Xfce Forums / [Solved] XFCE 4.8 -> conky is running with a "black box", NO TRANSPARENCY

Re: [Solved] XFCE 4.8 -> conky is running with a "black box", NO TRANSPARENCY

dummy@example.com (tuxshake) — Fri, 10 May 2013 10:31:07 +0000

lenod wrote:

I had/have the same problem here.
I use:
own_window yes
own_window_transparent yes
own_window_type override
The feh tricks works for me, but it also fixes if I open the dektop parameter window (right click on the desktop) ...
By the way, if you want to put the "feh trick" in your conky startup script, you might want to query which image is used for your background (not to change your script each time you change your background), then use this:
xfconf-query -c xfce4-desktop -p /backdrop/screen0/monitor0/image-path
for example: feh --bg-center `xfconf-query -c xfce4-desktop -p /backdrop/screen0/monitor0/image-path`

After a lot of try, your trick make my day !
I think it's the only way to use conky with xfce 4.8 & wheezy
Thank you much

I just needed to adapt a little to make it work perfectly on my config

feh --bg-fill `xfconf-query -c xfce4-desktop -p /backdrop/screen0/monitor0/image-path`

Re: [Solved] XFCE 4.8 -> conky is running with a "black box", NO TRANSPARENCY

dummy@example.com (sakamoto) — Tue, 02 Apr 2013 17:32:53 +0000

ccc wrote:

Finally, I've solved this problem on Debian Wheezy with XFCE4.8.

i also have it working correctly on Debian Wheezy with XFCE 4.8, but on shutting down or logging off the transparency gets lost and becomes a black solid background for some seconds. do you have the same issue?

Re: [Solved] XFCE 4.8 -> conky is running with a "black box", NO TRANSPARENCY

dummy@example.com (ccc) — Tue, 25 Sep 2012 21:31:27 +0000

Finally, I've solved this problem on Debian Wheezy with XFCE4.8.

xfwm compositor must be on:

Settings -> Settings Manager -> Window Manager Tweaks ->Compositor-> Enable Display Compositing

and using this config file:

background no

alignment top_right
gap_x 75
gap_y 70

use_xft yes
xftfont Sans:size=8
xftalpha 1
text_buffer_size 2048

update_interval 3.0
total_run_times 0

double_buffer yes

own_window yes
[b]own_window_type desktop[/b]
own_window_transparent yes
own_window_argb_visual yes
own_window_hints undecorated,below,sticky,skip_taskbar,skip_pager

minimum_size 5 5
maximum_width 180

draw_shades yes
draw_outline no
draw_borders no

border_width 0
border_inner_margin 0
border_margin 0
stippled_borders 0

default_color white
default_shade_color black
default_outline_color white

no_buffers yes
uppercase no
cpu_avg_samples 2
net_avg_samples 2
use_spacer yes
override_utf8_locale no

show whatever you want...

Re: [Solved] XFCE 4.8 -> conky is running with a "black box", NO TRANSPARENCY

dummy@example.com (angstrom) — Wed, 19 Sep 2012 23:31:40 +0000

I just upgrade to OpenSuse 12.2 and with it xfdesktop 4.10.0-41.1 and transparency work:
I don't have compositing. Here my configuration :

alignment br
background no
update_interval 5
default_color c7c7c7
double_buffer yes
draw_outline no
format_human_readable yes
net_avg_samples 2

own_window  yes     # create a separate XWindow over the one from Xfdesktop
own_window_colour white
own_window_type  override            # the window cannot be moved or resized

own_window_argb_visual no  # =NO : Important otherwise own_window yes don't work !!         
own_window_argb_value 0            # make the background semi-transparent
own_window_transparent yes

double_buffer yes                   # avoid flickering
use_xft yes
xftfont dejavu:size=8:weight=bold
gap_x 0
gap_y 0

Re: [Solved] XFCE 4.8 -> conky is running with a "black box", NO TRANSPARENCY

dummy@example.com (ccc) — Wed, 19 Sep 2012 23:15:48 +0000

On Debian Wheezy with XFCE this problem still exists and cannot find any solution.

Re: [Solved] XFCE 4.8 -> conky is running with a "black box", NO TRANSPARENCY

dummy@example.com (Keith Hedger) — Fri, 01 Jun 2012 10:33:21 +0000

secipolla wrote:

xfdesktop 4.9.3
arbg (real transparency) works fine but needs the compositing on. It works with 'own_window_type' set to 'normal' (not 'desktop').
'own_window_transparent' works with 'fake' transparency (100% transparent background) without compositing when argb_visual isn't enabled. This works with 'own_window_type' set to 'desktop' too but then clicking&dragging on the desktop makes conky disappear.
So all-in-all window has to be set to 'normal' and real transparency (argb_visual) needs the compositing manager (as said in the manual).

Thanks I have been having trouble with true transparency I missed the argb_visual bit it now works.
Using xfce 4.10+compositing
xfdesktop version 4.10.0
Slackware64

Re: [Solved] XFCE 4.8 -> conky is running with a "black box", NO TRANSPARENCY

dummy@example.com (ccc) — Thu, 31 May 2012 23:31:36 +0000

It's still doesn't work on my Wheezy with XFCE 4.8.

