Issue with pre_exec command in conky

[Snowhog]

This is the pertinent section of my .conkyrc file:

${color}Distribution:${color 20a5e4} ${pre_exec lsb_release -ds | awk '{print $1}'}
${color}Release     :${color 20a5e4} ${pre_exec lsb_release -ds | awk '{print $2}'} ${pre_exec lsb_release -ds | awk '{print $3}'}
${color}Codename    :${color 20a5e4} ${pre_exec lsb_release -cs | awk '{print $1}'}
# ${color}Desktop     :${color 20a5e4} KDE ${pre_exec kde4-config --version | grep KDE | awk '{print $4}'}
${color}Desktop     :${color 20a5e4} KDE ${pre_exec konsole --version | grep KDE | awk '{print $4}'}
${color}Linux Kernel:${color 20a5e4} $kernel
${color}Hostname    :${color 20a5e4} $nodename

The lines containing the pre_exec command aren't working now; they were in 14.10. This is what these lines show now:

From a konsole, typing:

lsb_release -ds | awk '{print $1}'

properly responds with:

paul@tanagra:~$ lsb_release -ds | awk '{print $1}'
Ubuntu
paul@tanagra:~$

and

lsb_release -ds | awk '{print $2}'

with

paul@tanagra:~$ lsb_release -ds | awk '{print $2}'
15.10
paul@tanagra:~$

so why isn't it working within the conky configuration file now?

Also, 15.10 is using Plasma as the DE, so how can I capture the Plasma version instead of the KDE version that I was capturing in 14.10?

[claydoh]

plasmashell -v, maybe.

jake@jake-Latitude-E6420:~$ plasmashell -v | awk '{print $2}'
5.4.2

Not that I know about this at all, but an extremely brief and casual search shows that pre_exec may have been removed form a version at some point, but it is not clear

[Snowhog]

Thank you.

So, a Google search located a this post concerning conky and Ubuntu 15.10. In 15.10, Conky is version 1.10.x, and pre_exec doesn't work (removed?). But, Conky version 1.9.x does still work. I purged my existing conky, downloaded the amd64 version 1.9.x here, and installed it using dpkg -i, overwriting the two configuration files and bingo, conky is working the way I want again. Pertinent section of my .conkyrc file and how it displays:

####################
##     SYSTEM     ##
####################
${color}Distribution:${color 20a5e4} ${pre_exec lsb_release -ds | awk '{print $1}'}
${color}Release     :${color 20a5e4} ${pre_exec lsb_release -ds | awk '{print $2}'} ${pre_exec lsb_release -ds | awk '{print $3}'}
${color}Codename    :${color 20a5e4} ${pre_exec lsb_release -cs | awk '{print $1}'}
# ${color}Desktop     :${color 20a5e4} KDE ${pre_exec kde4-config --version | grep KDE | awk '{print $4}'}
${color}Desktop     :${color 20a5e4} ${pre_exec plasmashell -v | awk '{print $1,$2}'}
${color}Linux Kernel:${color 20a5e4} $kernel
${color}Hostname    :${color 20a5e4} $nodename

[vinnywright]

ya ,,,,,forgot to mention this quirk myself ,,,,,,,,,, I "fixed" it @hear by changing (pre_exec) to (execi 60) .

yes this will execute "lsb_release" every 60 seconds instead of just once ,,,,,,,but hay.

VINNY

[txhammer68]

conky on lock screen

ya ,,,,,forgot to mention this quirk myself ,,,,,,,,,, I "fixed" it @hear by changing (pre_exec) to (execi 60) .

yes this will execute "lsb_release" every 60 seconds instead of just once ,,,,,,,but hay.

VINNY

totally unrelated but as you seem to have some conky experience...

i am trying to make a KDE screen locker that runs conky, found some advice online but all related to gnome and xscreensaver, nothing on kde screensaver

closest i have found is editing the main.qml file for changing the default background image, i would to execute a conky file here, but not sure how.../usr/share/kde4/apps/ksmserver/screenlocker/org.kde.passworddialog/contents/ui/

any thoughts??
anyone?