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1<?xml version='1.0' encoding='UTF-8'?> 1<?xml version='1.0' encoding='UTF-8'?>
2<!DOCTYPE guide SYSTEM "/dtd/guide.dtd"> 2<!DOCTYPE guide SYSTEM "/dtd/guide.dtd">
3<!-- $Header: /var/cvsroot/gentoo/xml/htdocs/doc/en/xfce-config.xml,v 1.16 2008/02/24 08:36:44 nightmorph Exp $ --> 3<!-- $Header: /var/cvsroot/gentoo/xml/htdocs/doc/en/xfce-config.xml,v 1.32 2010/08/24 07:24:38 nightmorph Exp $ -->
4 4
5<guide link="/doc/en/xfce-config.xml"> 5<guide>
6<title>The Xfce Configuration Guide</title> 6<title>The Xfce Configuration Guide</title>
7 7
8<author title="Author"> 8<author title="Author">
9 <mail link="nightmorph@gentoo.org">Joshua Saddler</mail> 9 <mail link="nightmorph"/>
10</author> 10</author>
11 11
12<abstract> 12<abstract>
13This guide provides an extensive introduction to Xfce, a fast, lightweight, 13This guide provides an extensive introduction to Xfce, a fast, lightweight,
14full-featured desktop environment. 14full-featured desktop environment.
… …
16 16
17<!-- The content of this document is licensed under the CC-BY-SA license --> 17<!-- The content of this document is licensed under the CC-BY-SA license -->
18<!-- See http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.5 --> 18<!-- See http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.5 -->
19<license/> 19<license/>
20 20
21<version>1.12</version> 21<version>1.27</version>
22<date>2008-02-24</date> 22<date>2010-08-23</date>
23 23
24<chapter> 24<chapter>
25<title>Introduction</title> 25<title>Introduction</title>
26<section> 26<section>
27<title>The Xfce desktop environment</title> 27<title>The Xfce desktop environment</title>
… …
33and is quite configurable while still adhering to the <uri 33and is quite configurable while still adhering to the <uri
34link="http://www.freedesktop.org">Freedesktop</uri> specifications. 34link="http://www.freedesktop.org">Freedesktop</uri> specifications.
35</p> 35</p>
36 36
37<p> 37<p>
38Unlike heavier desktop environments, such as Gnome and KDE, Xfce uses far fewer 38Unlike heavier desktop environments, such as <uri
39system resources. Additionally, it offers greater modularity and fewer 39link="http://www.gnome.org">Gnome</uri> and <uri
40dependencies; it takes up less space on your hard disk and takes less time to 40link="http://www.kde.org">KDE</uri>, Xfce uses far fewer system resources.
41install. 41Additionally, it offers greater modularity and fewer dependencies; it takes up
42less space on your hard disk and takes less time to install.
42</p> 43</p>
43 44
44<p> 45<p>
45This guide will not only show you how to install and configure a minimal Xfce 46This guide will not only show you how to install and configure a minimal Xfce
46environment, but will also explore options to create a full-featured desktop in 47environment, but will also explore options to create a full-featured desktop in
… …
56<section> 57<section>
57<title>The basics</title> 58<title>The basics</title>
58<body> 59<body>
59 60
60<p> 61<p>
61First, make sure you've setup Xorg as shown in the <uri 62First, make sure you've configured Xorg as shown in the <uri
62link="/doc/en/xorg-config.xml">X Server Configuration Howto</uri>. 63link="/doc/en/xorg-config.xml">X Server Configuration Howto</uri>.
63</p> 64</p>
64 65
65<p> 66<p>
66Next, double-check your USE flags in <path>/etc/make.conf</path>; you'll 67Next, double-check your USE flags in <path>/etc/make.conf</path>; you'll
67probably at least want <c>USE="-gnome -kde -qt3 -qt4 X dbus hal startup-notification xscreensaver"</c>. 68probably at least want <c>USE="-gnome -kde -minimal -qt4 branding dbus
68</p> 69hal jpeg lock session startup-notification thunar X"</c>.
