
XSplash Background Settings
Source (link to git-repo or to original if based on someone elses unmodified work): Add the source-code for this project on opencode.net
Background settings dialog for XSplash and the login screen (GDM), providing easy changing of the background image and an optional daemon, that keeps xsplash and gdm background consistent with the desktop wallpaper. Video demo: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WPlbE_sUyVg
Depends on: xsplash imagemagick python-gconf python-gtk2 python-gksu2 python-gobject
INSTALL:
PPA repository (recommended): ppa:meerkat/stable -> Instructions: https://launchpad.net/~meerkat/+archive/stableDEB package: Download below, just double click
After successful installation you need to reboot once for the daemon to run. Open the configuration dialog through System -> Settings -> XSplash Wallpaper Settings or by running xsplash-wallpaper-settings --settings from terminal. Choose your custom background or activate "Use Desktop Background" to keep your XSplash background consistent with your desktop wallpaper.
Old versions (1.3 and earlier): http://www.google.com/#q="wallpaper_daemon.py"
CUSTOMIZE GDM:
You want to use your gtk and icon theme for the login screen? Run xsplash-background-settings --gdm (Note that this only works for system wide installed themes)
To restore the default ubuntu gdm themes run xsplash-background-settings --restore-gdm
UPGRADE:
from version 1.6 and later: Just install new version.from version 1.3 and earlier: Please follow the uninstall instructions below and install the new version afterwards.
UNINSTALL / RESTORE DEFAULT XSPLASH:
Version 1.6 and later:
1. Go to System -> Settings -> XSplash Background Settings and choose "Use default background" to restore default XSplash.
2. Remove xsplash-background-settings through package manager.
Version 1.3 and earlier:
1. Remove wallpaper_daemon.py from the startup programs (gnome-session-properties).
2. Extract your backup file. If you used the install routine this file is called backup.TIMESTAMP (where TIMESTAMP is dynamically generated number) and located at /usr/share/images/xsplash. To get the extraction path right use the following command (you may use the TAB key to complete backup. with the right timestamp number):
tar -C / -xf /usr/share/images/xsplash/backup.TIMESTAMP
3. Version 1.0 only:
sudo -u gdm gconftool-2 -t string -s /desktop/gnome/background/picture_filename /usr/share/images/xsplash/bg_2560x1600.jpg
4. restart (dont change your desktop wallpaper before restarting!)
KNOWN ISSUES:
I noticed that on some ubuntu derivatives (such as Linux Mint) the login screen uses a different background image than XSplash. To fix that simply run
sudo -u gdm gconftool-2 -t string -s /desktop/gnome/background/picture_filename /usr/share/images/xsplash/bg_2560x1600.jpgIf you get the error message [quote]Failed to backup default background
Change settings at your OWN RISK![/quote] and/or the xsplash background is not successfully change by the settings dialog you may be affected by a known issue with gksu (see the discussion started by zetty on Feb 1 2010). A temporary workaround is to either manually permit permanent user write access to the xsplash image folder: [quote]sudo chmod -R a+rw /usr/share/images/xsplash[/quote] or start the settings dialog with sudo: [quote]sudo xsplash-background-settings --settings[/quote]
REPORT BUGS / ASK QUESTIONS:
Of course you may report a bug or ask any question by posting a comment here, but if you have a launchpad account (or dont bother creating one) please use the project page on launchpad (http://launchpad.net/xsplash-background-settings), as it is much clearer arranged and nothing gets lost between pages of comments.
Report a bug: http://bugs.launchpad.net/xsplash-background-settings/+filebug
Ask a question: https://answers.launchpad.net/xsplash-background-settings/+addquestion
TRANSLATIONS:
The following language files have already been submitted:
german (part of 1.6)french by OxayotlTheGreat (part of 1.6.1)spanish by algalord (part of 1.6.1)russian by zetty (not released yet)Many thanks to the translators!
