Animated Wallpaper in Kubuntu/ KDE (use Screensaver)?

[cynical_remarks]

Hi everyone.

I try to change my Kubuntu 7.04 desktop wallpaper so that it uses the GL Matrix screensaver as background.

I have Kubuntu 7.04 up to date plus kdeartwork, xscreensaver etc.

the screensaver itself works fine.

I was able to figure out, theoretically at least, how to do the above (animated background).

This is how far I got:

1. Right-click on desktop, and choose: Configure desktop...

2. Then on the left hand side, background is selected (if not, do it):

Screenie 1

[img width=400 height=266]http://www.albor.de/snapshot1.png[/img]

3. Click on "Advanced Options":

4. Activate check box "Use the following programm...":

Screenie 2

[img width=350 height=400]http://www.albor.de/snapshot2.png[/img]

5. Click on modify:

Screenie 3

[img width=400 height=249]http://www.albor.de/snapshot3.png[/img]

This is how far I got. I am a newbie and not that well versed in all this command-line console stuff yet. Can anyone help me and tell me what to fill in these boxes (screenie 3) to have the GL Matrix screensaver as desktop background?

The 3rd screenie shows the preset option of web Kubuntu. I would like to change that so it picks up the GL Matrix screensaver and uses it to render the background.

I have also posted this on the Ubuntu forum, but to no avail.

As this is an already implemented feature of a stable system, I would venture to guess that there should be some documentation on how to use it? I haven't found it, and if it doesn't exist, I'll happily contribute by doing it. But still I'm a newbie.....

I googled for hours but nothing, really.

Many thanks for your help.

Cheers,
Mike

PS I don't know why the screenshots are shrunk?

[Rog131]

Re: Animated Wallpaper in Kubuntu/ KDE (use Screensaver)?

Using screensaver as wallpaper:

3. Click on "Advanced Options":
4. Activate check box "Use the following programm...":

5. Click Add -> Configure Background Program...

Screensavers (/usr/bin) :

:~$ ls /usr/bin | grep .kss

You can run screensavers from commandline -> Alt+F2 type keuphoria.kss

:~$ keuphoria.kss --help

Tells:

Options:
--setup Setup screen saver
--window-id wid Run in the specified XWindow
--root Run in the root XWindow
--demo Start screen saver in demo mode [default]

===> For Background Program

Command:keuphoria.kss --root
Executable: /usr/bin/keuphoria.kss


Sometimes "A picture is worth a thousand words"

Larger, settings (1680x1050, 253 KB)



Note
These may help:
Righ click border and Advanced > No Border
Righ click border and Advanced > Keep Below Others

After these (Preview)


Larger, preview (1680x1050, 253 KB)

[Fenyx]

Re: Animated Wallpaper in Kubuntu/ KDE (use Screensaver)?

Heh, nice workaround... But actually if you do it that way, you might notice that you have a different screensaver on different desktops. If you're going to do it that way, might as well just run "keuphoria.kss --root", set the window to be below others, no border, and visible on all desktops.

Btw, great workaround Rog131! It's not exactly flawless, but it works great nonetheless. Pure genius.

(Btw, you can do the same with a video, but takes a bit more tweaking to make sure it doesn't mess up your window settings for other video players)

[Rog131]

Re: Animated Wallpaper in Kubuntu/ KDE (use Screensaver)?

Thank you.

just run "keuphoria.kss --root", set the window to be below others, no border, and visible on all desktops.

Yes, you are right.

Hmm - I just noticed, that if i leave keuphoria.kss running at the shutdown (1):

- It will start at small window, without borders.
- it mess something at start - kubuntu isn't working normally


If i use "Background Program" system, there will be two keuphoria's running at restart:

- one from old session (1) (small window, without borders).
- second from "Background Program" settings (fullscreen with borders).
- kubuntu isn't working normally (windows are freezing, artifacts at the screen...)


Safest way (at here):
Start screensaver from command line and stop/kill it before logout.



(1) KDE settings:

Restore previous session
Will save all applications running on exit and restore them when they next start up.

More
FAQ: How to start programs when KDE starts or stops
http://kubuntuforums.net/forums/inde...opic=3086795.0

[cynical_remarks]

Re: Animated Wallpaper in Kubuntu/ KDE (use Screensaver)?

Yes, it works!

Cool, thanks very much Rog131 (and Jucato). this is genius. Kubuntu rocks.

This should be part of the documentation, or pushed as a highlight to get mor ppl from Windoof to Kubuntu!

Cheers

Mike

[Rog131]

Re: Animated Wallpaper in Kubuntu/ KDE (use Screensaver)?


It seems that this is known (?) way to use screensavers:

animated wallpaper (KDE4 Brainstorm)
http://www.kde-look.org/content/show...?content=33584

And when KDE4 is ready it has real animated wallpapers:

by Mikos on: 02/09/2006, 0:52

KDE 4 will be able to use E17 animated wallpapers. And much more...