Background images and links to links in XFCE4?
 

Linux noob and Manjaro noob. I hope that this is one of those questions who's answer is easy once you read it.

So I am using Manjaro (and am very, very happy with it). I've installed some new applications and am finding that I can do pretty much anything on this test machine (older) that I can do on my Windows laptop. Very happy thus far.

I was looking at changing the background image. Not a problem to figure out. I know how to do that. But it lead me to see something for which I can't seem to find the logic.

I right-click on my Desktop and go to "Desktop Settings." It shows my current background is in a folder that is "usr/share/xfce4/backdrops." That folder has only one file in it. That file is "default.jpg" and is a link to "/usr/share/backgrounds/manjaro.jpg." Now that file (/usr/share/backgrounds/manjaro.jpg) is a link to another file in the same directory called "Wallpaper-ST2-Black.jpg."

So we have fileA is a link to a file in a different directory called fileB which is a link to another file in the same directory as fileB called fileC.

What is the reason for something like this? Where is the logic? If the first file (usr/share/xfce4/backdrops/default.jpg) is a link to another file then wouldn't it be better to link to the actual file (usr/share/backgrounds/Wallpaper-ST2-Black.jpg)? Why link to a link to a file?

But also, since the 2 (or 3) files are the same size, why not just duplicate the file itself?

I have no doubt there is a reason for this but my Winblows infused mind can't come up with it. Most likely it has something to do with permissions and if stuff is deleted. But still the link to a link to a file has me confused.

If anyone can explain this it would be really helpful. I have downloaded several images I would like to rotate as my background but am not sure how to handle them. Should I put new link in the backdrops folder pointing to links in the backgrounds folder which point to actual files in the backgrounds folder? Honestly that seems a little crazy.

Can anyone explain this (please please please in simple terms)???

Thanks and I look forward to hearing from anyone. Any information/explanations is very much appreciated.

If you would like to use images as wallpaper simply place them in you pictures directory in your home folder or create a folder called wallpaper in it and place all your images there. then right click for desktop settings and in the folder drop down choose other and navigate to your folder of images then click open. your folder of images will appear in the selection window replacing the default and you can select the one you like.

If you want the default you can choose other and navigate to/usr/share/backgrounds and select it. you will notice that opening that folder gives you all the images in the directory including the xfce folder inside the backgrounds folder. although I do not really know, I suspect to offer the single image as a default a link was created to establish that ..perhaps this allows the system to generate a single wallpaper for the user...get the idea..logic is relative....could be that the tree includes a folder called backgrounds and xfce uses the backdrops folder or a link in it to point to the xfce wallpapers folder in /usr/share/backgrounds..so to customize a link was placed in /usr/share/xfce/backdrops pointing to the image in /usr/share/ backgrounds..not for me to question why as much as how to work around it. perhaps not the actual answer you were looking for,sorry.. if you really NEED to know post the question to the majaro forums perhaps.

p.s. if you want the default single image back then navigate to /usr/share/xfce/backdrops and open and the single image will appear in the selection window.

hope that helps