

vla_do wrote:
Code: Select all
emerge torsmo
http://torsmo.sourceforge.net/

I tried this, it's pretty nice, what caught my eye was the cpu temp guage, but for soem reason mines not registereing any cpu temps.. is there soemthing i need to set in the kernel or another module to load?

Thanks

mjrmua · Post by **mjrmua** » Mon Mar 21, 2005 12:14 pm

I'm running Rox filer ontop of fluxbox to provide a desktop with icons.
just add:

Code: Select all

rox --pinboard=Default &

to ~/.fluxbox/startup
then go to the compatibility section of rox's options and set "Pass all backdrop mouse clicks to WM" and "Blackbox root menus hack" to get your fluxbox menus back.

1 problem with this however, is that the rox desktop covers the fluxbox one. Which means that fbsetbg no longer works to change the background image.

Does anyone know of a way to change the ROX background from the command line?

Or where rox stores it's background image so that I can change it manually.

zanzer7 · Post by **zanzer7** » Mon Mar 21, 2005 3:03 pm

I wouldn't know, as I tried starting rox on top of fluxbox as you suggested, and couldn't make it work... but how about...

Code: Select all

root@box # emerge feh
user@box $ feh --bg-scale ~/pics/whatever.jpg

I have no idea though, as I've never tried running two window managers on top of each other... hmm, have you thought about idesk?
By the way, I'm making a website for fluxbox/linux tips, any additions would be appreciated

I'm adding most of what's in this thread, with proper credits, so if you see your tip without a note about you, be sure to tell me... I guess that's my two cents then.

Oh, and kamisama, got any reply regarding seti@home yet?

dswissmiss · Post by **dswissmiss** » Mon Mar 21, 2005 3:07 pm

If you're using feh, don't forget to put this in you .xinitrc

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exec `cat ~/.fehbg` &

It will remember the last wallpaper you set.

swimmer · Post by **swimmer** » Mon Mar 21, 2005 3:34 pm

Mandr4ke wrote:
vla_do wrote:
Code: Select all
emerge torsmo
http://torsmo.sourceforge.net/
I tried this, it's pretty nice, what caught my eye was the cpu temp guage, but for soem reason mines not registereing any cpu temps.. is there soemthing i need to set in the kernel or another module to load?

Thanks

You can read the ACPI info - herefore you have to enable ACPI in your kernel

Code: Select all

CONFIG_ACPI=y
CONFIG_ACPI_THERMAL=y

and then you can request this information in your .torsmorc

Code: Select all

Temp: ${color}${acpitemp}°${color black}

HTH
swimmer

affan · Post by **affan** » Tue Mar 22, 2005 4:40 pm

dirtyepic wrote:maybe another fluxboxer can help solve my biggest annoyance.

is there any way to turn off window grouping? not tabbing, but like when you open, say, the preferences panel in firefox, it always opens with the dimensions of the main window. i know it's probably due to the remember option matching the subwindow, but is there any way of stopping it?

There is a file called ~/.fluxbox/apps which stores the dimensions of windows according to the app name. For example,

Code: Select all

[app] (Gecko)
  [Dimensions]  {1015 779}
  [Position]    {0 18}
[end]

Try removing this from that file.

kamisama · Post by **kamisama** » Tue Mar 22, 2005 7:24 pm

zanzer, nope, nothing. me and you are the only people who would use it, that doesnt put it high on their list of priorities.

zanzer7 · Post by **zanzer7** » Tue Mar 22, 2005 7:39 pm

kamisama, I think you're right... Hmm, I'm adding it to my website nevertheless (that it doesn't work, that is...)
For now though, I'm off to mingle a bit with xdm... a fluxbox tip? hmm... how about editing ~/.fluxbox/init:

Code: Select all

...
session.screen0.toolbar.placement: BottomRight
...
session.screen0.toolbar.tools: workspacename
session.screen0.toolbar.layer: AboveDock
session.screen0.toolbar.widthPercent: 4
...
session.screen0.workspaceNames: one,two,three,four,five,six,seven,eight,nine,ten,eleven,twelve
session.screen0.workspaces: 12
...

That's what I use; 12 workspaces, the current one's name in the bottom right corner in a little box. You might want to experiment with the widthPercent to fit your style...
That's my 2 cents anyways ^^
=======
EDIT: The workspaceNames is supposed to be on a single line, but if your browser window is too small, it'll wordwrap... just make sure you put the names on the same line as session.screen0.workspaceNames!

hicsuget · Post by **hicsuget** » Wed Mar 23, 2005 7:31 am

When I run fluxbox as root, everything is beautiful and I love it. But when I try to do the right thing and startx as a regular user, I run into a problem. Feh and root-tail are unable to make any alterations to the jet-black background. Running fbsetbg /directory/file.png yields a "hey, try the following command with feh" error. When I type in the command verbatim, feh gives a "segmentation fault" error. However, if I su to root and type in the exact same command, the background is set with no errors.

I checked the permissions for the image I'm trying to set and for feh itself, and my regular user has the appropriate permissions. Any ideas?

As for my favourite fluxbox tip, I added the following to my .fluxbox/menu under the "fluxbox menu" subsection:

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     [exec] (Configure fluxbox menu) {gedit ~/.fluxbox/menu}

I found I make quite a few changes to the fluxbox menu, and this makes it much easier to add new games and such.

tips for fluxbox [Part 1]

torsmo and seti

fluxbox/feh problem