[SOLVED] modifying /etc/xdg/openbox/rc.xml

Rosika · 09-09-2019, 09:50 AM

Hi everyone,

in order to change the position where a GUI should be placed on the desktop upon opening an application (in my case the terminal) I need to change the rc.xml-file ( /etc/xdg/openbox/rc.xml ).

Yet the file itself says:

Quote:

Do not edit this file, it will be overwritten on install.
Copy the file to $HOME/.config/openbox/ instead.

Well, I did that. However I had to create the openbox-folder first as it didn´t exist yet. That got me thinking......

Then I modified the rc.xml-file in $HOME/.config/openbox/ to my liking.
After that I should run

Code:

openbox --reconfigure

. But that didn´t work as openbox isn´t installed at all. How is that possible?
Now what could I do to make the changes work?

Thanks in advance for your help.

Greetings
Rosika

the_waiter · 09-09-2019, 11:16 AM

I am sorry but I am not sure I understand your point. Openbox is a window manager but why you need it? Do you want to have 2 managers you can switch between?
Moksha is a Desktop and Window manager under one roof so I think you have everything for your need. Tell us what is your goal. If I understand you want to have a terminal icon on the desktop?

Stefan

Rosika · 09-09-2019, 11:55 AM

Hi again Stefan,

... and thanks for your help once more.

Perhaps I didn´t state my issue clear enough. Sorry.

What i want to achieve is the following:

When opening a terminal I noticed that the placemnt of it by default is the upper left corner of the desktop.
For me it would be more convenient if the terminal was on the bottom right place (per default, so that I don´t have to move it).

Editing the rc.xml-file in /etc/xdg/openbox/rc.xml should make that possible.

With Lubuntu it works like this: Editing ~/.config/openbox/lubuntu-rc.xml that way:

Code:

<application name='lxterminal'>
            <decor>no</decor>
            <position force='yes'>
                <x>center</x>                # edit: <x>-2</x>
                <y>center</y>                # edit: <y>-2</y>
            </position>
            <maximized>false</maximized>
            <layer>normal</layer>
        </application>

So the terminal window would be placed on the bootom right with 2 pixels away from the border.
After editing the file: reconfiguration by "openbox --reconfigure" .

In BodhiLinux we have the rc.xml-file as well (/etc/xdg/openbox/rc.xml). So I could edit it without any difficulties.

It even says at the beginning:

Quote:

Do not edit this file, it will be overwritten on install.
Copy the file to $HOME/.config/openbox/ instead.

Yet - as I said - openbox --reconfigure fails as there´s no openbox installed (but referred to!).
So there should be an alternative method of reconfiguring the rc.xml-file in order for the changes to take effect.

Yet I got stuck at this point.

Greetings.
Rosika

the_waiter · 09-09-2019, 12:05 PM

NO NO! This is not the right way. You can not compare Lubuntu with LXDE desktop with Bodhi and Moksha. Absolutelly different approach.

If you want to place terminal to the particular coordinates on the screen, do it this way:
1. open terminal
2. click on the border with right mouse button
3. look up "Window" item in the menu and then "Remember"
4. set the items you like to remember. Try "ALL" if you want and apply
5. reopen Terminal for check
6. Enjoy Bodhi

Stefan

https://i.imgur.com/I96v18y.jpg

hemlocktree · 09-09-2019, 12:42 PM

beat me to it stefan.

the_waiter · 09-09-2019, 12:47 PM

I wonder why Rosika has got /etc/xdg/openbox folder. It should not be there.

JollyRoger1939 · 09-09-2019, 01:53 PM

Has Rosiba come to the wrong forum? All the files and folders he mentioned are in Lubuntu.

enigma9o7 · 09-09-2019, 04:10 PM

I don't have /etc/xdg/openbox so he musta installed something.

hemlocktree · 09-09-2019, 04:14 PM

ditto

the_waiter · 09-09-2019, 04:17 PM

Yes, I have got it because I installed lxde for testing purpose. But there is no reason to have that file in the pure BL installation. Let's hope Rosika will explain his setup soon.

S

Rosika · 09-10-2019, 05:53 AM

Hi all,

thanks a lot for your help.

@the_waiter:

Quote:

You can not compare Lubuntu with LXDE desktop with Bodhi and Moksha. Absolutelly different approach.

I´m so sorry.

I was of the opinion that due to the fact that a rc.xml-file exists there would be a comparable approach. It´s really that file that got me confused.

Anyway, the procedure you described works perfectly. Plus using the setting options is so much easier than having to configure a dedicated file.
Thanks again.

I´m more and more pleased with BodhiLinux. It just keeps getting better.
The thing is: I didn´t even think of such convenience as Lubuntu doesn´t provide that.

@all:

Quote:

I wonder why Rosika has got /etc/xdg/openbox folder. It should not be there.

Yes, I think that too. And - as I said - that´s what got me confused.
Besides $HOME/.config/openbox/ didn´t exist. I had to create the respective folder first.
Yet openbox as a package isn´t installed! So I really wonder where /etc/xdg/openbox/rc.xml is coming from.

Quote:

I don't have /etc/xdg/openbox so he musta installed something.

I keep wondering what that could have been.
Certainly I´ve installed some packages which didn´t come as default with BodhiLinux. But I cannot think of one that installs the respective rc.xml-file
besides openbox itself (which isn´t installed).
But I lack further knowledge. So I´m afraid whis will remain in the dark....... Sorry.

Anyway thanks again for all your help. I´m able to handle the terminal much better now (at least I hope

)

Many greetings.
Rosika (female by the way

)

Rosika · 09-10-2019, 06:24 AM

Supplement:

In the meantime I looked around my system with

Code:

dpkg -l | grep openbox

in order to possibly find out something referring to that package. And indeed I found something:

Code:

rc  libobrender32                       3.6.1-1ubuntu2                                           i386         rendering library for openbox themes
rc  libobt2                             3.6.1-1ubuntu2                                           i386         parsing library for openbox
rc  openbox                             3.6.1-1ubuntu2                                           i386         standards-compliant, fast, light-weight and extensible window manager

Nothing is installed but seems to have been at some time.
That rc.xml-file wasn´t purged by default. So it seems to be remaining as a leftover. That at least would account for its existence.

But I´m stll not aware of having installed openbox deliberately. So it still remains a mystery.

Greetings.
Rosika

the_waiter · 09-10-2019, 06:45 AM

Hello Rosika

I am glad your issue has been solved. Have some time playing with Bodhi (Moksha needs some different approach to get use but you will love it soon) and after time you will want to install the clean distro again. When I started with Bodhi I always made it dirty

Feel free to ask

Stefan (male

)

Rosika · 09-10-2019, 07:02 AM

Hi Stefan,

thanks for your feedback.

I´ll certainly invest more time into getting to know BodhiLinux better, even though I´ve been using it in a VM for quite a while now.
But the more I use it the more things I like to adjust (like the terminal here) etc.

So more questions are bound to come up, I´m sure.
I always do some research in advance but sometimes (or rather frequently) I need additional help.

Quote:

Feel free to ask

That´s really kind of you. Thanks a lot.

Have a good time and many greetings.

Rosika