TESTING:
New versions are first released in a special testing ppa. If you want to help testing new releases, use the following repository:
[quote]deb http://ppa.launchpad.net/meerkat/testing/ubuntu karmic main
deb-src http://ppa.launchpad.net/meerkat/testing/ubuntu karmic main [/quote]
11 years ago
1.6:
- config gui
- localisation (english, german)
- DEB package
11 years ago
1.6:
- config gui
- localisation (english, german)
- DEB package
meerkat
11 years ago
if there are users which consider it useful to have the first image in a xml list set as xsplash background whenever a xml file is selected as desktop background, i can easily integrate this in the script. just let me know or suggest other treatments of xml files, you would prefer.
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wil-m
11 years ago
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kmbrite
11 years ago
Thanks!
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aperson
11 years ago
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meerkat
11 years ago
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aperson
11 years ago
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professorfalken
11 years ago
The only minor problem I noticed is the wallpaper does not seem to resize to fill the screen. I assumed this was the need for installation of imagemagick. No matter, I can just resize my wallpaper to exact screen resolution in Gimp and pick it. No worries :)
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meerkat
11 years ago
sudo -u gdm gconftool-2 --get /desktop/gnome/background/picture_options
from terminal.
To change it, run
sudo -u gdm gconftool-2 --set --type string /desktop/gnome/background/picture_options zoom
You may replace "zoom" with another valid value like "none", "wallpaper", "centered", "scaled" or "stretched".
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elpraga
11 years ago
I have a small issue though, When xplash terminates and before Nautilus loads the background, the background goes gray for some seconds. I did not see the behavior in the default settings though.
I tried to load the same background at gnome session startup using feh. It is a little bit better, but not smooth as before.
Do You have an idea how to solve this???
Thanks.
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meerkat
11 years ago
If you want to revert to the default configuration, just unpack your backup file as described in the uninstall instructions above.
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chareos
11 years ago
I really want to use this on mine !
Should've been Ubuntu default !
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chareos
11 years ago
this could be extended to the first, boot image ?
I mean, the black one with Ubuntu logo glowing.
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meerkat
11 years ago
2. afaik the first bootsplash (with the ubuntu logo on black) is generated by usplash. in that case dynamically changing it would need write access to the /boot folder (or at least the initrd files) which i consider a serious security issue as this exposes the essential files for the boot process. though it might seem unlikely, that someone tries to destroy your boot process by using this security hole (e.g. malware) i think its still an inappropriate risk for a little bit of eye candy.
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pezmanlou
11 years ago
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meerkat
11 years ago
please let me know if you solved your problem.
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meerkat
11 years ago
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pezmanlou
11 years ago
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JCRis
11 years ago
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mudrain911
11 years ago
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mudrain911
11 years ago
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meerkat
11 years ago
I assume you downloaded the file in a folder called Downloads in your Home folder (thats default behavior of firefox in ubuntu karmic).
sudo apt-get install imagemagick
cd ~/Downloads
tar -xf 114984-wallpaper_daemon_1.2.tar.gz
mkdir ~/.scripts
mv wallpaper_daemon.py ~/.scripts
cd ~/.scripts
chmod +x wallpaper_daemon.py
./wallpaper_daemon.py --install
gnome-session-properties
The last command opens a dialog, click on "Add", fill in a name like "xsplash wallpaper daemon" and as Command:
~/.scripts/wallpaper_daemon.py
Confirm with "Add" and "Close" the "Startup Applications Preferences".
Finally change your desktop background as you normally do and restart ubuntu to see the effect.
good luck!
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szerencsefia
11 years ago
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vlad003
11 years ago
I used your command to change the GDM login theme but I have a problem.
1) The colors do not change from the default even if I do change the colors in the settings.
2) Since changing the theme, I get a gnome-at-properties icon in my Notification Area. I can't figure out a way to get rid of it. If I click on it, my GDM theme changes to Redmond. If I open an Appearances dialog, some things change back to normal theme but some stay unchanged.
What I've figured out is if I run the command again, a new icon appears in Notification area. If I kill the process with description: "/bin/dbus-daemon --fork --print-pid 5 --print-address 7 --session" it goes away. Unfortunately there is no other process like that so I'm still stuck with the original icon.
Any ideas?
Thanks in advance.
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meerkat
11 years ago
i have replaced the description above with a direct method where this bug does not appear.
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meerkat
11 years ago
System -> Preferences -> Keyboard -> Accessibility
uncheck "Accessibility features can be toggled with keyboard shortcuts"
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