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<html><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=ISO-8859-1"><title>Xfce 4 Desktop Manager</title><link rel="stylesheet" href="../xfce.css" type="text/css"><meta name="generator" content="DocBook XSL Stylesheets V1.72.0"><link rel="start" href="#xfdesktop" title="Xfce 4 Desktop Manager"><link rel="next" href="#xfdesktop-intro" title="Introduction"></head><body bgcolor="white" text="black" link="#0000FF" vlink="#840084" alink="#0000FF"><div class="article" lang="en"><div class="titlepage"><div><div><h1 class="title"><a name="xfdesktop"></a>Xfce 4 Desktop Manager</h1></div><div><div class="authorgroup"><div class="author"><h3 class="author"><span class="firstname">Brian</span> <span class="surname">Tarricone</span></h3><div class="affiliation"><div class="address"><p><code class="email"><<a href="mailto:kelnos@xfce.org">kelnos@xfce.org</a>></code></p></div></div></div><div class="author"><h3 class="author"><span class="firstname">Jasper</span> <span class="surname">Huijsmans</span></h3><div class="affiliation"><div class="address"><p><code class="email"><<a href="mailto:jasper@xfce.org">jasper@xfce.org</a>></code></p></div></div></div><div class="author"><h3 class="author"><span class="firstname">François</span> <span class="surname">Le Clainche</span></h3><div class="affiliation"><div class="address"><p><code class="email"><<a href="mailto:fleclainche@wanadoo.fr">fleclainche@wanadoo.fr</a>></code></p></div></div></div><div class="author"><h3 class="author"><span class="firstname">Jérôme</span> <span class="surname">Guelfucci</span></h3><div class="affiliation"><div class="address"><p><code class="email"><<a href="mailto:jerome.guelfucci@gmail.com">jerome.guelfucci@gmail.com</a>></code></p></div></div></div></div></div><div><span xmlns="http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/transitional" class="releaseinfo">
This manual describes <strong xmlns="" class="application"><code>xfdesktop</code></strong> version 4.6.0.
<br></br></span></div><div><p class="copyright">Copyright © 2008 Jérôme Guelfucci</p></div><div><p class="copyright">Copyright © 2004-2007 Brian Tarricone</p></div><div><p class="copyright">Copyright © 2004 Jasper Huijsmans</p></div><div><p class="copyright">Copyright © 2004 François Le Clainche</p></div></div><hr></div><div class="toc"><p><b>Table of Contents</b></p><dl><dt><span class="sect1"><a href="#xfdesktop-intro">Introduction</a></span></dt><dt><span class="sect1"><a href="#xfdesktop-backdrop">Backdrop</a></span></dt><dt><span class="sect1"><a href="#xfdesktop-icons">Icons</a></span></dt><dd><dl><dt><span class="sect2"><a href="#xfdesktop-window-icons">Minimized Window Icons</a></span></dt><dt><span class="sect2"><a href="#xfdesktop-file-icons">File/Launcher Icons</a></span></dt></dl></dd><dt><span class="sect1"><a href="#xfdesktop-menu">The Desktop Menu</a></span></dt><dt><span class="sect1"><a href="#xfdesktop-window-list">The Window List Menu</a></span></dt><dt><span class="sect1"><a href="#xfdesktop-settings">Desktop Settings</a></span></dt><dd><dl><dt><span class="sect2"><a href="#xfdesktop-settings-background">Background Tab</a></span></dt><dt><span class="sect2"><a href="#xfdesktop-settings-menus">Menus Tab</a></span></dt><dt><span class="sect2"><a href="#xfdesktop-settings-icons">Icons Tab</a></span></dt></dl></dd><dt><span class="sect1"><a href="#xfdesktop-hidden-options">Hidden Options</a></span></dt><dt><span class="sect1"><a href="#xfdesktop-misc">Miscellaneous</a></span></dt><dt><span class="sect1"><a href="#xfdesktop-copyright">About <strong class="application"><code>xfdesktop</code></strong></a></span></dt></dl></div><div class="sect1" lang="en"><div class="titlepage"><div><div><h2 class="title" style="clear: both"><a name="xfdesktop-intro"></a>Introduction</h2></div></div></div><p>
The <strong class="application"><code>xfdesktop</code></strong> application manages the desktop backdrop. It sets a
backdrop image and/or color and it can pop up an applications
menu and a list of all running applications when you click on the desktop
with the right or middle mouse button respectively. As of Xfce 4.4,
<strong class="application"><code>xfdesktop</code></strong> also draws icons on the desktop.
