for anyone else that is using XFCE4, correct me if I am wrong. But when setting the directory for images to be placed on ones desktop. in the where are they at dialog box...

in desktopsettings->Background->dropdown list->other when picking a directory didn;t xfce4 let the user actaully click into a directory, and or one of its subdirectories so that is will use only what is within that one directory?

beause mine is no longer allowing me to. but I do not use that option a lot so my memory of its behavior is faulty.

it opens up giving me a file manager when selecting Other .. then within that file manager it will not allow me to pick a directory if I am using its main window, but if I click on the tree panel on the left side I can click into whatever directories are storied there. but not any of its subdirectories within any of them directories.

My user group assigned to everyhing is me, my user name, so logically the permissions should allow me to access every directory.

but it is not. so I am at a loss.

anyone have any ideas why xfce4 is behaving is such a manner other then it is having an attitude problem?

( this is a "new" install if that matters, I reinstalled my system and am fianlly getting around to setting a directory for what images to place on the desktop when I noticed this behavior. )

Menu->Settings->Session and Startup-->Session->Delete Saved Sessions.
Logout... untick "save session"... OK.
Login again.

NOPE didn't work ... the directories and subdirecrtories are still greyed out not allowing to choose them. leaving me with the entire hard dirve to use.

Does the user can actually see the directory via commandline? What distro? SELinux enabled and enforcing?

It works as expected here. I really cannot imagine what could be wrong if it doesn't work for you.
Stupid Question: You are sure that your directory actually does have any subdirectories, aren't you?

yes, if one opens up a filemanager on its own, where xfce will open one up to use it to set the directory. with the filemanager opened on its own, one can look at the tree structor on which ever hard drive they connect to, (you know this but for sake of explaining) then see all of the directories. then all one has to do is click on one to get inside of it. if thier are subdirectroies then the same methoid applies.

but now for some reason xfce4 is not allowing me to even click on a parent directroy to get inside of it. I could go into my .confile and just delete the folders (directories) that may have an association to xfce4 . .now that I think about it then see what that does. being the filemanager directories, pcmanfm ,and thundar .. let me go check... also deleted xfce4 and xfce4-session to see if that will give me a clean start up session brb with results .. logging out in minus T 3secs .. 2sec .1 secs ..


BACK:
MOD:
nothing same O same O
just had to reset everything again in my session .. no biggy I dont have too many customizations.

Hmmm... That reminds me of that one instance when my XFCE session got completely messed up. I don't remember exactly what was the problem, but to repair it, I had to switch to a character-based terminal, shut down the desktop environment, remove my ".config/xfce4" directory, then restart the desktop environment. It did not work when I left the desktop environment running.

The exact procedure depends on which distribution you're running, but the <Ctrl>+<Alt>+<F1> key combination should get you to a character-based terminal, where you can log in. Then, if you're running a systemd distribution that uses LightDM as its display manager (e.g., Debian or Xubuntu), the following command will shut down your desktop:
Then, remove your ".config/xfce4" directory:
And finally, restart the desktop environment:
Maybe worth a try?

I already did the delete the xfce4 and xfce4-session folders that looks like it made it worse.

it has now gone hay wire on me. it switches desktops randomly, windows are redrawn over top of each other without refreshing completely randomly ... randomly the windows will switch desktops all by themselves all of this taking place at the same time .. I installed E21 and am currently not liking it becuase of its crazy set up operational ways but it works

still getting use to this e21 and thinking of trying to downgrade xfce4 if I even can I don't know.

Your experience is a new one on me. Perhaps it's Void that has the attitude problem?

nope it is an XFCE4 thing I get rolling releases lastest updates and on the xfce4 source sight it is showing error just got to wait for them to fix it.


thanks

Did you try to create a new user? Then, if you did not see the problem when you logged in with the new user, you could conclude that something had gone wrong with your user profile. Otherwise, it had to be a system-wide problem.

good thought. though I do run a rolling release that keeps the system updated with the software's latest release. being like I am i also posted this problem to see if anyone over their too may know of something about this. the more seeds one sows the greater the chance of a better return.

one such return came about, he and a few others are having this problem with setting the desktop wallpaper because of the same reason. One of them modded the xfce4 code to fix it. it just needs to be pushed (I think that is his intentions) back into the main stream and accepted to get the fix in place with xfce4 software.

only that now I am having a if two or more windows are open on the same desktop the drawing and refresh the windows to keep them in sight has gone haywire causing them to actually be there but not able to be completely seen.

so someone one the xfce4 side screwed their code somehow for whatever reason.