Windows->Gentoo KDE newb, howto change desktop resolution

[StringCheesian]

In XP, all I have to do is right click the desktop, go to properties, etc...

There's Peripherals->Display in KDE Control Center, but that looks like it would overwrite my /etc/XF86Config, which I have set up to use nvidia's drivers.

I just want a GUI frontend or whatever to change my res/bit depth... is there one?

[Mystic]

I haven't got Gentoo up and running yet, but in all the other distro using

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Ctrl+ +

Would do the job, replace the + with - to lower the reso, I always had to make screen adjustment and the like after it.


Mystic

[QPegasus]

You could just (while outside X) run xf86config again, this time selecting a different resolution. When its done, just edit XF86Config to include the nvidia drivers.

[shm]

KDE 3.2 beta1 also lets you change the resolution on the fly like Windows (finally.. through the control panel or through the systray applet "krandrtray")

[StringCheesian]

Thanks everyone. I think I'll take a look at KDE 3.2

[Kesereti]

Just thought I might add...Gnome 2.4 also has this feature ^_^

[shm]

Just thought I might add...Gnome 2.4 also has this feature ^_^

I know it's in gnome's control panel, but I didn't see a notification tray applet anywhere (useful, like in windows)

[Kesereti]

Just thought I might add...Gnome 2.4 also has this feature ^_^

I know it's in gnome's control panel, but I didn't see a notification tray applet anywhere (useful, like in windows)

Eh, I like it right where it is...(Desktop Preferences -> Screen Resolution)...I guess I just don't like my systray cluttered with stuff--oh, wait, I don't even have a systray set up =) Hehe...

[HackerBunny]

I used a sys-tray for gaim, but if it starts to get cluttered, I turn it off and put gaim on a different desktop.

The buddy list part

[Ari Rahikkala]

I just use the xrandr command.

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xrandr

lists the graphics modes you can use,

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xrandr -s <number>

switches to a selected mode.

For example:

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$ xrandr
 SZ:    Pixels          Physical       Refresh
*0   1600 x 1200   ( 542mm x 406mm )  *75   70   65   60  
 1   1400 x 1050   ( 542mm x 406mm )   75   60  
 2   1280 x 1024   ( 542mm x 406mm )   85   75   60  
 3   1280 x 960    ( 542mm x 406mm )   85   60  
 4   1152 x 864    ( 542mm x 406mm )   75  
 5   1152 x 768    ( 542mm x 406mm )   55  
 6   1024 x 768    ( 542mm x 406mm )   85   75   70   60   87  
 7    832 x 624    ( 542mm x 406mm )   75  
 8    800 x 600    ( 542mm x 406mm )   85   75   72   60   56  
 9    640 x 480    ( 542mm x 406mm )   85   75   73   60  
 10   720 x 400    ( 542mm x 406mm )   85  
 11   640 x 400    ( 542mm x 406mm )   85  
 12   640 x 350    ( 542mm x 406mm )   85  
 13   512 x 384    ( 542mm x 406mm )   87  
 14   416 x 312    ( 542mm x 406mm )   75  
 15   400 x 300    ( 542mm x 406mm )   85   75   72   60   56  
 16   320 x 240    ( 542mm x 406mm )   85   75   73   60  
 17   360 x 200    ( 542mm x 406mm )   85  
 18   320 x 200    ( 542mm x 406mm )   85  
 19   320 x 175    ( 542mm x 406mm )   85  
Current rotation - normal
Current reflection - none
Rotations possible - normal 
Reflections possible - none

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$ xrandr -s 9
$ xdpyinfo|grep dimensions
  dimensions:    640x480 pixels (542x406 millimeters)
$ xrandr -s 0

Don't forget to restart your window manager if you do it this way. If you're using a desktop environment, you should use its provided method of switching resolutions...

[Kesereti]

I used a sys-tray for gaim, but if it starts to get cluttered, I turn it off and put gaim on a different desktop.

