FVWMCrystalFAQ(1) FVWM-Crystal FVWMCrystalFAQ(1)NAME
FVWM-Crystal - FAQ
DESCRIPTION
Frequently Asked Questions for FVWM-Crystal
Last updated: 06.05.2007, for version 3.0.5
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1. General information.
1.1: What is FVWM-Crystal?
1.2: Who are the authors?
1.3: Where I can get the newest version?
1.4: Is there a mailing list?
2. Installation.
2.1: What do I need to install FVWM-Crystal?
2.2: Can I use FVWM-Crystal with "stable" FVWM branch (2.4.x)?
2.3: How to install FVWM-Crystal from distributed packages?
2.4: How to install FVWM-Crystal from darcs repository?
2.5: How to install FVWM-Crystal manually?
2.6: How I can select FVWM-Crystal as my window manager?
2.7: When I start FVWM-Crystal I get only the empty FVWM desktop...
2.8: How can I restore a previous FVWM-Crystal session?
2.9: How can I use gnome-session with FVWM-Crystal?
2.10: Can I save-restore more as one previous FVWM-Crystal sessions?
2.11: Why there is no application panel on the desktop?
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS1. GENERAL INFORMATION
Q 1.1: What is FVWM-Crystal?
A: It's a set of FVWM configuration files, some Python and shell
scripts, a set of application icons and images. This combination pro‐
duces a fairly decent and customized Linux window manager using FVWM as
it's basic component. With additional file managers, such as ROX-Filer
or Nautilus (from GNOME Project) you can create useable and good-look‐
ing Linux desktop environment.
Q 1.2: Who are the authors?
A: The author and current maintainer of FVWM-Crystal is Maciej Del‐
manowski. You can contact with him using his e-mail account
<harnir@berlios.de> or through Jabber network <harnir@jabberek.net>.
FVWM-Crystal could not be in the present state without the help of
other people. You can find their list in the AUTHORS file included in
the project's package.
Q 1.3: Where can I get the newest version?
A: Newest stable version can be always found on the main FVWM-Crystal
website: http://fvwm-crystal.berlios.de/. Some GNU/Linux distributions
have already included packages, usually named 'fvwm-crystal'.
You can also use the development version. It is a Darcs repository
which contains the newest code. You can find more information on
http://linux.net.pl/~harnir/fvwm-crystal/.
Q 1.4: Is there a mailing list?
A: Yes, there is. You can read the archives by pointing your web
browser on http://lists.berlios.de/pipermail/fvwm-crystal-users/
If you want to subscribe, you can do it using the Web interface:
http://lists.berlios.de/mailman/listinfo/fvwm-crystal-users
INSTALLATION
Q 2.1: What do I need to install FVWM-Crystal?
A: If you want to use FVWM-Crystal, you need to have:
· FVWM window manager, version 2.5.13+
· Python interpreter
· POSIX shell interpreter
· an application which can set the desktop wallpaper (habak,
Esetroot, hsetroot)
You can install these applications to get additional functionality:
· terminal emulator (xterm, Aterm, Eterm, urxvt, mrxvt, gnome-
terminal, konsole, mgt or xfce4-terminal are currently sup‐
ported)
· ImageMagick - for window thumbnails and making screenshots
· XScreenSaver - a desktop screensaver
· stand-alone notification area application - trayer and
stalonetray are supported
· sudo - running text-based applications as superuser and for
shutdown/reboot commands (needs to be configured properly)
· gksudo - for running graphical applications as superuser
· GDM (gdmflexiserver) - for shutdown/reboot/new login commands
· a music player - XMMS, XMMS2 , QuodLibet, cdcd, alsaplayer or
MPD are supported
· graphical file manager - ROX-Filer or Nautilus
· gnome-session - for saving amd restoring of your FVWM-Crystal
session
Here are URLs for applications specified above:
- FVWM http://www.fvwm.org/
- habak, trayer
http://fvwm-crystal.berlios.de/
- stalonetray
http://stalonetray.sourceforge.net
- Esetroot
http://www.jnrowe.ukfsn.org/projects/esetroot.html
- hsetroot
http://thegraveyard.org/hsetroot.php
- Aterm
http://aterm.sourceforge.net/
- Eterm
http://eterm.sourceforge.net/
- URxvt
http://software.schmorp.de/
- mrxvt
http://materm.sourceforge.net/
- ImageMagick
http://www.imagemagick.org/
- XScreenSaver
http://www.jwz.org/xscreensaver/
- sudo http://www.courtesan.com/sudo/
- XMMS http://www.xmms.org/
- XMMS2
http://wiki.xmms2.xmms.se/index.php/Main_Page
- xmms-shell
http://directory.fsf.org/audio/mp3/xmms-shell.html
- xmms-find
http://xmmsfind.sourceforge.net/
- MPD http://www.musicpd.org/
- mpc http://musicpd.org/mpc.shtml
- alsaplayer
http://www.alsaplayer.org
- QuodLibet
http://www.sacredchao.net/quodlibet
- cdcd http://libcdaudio.sourceforge.net/
- ROX-Filer
http://rox.sourceforge.net/
- gnome-session
http://www.gnome.org
Q 2.2: Can I use FVWM-Crystal with stable FVWM branch (2.4.x)?
A: No. Old FVWM version (so called "stable") is in fact, old. 2.5.x
series has many improvements over the stable tree, for example support
for PNG images, new modules, improvements in existing modules and bug‐
fixes. I strongly encurage you to not use FVWM 2.4.x for FVWM-Crystal
and install the newest unstable version.
Q 2.3: How to install FVWM-Crystal from distributed packages?
