Fbpanel Documentation

[BerndS]

Hi again,

I installed and configured fbpanel 4.12 (announced here: https://www.oesf.org/forum/index.php?showto...&start=420) on my Zaurus running weeXpc (pdaxrom beta13). It works pretty well (better than matchbox).

Unfortunately the documentation at http://fbpanel.sourceforge.net/docs.html is not that usable - especially the plugins are poorly documented.

So I'm just looking for a better documentation for fbpanel.

regards

Bernd

[scheck.r]

Can you tell us why fbpanel is better than matchbox-panel ? (memory usage, added features, ...)
I just know that there is a taskbar included and makefbmenu that generates the menu scanning .desktop files.
Can you have windows overlapping the panel ? may be that's more of a window manager issue...
I am using Fluxbox partially because of this missing feature and true fullscreen also.

Thanks

EDIT: after reading the doc I can answer some of my questions.
Indeed, windows can overlap the panel, you can configure the panel this way setting SetPartialStrut variable in ~/.fbpanel directory

Code: [Select]

     # Reserve panel's space so that it will not be covered by maximazied windows
     # legal values are boolean
     # SetPartialStrut = true

[BerndS]

Hi,

Can you tell us why fbpanel is better than matchbox-panel ? (memory usage, added features, ...)

IMHO it's better because it supports virtuell screens (the panel are visible on all screens) and it appears to be faster than matchbox.

The (hopefully temporary) disadvantages are

- screen Rotating works with some bugs (see screenshot below)

- the documentation is incomplete

- fbpanel does not use the directory /usr/share/applications to build the menu (but you can use the matchbox applet mb-applet-menu-launcher also with fbpanel to get around this limitation)

I just know that there is a taskbar included and makefbmenu that generates the menu scanning .desktop files.

If using mb-applet-menu launcher you don't need this function of fbpanel.

regards

Bernd

[scheck.r]

Hi,

Can you tell us why fbpanel is better than matchbox-panel ? (memory usage, added features, ...)

IMHO it's better because it supports virtuell screens (the panel are visible on all screens) and it appears to be faster than matchbox.

The (hopefully temporary) disadvantages are

- screen Rotating works with some bugs (see screenshot below)

- the documentation is incomplete

- fbpanel does not use the directory /usr/share/applications to build the menu (but you can use the matchbox applet mb-applet-menu-launcher also with fbpanel to get around this limitation)

I just know that there is a taskbar included and makefbmenu that generates the menu scanning .desktop files.

If using mb-applet-menu launcher you don't need this function of fbpanel.

regards

Bernd

Thanks for the explanations.
The rotation bug makes fbpanel unusable in portrait mode. I remember pdaxrom r121 used fbpanel but I don't remember if the rotation bug was present.
If you use mb-applet-menu launcher, don't you use more RAM than just running makefbmenu once ?

[Capn_Fish]

I believe we saw the rotation issue with the new Matchbox that was compiled. There is probably a patch somewhere (I can't remember where the pdaX patches are) for fbpanel that will fix it.

[BerndS]

Thanks for the explanations.
The rotation bug makes fbpanel unusable in portrait mode.

I don't think so; fbpanel also works in portrait mode - only the popup windows are not where I would expect them.

If you use mb-applet-menu launcher, don't you use more RAM than just running makefbmenu once ?

Yes, but I must admit I did not test makefbmenu only now.

regards

Bernd

[ecc_hy]

1. why fbpanel?
fbpanel use less memory than matchbox. When develop mb-applet-powerctrl, I found the menu function in libmatchbox use much memory, and try to find the problem where is, but no result.
fbpanel project is active than matchbox.
fbpanel support transparent.

2.Notice for fbpanel ipk
makefbmenu has been modified for desktop's l10n menu item, but it really slow when starting X-windows. So it is ignored in fbpanel-session.
There is a binary file of makefbmenu in r198, But no source. Who do it before?
In IPK, eXit_fb was lost, so you can not exit x-window. It should be attached soon.

3. menu rotate?
In my c1k, pdaxrom 1.1 beta3, fbpanel's menu postion is not recalc when actived. Others of fb panel are ok.
Soorry, I have not test the other plugins, because mb-applet-powerctrl and tclock is enough for me.

4. About pdaxrom patch
I use the patch come from pdxrom 1.1 beta3 builder. Since a lot of source has been changed, I have to patched it line by line.

5. Due to the memory usage in menu function of libmatchbox.
I plan to rewrite mb-applet-powerctrl, and use gtk+ only, but it should not come soon.

openbox + fbpanel + rox should be perfect.

[scheck.r]

Thank you for developping mb-applet-powerctrl, I use it all the time, it is so handy to have everything in one place. But you are right it still uses too much memory. I use it with fluxbox but I dont' have tool tips popping up when cards are ejected for example since it's designed for matchbox-panel. It would be great if it could be integrated in any panel with all functionalities. Maybe add activate/deactivate swap would be helpful too.

Sorry for being a little off topic

Ideally: openbox 3.4.4 + fbpanel 4.12 + new mb-powerctrl in gtk+ (+ rox)

[Meanie]

1. why fbpanel?
fbpanel use less memory than matchbox. When develop mb-applet-powerctrl, I found the menu function in libmatchbox use much memory, and try to find the problem where is, but no result.
fbpanel project is active than matchbox.
fbpanel support transparent.