The buddy list part

I usually just keep my buddy list stickied (on all 4 of my desktops), but rolled up so only the title bar shows...then when I want to see if someone's online, or send a message, I just unroll it...

[cylgalad]

Ctrl+Alt++ (keypad plus) or Ctrl+Alt+- (keypad minus), but that does not resize the desktop.

[Paulten]

Also I nice app for installing and configuring your nvidia setup is yanc.
Not that I need a frontend hehe

--Paul

[StringCheesian]

I looked at Gnome, but I didn't like the theme. When I tried to install a new one, it just wouldn't work. It was a GTK2 theme, I think. If I dragged it into the theme list, it wouldn't show up. If I clicked the add theme button and selected it, still no dice.

[shm]

I looked at Gnome, but I didn't like the theme. When I tried to install a new one, it just wouldn't work. It was a GTK2 theme, I think. If I dragged it into the theme list, it wouldn't show up. If I clicked the add theme button and selected it, still no dice.

i think you have to untar it.. not sure, haven't used gnome for a while and don't have it installed to check

[Ari Rahikkala]

Just to clear up the confusion that this thread has likely caused, I'll go quickly through the different possible kinds of "desktop resolution"...

There's XFree86's virtual screen resolution, also called the root window size. This used to be unchangeable until quite recently - XFree added support for it (calling it "partial RandR support", which it is) in 4.3.0. If the root window is bigger than your physical screen resolution, you can scroll around by just moving your mouse "over" the screen edge. This works without window manager support, AFAIK. Physical screen resolution is what ctrl-alt-+ and ctrl+alt+- change. The fact that window managers aren't necessarily aware of root window size changes adds to the complexity - if you, say, scale your desktop down to 1024x768 from 1280x1024, your window manager might well still think that it's running on a 1280x1024 screen - thus making some stuff invisible (drawn offscreen).

[tempdude]

Hi Ari,

The fact that window managers aren't necessarily aware of root window size changes adds to the complexity - if you, say, scale your desktop down to 1024x768 from 1280x1024, your window manager might well still think that it's running on a 1280x1024 screen - thus making some stuff invisible (drawn offscreen).

After reading your post I'm thinking you can probably shed a little more light on why I can't get this to work right.

I found this code and changed the [item] to [exec] so it would work with fluxbox menu. It changes the resolution fine but as you said my desktop has items drawn in the wrong places.

I have to use the Restart command built into the fluxbox menu. I tried to do something like this:
[exec] (640x480) {xrandr -s 640x480 && Restart}

I tried a few variations on the syntax but haven't hit upon a solution yet. The only thing that seems to work is hitting the built-in menu item: [restart] (Restart). Any advice welcome.

Thanks in advance, tempdude

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[submenu] (Resolution)
     [exec] (640x480) {xrandr -s 640x480}
     [exec] (800x600) {xrandr -s 800x600}
     [exec] (1024x768) {xrandr -s 1024x768}
     [exec] (1280x1024) {xrandr -s 1280x1024}
[end]

[monkeyking]

Yeah I have a similar problem, how do I set the partial randr to the same as my physical one.??

[AmosMutke]

I found this code and changed the [item] to [exec] so it would work with fluxbox menu. It changes the resolution fine but as you said my desktop has items drawn in the wrong places.

I have to use the Restart command built into the fluxbox menu. I tried to do something like this:
[exec] (640x480) {xrandr -s 640x480 && Restart}

I tried a few variations on the syntax but haven't hit upon a solution yet. The only thing that seems to work is hitting the built-in menu item: [restart] (Restart). Any advice welcome.

Thanks in advance, tempdude

This is in my TODO list as well. I tried the same things as tempdude, but didn't work for me either. For now I just have to do the "two step" process. reset the resolution and then restart usig the [restart] (Restart) schtuff...
Is it possible to shell script this? I think the randr part would work, but I'm not sure if there is a way to get fluxbox to restart. I haven't searched the fluxbox man page either yet.