</p><p>
The <strong class="application"><code>xfdesktop</code></strong> package installs a settings dialog for use with
the <span class="emphasis"><em>Xfce 4 Settings Manager</em></span>. From this dialog you
can change the backdrop image and color and change settings for the menu
and the window list.
</p></div><div class="sect1" lang="en"><div class="titlepage"><div><div><h2 class="title" style="clear: both"><a name="xfdesktop-backdrop"></a>Backdrop</h2></div></div></div><p>
<strong class="application"><code>xfdesktop</code></strong> is responsible for drawing the desktop's backdrop (sometimes called
"wallpaper") image. There are various options for setting a backdrop
image. The final picture seen on the monitor is composed of a solid
color or gradient, with an image or photo (with optional transparency)
composited on top of the color or gradient. This allows for some
interesting effects using semi-transparent images on top of various
color arrangements.
</p></div><div class="sect1" lang="en"><div class="titlepage"><div><div><h2 class="title" style="clear: both"><a name="xfdesktop-icons"></a>Icons</h2></div></div></div><p>
In addition to drawing the backdrop image, <strong class="application"><code>xfdesktop</code></strong> can draw icons on the
desktop.
</p><div class="sect2" lang="en"><div class="titlepage"><div><div><h3 class="title"><a name="xfdesktop-window-icons"></a>Minimized Window Icons</h3></div></div></div><p>
One mode of operation displays minimized applications as icons on the
desktop, which can be rearranged, and will remember their positions
when the window is unhidden and then later minimized again. The icons
also provide a right-click menu similar to the window's control menu
accessed by clicking the button in the top-left corner of the window.
</p></div><div class="sect2" lang="en"><div class="titlepage"><div><div><h3 class="title"><a name="xfdesktop-file-icons"></a>File/Launcher Icons</h3></div></div></div><p>
<strong class="application"><code>xfdesktop</code></strong> can also display on the desktop the contents of the
<code class="filename">$XDG_DESKTOP_DIR</code> folder, which can be set in
the <code class="filename">$XDG_CONFIG_HOME/user-dirs.dirs</code> file (if you
do not have this file, it will use <code class="filename">$HOME/Desktop</code>).
Files can be arranged, copied, moved,
and linked to and from a file manager, and opened using
preferred applications. Application and URL launchers can
also be created on the desktop. The file icon view is modeled
to have a similar look and feel as the
<a href="http://thunar.xfce.org/" target="_top">Thunar</a> file
manager.
</p></div></div><div class="sect1" lang="en"><div class="titlepage"><div><div><h2 class="title" style="clear: both"><a name="xfdesktop-menu"></a>The Desktop Menu</h2></div></div></div><p>
A right-click on the desktop backdrop opens a menu that allows you to
open a Thunar window in the Desktop directory, to create launchers,
URL links, folders and files from templates. It is also possible to
open the Desktop Settings and the Properties window of the Desktop
directory and to start many of the applications found on your system.
</p><div class="figure"><a name="root-menu-fig"></a><p class="title"><b>Figure 1. Desktop Menu</b></p><div class="figure-contents"><div class="screenshot"><div class="mediaobject"><img src="images/root_menu.png" alt="Shows xfdesktop right-click mouse menu."></div></div></div></div><br class="figure-break"><p>
The menu's configuration file, <code class="filename">xfce-applications.menu</code>,
can be found under the path
<code class="filename">$sysconfdir/xdg/menus/xfce-applications.menu</code>.
For binary packages, <code class="filename">$sysconfdir</code> is often
<code class="filename">/etc</code> and for source compiles, it defaults to
<code class="filename">/usr/local/etc</code>.
</p><p>
The previous menu editor is not available anymore.
However you can customize your menu by copying
<code class="filename">xfce-applications.menu</code> to
<code class="filename">$XDG_CONFIG_HOME/menus</code> and by modifying it
with a text editor such as <strong class="application"><code>mousepad</code></strong> or
<strong class="application"><code>gedit</code></strong>. Please remember that the file
should be UTF-8 encoded. For more information on menu editing, please
see <a href="http://wiki.xfce.org/howto/customize-menu" target="_top">the
Xfce Wiki</a>.
</p><p>
Further customisation can be achived by creating
<a href="http://standards.freedesktop.org/desktop-entry-spec/latest/" target="_top">desktop
entries</a> in <code class="filename">$XDG_DATA_HOME/applications</code> to
hide, modify or add entries in the menu.
</p></div><div class="sect1" lang="en"><div class="titlepage"><div><div><h2 class="title" style="clear: both"><a name="xfdesktop-window-list"></a>The Window List Menu</h2></div></div></div><p>
A middle-click on the desktop backdrop shows a list of all opened
windows ordered by workspace. It also allows you to add or remove
a workspace.