A: Unpack fvwm-crystal-X.Y.tar.gz to an empty directory. After that cd
into unpacked directory and execute:
make install
By default Crystal will be installed in /usr/local directory. You can
select destination directory using:
make prefix=/usr install
After successful installation you can copy sample ~/.Xresources file
from "addons/" directory of the FVWM-Crystal package, if you don't have
one. If you use GDM as your login manager, you can copy file
"addons/fvwm-crystal.desktop" to /usr/share/xsessions, so you will be
able to select FVWM-Crystal as your window manager.
Q 2.4 How to install FVWM-Crystal from darcs repository?
A: You need to create a local copy of a darcs repository by issuing
command:
darcs get http://linux.net.pl/~harnir/fvwm-crystal/
When it finishes, cd into newly created 'fvwm-crystal/' directory and
issue commands:
darcs changes > ChangeLog
make install
You can change the destination directory as described above.
Q 2.5: How to install FVWM-Crystal manually?
A: Parts of FVWM-Crystal configuration needs to have executable bit on,
and it's set by the make script. If you can't or don't want to use it,
you can installa FVWM-Crystal manually. Unpack the distributed package
or get a darcs repository as described above, then issue commands
below:
cd fvwm-crystal
chmod a+rx bin/*
chmod -R a+rx fvwm/Applications
chmod a+rx fvwm/scripts/FvwmMPD/*.py fvwm/scripts/FvwmMPD/*.sh
Now put all files from 'fvwm/' directory in the chosen configuration
directory. If you want to install FVWM-Crystal in your $HOME directory,
put the configuration files in ~/.fvwm-crystal directory (without the
'fvwm/' subdirectory!). Startup script will use them automatically.
You can also copy ~/.Xresources or fvwm-crystal.desktop as described
above.
Before to run fvwm-crystal-generate-menu for the first time, be sure to
read "Note on fvwm-crystal-generate-menu" and "Variables to check in
fvwm-crystal-generate-menu" in FVWM-Crystal README file and follow the
instructions.
Q 2.6: How I can select FVWM-Crystak as my window manager?
A: If you are using 'startx' for running your X session, copy file
'addons/Xsession' from FVWM-Crystal package to your ~/.Xsession or
~/.xinitrc file. In other words, you need to start 'fvwm-crystal'
script, 'fvwm' or 'fvwm2' will not work, because FVWM-Crystal has it's
main configuration files in different place than FVWM.
If you are using GDM login manager, just select "FVWM-Crystal" in the
Session menu.
Q 2.7: When I start FVWM-Crystal I get only the empty FVWM desktop...
A: Make sure that you have correct path to the system-wide configura‐
tion files in 'fvwm-crystal' script. Also check if in your ~/.Xsession
or ~/.xinitrc the last line contains 'exec fvwm-crystal'. Select "FVWM-
Crystal" as your session in GDM, "FVWM" will not work.
Q 2.8: How can I restore a previous FVWM-Crystal session?
A: You must install gnome-session and configure FVWM-Crystal to use it.
When gnome-session is running, you can save the state of your FVWM-
Crystal session by clicking on "Save session" in the "Quit" menu. With
"manage session" in the same menu, you can set gnome-session properties
and preferences. See Q 2.9 and Q 2.10.
Q 2.9: How can I use gnome-session with FVWM-Crystal?
A:Usualy, gnome-session lauch and manage gnome. All that is needed to
do is to configure gnome-session to launch FVWM-Crystal.
1) Install gnome-session
2) For gdm, edit 'fvwm-crystal.desktop' from FVWM-Crystal package,
comment the line with
#Exec=fvwm-crystal
and comment out the line with
Exec=gnome-session --choose-session=FVWM-Crystal
Save the file as '/usr/share/xsessions/fvwm-crystal.desktop' so at gdm
can see it. Be aware at the exact location of this file can differ
between different linux distributions.
3) For startx, just put the following in '~/.xinitrc':
gnome-session --choose-session=FVWM-Crystal
4) Don't skip this step. If you don't already have a '~/.gnome2/ses‐
sion' file, just copy 'addons/session' from FVWM-Crystal package to
'~/.gnome2/session'.
If you already have a '~/.gnome2/session' file, edit this file, and
paste the whole [FVWM-Crystal] section from 'addons/session'. You must
end up with something like:
[FVWM-Crystal]
0,id=default0
0,Priority=0
0,RestartCommand=fvwm2 -f /usr/bin/../share/fvwm-crystal/fvwm/config -s 0
num_clients=1
[Default]
...
whatever softwares gnome was running
The [FVWM-Crystal] section will be used by gdm or startx to launch
FVWM-Crystal, the [Default] section will be used to launch gnome.
Q 2.10: Can I save-restore more as one previous FVWM-Crystal sessions?
A: Short answer: No!
Long story: Sure, you can. Launch gnome-session-properties as explained
above (Menu "Quit" -> "Manage session"). In the first tab, add a new
session with a new name (I.e.: FVWM-Crystal-games). You will find a new
section with that name in '~/,gnome2/session'.
If using gdm, make a new desktop file in '/usr/share/xsessions (I.e.:
fvwm-crystal-games.desktop). The faster is to copy and rename fvwm-
crystal.desktop. In this new file, edit the line that launch gnome-ses‐
sion with your new session name.
I.e.: Exec=gnome-session --choose-session=FVWM-Crystal-games
If using startx, modify '~/.xintirc' with the name of the new session.
I.e.: gnome-session --choose-session=FVWM-Crystal-games
Q 2.11: Why is there no application panel on the desktop?
A: Do you have Python installed? Is 'fvwm-crystal.apps' script in a
directory listed in $PATH environment variable? All files in Crystal's
Application Database needs to have "executable" bit set (all files are
actually scripts). You can set it by issuing command:
chmod -R a+rx <installpath>/Applications
version 3.0.5 mai 06, 2007 FVWMCrystalFAQ(1)