69
70<p> 70</p>
71Now, let's install Xfce. 71
72<p>
73There's also another variable you can set in <path>/etc/make.conf</path> called
74XFCE_PLUGINS. This variable controls additional Xfce plugins; some for the
75panel, and some for other applications. You can enable all of the plugins by
76adding <c>XFCE_PLUGINS="brightness menu trash</c> to
77<path>/etc/make.conf</path>. Here's a brief summary of the plugins:
78</p>
79
80<dl>
81 <dt>brightness</dt>
82 <dd>
83 Lets you add a screen brightness applet to your panel, once you have
84 installed <c>xfce4-power-manager</c>
85 </dd>
86 <dt>menu</dt>
87 <dd>Lets you add a program menu to your panel</dd>
88 <dt>trash</dt>
89 <dd>
90 Adds Trash functionality to <c>thunar</c>, the file manager. The Trash
91 allows you to recover deleted files.
92 </dd>
93</dl>
94
95<p>
96Now that you've set your <c>USE</c> and <c>XFCE_PLUGINS</c> variables in
97<path>/etc/make.conf</path>, it's time to install Xfce.
72</p> 98</p>
73 99
74<pre caption="Installing Xfce"> 100<pre caption="Installing Xfce">
75# <i>emerge -avt xfce4</i> 101# <i>emerge -avt xfce4-meta</i>
76</pre> 102</pre>
77 103
78<p> 104<p>
79Next, add your regular user(s) to the <c>plugdev</c>, <c>cdrom</c>, <c>cdrw</c>, 105Next, add your regular user(s) to the <c>plugdev</c>, <c>cdrom</c>, <c>cdrw</c>,
80and <c>usb</c> groups, so that they can take full advantage of <c>hal</c> and be 106and <c>usb</c> groups, so that they can take full advantage of <c>hal</c> and be
… …
101<pre caption="Starting hald"> 127<pre caption="Starting hald">
102# <i>/etc/init.d/hald start</i> 128# <i>/etc/init.d/hald start</i>
103# <i>rc-update add hald default</i> 129# <i>rc-update add hald default</i>
104</pre> 130</pre>
105 131
132<p>
133You'll also need a graphical terminal so that you can continue working with your
134new desktop environment. <c>x11-terms/terminal</c> is a good choice, as it's
135made specifically for Xfce. Install Terminal as shown:
136</p>
137
138<pre caption="Installing Terminal">
139# <i>emerge x11-terms/terminal</i>
140</pre>
141
106</body> 142</body>
107</section> 143</section>
108</chapter> 144</chapter>
109 145
110<chapter> 146<chapter>
… …
120</p> 156</p>
121 157
122<pre caption="Setting Xfce as the default desktop environment"> 158<pre caption="Setting Xfce as the default desktop environment">
123$ <i>echo "exec startxfce4" > ~/.xinitrc</i> 159$ <i>echo "exec startxfce4" > ~/.xinitrc</i>
124</pre> 160</pre>
161
162<note>
163If you have ConsoleKit installed, your <path>~/.xinitrc</path> should instead
164contain <c>exec ck-launch-session startxfce4</c>. Otherwise, some of your
165applications may stop working. You'll also need to add consolekit to the
166default runlevel by running the following command as root: <c>rc-update add
167consolekit default</c>.
168</note>
125 169
126<p> 170<p>
127Now start your graphical environment by typing <c>startx</c>: 171Now start your graphical environment by typing <c>startx</c>:
128</p> 172</p>
129 173
… …
200use within Xfce. 244use within Xfce.
201</p> 245</p>
202 246
203<p> 247<p>
204There are many plugins for the panel available in Portage; see for yourself with 248There are many plugins for the panel available in Portage; see for yourself with
205<c>emerge --search xfce</c>. Though for the most part their names are self 249<c>emerge --search xfce</c>. Though for the most part their names are
206explanatory, a few deserve some attention, as they are quite helpful. To use 250self-explanatory, a few deserve extra attention, as they are quite helpful. To
207them, simply <c>emerge</c> them. They'll be added to the list of available items 251use them, simply <c>emerge</c> them. They'll be added to the list of available
208in the "Add New Item" menu shown when you right-click on the panel. 252items in the "Add New Items" menu shown when you right-click on the panel.