</p><div class="figure"><a name="root-menu2-fig"></a><p class="title"><b>Figure 2. Window List Menu</b></p><div class="figure-contents"><div class="screenshot"><div class="mediaobject"><img src="images/root_menu2.png" alt="Shows xfdesktop middle-click mouse menu."></div></div></div></div><br class="figure-break"></div><div class="sect1" lang="en"><div class="titlepage"><div><div><h2 class="title" style="clear: both"><a name="xfdesktop-settings"></a>Desktop Settings</h2></div></div></div><p>
You can start the Desktop settings dialog by clicking on the
"Desktop" button in the
<a href="xfce-mcs-manager.html#manager-dialog" target="_top">Xfce Settings Manager</a>.
</p><div class="sect2" lang="en"><div class="titlepage"><div><div><h3 class="title"><a name="xfdesktop-settings-background"></a>Background Tab</h3></div></div></div><p>
The Background tab allows you to set various options related to
drawing the desktop backdrop picture.
</p><div class="figure"><a name="xfdesktop-background-fig"></a><p class="title"><b>Figure 3. Desktop Settings, Background Tab</b></p><div class="figure-contents"><div class="screenshot"><div class="mediaobject"><img src="images/xfdesktop-background-tab.png" alt="Shows the Background tab of the Desktop Settings dialog"></div></div></div></div><br class="figure-break"><div class="variablelist"><dl><dt><span class="term">Image</span></dt><dd><p>
Select the <span class="emphasis"><em>"None"</em></span> option if you want
<strong class="application"><code>xfdesktop</code></strong> to ignore the backdrop image and only use the selected
colors.
</p><p>
Select the <span class="emphasis"><em>"Single image"</em></span> option if
you want <strong class="application"><code>xfdesktop</code></strong> to draw a backdrop image.
</p><p>
Select the <span class="emphasis"><em>"Image List"</em></span> option if you
want <strong class="application"><code>xfdesktop</code></strong> to randomly choose the backdrop image among a list.
</p><p>
</p></dd><dt><span class="term">Images</span></dt><dd><p>
If you selected the <span class="emphasis"><em>"Single image"</em></span> option,
you can choose an image from the treeview. Click on an image
to set it as the current backdrop. <strong class="application"><code>xfdesktop</code></strong> will update the
background of your desktop automatically.
</p><p>
You can add images to the treeview by clicking on the "plus"
button, which will pop a file chooser dialog up. Images can be
removed using the "minus" button.
</p><p>
If you selected the <span class="emphasis"><em>"Image list"</em></span> option,
you can use the "New" button displaying a blank sheet to select
an existing list or create a new one, using a file chooser.
You can still use the "plus" and "minus" buttons to add
and remove images. <strong class="application"><code>xfdesktop</code></strong> will then randomly choose a backdrop
among this list every time it starts.
</p><p>
Five Style options (<span class="emphasis"><em>"Centered"</em></span>,
<span class="emphasis"><em>"Tiled"</em></span>,
<span class="emphasis"><em>"Stretched"</em></span>,
<span class="emphasis"><em>"Scaled"</em></span> and
<span class="emphasis"><em>"Zoomed"</em></span>)
are available to specify the fitting of the backdrop image
on the screen, depending on its size. You can also select
the <span class="emphasis"><em>"Auto"</em></span> item if you want to let <strong class="application"><code>xfdesktop</code></strong>
take care of this setting.
</p><p>
<strong class="application"><code>xfdesktop</code></strong> supports xinerama and multiscreen modes. In
multiscreen mode, the Background tab shows one tab per screen.
</p></dd><dt><span class="term">Colors</span></dt><dd><p>
The color style is one of four options in dropping list:
a solid color, horizontal gradient, vertical gradient, or
transparent.
</p><p>
The <span class="emphasis"><em>"Transparent"</em></span> option, when you use
a colored background without backdrop image, allows you
to see the windows that are under the transparent desktop
window. This requires an activated compositor.
</p><p>
Two colored buttons allow you to choose the colors for your
desktop. When the solid color option is selected, only the
first color is available. When either of the gradient
options are selected, both the first and second colors
are available. Both of the color buttons open a color
chooser dialog:
</p><div class="figure"><a name="select_bg_color-fig"></a><p class="title"><b>Figure 4. Select Background Color</b></p><div class="figure-contents"><div class="screenshot"><div class="mediaobject"><img src="images/select_bg_color.png" alt="Shows the color selection dialog"></div></div></div></div><br class="figure-break"><div class="itemizedlist"><ul type="disc"><li>
You can use the colored ring with a triangle inside to
select the color you want from the outer ring, then select the
darkness or lightness of that color using the inner triangle.
