Blog entries from sleekmason

Fluxbox Transparency with xcompmgr

sleekmason — Sat, 16 May 2009 07:00:00 +0100

How to have decent transparency and fading in fluxbox using xcompmgr.

It used to be an issue to have composite effects with fluxbox. Not anymore.

Screenshot: **Here**∞

The program xcompmgr handles many different composite effects concerning transparency and fading, and does so very well with fluxbox on my computer.

It should be noted that I am using an Nvidia 7300 GS graphics card with a non-free driver. My /etc/XRead More...

Event sounds in Fluxbox

sleekmason — Sat, 16 May 2009 07:00:00 +0100

Sound events in fluxbox

How to add event sounds to any fluxbox menu item.
This includes the login and logout sounds, as well as sounds for exit to login and restart fluxbox, and any other item you wish to have open with a sound event.

I tried to make this as simple as possible, and at the end of it all I think I have succeeded well in that respect.

You will need to edit three files, all in ~/.fluxbox, and grab the sounds.tar.gz file from tRead More...

Canto in Fluxbox

sleekmason — Sat, 16 May 2009 07:00:00 +0100

How to Canto

Canto is a python RSS reader that sits in a terminal. Screenshot: http://www.sidux.com/module-Mediashare-browse-aid-128-mid-1214.html∞

It is highly configurable, and fairly easy to use.
I have mine sitting in a pre built xfce-terminal window for ease of use. You can of course, just use a regular terminal and invoke "canto", but it just won't be nearly as fun.

I have canto set to use elinks. . . . Screen: http:Read More...

Using 'Feh' in Fluxbox

sleekmason — Sat, 16 May 2009 07:00:00 +0100

Using feh, because it is there.

Screenshot: http://www.sidux.com/module-Mediashare-browse-aid-128-mid-1197.html∞

Fluxbox generally uses one of two programs to set wallpaper, Feh, and Esetroot (part of Eterm). (Yes, I know there are several others).

I like to use Feh. Not because it is any faster. I can't tell any difference in speed between the two programs, but because Feh has some cool tools associated with it.

Read More...

Sticky xfce4-terminal in Fluxbox

sleekmason — Sat, 16 May 2009 07:00:00 +0100

Sticky xfce4-terminal How-to

This will place and resize an xfce4-terminal in the Fluxbox root window, with a menu entry, or upon start up of Fluxbox.

xfce4-terminals do not want to stay in any one place on the desktop. Upon closing and reopening of the terminal, it defaults to whatever plan the xfce4-terminal uses . Using the manager tweaks for 'smart placement' in xfce4 will not affect placement in Fluxbox.
Luckily, Fluxbox has a way to control every Read More...

Animated Wallpaper in fluxbox (video in root window)

sleekmason — Sat, 16 May 2009 07:00:00 +0100

Toggle Videos, Toggle Extras, Toggle Conky

1.Toggle Videos

Toggle Videos removes all but the bottom Conky and places a video, or series of videos on your root window using mplayer.
Mplayer does everything under the sun concerning video.

Note that I have moved my task-bar see screenshot: http://www.sidux.com/module-Mediashare-browse-aid-128-mid-1170.html∞

This is not a requirement. You may also make the task-bar 'Read More...

Using/Editing GTK themes in Fluxbox

sleekmason — Sat, 16 May 2009 07:00:00 +0100

Using and changing the appearance of gtk themes in fluxbox.

If you have KDE installed as your base, you may want to download a few programs in order to use the GTK style interface for some of your programs.

The easy way to do this is to

apt-get update && apt-get install xfce4-mcs-manager xfce4-icon-theme gtk2-engines-xfce

This will pull in the dependancies needed, and allow you to use the light weight xfce settings managerRead More...

Fluxbox Style editing

sleekmason — Sat, 16 May 2009 07:00:00 +0100

How to install and edit a Fluxbox style.

I like making styles and themes for my own use, and have posted my favorite fluxbox style here to help you learn the basics of using and editing your own styles.

The style below is ‘deepflux’. Deepflux remains my default fluxbox theme, and is constantly updated as I find new style tweaks.

Deepflux is a dark style meant to be the match for ‘deepcyan’, my gtk theme for applications. BRead More...

