Adding windows managers to graphical log-in

t1mc00per · 02-13-2003, 07:20 AM

After installing a new window manager, is there an easy way to add it to the drop-down on the graphical log-in?

I've read about adding lines to .initrc or .xsession but will this allow you to choose a window manager on log-in?

when I installed Mandrake 9.0, it gives me the choice of KDE, GNOME or IceWM in the drop-down box. How do I add more to try out?

acid_kewpie · 02-13-2003, 07:29 AM

the directory you want moves around a bit, look for /etc/X11/wmsession.d normally though. in there should be a list of configured WM's copy the file (e.g. 03GNOME to 01BLACKBOX) and edit the4 contents. normally that's all you need to do

Franklin · 02-13-2003, 08:13 AM

You don't say what WM you are trying to install, but I'll tell you about what I did with fluxbox.

If you have a file called .xintrc in your home directory, add a line to the file as shown below:

Code:

#
# choose a window manager
#
if test -n "$WINDOWMANAGER" ; then
    WINDOWMANAGER=`type -p $WINDOWMANAGER`
fi
if test -z "$WINDOWMANAGER" ; then
    if test -x /usr/X11R6/bin/kde ; then
        WINDOWMANAGER=/usr/X11R6/bin/kde
    elif test -x /usr/X11R6/bin/startkde ; then
        WINDOWMANAGER=/usr/X11R6/bin/startkde
    elif test -x /usr/X11R6/bin/fvwm2 ; then
        WINDOWMANAGER=/usr/X11R6/bin/fvwm2
    elif test -x/usr/local/bin/fluxbox ; then                <---- LOOK
        WINDOWMANAGER=/usr/local/bin/fluxbox     <---- LOOK
    elif test -x /usr/X11R6/bin/wmlist ; then
        for i in `/usr/X11R6/bin/wmlist` ; do
            WINDOWMANAGER=`type -p $i`
            test -n "$WINDOWMANAGER" && break
        done
    elif test -x /usr/X11R6/bin/twm ; then
        WINDOWMANAGER=/usr/X11R6/bin/twm
    fi
fi

I changed the /root/.xinitrc and it appears to act globally. This worked great for SuSE which comes with all kinds of WM's and a pre-existing .xinitrc to work off of.

I then (in KDE) opened the control center as root and went to system-login manager, went to the sessions tab and in the blank space on the bottom left typed "fluxbox" and clicked add - fluxbox will appear on the bottom right list..

RedHat was a bit different. No .xinitrc and adding one didn't work correctly. Open the /etc/X11/xdm/.Xsessions file and add the line as follows:

Code:

# now, we see if xdm/gdm/kdm has asked for a specific environment
case $# in
1)
    if [ -x /usr/share/apps/switchdesk/Xclients.$1 ]; then
       exec -l $SHELL -c "/usr/share/apps/switchdesk/Xclients.$1";
    fi;

    case $1 in
    failsafe)
       exec -l $SHELL -c "xterm -geometry 80x24-0-0"
       ;;
    gnome)
       exec -l $SHELL -c "gnome-session"
       ;;
    kde|kde1|kde2)
       exec -l $SHELL -c "/usr/share/apps/switchdesk/Xclients.kde"
       ;;
    twm)
        # fall back to twm
       exec -l $SHELL -c "/usr/share/apps/switchdesk/Xclients.twm"
       ;;
    fluxbox)
       exec /usr/local/bin/fluxbox        <------LOOK
       ;;                                           <------ LOOK
    esac
esac

Enter the refrence to fluxbox in the sessions list as stated above.

Please note that the entries refrence the location of the WM you wish to install. In my case, the fluxbox executable is locate at /usr/local/bin/fluxbox. Your's may be different.

Both these methods alowed me to access fluxbox from the KDM login and return to KDM when exiting fluxbox. Don't add the "<----- LOOK'

hope this helps

t1mc00per · 02-13-2003, 10:17 AM

I don't have a .xinitrc, so I followed chris's advice:

I created a file called 03Fluxbox in /etc/X11/wmsession.d and put this in it:

NAME=Fluxbox
ICON=kde-wmsession.xpm
DESC=Fluxbox
EXEC=/usr/local/bin/fluxbox
SCRIPT:
exec /usr/local/bin/fluxbox

And now I've got Fluxbox!

Thanks for your help.