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stranger777 08-17-2004 10:32 PM

Trying to get the doubleheight taskbar in Icewm
 
So I really like Ice. On my system (PI 233, 64MB RAM) it works great. I just switched to Linux a few weeks and many long nights back, tried different distros but always came back to Debian - I use Knoppix right now because I have lots of HD space and wanted to explore what Linux has to offer.

I understand that in order to configure Icewm, you edit configuration files. All I want is the taskbar to have double height, apparently it will then include a "run box", a nice feature since there is no run command in the Ice menu.

I have followed the instructions in the Icewm manual on the icewm web site (can't post link yet) . I have created a folder /.icewm in home AND root because I wasn't sure. So I have root/.icewm and home/.icewm. Both include all configuration files. It says in the manual about the newly created folder: This location can be customized by setting the $ICEWM_PRIVCFG environment variable. I have no idea what that means.
In the preferences file, I changed TaskBarDoubleHeight = 0 to TaskBarDoubleHeight = 1 and removed the #. I saved the file and restartet Icewm (and the PC) to no effect.

I have apted (is this the right way to say this?) config tools like Icepref and checked there the box for the doubleheight taskbar> nothin.

Any ideas? Or any ideas how to start a program or run command with a shortcut, shells take RAM, precious RAM...

Thanks!

macondo 08-18-2004 07:21 PM

"I use Knoppix right now..."

Knoppix is NOT Debian, it is based on different sources.list (woody, sarge, sid, experimental, marillat, etc,) this in turn, makes it difficult if not imposible to let it act simply as if it was just sarge or sid. I would usually tell you to switch to MEPIS or KANOTIX, which are based solely on Debian Sid and easy to install to the hd, BUT, they come with KDE by default, which would make it slow on you Pentium box.

The Sarge installer is getting there, and most people have no problems with it.

I don't know how IceWM in Knoppix behaves, (from what you say you did, it should work) but in regular Debian or any other Debian based distro, is a breeze. If you are using knoppix from the live cd, is not gonna save any configuration you do, until you install it to the hd.

I use IceWM mostly (PII/266), with mc (Midnight Commander), run it as root:

#mc

on the first screen click on .icewm, then F3 (view), choose Preferences, then F4 to edit what you want, Press F2 (save), and F10 twice to get out. This will take care of the taskbar.

now, for keybindings:
Click on .icewm, F3 choose 'keys', press F4 to edit, add the combinations you like for the apps you use. I don't use icons on the taskbar anymore, just use the keys. Here's a copy of my ~/.icewm/keys:

key "Alt+Ctrl+t" xterm
key "Ctrl+Shift+f" xfe
key "Ctrl+Alt+m" mozilla
key "Ctrl+Alt+o" opera
key "Ctrl+Shift+x" xchat
key "Ctrl+Shift+w" oowriter

key "Alt+Ctrl+KP_Divide" aumix -v -5 # lower volume
key "Alt+Ctrl+KP_Multiply" aumix -v +5 # raise volume

You don't need the root folder for preferences, just the user one.

All the files are in /etc/X11/icewm just copy what you need to your ~/.icewm file, with your favorite editor:

Example:
#cp /etc/X11/icewm/preferences /home/your_user_name/.icewm/preferences

OR

#cp /etc/X11/icewm/keys /home/your_user_name/.icewm/keys

then go there and choose the combination keys for your apps, reboot, and the next time you need mozilla or OOo, just type in the combos. IceWm is great.

For the menu, just install 'iceme' which is a menu-editor

apt-get install iceme

fire it up as user, and Ctrl+x to delete anything you don't want, Ctrl+c to copy and Ctrl+v to paste, Ctrl+s to save and Ctrl+q to quit, logout/login and you are in like flynn.

I guess your problem is Knoppix, in Debian, i've never seen any of it.

stranger777 08-19-2004 01:47 AM

I followed all your instructions by the letter and got the promised results - everything works now the way I want it. THANK-YOU!
I guess Icewm behaves under Knoppix just the way you are used to it, it's me who doesn't... I see already that one day I will change to a pure Debian installation, after I learned more about the entire thing. I actually tried Debian, I think it was distro number 2 or 3 I installed. The thing that made me as a newbie come back to Knoppix was the hardware detection. In my case, it was my evil ethernet card that Knoppix recognized and the others didn't. Again, thank-you for all your help, I am off to configure some more shortcuts...

macondo 08-19-2004 08:29 AM

I'm glad everything worked.

You ought to try Libranet 2.8.1 free download, do a minimal installation, it autodetects your hardware, and comes with Icewm by default.

www.libranet.com

check the forums.

It comes with an XAdminmenu control center that makes your life simple, with the help of scripts you can even recompile your kernel, config your X system, desktop, it's really cool.

stranger777 08-19-2004 10:43 AM

I checked it out. Sounds easy to install. I'll give it a try when I am ready to switch. Thanks for the pointer.

nuka_t 08-19-2004 01:41 PM

Youre wrong about mepis not having icewm. it lets you chose ice or kde on the boot menu. however, only regular mepis has it, not simply mepis. but mepis is better anyway.

so my suggestion is to get mepis and use icewm on it.

macondo 08-19-2004 03:51 PM

nuka_t:
I said it comes with KDE by default, not that it doesn't carry IceWM.

If you use icewm with mepis you still have to carry KDE's weight, he is using a Pentium box. Get the point?

stranger777:
I forgot to tell you to install

icewm-themes

this will give you another 20+ themes to choose from.

stranger777 08-19-2004 04:57 PM

cool, I get the themes. I can carry a lot of weight since I installed a 40GB HD on my box, I had to update the BIOS but it works. Under my current installation, I have KDE installed and have a look from time to time but rather for learning than working.

Triple5 11-30-2004 09:21 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by stranger777
I followed all your instructions by the letter and got the promised results - everything works now the way I want it. THANK-YOU!
I guess Icewm behaves under Knoppix just the way you are used to it, it's me who doesn't... I see already that one day I will change to a pure Debian installation, after I learned more about the entire thing. I actually tried Debian, I think it was distro number 2 or 3 I installed. The thing that made me as a newbie come back to Knoppix was the hardware detection. In my case, it was my evil ethernet card that Knoppix recognized and the others didn't. Again, thank-you for all your help, I am off to configure some more shortcuts...

Knoppix is meant to be a live-cd not installed.
If you want to install a live-cd distro that can run good on the live-cd (on the go) and or install it
theres something called SimplyMEPIS and if you have a cutting edge computer P4 or fAST AMd there's Kanotix but MEPIS will do anyways and you can upgrade it to Latest Mepis Cutting Edge

jonr 12-10-2004 10:49 AM

Often the best way to change aspects of IceWM is simply to edit the ~/.icewm/preferences file in a text editor.

One of the preference options is:


Code:

#Use Double Height Taskbar (Highly Recommended)
TaskBarDoubleHeight 0/1    1

The choices are 0 for no, 1 for yes. I have 1 for yes chosen (the final one on the line). For single-height,
I'd replace it with a zero.

The configuration tool IceWMCP (Ice Window Manager Control Panel) is handy for some uses, if you can
find a version which works in the first place. It doesn't always work quite right, however. Editing the preferences
file is a surefire way to change preferences.


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