[SOLVED] Configure two monitors

GPGAgent · 02-12-2021, 09:08 AM

I have two monitors and I need to do one final config

I want the desktop icons and the task bar on display 1.

But they're on display 2 and I can't physically move the monitors positions.
I could swap the leads over I guess, but it should be possible to do this via the Display setup shouldn't it?

Code:

jonke@charlie:~$ xrandr | grep -w connected
DP-0 connected primary 1920x1080+1024+0 (normal left inverted right x axis y axis) 598mm x 336mm
DP-1 connected 1024x768+0+0 (normal left inverted right x axis y axis) 0mm x 0mm
jonke@charlie:~$

Graphics: Twin 512Mb NVidia NVS 300 (Each with DMS59 Video Output)
Linux Mint 20 64 bit

obobskivich · 02-12-2021, 09:18 AM

Assuming this is in XFCE, you make that adjustment from Panel Preferences, not Displays. Right click on the Panel you want to move, then from Panel... select Panel Preferences, and move it however you like (you can have it span monitors, you can unlock it an drag it wherever you want, etc). You can also get there via the Panel option in Settings, but then you'll need to know which panel you're moving (they start at 'Panel 0' and count up from there). Icons should be drag'n'drop and should default to whatever is set as the Primary monitor (which looks like Display 2 from your screenshot and xrandr output) - you can adjust this behavior by going into Desktop (in settings) and clicking on the Icons tab, and adjust 'Icons orientation' and 'Default Icons' to match whatever you like, but probably just setting #1 as 'Primary' will solve that.

GPGAgent · 02-12-2021, 09:22 AM

Okay - I've moved on, Panel Preferences lets me select a monitor for the panel - so that's good, one final config I need to do.

Move all my desktop icons to Monitor 1

I can drag and drop but if I select Arrange Desktop Icons they move back to Monitor 2 on the left.

obobskivich · 02-12-2021, 09:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GPGAgent

Okay - I've moved on, Panel Preferences lets me select a monitor for the panel - so that's good, one final config I need to do.

Good.

Quote:

Move all my desktop icons to Monitor 1

I can drag and drop but if I select Arrange Desktop Icons they move back to Monitor 2 on the left.

Yes that is expected - they will want to default to the 'Primary' monitor, which you have selected as Monitor 2. If you set Monitor 1 as 'Primary' that should sort that, but bear in mind other things will want to default to 1 in the future (e.g. lots of 3D applications). Without knowing how your monitors are physically positioned, I have no idea if this is a good or bad thing.

Another option, which would take a bit of work on your part: you could create a new Panel and convert all of your icons into Panel Items (Launchers, Directory Shortcuts, etc) and then set the new Panel on Monitor 1, and leave Monitor 2 as the 'Default.'

GPGAgent · 02-12-2021, 09:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GPGAgent

Okay - I've moved on, Panel Preferences lets me select a monitor for the panel - so that's good, one final config I need to do.

Move all my desktop icons to Monitor 1

I can drag and drop but if I select Arrange Desktop Icons they move back to Monitor 2 on the left.

Aha Solved this one as well
Desktop Settings -> Icons -> Show Icons on Primary Display