2.Notice for fbpanel ipk
makefbmenu has been modified for desktop's l10n menu item, but it really slow when starting X-windows. So it is ignored in fbpanel-session.
There is a binary file of makefbmenu in r198, But no source. Who do it before?
In IPK, eXit_fb was lost, so you can not exit x-window. It should be attached soon.

3. menu rotate?
In my c1k, pdaxrom 1.1 beta3, fbpanel's menu postion is not recalc when actived. Others of fb panel are ok.
Soorry, I have not test the other plugins, because mb-applet-powerctrl and tclock is enough for me.

4. About pdaxrom patch
I use the patch come from pdxrom 1.1 beta3 builder. Since a lot of source has been changed, I have to patched it line by line.

5. Due to the memory usage in menu function of libmatchbox.
I plan to rewrite mb-applet-powerctrl, and use gtk+ only, but it should not come soon.

openbox + fbpanel + rox should be perfect.
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fbpanel actually is the default in r197/r198. It does not rotate properly out of the box but with my SP8 package, that is fixed. the popups are also correctly positioned so they don't go off the screen.

makefbmenu is in svn. I have updated it so it ignores certain desktop files like reboot and exit so they don't appear as duplicated.

fbpanel can use matchbox applets as well so you can continue to use mb-applet-powerctrl until a newer more lightweight version comes out.

openbox + fbpanel is the default in r197/r198.  rox can be easily added just like in beta3

[Jon_J]

I tried to install fbpanel onto my Z running pdaxii13v2
First, I needed to install libtool, to get libltdl.so.3
Then I tried to link .xinitrc to fbpanel-session-rox, but it failed.
I think it failed because in pdaxii13, .xinitrc is already a symlink to /usr/bin/mbsession
Below is the message I got in the console.

Code: [Select]

ln -s ~/.xinitrc /usr/bin/fbpanel-session-rox
ln: /usr/bin/fbpanel-session-rox: File existsAfter I did the above, I checked .xinitrc properties, and it is still linked to /usr/bin/mbsession
I restarted X, and ran "top"
fbpanel is not running.

[ecc_hy]

fbpanel actually is the default in r197/r198. It does not rotate properly out of the box but with my SP8 package, that is fixed. the popups are also correctly positioned so they don't go off the screen.

makefbmenu is in svn. I have updated it so it ignores certain desktop files like reboot and exit so they don't appear as duplicated.

fbpanel can use matchbox applets as well so you can continue to use mb-applet-powerctrl until a newer more lightweight version comes out.

openbox + fbpanel is the default in r197/r198.  rox can be easily added just like in beta3

I really test fbpanel ipk for r197/198, since it segament error in pdaxrom 1.1beat3, and so I recompile it for 1.1beta3.
Where is your source patched? where is svn?
I would like to modify fbpanel source according your patch, and try to add some L10N support for makefbmenu.

Now, I am starting to learning gtk+, and try to modify mb-applet-powerctrl to gtk+. The plugin in fbmenu is a good sample for my project.

[Meanie]

fbpanel actually is the default in r197/r198. It does not rotate properly out of the box but with my SP8 package, that is fixed. the popups are also correctly positioned so they don't go off the screen.

makefbmenu is in svn. I have updated it so it ignores certain desktop files like reboot and exit so they don't appear as duplicated.

fbpanel can use matchbox applets as well so you can continue to use mb-applet-powerctrl until a newer more lightweight version comes out.

openbox + fbpanel is the default in r197/r198.  rox can be easily added just like in beta3

I really test fbpanel ipk for r197/198, since it segament error in pdaxrom 1.1beat3, and so I recompile it for 1.1beta3.
Where is your source patched? where is svn?
I would like to modify fbpanel source according your patch, and try to add some L10N support for makefbmenu.

Now, I am starting to learning gtk+, and try to modify mb-applet-powerctrl to gtk+. The plugin in fbmenu is a good sample for my project.

try https://pdaxrom.svn.sourceforge.net/svnroot...al/fbpanel-4.3/

good luck

[ecc_hy]

Good, I should check it, and modify for 4.12

[Jon_J]

I got fbpanel working in pdaxii13v2. Should I start a new thread, since this one is about documentation?
BTW the fbpanel attachment in the "New Announcements" thread has gone missing. (forum bug).

I renamed ~/.xinitrc to .xinitrc-old, then using rox, I dragged /usr/bin/fbpanel-session-rox to ~/ and renamed it .xinitrc
None of the shortcut buttons work, is that implemented differently in fbpanel? Shortcut buttons are 6th row, ie calendar, address, etc.

[Meanie]

I got fbpanel working in pdaxii13v2. Should I start a new thread, since this one is about documentation?
BTW the fbpanel attachment in the "New Announcements" thread has gone missing. (forum bug).

I renamed ~/.xinitrc to .xinitrc-old, then using rox, I dragged /usr/bin/fbpanel-session-rox to ~/ and renamed it .xinitrc
None of the shortcut buttons work, is that implemented differently in fbpanel? Shortcut buttons are 6th row, ie calendar, address, etc.

fbpanel has been updated to work with pdaXiiv2

what you need to do is relink ~/.xinitrc to /usr/bin/fbpanel-session
if you want it to use rox instead of matchbox desktop, create a file called ~/.fbpanel/use_rox (assuming you actually got rox installed)

all the shortcut keys are controlled by openbox so if you upgraded to some unsupported version of openbox, then you would had lost all your shortcut keys...