Fluxbox

[Timothy L. Miller]

Got fluxbox installed (not 100% what version, whatever is in Debian unstable). Is there any way I can create a theme that uses a .jpg for the background? I've been looking at the styles files, and I don't see how, but I know I've seen screenshots of fluxbox with pictures on the desktop before. If not through a theme, then how do you do it. If it helps, I do have fluxconf installed. Thanks.

[LiNuts]

Open one of the style files, at the bootom you will see "RootCommand:" with bsetroot --rgb <color> change this to "RootCommand" Esetroot -scale /path/to/your/jpg.
i.e. RootCommand" Esetroot -scale /home/foo/images/pic.jpg
if you dont have Esetroot (almost everyone has) use xv instead.
Cheers
LiNuts

[Tequila]

The documentation at the Fluxbox website http://fluxbox.sourceforge.net/docs/newdoc.backgrounds.php#topexplains how to do it. Bascially look for this line in your init file:

session.screen0.rootCommand:

And then replace it with something like this:

session.screen0.rootCommand: bsetbg /usr/share/backgrounds/GoldenX.jpg

If you restart Fluxbox then that background will stay permanent even if you choose another theme.

[sarah31]

Tequila you are correct about those instructions but how do you keep the changes you write in the init file? Each time i edited the init file it would revert back. On the other hand there was only one style that i used and i did the edit on the RootCommand line and the graphic stuck.

If you have further pointers let me know.

[Tequila]

The key for me was to restart Fluxbox immediately after making the change to the ~/.fluxbox/init file. If you choose another theme before restarting Fluxbox then it would change that line back to a blank and the background would disappear.

If you do it that way the change remains permanent in the init file.

[sarah31]

Thanks I will be sure to test this out the next time i fire up fluxbox.

[Timothy L. Miller]

Thanks all! Been great help!

[MlotPolska]

Using this thread because i made my own i'd probably just name it Fluxbox anyways..so here goes

I followed the directions at http://fluxbox.sourceforge.net/docs/newdoc.starting.php#newbies
exactly in everyway but..it's still not working. I really don't know where to start or what to do..i'm running RH7.3 and GNOME

[fancypiper]

Originally posted by MlotPolska
I followed the directions at http://fluxbox.sourceforge.net/docs/newdoc.starting.php#newbies
exactly in everyway but..it's still not working. I really don't know where to start or what to do..i'm running RH7.3 and GNOME

If you are using a gui login, it ignores .xinitrc and looks at another file.

You will have to read the docs of your gui thingy and see what it reads or boot linux 3 for it to work.

[MlotPolska]

i log in through the CLI and then startx everytime so where did i go wrong ?

[Tequila]

MlotPolska: What's your .xinitrc look like? Does it have a line like this in it?
exec fluxbox

What window manager were you using before Fluxbox? If you had an
exec <Your favorite window manager here>

in your .xinitrc then make sure to remove or comment that one out.

And when you say it's not working, could you give us more details? You getting any error output from startx?

[Timothy L. Miller]

Got my background up and running! Yeah, I'm happy now. I think I've learned more in the last 2 days about linux than I have in the last year.

[MlotPolska]

my .xinitrc checks out for sure..i mean, there should only be one line in there right? and it should be in /home/davey/.xinitrc correct? here's the error i get when i try to start X with davey (my other login that isnt root):
"xinit: Permission denied (errno 13): no program named "/home/davey/.xinitrc" in PATH


Specify a program on the command line or make sure that /usr/X11R6/bin is in your path.

Couldnt get a file descriptor referring to the console"


Please, any advice, i'll be here playing KTron waitin for ya :-/

[fancypiper]

This works for me and puts gkrellm in the slit.
# fancypiper's .xinitrc file
exec gkrellm -w & #loads into slit
exec fluxbox

[MlotPolska]

gotta run to the gym cause i promised my friend before this came up but please dont let that stop you from posting ANYTHING helpful, im still stuck in a ditch here :(

[rapture]

Specify a program on the command line or make sure that /usr/X11R6/bin is in your path.

Ok what you might wanta try here is exporting that path that the error listed, it goes something like this:

export PATH=$PATH:/usr/X11R6/bin

You might also want to check that your .xinitrrc file wasn't created while you were root. It happened to me a couple of times :o

[Timothy L. Miller]

Originally posted by fancypiper
This works for me and puts gkrellm in the slit.
# fancypiper's .xinitrc file
exec gkrellm -w & #loads into slit
exec fluxbox


i'm using the exec grellm -w option right now in my .xinitrc also. Only question for it is, can you get it to dislplay anywhere other than middle of the screen on the right side? I tried doing a -w -g +x+x option, but all it did is horribly screw up the size...

[rapture]

can you get it to dislplay anywhere other than middle of the screen on the right side?

You can right click where the slit is located and adjust the postion to where you want it.