Fluxbox menu tweaks for internet, 2in1, and toggles

sleekmason — Sat, 16 May 2009 07:00:00 +0100

I find it convenient to open the sidux site, with all of the sub-forums in the 'English Forum' section waiting for me to browse.

I rarely use the bookmarks in iceweasel anymore. By leaving my conky in place at the bottom of my screen, and saving the window positions, I always have access to my menu without having to minimize anything I am working on. I keep all my most used web sites in the Fluxbox menu. Mine is set to open every subject in the english section, but my neRead More...

Change Fluxbox wallpaper from menu

sleekmason — Sat, 16 May 2009 07:00:00 +0100

Adding the code below to your ~/.fluxbox menu, will open a sub-menu that will have the names of all pictures that you have in ~/pictures/wallpapers.
Click on whatever picture you choose, and that picture becomes your desktop background.
Please note that when I say ~/.fluxbox menu, I am referring to whatever you have labled as your primary menu, i.e. menu1, if you are using the menu from the second guide.

[submenu](Wallpapers)
[wallpapers] (~/pictures/waRead More...

Fluxbox shutdown through sudoers

sleekmason — Sat, 16 May 2009 07:00:00 +0100

Using the 'sudoers' file in /etc for password free shutdown and restart in fluxbox.

If you are using menu1 from the first post, you will already have the options for both restart and shutdown. Basically adding:

#[exec] (Reboot) {su-to-root -X -c /sbin/reboot}
#[exec] (Shutdown) {su-to-root -X -c /sbin/halt}

will allow you to restart and shutdown but will also ask for a password.
In order to get around that you will need to edit youRead More...

Fluxbox keys

sleekmason — Sat, 16 May 2009 07:00:00 +0100

Fluxbox Keys
Fluxbox gives you an easy way to assign keyboard commands using the file ~/.fluxbox/keys in your ~/.fluxbox folder.

Here is my key file as an example.####### Custom Key File
###### There are numerous changes I have made here for my own use.
##### Nothing lethal but, do not assume anything -Sleekmason
####
###

!mouse actions added by fluxbox-update_configs
OnTitlebar Mouse2 :StartTabbing

!mouse actionRead More...

Fluxbox init file

sleekmason — Sat, 16 May 2009 07:00:00 +0100

Fluxbox init file

Here is my ~/.fluxbox/init file. Just copy and paste what you want, or replace yours with this one, as it is 'user independant' and contains may options and features.

The init file shown below fits everything else I write about, and is a good place to start making custom tweaks to your fluxbox setup.

#### Fluxbox init file
### Last edited 4-25-09 ~sleekmason
#
#### Alpha options
session.forcePseudoTranRead More...

Fluxbox startup file

sleekmason — Sat, 16 May 2009 07:00:00 +0100

Fluxbox Startup File
The Fluxbox startup file located at ~/.fluxbox/startup. This is where you can add programs to start upon entering Fluxbox.

Here is my startup file for comparison and ideas. Feel free to copy and paste anything that might work for you.

# fluxbox startup-script:
#
## Lines starting with a '#' are ignored.
# fbsetbg -f ~/pictures/wallpapers/sidux.png
## This sets a black background
#/usr/bin/fbsetroot -solid blackRead More...

Fluxbox menu setup

sleekmason — Sat, 16 May 2009 07:00:00 +0100

Fluxbox Menu

Good menu layout is essential to working with your fluxbox setup.

I am using the XFCE edition, and the paths in my menu will reflect the use of GTK apps like Thunar, rather than the QT apps. (anything KDE).

One easy way to learn about files in fluxbox, is the hands on approach. With Fluxbox this is easily accomplished with minimal risk.

*Files & Folders Note: Read More...

Fluxbox basic setup

sleekmason — Sat, 16 May 2009 07:00:00 +0100

Fluxbox How-to
I've been using Fluxbox for quite some time now and thought maybe I could share some hints, tricks, and such, with anybody who cared to look. This goes past just artwork. Some of the items I write about concern videos, transparency, conkys, and much much more.

All items I write about have been tested on a clean sidux install to make sure they are bothRead More...