209</p> 253</p>
210 254
211<ul> 255<ul>
212 <li> 256 <li>
213 <c>xfce4-mount</c> gives you a handy method of mounting devices listed in
214 <path>/etc/fstab</path> just by clicking your mouse
215 </li>
216 <li>
217 <c>xfce4-battery</c> is perfect for laptop users. It displays battery 257 <c>xfce4-battery-plugin</c> is perfect for laptop users. It displays battery
218 percentage, time remaining, power source (AC or battery), fan status, 258 percentage, time remaining, power source (AC or battery), fan status,
219 warnings, and can even be configured to execute commands at certain power 259 warnings, and can even be configured to execute commands at certain power
220 levels. This feature can be used to put the laptop into hibernate mode when 260 levels. This feature can be used to put the laptop into hibernate mode when
221 the battery is almost exhausted. 261 the battery is almost exhausted.
222 </li> 262 </li>
223 <li> 263 <li>
224 <c>verve</c> is a small command line embedded into the panel. It's quicker 264 <c>xfce4-verve-plugin</c> is a small command line embedded into the panel.
225 than opening up another terminal when you want to run a command. 265 It's quicker than opening up another terminal when you want to run a
226 </li> 266 command.
227 <li> 267 </li>
228 <c>xfce4-mixer</c> is a volume control. It works with both ALSA and OSS 268 <li>
229 sound applications. 269 <c>xfce4-mount-plugin</c> gives you a handy method of mounting devices
270 listed in <path>/etc/fstab</path> just by clicking your mouse
271 </li>
272 <li>
273 <c>xfce4-sensors-plugin</c> lets you monitor your hardware sensors, such as
274 CPU temperature, fan RPM, hard drive temp, motherboard voltage, and more
230 </li> 275 </li>
231</ul> 276</ul>
232 277
233<p> 278<p>
234If you can't find what you're looking for in the plugins specifically made for 279If you can't find what you're looking for in the plugins specifically made for
235Xfce, try searching through the list of Gnome panel applets! That's right, by 280Xfce, try searching through the list of Gnome panel applets! That's right, by
236first emerging <c>xfce4-xfapplet</c>, you can install and run any applet made 281first emerging <c>xfce4-xfapplet-plugin</c>, you can install and run any applet
237for Gnome. 282made for Gnome.
238</p> 283</p>
239 284
240</body> 285</body>
241</section> 286</section>
242<section> 287<section>
243<title>Useful programs</title> 288<title>Useful programs</title>
244<body> 289<body>
245 290
246<p> 291<p>
247Xfce bundles a few useful applications, including <c>thunar</c>, 292We should now <c>emerge</c> some useful applications and utilities:
248<c>terminal</c>, <c>orage</c>, and <c>mousepad</c>. Note that the last three 293<c>xfce4-mixer</c>, <c>xfprint</c>, <c>xfce4-taskmanager</c>,
249will not be installed if you built <c>xfce4</c> with the <c>minimal</c> USE 294<c>xfwm4-themes</c>, <c>orage</c>, <c>mousepad</c>, <c>xfce4-power-manager</c>,
250flag. However, these are all very small, yet terrific applications, so they're 295<c>x11-terms/terminal</c>, and <c>thunar</c>.
251well worth installing. 296</p>
297
298<p>
299<c>xfce4-mixer</c> is a volume control for your sound card. It can also be run
300as a panel applet, giving you fast access to playback volume. <c>xfprint</c>
301provides easy printer management and job control; it's a must if you intend to
302do any printing from your desktop. <c>xfce4-taskmanager</c> displays a list of
303all running programs, and the CPU and memory consumption each one takes up. By
304right-clicking an item, you can kill a misbehaving application, pause and
305restart it, or even alter its runtime priority, which lets you fine-tune how
306much of a demand it puts on your system's resources.
