Greetings, I would like to try this wm I keep hearing about called fluxbox, based on Blackbox. I am running Slack 9 with Dropline Gnome, runs great, but I would like something faster on the laptop. I installed the .tgz packages for Blackbox first and then Fluxbox from the current Extra directory from my fav slack mirror. I found fluxbox executable in the following locations when I did a whereis fluxbox:
/usr/X11R6/bin/fluxbox
/usr/bin/X11/fluxbox
/usr/X11/bin/fluxbox

I also did a xwmconfig and selected fluxbox, which would have worked prior to my installation of Dropline, which seems to have done some weird things to my box. Anyone know how I can run this sucker. oh yeah, the fluxbox command is in my path. Thanks.

I don't know much myself, but maybe editing your .xinitrc in your home directory, and change the default windowmanager for the fluxbox executable? (I think it is one of the last lines in the .xinitrc file...)

so, three fluxboxes.
say fluxbox fast 3 times.
"fluxbox fast 3 times"
"no"
say "fluxbox fluxbox fluxbox"

if fluxbox comes up with no menus or anything,
there is a kde2blackbox script that creates a blackbox
menu from the kde menu.
blackbox has a default menu in it's home dir
/usr/local/share/blackbox, sometimes
and a config dir .blackbox in your home dir.
i can't remember how close flux follows that.

make the last line of your .xinitrc file to...

exec fluxbox

I tried all that, how come blackbox and or fluxbox do not show up in the list of window managers if I select session. There are like 20 other window managers there, including windowmaker, kde, enlightenment and the whole gang, except blackbox. If I installed from a .tgz package it should show right?......

It depends, how you start X, with KDM or GDM, or by typing "startx" from command line.
In first case you have to update your Xsession file in KDM directory (or XDM when using GDM) - /opt/kde/.../kdm by adding entrance for Fluxbox (the easiest way is to copy part for another window manager, and then replace its name with fluxbox).
In second case you have to update .xinitrc, how was advised by bOxii.

below is the output of my .xinitrc file

#!/bin/sh
# $XConsortium: xinitrc.cpp,v 1.4 91/08/22 11:41:34 rws Exp $

userresources=$HOME/.Xresources
usermodmap=$HOME/.Xmodmap
sysresources=/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/xinit/.Xresources
sysmodmap=/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/xinit/.Xmodmap

# merge in defaults and keymaps

if [ -f $sysresources ]; then
xrdb -merge $sysresources
fi

if [ -f $sysmodmap ]; then
xmodmap $sysmodmap
fi

if [ -f $userresources ]; then
xrdb -merge $userresources
fi

if [ -f $usermodmap ]; then
xmodmap $usermodmap
fi

# Start the window manager:
# exec /usr/X11R6/bin/fluxbox
exec fluxbox

I commented out the exec /usr/X11R6/bin/fluxbox and put in the exec fluxbox myself, neither works, it still defaults to dropline gnome, and neither Blackbox nor Fluxbox show in the list of WM's if I select "session" from the GDM login screen. I can get fluxbox to start if I go into windowmaker or enlightenment and then select to change to fluxbox so I know it at least works, just can't seem to get it to start from the get go. Thanks for the support

you're using kdm or gdm.
you need to add the config file in the appropriate place.
search for adding window manager to kdm or gdm.
if you don't want to use them, you'll need to change your
default runlevel or take the kdm or gdm out of your
current runlevel

OK, first thing you can do, is to download the fluxbox tgz package from the extras directory at the slackware ftp. then installpkg it. It will set up everything for you, and will even do an entry in the xwmconfig.

Second, if you by any chance decide to download the package from the fluxbox.sourcefoge.net site then the followings steps might help you:

1- download the package: there is a tgz version available (but wont configure everything like the one from the slack ftp) or you can download the source and compile it yourself.

2- usuallly I install fluxbox to the /opt or /usr/local directory. Where ever you choose to install fluxbox is your choice. Just don't forget.
Once Fluxbox is installed, cd to /etc/X11/xinit . Once in the xinit directory create a script file named xinitrc.fluxbox. one way to do this is to make a copy of an existing one and change the commands in it. For example:
-- as root
cp xinitrc.gnome xinitrc.fluxbox
vi xinitrc.fluxbox
-- ( delete all commands and just type
-- exec /opt/fluxbox/bin/fluxbox
-- or the path to where you have intalled fluxbox.
-- save the file)

3- after the xinitrc.fluxbox file is created, log in normally and issue the command xwmconfig and the entry for fluxbox should be there.


another way to create the xinitrc file is the following:

cd /etc/X11/xinit
su
vi xinitrc.fluxbox (or prefered editor)
-- in vi edit mode type
-- exec /opt/fluxbox/bin/fluxbox (or path to where it was installed)
-- save the file
chmod +x xinitrc.fluxbox

Then as a normal user try the xwmconfig thing.

If using xdm of kdm as login managers, then look into their directories, they should be located in the /etc/X11 dir. and make the proper entry for fluxbox.



Hope that this is clear enough,
Figa

Thanks for the help, I did add a link to the fluxbox executable in the gdm sessions directory and viola, it showed up in the list of wm's and desktops that you can choose from in the GDM login screen, I am going to do you more detailed instructions. Thanks for the help.

Cool! I'm just trying to help the same way others have help me.

Just like Jimmy V said "Never give up."
Figa