Author Topic: X/qt-debian Using Xfce4  (Read 5694 times)

Chero

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X/qt-debian Using Xfce4
« on: March 13, 2005, 02:23:04 pm »
Hi,

I've been working on a setup for pocketworkstation, but didn't like ice.
I installed xfce4 and use this instead.
It's faster and seems better suited for small screens.
If you use iconbox instead of taskbar and set the behaviour of the panel as normal instead of on top, you can use the full screen for your apps !!

Chero

Take a look(The Gimp, xfce4-panel, kbudget):
« Last Edit: March 13, 2005, 02:55:56 pm by Chero »
HP-95LX -> HP Jornada 680 -> SL-C860 -> SL-C3100 -> Fuji u810 -> SL-C1000 -> HTC uni -> SL-C860 -> SL-C760.
March 12 2009 : Back because the Zaurus is one of a kind.
SL-C760 : pdaXrom
Pandora pre-ordered -> received and tested : great device but not my cup of tea -> sold.

wmadan

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X/qt-debian Using Xfce4
« Reply #1 on: March 14, 2005, 04:02:10 pm »
Chero,

How about a mini step-by-step for getting this running? I had it installed once but couldn't figure out how to get my apps recognized in the menu.

You say xfce4 is faster than icewm. Are you running 4.2?

Bill

Chero

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X/qt-debian Using Xfce4
« Reply #2 on: March 15, 2005, 04:20:49 am »
Quote
Chero,

How about a mini step-by-step for getting this running? I had it installed once but couldn't figure out how to get my apps recognized in the menu.

You say xfce4 is faster than icewm. Are you running 4.2?

Bill
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Try to write a mini-howto this evening.

Version of xfce is 4.0.6
Version of icewm I have to check

Chero
HP-95LX -> HP Jornada 680 -> SL-C860 -> SL-C3100 -> Fuji u810 -> SL-C1000 -> HTC uni -> SL-C860 -> SL-C760.
March 12 2009 : Back because the Zaurus is one of a kind.
SL-C760 : pdaXrom
Pandora pre-ordered -> received and tested : great device but not my cup of tea -> sold.

loopy29

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X/qt-debian Using Xfce4
« Reply #3 on: March 15, 2005, 06:02:01 am »
Yeah, I am very interested in this too.

Chero

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X/qt-debian Using Xfce4
« Reply #4 on: March 15, 2005, 03:19:05 pm »
Here we go :

I followed the setup in this thread by jerrybme

First install xfce4:
I did this using synaptic (graphical debian package manager with great search functions). It takes a while to load the package list or to perform a search, but you don't need to know the exact name off a package, you can also search in descriptions.
(to install synaptic : "apt-get install synaptic")

Minimum packages to install (apt-get install ...   - or select in synaptic)
xfce4 (main package)
xfce4-battery-plugin (battery-applet on the panel)
xfce4-iconbox (icon box with running apps = mini task bar)

Then go to (debroot)/etc/xfce4 and edit "default.session"
Comments between () are not in the scripts !!
...
xfce4 --daemon
# xftaskbar4 &       (i don't like it cause it uses space on the screen)
xfdesktop &
xfce4-iconbox &     (to replace the taskbar without losing space)
xfce4-panel &

Now it's time to change the startd script :

My startd-script looks like this now:

#!/bin/sh
#startup commands:
export DISPLAY=0:0
swapon /swapfile
#locales:
unset LANG
unset LC_ALL
export LC_TYPE=en_US
source=/etc/profile
#window manager:
#original:
#/usr/bin/icewm-session   (commented this line to use xfce4)
#my window manager
xfce4-session
#shutdown commands
swapoff /swapfile

Then start pocketworkstation and you should get xfce4 instead of icewm
It's very easy to customise :
- the little toolbox on the panel launches the "settings-manager", you can change whatever you like here, it's all very "wysiwyg" (background, fonts, window style, icon theme, ...).
(I changed the "panel layer" of the "xfce4 Panel" to "normal" instead of the default "top" to make it behave as a normal window and makes it possible to see other windows on top of it)
- to change an item, add an item, remove an item, ... right click ("fn" + tap) on the item or on the panel itself (e.g. add battery applet) (e.g. change the command of the terminal to "aterm -bg blue -fg yellow -title Chero-term")
- to add a launcher to the menu :
There's a little arrow on the right of some icons in the panel (on the right of the debian logo in the example in the first post). Click on it, click on "add launcher", just fill in all the fields (command you use to launch the app doesn't need the full path, just add "gnumeric" or "nedit" or whatever you would write at the command prompt).
To find icons : most of them are in "/usr/share/pixmaps"

Just try, feel free to ask !
Warning : Once you get the feel of it, it's hard to stop playing.

Good luck,
Chero.
« Last Edit: March 15, 2005, 03:20:44 pm by Chero »
HP-95LX -> HP Jornada 680 -> SL-C860 -> SL-C3100 -> Fuji u810 -> SL-C1000 -> HTC uni -> SL-C860 -> SL-C760.
March 12 2009 : Back because the Zaurus is one of a kind.
SL-C760 : pdaXrom
Pandora pre-ordered -> received and tested : great device but not my cup of tea -> sold.

wmadan

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« Reply #5 on: March 15, 2005, 09:23:35 pm »
Chero,

Excellent!  

I loaded xfce and just tweaked my startd file to point to xfce. That's the only modification I did. Everything works fine.

You are right that xfce4 is good when it comes to pda "real estate", and that is great. I am not sure that it loads any faster than icewm does. Actually, I think xfce4 takes longer to fire up. Once inside, it performs well.

Thanks, again!

I'm going to try fluxbox and see how it does.

Bill

Chero

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X/qt-debian Using Xfce4
« Reply #6 on: March 16, 2005, 02:29:33 am »
Quote
You are right that xfce4 is good when it comes to pda "real estate", and that is great. I am not sure that it loads any faster than icewm does. Actually, I think xfce4 takes longer to fire up. Once inside, it performs well.

I'm going to try fluxbox and see how it does.

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About the speed : it may have been wishfull thinking from my side 'cause I just like the look and feel of xfce. It performs well when inside, that's most important for me.

Please give us your opinion on fluxbox too.
I might also want to try that.

Chero.
HP-95LX -> HP Jornada 680 -> SL-C860 -> SL-C3100 -> Fuji u810 -> SL-C1000 -> HTC uni -> SL-C860 -> SL-C760.
March 12 2009 : Back because the Zaurus is one of a kind.
SL-C760 : pdaXrom
Pandora pre-ordered -> received and tested : great device but not my cup of tea -> sold.

wmadan

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« Reply #7 on: March 17, 2005, 04:01:52 pm »
I installed fluxbox and gave it a whirl. I have to use a style with larger text for my 40-something eyes.  

Initial boot time is about half of what it takes to boot xfce4 and it's probably a little faster than icewm.

With fluxbox, like xfce4 you have use of the entire screen of the Zaurus.

FN + tap brings up the menu, just like xfce4.

I didn't do a whole lot more tinkering with it.

Bill