307</p>
308
309<p>
310<c>xfwm4-themes</c> adds several window manager themes. You may want to add a
311more full-coverage icon theme such as <c>tango-icon-theme</c> just to round out
312your desktop.
252</p> 313</p>
253 314
254<p> 315<p>
255<c>orage</c> is a simple, handy calendar. <c>mousepad</c> is a barebones text 316<c>orage</c> is a simple, handy calendar. <c>mousepad</c> is a barebones text
256editor that starts up extremely quickly. <c>terminal</c> is far more 317editor that starts up extremely quickly.
257configurable and useful than xterm, and supports Unicode text,
258pseudo-transparency and accelerated transparency via Xfce's built-in
259compositor, all out-of-the-box. Just make sure that the default action on the
260terminal launcher of your panel runs <path>/usr/bin/Terminal</path> instead of
261xterm. Right click the launcher and choose "Properties" to change the command.
262</p>
263
264<p> 318</p>
319
320<p>
321<c>xfce4-power-manager</c> is an application to monitor and manage power usage.
322This is especially important for laptops! The power manager allows you to adjust
323screen brightness, choose maximum performance or battery-saving modes, and setup
324hibernate, suspend, and shutdown actions when the lid is shut or buttons are
325pressed. You can set <uri
326link="http://goodies.xfce.org/projects/applications/xfce4-power-manager">xfce4-power-manager</uri>
327to warn you when your battery reaches certain levels, or even turn off your
328machine. The application comes with a couple of helpful panel plugins to display
329battery/charging status, and a brightness control.
330</p>
331
332<p>
333<c>x11-terms/terminal</c> is an X11 terminal emulator, far more configurable and
334useful than the barebones <c>xterm</c>. <c>terminal</c> supports Unicode text,
335color schemes, pseudo-transparency and hardware-accelerated transparency via
336Xfce's built-in compositor, all out-of-the-box. Just make sure that the default
337action on the terminal launcher of your panel runs
338<path>/usr/bin/Terminal</path> instead of <path>xterm</path>. Right-click the
339launcher and choose "Properties" to change the command.
340</p>
341
342<p>
265<c>thunar</c> is Xfce's built-in graphical file manager. It's fast yet quite 343<c>thunar</c> is Xfce's default graphical file manager. It's fast yet quite
266powerful, can support a few plugins for even more functionality; just install 344powerful, can support several plugins for even more functionality; just install
267them with <c>emerge</c>. Let's take a look: 345them with <c>emerge</c>. Let's take a look:
268</p> 346</p>
269 347
270<ul> 348<ul>
271 <li> 349 <li>
272 <c>thunar-archive</c> lets you create and extract archive files using the 350 <c>thunar-archive-plugin</c> lets you create and extract archive files using
273 right-click menu. It works even better when paired with the new graphical 351 the right-click menu. It provides a handy <uri
274 archiving <uri
275 link="http://www.foo-projects.org/~benny/projects/thunar-archive-plugin/">tool</uri> 352 link="http://www.foo-projects.org/~benny/projects/thunar-archive-plugin">front-end</uri>
276 developed for Xfce, <c>xarchiver</c>. 353 for graphical archiving applications such as <c>xarchiver</c>,
277 </li> 354 <c>squeeze</c>, and <c>file-roller</c>.
278 <li> 355 </li>
356 <li>
279 <c>thunar-media-tags</c> lets you intelligently rename multiple media files 357 <c>thunar-media-tags-plugin</c> lets you intelligently rename multiple media
280 at once, and lets you <uri 358 files at once, and lets you <uri
281 link="http://thunar.xfce.org/pwiki/projects/thunar-media-tags-plugin">edit</uri> 359 link="http://thunar.xfce.org/pwiki/projects/thunar-media-tags-plugin">edit</uri>
282 their information tags, such as id3 tags. 360 their information tags, such as id3 and ogg tags.
