This isn't a question just a post explaining how I now have a different background on each workspace with xfce4 very easily without any external app or script.

I have been watching the developments of xfce4 and noticed when Alien Bob posted about xfce 4.11 being released that they would have a new feature that allows for a user to have different backgrounds on each workspace, something I have always really liked.

So I decided rather than wait for xfce 4.11 to get officially released and added to Slackware I would go ahead and just give it a shot myself, and I have to say on my first try with a wild guess, it worked perfectly! This is all I did to get it to work:

First I downloaded this http://archive.xfce.org/src/xfce/xfd...4.11.3.tar.bz2 assuming it was the file that handled the desktop.

Then I used src2pkg to create a Slackware package from the source.

After the package was created I installed it and logged out of xfce and then back in.

Now I have the latest desktop manager and I can have a different background on each workspace!

It works perfectly!

So for anyone like me that doesn't want compiz installed and uses a different compositor or just uses the xfce4 compositor this is an easy way to add that particular feature to your existing Slackware system.

I hope this helps someone else who can't wait for the new release.

thanks for this. i assume, there also be need, in future slackware releases, put also xfce4-kbd-plugin, because without that you cannot switch between alyouts - you can define different layouts in xfce, but cannot switch between them. i think, this package must put in distro.

but in general - sadly, but xfce4 is too raw, if compare with kde. it is good on resources, but variuous little things, like a orage calendar, who starts weeks not in monday, automounter, who mounts not in easy way like kde ( on /media/PARTITION_NAME, but instead this in /run/UUID, who is very uncomfortable, because partition name is far more informative, than disc/partition UUID), that keyboard switcher, and so on...

Thanks for the information bmarley83. I've been waiting for that feature for a long time too. However, I'll wait until XFCE >= 4.11 it's included in Slackware.

Thanks, bmarley! Works like a charm!

Since moving to Slackware, I have also learned how to (re)build packages..

The method I follow is:

1> Download the source from a Slackware mirror.
Eg, http://mirrors.slackware.com/slackwa...e/xfce4-panel/

2> Build and save the previous version (so that I can revert if my rebuilt fails).

3> Download the source for the new version.
Eg, http://archive.xfce.org/src/xfce/xfce4-panel/4.11/

4> Make appropriate changes to the SlackBuild.
(I add a _custom tag so that I can keep track of packages I have rebuilt.)

5> Build the new version and upgrade it using upgradepkg.

I have uploaded some of my rebuilt packages to http://sourceforge.net/projects/mefi...les/Slackware/ in case somebody is interested in them.

For xfwm-4.11.1, libxfce4ui-4.11.0 is required.
For xfce4-panel-4.11.0, garcon-0.3.0 and libxfce4util-4.11.0

For features of the new Xfce components,
http://mail.xfce.org/pipermail/xfce-announce/

I also rebuilt the mesa package.
For mesa-10.0.3, libdrm-2.4.52 also.

Update-
Using the xfce4-panel-4.11.0, some icons were not being displayed in the menu, so I have reverted to the previous version 4.10.1
You might want to skip this one.
Also, the previous versions are prsent inside the Backup folder for those who want to revert.

I have also added other packages like newer terminal, appfinder, clipboard, etc.

Info about building Xfce packages:
http://docs.xfce.org/xfce/building

I had this same problem the first time I installed the new xfce4-panel: some icons from the main menu are missing but they show fine from the right click menu on desktop. With the updates released 04/22 I gave a new try and same thing. But editing some *.desktop files inside '/usr/share/applications' solved the missing icons. I had to clean the path and extension from the 'Icon=' entry. Worked for .svg, .png and .jpg/.jpeg files; like 'Icon=/usr/share/pixmaps/catfish.png' to just 'Icon=catfish'. Of course I had to copy some of them (icons) to '/usr/share/pixmaps'.

Give Xarchiver 0.5.3 a try. Full .txz support was a nice addition.

Thanks for the hint. They do appear with the right click menu.
I have filed a bug report about it (http://bugzilla.xfce.org/show_bug.cgi?id=10709)

I am using Xarchiver-0.5.2 from SBo (http://slackbuilds.org/repository/14...tem/xarchiver/).
Will try the 0.5.3

What has really amazed me about xfdesktop-4.11.3, is the increased sharpness (resolution?) of everything on the desktop.
Having had a life long interest in photography I'm very aware of "all things visual" and have always found the Xfce-4.10 desktop to be "cleaner and sharper" and easier on the eyes than all the other desktops I've tried. Xfdesktop-4.11.3, is sharper still. The wallpaper almost looks "live."
I hope this feature remains when 4.12 is finally released.