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Thread: HOWTO: Terminal for desktop background.

  1. #1
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    HOWTO: Terminal for desktop background.

    Hey!

    Here's how to get a completely transparent terminal at your desktop background, on all workspaces, without appearing in the taskbar/windows list.

    [There was a link to a screenshot here, but somehow the file disappeared. Check korupt's post on page 8 for a screenie.]

    First off, you need Eterm and devilspie:

    Code:
    sudo apt-get install eterm devilspie
    Next, we need to make a configuration file for devilspie. Copy the code below into your favorite text editor and save the file as .devilspie.xml (please note the dot in the beginning of the file name) in your home folder:

    Code:
    <?xml version="1.0"?>
    <!DOCTYPE devilspie SYSTEM "devilspie.dtd">
    
    <devilspie>
      <flurb name="Eterm pinned and no taskbar">
        <matchers>
           <matcher name="DevilsPieMatcherWindowName">
             <property name="application_name" value="Eterm"/>
           </matcher>
        </matchers>
    <!-- The action below will pin Eterm to all workspaces-->
         <actions>
             <action name="DevilsPieActionSetWorkspace">
                <property name="pinned" value="TRUE"/>
          </action>
    <!-- The action below will remove Eterm from the windows list and the Workspace Switcher (thanks Trash:)-->
          <action name="DevilsPieActionHide">
            <property name="skip_tasklist" value="TRUE"/>
            <property name="skip_pager" value="TRUE"/>
          </action>
         </actions>
    </flurb>
    </devilspie>
    The above code will make devilspie tell gnome not to display Eterm in the windows list and Workspace Switcher, and to pin it to all workspaces.

    Now, go to System -> Preferences -> Sessions. Add devilspie to your startup programs.

    Also, you need to add Eterm to your startup programs. It could look something like this:
    Code:
    Eterm  -x -0 --trans --scrollbar=off --buttonbar 0 --geometry 200x60+80+40 --font-fx none -f white
    NOTE: You probably need to change some of the options applied to Eterm (X and Y offset, terminal size, text colour etc). Those are the options that fit MY desktop. Do:

    Code:
    man Eterm
    If you dont know what values to change.

    Dont forget to make sure devilespie starts BEFORE Eterm on bootup.

    ALSO NOTE: As long as devilespie is running, it will apply its setting to Eterm whenever you launch it, meaning you wont be able to use Eterm "normally" (in a window etc)


    This is my first How-To, so be easy on me if there are any errors.
    Good luck!
    -Johannes
    Last edited by krusbjorn; February 4th, 2006 at 07:29 PM.

  2. #2
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    Re: HOWTO: Terminal for desktop background.

    Great howto! works perfectly on pc

    too bad devilspie isn't available for mac!
    Has anybody figured out how to fix this(mac issue?)...
    $ Eterm
    Eterm: Error: Can't open pseudo-tty -- No such file or directory
    Eterm: Error: Unable to run sub-command.

    google search turned up a few other people with the same problem but so far no fix

    also it was reported on this forum but no fix
    http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.p...ight=eterm+tty
    ~
    Desktop:ASRock P4i65GV/P4 2.8ghz 2gbram
    Laptop:Toshiba L350-PSLD8C Centrino64 dualcore 2ghz 4gbram

  3. #3
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    Re: HOWTO: Terminal for desktop background.

    nice to have this info tidied up in one place. you should capitalize the E in Eterm, though.

    also, if you don't want Eterm appearing in the workspaces pager, you can add the following to the action flurb under DevilsPieActionHide in .devilspie.xml:

    Code:
    <property name="skip_pager" value="TRUE"/>
    Last edited by 23meg; May 25th, 2005 at 01:47 AM.
    Previously known as 23meg

  4. #4
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    Re: HOWTO: Terminal for desktop background.

    it doesnt work for me
    what does this "use the "Show Desktop" panel item" meaning?

  5. #5
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    Re: HOWTO: Terminal for desktop background.

    The show desktop thingy is a panel control that when clicked hides all windows on your destop allowing you to see your desktop, when clicked again it restores all the hidden windows... but in this case it won't restore Eterm.
    Does Eterm start at all?


    EDIT: actually hitting the 'show desktop' again does restore Eterm, all one can't do is restore only Eterm... no biggy really.

    I am so loving borderless windows are more apps going to be going this way?
    Last edited by trash; May 25th, 2005 at 06:57 AM.
    ~
    Desktop:ASRock P4i65GV/P4 2.8ghz 2gbram
    Laptop:Toshiba L350-PSLD8C Centrino64 dualcore 2ghz 4gbram

  6. #6
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    Re: HOWTO: Terminal for desktop background.

    that does not work
    sudo apt-get install Eterm devilspie
    you have to write Eterm like this eterm

  7. #7
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    Re: HOWTO: Terminal for desktop background.

    oh my mistook
    i typed a CAP "eterm" intead of "Eterm"
    but this is appear when i hitting a show windows

  8. #8
    Join Date
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    Re: HOWTO: Terminal for desktop background.

    Thanks for the howto, but I get a problem on my system. Even if I set the startup priority to 99, the Eterm starts before my wallpaper is set, so it gets a random background. Maybe this is because I have xinerama ?

  9. #9
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    Re: HOWTO: Terminal for desktop background.

    Quote Originally Posted by Leif
    Thanks for the howto, but I get a problem on my system. Even if I set the startup priority to 99, the Eterm starts before my wallpaper is set, so it gets a random background. Maybe this is because I have xinerama ?

    I had that problem too all you need to do is save your last session with Eterm NOT running and make sure to delete it from your current session.
    hope it works!
    ~
    Desktop:ASRock P4i65GV/P4 2.8ghz 2gbram
    Laptop:Toshiba L350-PSLD8C Centrino64 dualcore 2ghz 4gbram

  10. #10
    Join Date
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    Re: HOWTO: Terminal for desktop background.

    Thanks for the input everyone. I've edited the post, so now things should work

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