283 </li> 361 </li>
284 <li> 362 <li>
285 <c>thunar-thumbnailers</c> lets you <uri 363 <c>thunar-thumbnailers</c> lets you <uri
286 link="http://goodies.xfce.org/projects/thunar-plugins/thunar-thumbnailers">preview</uri> 364 link="http://goodies.xfce.org/projects/thunar-plugins/thunar-thumbnailers">preview</uri>
287 certain types of files from within Thunar, such as images and fonts. 365 certain types of files from within Thunar, such as images and fonts.
… …
297Next, let's see about adding some useful but lightweight desktop applications, 375Next, let's see about adding some useful but lightweight desktop applications,
298in keeping with Xfce's philosophy. 376in keeping with Xfce's philosophy.
299</p> 377</p>
300 378
301<p> 379<p>
302Though <c>mousepad</c> is nice enough, if you need a full-featured word 380Though <c>mousepad</c> is nice enough as a basic text editor, if you need a
303processor but don't want the bloat of OpenOffice, try emerging <c>abiword</c>. 381full-featured word processor but don't want the bloat of OpenOffice, try
304<uri link="http://www.abisource.com">AbiWord</uri> is lighter, faster, and is 382emerging <c>abiword</c>. <uri link="http://www.abisource.com">AbiWord</uri> is
305completely interoperable with industry-standard document types. 383lighter, faster, and is completely interoperable with industry-standard document
306</p> 384types. It can also be further extended with <c>abiword-plugins</c>.
307
308<pre caption="Adding a word processor">
309# <i>emerge -avt abiword</i>
310</pre> 385</p>
311 386
312<p> 387<p>
313Need a nice email client/newsreader that isn't as demanding as 388Need a nice email client/newsreader that isn't as demanding as
314<c>mozilla-thunderbird</c> or <c>evolution</c>? Try emerging <c>claws-mail</c>. 389<c>thunderbird</c> or <c>evolution</c>? Try emerging <c>claws-mail</c>.
315</p> 390</p>
316 391
317<p> 392<p>
318For your internet chat needs, <c>irssi</c> is an excellent, tiny, incredibly 393For your internet chat needs, <c>irssi</c> is an excellent, tiny, incredibly
319configurable IRC client that runs in your terminal. If you prefer a compact 394configurable IRC client that runs in your terminal. If you prefer a compact
… …
321<c>emerge pidgin</c>. 396<c>emerge pidgin</c>.
322</p> 397</p>
323 398
324<p> 399<p>
325If you need movie and music players, look no further than <c>mplayer</c> and 400If you need movie and music players, look no further than <c>mplayer</c> and
401<uri link="/proj/en/desktop/sound/decibel.xml">decibel-audio-player</uri>. They
326<c>audacious</c>. They can play most every media format available quite nicely, 402can play most every media format available quite nicely.
327and have a wealth of additional plugins available for additional functionality.
328</p> 403</p>
329 404
330<p> 405<p>
331Finally, you'll need a webbrowser. Nearly all graphical webbrowsers require more 406Finally, you'll need a webbrowser. Nearly all graphical webbrowsers require more
332resources than most of your other desktop applications. Still, 407resources than most of your other desktop applications. Still, <c>firefox</c>
333<c>mozilla-firefox</c> (or <c>mozilla-firefox-bin</c>) is always a good choice. 408(or <c>firefox-bin</c>) is always a good choice. Alternatively, you may find
334Alternatively, you may find <c>opera</c> to be quite fast. However, <c>opera</c> 409<c>opera</c> to be quite fast. However, <c>opera</c> is not available on as many
335is not available on as many processor architectures as <c>mozilla-firefox</c>, 410processor architectures as <c>firefox</c>, and it has more dependencies unless
336and it has more dependencies unless you override them with a USE flag. 411you override them with a few USE flags.
