Enabling transparency in Xorg 6.8.0 with composite extension...?!
 

Gah!

I compiled 6.8.0, I've added this to my xorg.conf:

Section "Extensions"
Option "Composite" "Enable"
Option "RENDER" "Enable"
Option "XEVIE" "Disable"
EndSection

My Xorg.0.log reads:

(**) Extension "Composite" is enabled
(**) Extension "RENDER" is enabled
(**) Extension "XEVIE" is disabled

I've searched around, I can't find anything on how to set the transparency - could someone point me in the right direction please?

Cheers

Steve

P.S.: I'm using fglrx, does this matter?

Okay,

So I've done tons of googling and found that I have to install: http://www.freedesktop.org/Software/xapps

Great, unfortunately, I apparantly don't have 'xt' - checking in /usr/X11R6/lib/pkgconfig/ - no xt.pc

I thought that was part of X ?

Yeah I tried to do the same and get the same error. If I ever find the solution i'll post it.

Cool, cheers for letting me know I'm not the only one with the problem :)

To get the transparent windows you need this:


$ PKG_CONFIG_PATH=/opt/pathtoxorg6.8/lib/pkgconfig
$ export PKG_CONFIG_PATH

cvs -d :pserver:anoncvs@cvs.freedesktop.org:/cvs/xapps login
CVS password: <hit return>
cvs -d:pserver:anoncvs@freedesktop.org:/cvs/xapps co transset
cd /transset
make
make install

I am not sure what parmeters you need for transset? google for it? Or go to the xorg mail list?

Cheers for that, I'm in 6.7 at the mo, I'll recompile 6.8 and try those instructions - I was compiling from the stable version - not the CVS version - maybe that was it? :)

I'll let you know how it goes,

Thanks again

Steve

Edit:

Bah, I've had enough with 6.8 - it comes up with meaningless errors during make / make install - randomly - my md5sums were fine, simply rextracting / make World fixes half these errors - but it came up with some random error during make install - grrrr!

I give up :(

You know if you the CVS version it is 6.8 because the code is in freeze right now. You may want to try. The directions are below:

Howto install Xorg-cvs without breaking your existing Xorg/Xfree86 install.

Detailed information can be found at
http://wiki.freedesktop.org/XOrg/XorgReleaseStatus

This is a quick guide for beginners. It shows how
I successfully build Xorg-cvs on my linux box.
These instructions may need "tweaking" per distro
or platform. It should not be considered "official"
in any way. You'll need to be root to do most of this.

As always there are lots of ways to do things, this
is but one. Of course I take no responsiblity for any
damage or loss of data, revenue or friends this may
cause.

1) Create a directory that will house your new
Xorg-cvs build, I use /opt/Xorg-6.7.99.1

2) From a safe place like /usr/src/ pull down the cvs
version of Xorg.

$ cvs -d :pserver:anoncvs@cvs.freedesktop.org:/cvs/xorg login
CVS password: <hit return>
$ cvs -d :pserver:anoncvs@cvs.freedesktop.org:/cvs/xorg co -P xc

This will place the source in a directory called "xc"

3) Create a host.def file in xc/config/cf by copying
the file xorgsite.def to host.def then edit
host.def to add any of the following build options.

#define ProjectRoot /opt/Xorg-6.7.99.1
#define NothingOutsideProjectRoot YES
#define DefaultGcc2i386Opt -O0 -g
#define HasFreetype2 YES
#define HasFontconfig YES

The first line will cause Xorg-cvs to be installed
in the directory /opt/Xorg-6.7.99.1

The second line will specify that the entire build
be there and nowhere else.

The third line will add "debug-ability" to your
build.

The fourth will use your installed version of
Freetype2.

The fifth will use your installed version of
fontconfig.

4) Backup or move your /usr/X11R6 directory. mv /usr/X11R6 /usr/X11R6.bak
Backup /etc/X11.
This step is purely for caution's sake, since everything
should be built in (and only in) the build directory
you specify in host.def.


5) Enter your source directory (in this example /usr/src/xc)
and build Xorg-cvs by issuing the command;

make World

6) If the build finishes install it to /opt/Xorg-6.7.99.1
by issuing the command;

make install

7) Make /usr/X11R6 a symbolic link to your build directory.

ln -s /opt/Xorg-6.7.99.1 /usr/X11R6

You should not need to change anything in /etc/X11
Xorg-cvs will likely work with your existing xorg.conf
file with some editing (see step 8).

8) Edit /etc/X11/xorg.conf and change the section that looks like:

Section "InputDevice"

Identifier "Keyboard0"
Driver "Keyboard"
to

Section "InputDevice"

Identifier "Keyboard0"
Driver "kbd"

The old keybord driver no longer works.

9) To enable Composite add this to your xorg.conf file:

Section "Extensions"
Option "Composite" "Enable"
EndSection

10) Restart Xorg.


BONUS BONUS BONUS (beyond the scope of this howto :-P )

Xorg-cvs will by default build the fancy new X extensions;
XDamage, XFixes, Composite. To make the eye candy you need
to get a composite manager, like xcompmgr from the Keithp's
Xserver.

1) Get xcompmgr

$ cvs -d :pserver:anoncvs@cvs.freedesktop.org:/cvs/xapps login
CVS password: <hit return>
cvs -d :pserver:anoncvs@pdx.freedesktop.org:/cvs/xapps co xcompmgr

2) Set the PKG_CONFIG_PATH to point to /opt/Xorg-6.7.99.1/lib/pkgconfig

$ PKG_CONFIG_PATH=/opt/Xorg-6.7.99.1/lib/pkgconfig
$ export PKG_CONFIG_PATH

3) Run the usual,

./autogen.sh ; ./configure --prefix=/usr ; make ; make install

4) From within Xorg run xcompmgr (I suggest running it from a terminal
so you can ctrl-c it if you need to kill it), watch either the
eye-candy or carnage.

4) Enjoy.

08/13/04 -ryanpg (ryanpg at yahoo com)

To get the transparent windows you need this:

cvs -d:pserver:anoncvs@freedesktop.org:/cvs/xapps co transset

Thanks a lot for that - I may not give up yet :) - I need to do some actual work this morning *rolls eyes* that I should have done last week when I was on annual leave which will require my bandwidth to get the files from work so I'll do it later this evening - will report back then mate :)

Cheers, Steve

Got it :), there was some packages at lp.org, so I compiled transset from cvs and, it's there :)

Many thanks :)

Steve