Re: [Solved] XFCE 4.8 -> conky is running with a "black box", NO TRANSPARENCY

dummy@example.com (secipolla) — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 17:32:41 +0000

xfdesktop 4.9.3

arbg (real transparency) works fine but needs the compositing on. It works with 'own_window_type' set to 'normal' (not 'desktop').

'own_window_transparent' works with 'fake' transparency (100% transparent background) without compositing when argb_visual isn't enabled. This works with 'own_window_type' set to 'desktop' too but then clicking&dragging on the desktop makes conky disappear.

So all-in-all window has to be set to 'normal' and real transparency (argb_visual) needs the compositing manager (as said in the manual).

Re: [Solved] XFCE 4.8 -> conky is running with a "black box", NO TRANSPARENCY

dummy@example.com (lenod) — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 10:02:21 +0000

I had/have the same problem here.
I use:

own_window yes
own_window_transparent yes
own_window_type override

The feh tricks works for me, but it also fixes if I open the dektop parameter window (right click on the desktop) ...

By the way, if you want to put the "feh trick" in your conky startup script, you might want to query which image is used for your background (not to change your script each time you change your background), then use this:
xfconf-query -c xfce4-desktop -p /backdrop/screen0/monitor0/image-path

for example: feh --bg-center `xfconf-query -c xfce4-desktop -p /backdrop/screen0/monitor0/image-path`

Re: [Solved] XFCE 4.8 -> conky is running with a "black box", NO TRANSPARENCY

dummy@example.com (Fock) — Wed, 28 Mar 2012 15:24:09 +0000

Hello,

I had the same problem, and to fix it, I had to check an option in parameters -> windows tweaks in the last tab, activate the compositor (my xfce is in french, so my translation is probably bad).

Moreover, my conky looks like this :

own_window yes
own_window_type desktop
own_window_transparent yes
own_window_hints undecorated,below,sticky,skip_taskbar,skip_pager
own_window_argb_visual yes
own_window_argb_value 100

Hope it helps.

Re: [Solved] XFCE 4.8 -> conky is running with a "black box", NO TRANSPARENCY

dummy@example.com (gekk0) — Wed, 21 Mar 2012 02:33:49 +0000

Try this your conky config

${exec feh --bg-fill /home/username/dirwall/yourwallpaper.jpg}

feh is a lightweight image viewer. I have Debian testing and it work for me. You can install feh by apt-get.

For any other help, read this

Look, my trasparent bg with conky

Bye

Re: [Solved] XFCE 4.8 -> conky is running with a "black box", NO TRANSPARENCY

dummy@example.com (ccc) — Tue, 06 Mar 2012 00:47:48 +0000

Has anyone a solution?

Re: [Solved] XFCE 4.8 -> conky is running with a "black box", NO TRANSPARENCY

dummy@example.com (Nick) — Wed, 29 Feb 2012 07:33:10 +0000

This is probably works with fake transparency and this (setting the rootwindow background) is disabled in xfdesktop because there are some version of xorg that segfault with that.

Re: [Solved] XFCE 4.8 -> conky is running with a "black box", NO TRANSPARENCY

dummy@example.com (ccc) — Wed, 29 Feb 2012 02:25:35 +0000

ToZ wrote:

Also just tested in 4.8.3. These settings worked for me:

own_window yes
own_window_class Conky
own_window_transparent yes
own_window_type normal
own_window_hints undecorated,below,sticky,skip_taskbar
own_window_argb_visual yes  
own_window_argb_value 0

I have tried what you suggested on my debian wheezy, but still get a "black box".

BTW I have the following XFCE version:

# dpkg -l | grep xfce4
ii  libxfce4ui-1-0                       4.8.1-1                        widget library for Xfce
ii  libxfce4util-bin                     4.8.2-1                        tools for libxfce4util
ii  libxfce4util-common                  4.8.2-1                        common files for libxfce4util
ii  libxfce4util4                        4.8.2-1                        Utility functions library for Xfce4
ii  xfce4                                4.8.0.3                        Meta-package for the Xfce Lightweight Desktop Environment
ii  xfce4-appfinder                      4.8.0-3                        Application finder for the Xfce4 Desktop Environment
ii  xfce4-mixer                          4.8.0-2                        Xfce mixer application
ii  xfce4-notifyd                        0.2.2-1                        simple, visually-appealing notification daemon for Xfce
ii  xfce4-panel                          4.8.6-2                        panel for Xfce4 desktop environment
ii  xfce4-screenshooter                  1.8.0-2                        screenshots utility for Xfce
ii  xfce4-screenshooter-plugin           1.8.0-2                        transitional dummy package for xfce4-screenshooter
ii  xfce4-session                        4.8.3-1                        Xfce4 Session Manager
ii  xfce4-settings                       4.8.3-2                        graphical application for managing Xfce settings
ii  xfce4-utils                          4.8.3-1                        Various tools for Xfce
ii  xfce4-volumed                        0.1.13-2+b1                    volume keys daemon

Re: [Solved] XFCE 4.8 -> conky is running with a "black box", NO TRANSPARENCY

dummy@example.com (ToZ) — Tue, 28 Feb 2012 21:38:52 +0000

Also just tested in 4.8.3. These settings worked for me:

own_window yes
own_window_class Conky
own_window_transparent yes
own_window_type normal
own_window_hints undecorated,below,sticky,skip_taskbar
own_window_argb_visual yes  
own_window_argb_value 0