Corresponding values of brightness, deepness, and amount of red,
green and blue light in the color appear through the entries on
the right side of the window.
</li><li>
You can click the eyedropper, then click anywhere on your
screen to select the color.
</li><li>
You can enter an HTML-style hexadecimal color value, or
simply a color name, in the <span class="emphasis"><em>"Color Name"</em></span>
entry.
</li></ul></div><p>
The selected colors will fill the entire root window, and will
remain visible through a transparent backdrop image.
</p></dd><dt><span class="term">Adjustments</span></dt><dd><p>
The two sliders allow you to adjust the brightness and the
saturation of the backdrop image and or color.
</p></dd></dl></div></div><div class="sect2" lang="en"><div class="titlepage"><div><div><h3 class="title"><a name="xfdesktop-settings-menus"></a>Menus Tab</h3></div></div></div><div class="figure"><a name="xfdesktop-menus-tab-fig"></a><p class="title"><b>Figure 5. Desktop Settings, Menus Tab</b></p><div class="figure-contents"><div class="screenshot"><div class="mediaobject"><img src="images/xfdesktop-menus-tab.png" alt="Shows the Menus tab of the Desktop Settings dialog"></div></div></div></div><br class="figure-break"><div class="variablelist"><dl><dt><span class="term">Desktop Menu</span></dt><dd><p>
If you check the
<span class="emphasis"><em>"Show applications menu on desktop right click"</em></span>,
the <a href="#xfdesktop-menu" title="The Desktop Menu">applications menu</a>
will be shown when right clicking on the desktop.
</p></dd><dt><span class="term">Window List Menu</span></dt><dd><p>
If you check the
<span class="emphasis"><em>"Show window list menu on desktop middle click"</em></span>
option, the
<a href="#xfdesktop-window-list" title="The Window List Menu">window list menu</a>
will be shown when middle clicking on the desktop.
</p><p>
The <span class="emphasis"><em>"Show application icons in menu"</em></span>
option allows you to show or hide icons in the menu. This
option is only available when
<span class="emphasis"><em>"Show window list menu on desktop middle click"</em></span>
is checked.
</p><p>
The
<span class="emphasis"><em>"Show workspace names in list"</em></span>
option allows you to show or hide workspace names in the list.
If checked, windows are shown under the name of their workspace.
Else, they are all shown in the same portion of the menu.
This option is only available when
<span class="emphasis"><em>"Show window list menu on desktop middle click"</em></span>
is checked.
</p><p>
The
<span class="emphasis"><em>"Show submenus for the windows in each workspace"</em></span>
option allows you to have the windows displayed in a submenu
titled with the workspace name. This option is only available
when
<span class="emphasis"><em>"Show workspace names in list"</em></span> is checked.
</p><p>
The
<span class="emphasis"><em>"Show sticky windows only in active workspace"</em></span>
option allows you to have sticky windows displayed only in
the active workspace, instead of displaying their item in
all workspaces.
</p></dd></dl></div></div><div class="sect2" lang="en"><div class="titlepage"><div><div><h3 class="title"><a name="xfdesktop-settings-icons"></a>Icons Tab</h3></div></div></div><div class="figure"><a name="xfdesktop-icons-tab-fig"></a><p class="title"><b>Figure 6. Desktop Settings, Icons Tab</b></p><div class="figure-contents"><div class="screenshot"><div class="mediaobject"><img src="images/xfdesktop-icons-tab.png" alt="Shows the Icons tab of the Desktop Settings dialog"></div></div></div></div><br class="figure-break"><div class="variablelist"><dl><dt><span class="term">Appearance</span></dt><dd><p>
The <span class="emphasis"><em>"Icon type"</em></span> dropping list allows
you to set the behavior of the desktop icons. There are
three options: "None", to disable desktop icons entirely;
"Minimized" application icons, to show icons for
minimized or hidden applications on the desktop;
and "File/launcher" icons, to show the contents of your
<code class="filename">$XDG_DESKTOP_DIR</code> directory on the
desktop.
</p><p>
If desktop icons are enabled, you can control the size of the icon
itself (in pixels) with the <span class="emphasis"><em>"Icon size"</em></span>
option, and the font size used to display the icon text
(in points) with the
<span class="emphasis"><em>"Use custom font size"</em></span> option. If you
do not check this last option, the system defaults will be
used.
