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linus72 05-12-2009 08:21 PM

Configuring Fluxbox for Slack-12.2; how do I do it?
 
Alright, need to know where to find a easy to do newbie guide to fixing up fluxbox for slack?

I saw a debian forum posting one time about a guy who "wrote the book" on hooking up fluxbox; anyone know how to find it or know about it?

Basically, I'm trying to hook up SlimSlack and wanna use fluxbox; but wanna fix it up like a real wm (wallpapers, icons, etc)

thanks.

MannyNix 05-12-2009 09:02 PM

Hi, I'm not sure if these are too basic for you, these have been helpful to me:
From Gentoo
Gentoo Fluxbox Wiki
Arch Fluxbox Wiki
Fluxbox docs
Ubuntu must have something even simpler.
Good luck

shadowsnipes 05-13-2009 12:08 AM

the fluxbox website has tons of docs that are simple to use. The configuration files are very plain. More than likely you will want some "accessory" programs. I recommend...

nitrogen - wallpaper handling
parcellite - clipboard/selection manager
mrxvt or urxvt - light terminals with transparency
unclutter - hide the rat
dmenu - super run menu

run xscreensaver-demo and setup your screensaver.
Don't forget to add "xscreensaver -no-splash &" to your startup file (I have mine after fluxbox starts).

if the default panel is not enough for you I recommend lxpanel along with ipager. I use that combo for openbox.

I can offer my config (or screenshots) as an example if you wish.

linus72 05-13-2009 06:29 AM

Alright, thanks guys.
Yes, please post config files/screenshots shadowsnipes, 'cause I don't know much about fluxbox.

Ilgar 05-13-2009 06:44 AM

Like the accessories shadowsnipes mentioned, there's also Rox-desktop which can itself be used as a desktop but is also used with lightweight window managers by some people to enhance the desktop management capabilities:

http://roscidus.com/desktop/

bloodsugar 05-13-2009 08:48 AM

I like Fluxbox, although It takes a long time to configure.

I found that the 'apps' file took the most time (the sizing of program windows, which workspace to open a particular program on, etc etc), but once its done and you get it how you like it, its great.

I discovered 'workspaces' a few months ago and theyve changed the way I work. Basically Ive got 4 'workspaces' (just 4 desktops really), and I have the apps I most use tied to their own workspace (1. desktop ( so no open app, just somewhere I can open the main FB menu), 2. filemanager, 3. torrent program, 4.web browser), these apps are started at login and are open all the time, and by simply putting the mouse on the toolbar at the bottom of the screen and scrolling with middle mouse, I can cycle through them easily.

But be prepared to put some hours in!

A tip for using wallpapers, use this entry in your menu:

Code:

[submenu]  (wallpapers)
[wallpapers]  (~/.fluxbox/backgrounds) {fbsetbg -u Esetroot -a}
[end]

The above relys on 'Eterm' being installed (Esetroot is included with Eterm). I find Esetroot better to set the wallpaper, as 'feh' the main alternative wallpaper setter wont keep the aspect ratio of my wallpaper (may have just been me though). When you right-click your fluxbox menu, you should see a 'wallpapers' submenu, and then your actual wallpapers that are in the 'backgrounds' folder. click on one and it should change.

linus72 05-13-2009 10:50 AM

awesome! thanks!

I am installing SlimSlack (Slack-On-Crack) to the New and Improved Portable-Slackware-12.2; and it only has Fluxbox, so I need to preconfigure Fluxbox so it'll run good and so a newbie can change wallpapers, etc.

I made a 3GB vhd for this one, so it'll fit on a 4GB usb, and it runs good off usb on windows or linux with XFCE4, so I thought fluxbox would be even better, resource-wise.

So, any help with fluxbox you can provide would be great.

wingevil 05-13-2009 12:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by linus72 (Post 3538845)
Alright, need to know where to find a easy to do newbie guide to fixing up fluxbox for slack?

I saw a debian forum posting one time about a guy who "wrote the book" on hooking up fluxbox; anyone know how to find it or know about it?

I think You talk about the the marvellous article from " sleekmason". The article is in the meantime transformed into a wiki, located by www.sidux.com . look here:

http://sidux.com/index.php?module=pn...=FluxboxGuide1

It's the best one I've read about fluxbox.

:-)

Chromezero 05-13-2009 01:12 PM

The fluxbox wiki has a ton of good how-to's for configuring various parts of fluxbox. Have a look at http://fluxbox-wiki.org/. Once you get the basic concepts, you can make a nice looking system pretty easily.

linus72 05-13-2009 03:52 PM

Ok, this didn't work, I just have a blank spot in the menu-

[submenu] (wallpapers)
[wallpapers] (~/.fluxbox/backgrounds) {fbsetbg -u Esetroot -a}
[end]

There's just a blank spot on the menu...?
Also, I installed eterm from sbo before doing the menu.

I am going to post the whole fluxbox menu here...

OH, where is "~/.fluxbox/backgrounds"??

bloodsugar 05-13-2009 04:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by linus72 (Post 3539819)
OH, where is "~/.fluxbox/backgrounds"??