337</p> 412</p>
338 413
339<pre caption="Adding a webbrowser"> 414<pre caption="Adding a webbrowser">
340<comment>(Installing Mozilla Firefox)</comment> 415<comment>(Installing Mozilla Firefox)</comment>
341# <i>emerge mozilla-firefox</i> 416# <i>emerge firefox</i>
342<comment>(Installing Opera)</comment> 417<comment>(Installing Opera)</comment>
343# <i>echo "www-client/opera qt-static" >> /etc/portage/package.use</i> 418# <i>echo "www-client/opera gtk -kde" >> /etc/portage/package.use</i>
344# <i>emerge opera</i> 419# <i>emerge opera</i>
345</pre> 420</pre>
346 421
347<p> 422<p>
348Now that we've explored some good suggestions for rounding out your desktop 423Now that we've explored some good suggestions for rounding out your desktop
… …
385 460
386<pre caption="Installing SLiM"> 461<pre caption="Installing SLiM">
387# <i>emerge -avt slim</i> 462# <i>emerge -avt slim</i>
388</pre> 463</pre>
389 464
465<note>
466The <c>branding</c> USE flag will pull in the <c>slim-themes</c> package, which
467will give you an assortment of login themes, including a Gentoo Linux theme.
468</note>
469
390<p> 470<p>
391Then edit the DISPLAYMANAGER variable in <path>/etc/conf.d/xdm</path>: 471Then edit the DISPLAYMANAGER variable in <path>/etc/conf.d/xdm</path>:
392</p> 472</p>
393 473
394<pre caption="Editing /etc/conf.d/xdm"> 474<pre caption="Editing /etc/conf.d/xdm">
395DISPLAYMANAGER="slim" 475DISPLAYMANAGER="slim"
396</pre> 476</pre>
397 477
398<p> 478<p>
399SLiM can automatically start your Xfce session if you add 479SLiM can automatically start your Xfce session if you add
400<c>XSESSION="Xfce4"</c> to <path>/etc/rc.conf</path>. 480<c>XSESSION="Xfce4"</c> to <path>/etc/env.d/90xsession</path>:
481</p>
482
483<pre caption="Setting XSESSION">
484# <i>echo XSESSION=\"Xfce4\" > /etc/env.d/90xsession</i>
485# <i>env-update &amp;&amp; source /etc/profile</i>
401</p> 486</pre>
402 487
403</body> 488</body>
404</section> 489</section>
405<section> 490<section>
406<title>Beautifying your desktop</title> 491<title>Beautifying your desktop</title>
… …
430<p> 515<p>
431If you installed SLiM as your display manager, there are lots of themes in the 516If you installed SLiM as your display manager, there are lots of themes in the
432<c>slim-themes</c> package available in Portage. Also, be sure to check the SLiM 517<c>slim-themes</c> package available in Portage. Also, be sure to check the SLiM
433<uri link="http://slim.berlios.de/themes01.php">themes page</uri> for more 518<uri link="http://slim.berlios.de/themes01.php">themes page</uri> for more
434themes. Creating your own SLiM theme is fairly easy; just read the <uri 519themes. Creating your own SLiM theme is fairly easy; just read the <uri
435link="http://slim.berlios.de/themes_howto.php">Themes HowTo</uri>. 520link="http://slim.berlios.de/themes_howto.php">Themes HowTo</uri>. Gentoo also
521ships a <c>slim-themes</c> package that you can <c>emerge</c>.
436</p> 522</p>
437 523
438<p> 524<p>
439Finally, Xfce has its own built-in compositor to manage window transparency. 525Finally, Xfce has its own built-in compositor to manage window transparency.
440This option can be found in Menu --> Settings --> Window Manager. For best 526This option can be found in Menu --> Settings --> Window Manager. For best
… …
457<uri link="/doc/en/index.xml?catid=desktop">Desktop Documentation 543<uri link="/doc/en/index.xml?catid=desktop">Desktop Documentation
458Resources</uri> list to learn about configuring hardware-accelerated rendering 544Resources</uri> list to learn about configuring hardware-accelerated rendering
459for your graphics card. 545for your graphics card.
460</p> 546</p>
461 547
548<p>
549Once you've finished setting up a beautiful Xfce desktop, the next thing to do
550is take a picture of it to share with other folks! Just install
551<c>xfce4-screenshooter</c> and post your pictures somewhere for all to admire.
552</p>
553
462</body> 554</body>
463</section> 555</section>
464</chapter> 556</chapter>
465 557
466<chapter> 558<chapter>
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