</p></dd><dt><span class="term">Default Icons</span></dt><dd><p>
The checkboxes allow you to show or hide special icons on
the desktop, when <strong class="application"><code>xfdesktop</code></strong> is set to draw icons. Double
clicking those icons will open a Thunar window displaying
the contents of a particular path.
</p><p>
<span class="emphasis"><em>Home</em></span> stands for your home folder, that
is to say, <code class="filename">$HOME</code>.
<span class="emphasis"><em>Filesystem</em></span> stands for the root of your
file system, also known as <code class="filename">/</code>.
<span class="emphasis"><em>Trash</em></span> stands for your trash folder,
and <span class="emphasis"><em>Removable devices</em></span> represents
floppy drives, USB drives and keys, external hard drives, optical
discs, etc.
</p></dd></dl></div></div></div><div class="sect1" lang="en"><div class="titlepage"><div><div><h2 class="title" style="clear: both"><a name="xfdesktop-hidden-options"></a>Hidden Options</h2></div></div></div><p>
There are a number of hidden options that cannot be set by the Xfce
Settings Manager. These require use of a text editor.
</p><div class="variablelist"><dl><dt><span class="term">Icon View Text Appearance</span></dt><dd><p>
The colors of the icon text and the icon text background, as well
as the opacity of the icon text background, can be customized
by putting directives simiar to the following in your
<code class="filename">~/.gtkrc-2.0</code> file:
</p><pre class="programlisting">
style "xfdesktop-icon-view" {
XfdesktopIconView::label-alpha = 75
base[NORMAL] = "#00ff00"
base[SELECTED] = "#5050ff"
base[ACTIVE] = "#0000ff"
fg[NORMAL] = "#ff0000"
fg[SELECTED] = "#ff0000"
fg[ACTIVE] = "#ff0000"
}
widget_class "*XfdesktopIconView*" style "xfdesktop-icon-view"
</pre><p>
The first entry sets the opacity of the rounded text background.
The three "base" entries set the text background color, and the
three "fg" entries set the text color.
</p><p>
The "NORMAL" entries set the color for the regular, unselected
state. The "SELECTED" entries set the color for when the icon
is selected, and the desktop has keyboard focus. The "ACTIVE"
entries set the color for when the icon is selected, but the
desktop does not have keyboard focus.
</p></dd></dl></div></div><div class="sect1" lang="en"><div class="titlepage"><div><div><h2 class="title" style="clear: both"><a name="xfdesktop-misc"></a>Miscellaneous</h2></div></div></div><p>
You can open the menu or window list from the commandline as well.
This can be useful for keyboard shortcuts. To open the menu run the
command <strong class="application"><code>xfdesktop</code></strong> <strong class="application"><code>--menu</code></strong>, and for the windowlist
use <strong class="application"><code>xfdesktop</code></strong> <strong class="application"><code>--windowlist</code></strong>. To cause the
current running instance to quit, run <strong class="application"><code>xfdesktop</code></strong>
<strong class="application"><code>--quit</code></strong>.
</p></div><div class="sect1" lang="en"><div class="titlepage"><div><div><h2 class="title" style="clear: both"><a name="xfdesktop-copyright"></a>About <strong class="application"><code>xfdesktop</code></strong></h2></div></div></div><p>
<strong class="application"><code>xfdesktop</code></strong> was written by
Brian Tarricone (<code class="email"><<a href="mailto:kelnos@xfce.org">kelnos@xfce.org</a>></code>),
Jasper Huijsmans (<code class="email"><<a href="mailto:jasper@xfce.org">jasper@xfce.org</a>></code>), and
Benedikt Meurer (<code class="email"><<a href="mailto:benny@xfce.org">benny@xfce.org</a>></code>).
For more information, please visit the
<a href="http://www.xfce.org" target="_top">Xfce website</a>.
</p><p>
To report a bug or make a suggestion regarding this application or
this manual, use the bug tracking system at
<a href="http://bugzilla.xfce.org/" target="_top">http://bugzilla.xfce.org/</a>.
</p><p>
If you have questions about the use or installation of this package,
please ask on the
<a href="http://foo-projects.org/mailman/listinfo/xfce" target="_top">xfce</a> mailing list. Development
discussion takes place on the
<a href="http://foo-projects.org/mailman/listinfo/xfce4-dev" target="_top">xfce4-dev</a> mailing list.
</p><p>
This program is distributed under the terms of the
GNU General Public License as published by the Free Software Foundation;
either version 2 of the License, or (at your option) any later version.
</p><p>
You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License
along with this program; if not, write to the Free Software
Foundation, Inc., 51 Franklin St, Fifth Floor, Boston, MA 02110-1301,
USA.
</p></div></div></body></html>
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