You have to create that folder ;)

In a terminal do:

Code:

mkdir backgrounds
then drop your wallpapers into it.

linus72 05-13-2009 04:31 PM

I'm guessing "~/.fluxbox" is "/root/?" or what?

I'm trying to post the menu for fluxbox; but when I try to find the folder "~/.fluxbox" with Firefox, I can't find it!

It's a hidden folder, is that why neither I nor firefox can see it?
I am running as root-why is anything hidden?

also, the "backgrounds" folder is there, just empty-but the backgrounds menu entry still doesn't work.

repo 05-13-2009 04:53 PM

Quote:

I'm guessing "~/.fluxbox" is "/root/?" or what?
"~/" means the home directory of the user you used to login.

linus72 05-13-2009 04:55 PM

OK, but with only MC as file manager; where is ".fluxbox"

repo 05-13-2009 04:57 PM

if you are logged in as root goto /root
if you are logged in as user goto /home/user

linus72 05-13-2009 05:00 PM

I can't find ".fluxbox" anywhere cause MC can't see hidden files or what?
I'm gonna have to install a graphical file manager that has the "show hidden files" option-yes?

repo 05-13-2009 05:02 PM

mc can see hidden files by default
option => configuration => show hidden files

repo 05-13-2009 05:04 PM

or do it the linux way
Code:

cd .fluxbox
ls
vi filename


linus72 05-13-2009 05:10 PM

Ok, I'll try it.
What's up Repo; my brother in the Sweetleaf, where have you been lately?

I got "Portable-Slackware" working with XFCE4 and now Fluxbox version too.
The portable, symbiant OS is here!

Runs independent of file system type(FAT32/EXT2/etc), runs on Windows and Linux, and also runs off USB!

Most important, just like an installed OS, it saves everything back to the vhd.

I'm uploading the 3.2GB XFCE4 version now, no errors or anything; comes up at used-2.2GB of 3.2GB, so still space left.
Put it on a 4GB USB and roll.

Did you read about it/download it?
Repo, nobody's told me whether they've actually wittnessed it saving, etc-Can you download it and check it out?
It is the KDE version, so it has little errors, but works good

( http://www.linuxquestions.org/questi...at....-725252/ )

repo 05-13-2009 05:21 PM

I noticed you did a lot of work
I have downloaded it and tried it, but didn't install on usb.
Looks ok, but I didn't try to safe it, because I can't get the network to work in qemu.
Perhaps I need to create my own qemu, so networking is setup.
Also it is slow, perhaps there isn't enough memory assigned.
Will look further if I have some time.

About the website, in the download section you still have links to the page where you copied the layout from.
If you click on
Quote:

Name , Last modified, Size or Description
you get redirected to
http://distro.ibiblio.org/pub/linux/...small/?C=N;O=D
So best to remove the link in the source from the page.

linus72 05-13-2009 05:35 PM

Yea, the KDE version is bogged down I think.
The XFCE4 version runs good and I installed dillo and it runs alot faster than firefox.

Oh, networking works fine on mine-I configured the network setup for DHCP, so maybe change it?

You can adjust the memory with the script( -m 256 ), you know that....

you know how to make one Repo with portable qemu? Why didn't you tell me that and I've been searching for Like 3 months to put this all together-no one told me I could do this...or how, but it works!
Just edit a file and shutdown, then when starting the edited file will be there.

repo 05-13-2009 05:51 PM

Quote:

Oh, networking works fine on mine-I configured the network setup for DHCP, so maybe change it?
I tried DHCP
Perhaps it also need to be setup in the conf files, no idea.
No network card was found.

It is setup to work on your computer, difficult to make it work on all computers,
I is difficult to make it portable to different hardware.
I tried it as a newbie would do :-) I have 0 experience with slack.

linus72 05-13-2009 06:01 PM

OH, no Repo, I didn't build the portable qemu, nor did I design it.
I did however install slack into the vhd with qemu on this computer; but it still has internet access on my other computer and on my brother's XP too.

OK, so, I'm sorry, I will post the complete(I hope) instructions here in the slack forum under "Roll your own Portable-Slack!".
I haven't posted it yet cause still working on it, but will now...

It will be a long post so come back in 30min cool?

repo 05-13-2009 07:07 PM

Tried the latest version, network works OK.
I can safe files.

shadowsnipes 05-13-2009 11:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ilgar (Post 3539287)
Like the accessories shadowsnipes mentioned, there's also Rox-desktop which can itself be used as a desktop but is also used with lightweight window managers by some people to enhance the desktop management capabilities:

http://roscidus.com/desktop/

or check out pcmanfm. It's kind of like a tabbed thunar, but can also add desktop capabilities.

I also forgot to mention lxappearance for changing Gtk themes.

Oh, and if you use a panel like lxpanel I recommend making .desktop files for software you want listed that does not already have a .desktop file. Put them in ~/.local/share/applications. It really is not that much work.


linus72,

I'll have to get back to you about the screenshots, etc when I am on another box. I won't post them here, though, as they would clutter the thread.


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