Ubuntu's overlay scrollbar remains in XFCE

mikesmithv · 2016-05-20 03:28:09

I recently installed Ubuntu 16.04 as a fresh install, then added the XFCE packages and I see that the old "overlay scrollbars" are still there in all XFCE applications (like Thunar, XFCE Settings, XFCE Task Manager, etc.). It has not been in Ubuntu since 15.10 so I was really disappointed to see it back in XFCE since that's become my preferred desktop lately. Does anyone have any ideas on how to easily correct this?

I found that I can launch apps from the console by proceeding the app name with LIBOVERLAY_SCROLLBAR=0. For example if I type "thunar" it launches the file manager with the awful overlay scrollbars but if I type "LIBOVERLAY_SCROLLBAR=0 thunar" I get the normal scrollbar. So it appears there is a boolean somewhere to still allow the option of the overlay scrollbar in XFCE. If I log out and log back in under Ubuntu there is no sign of the old overlay scrollbars - as if they never existed. I'm sure there are solutions to modify or create launchers just for XFCE apps but I am wishing for an easier way.

mikesmithv · 2016-05-20 04:10:32

OK, I found the solution but it's not obvious. To make a long story short, install unity-tweak-tool and click "Scrolling" and there are two radio buttons labeled "Overlay" and "Legacy". Select "Legacy" and you're done. I noticed this has no effect on standard Ubuntu scrollbars, they simply abandoned them and left the setting to "Overlay" for everyone else to mis-interpret. Smart.

Here is the link where I got this info with more detailed steps.

cmcanulty · 2016-05-21 16:13:53

I am really bugged by the overlay scrollbar which is back in xubuntu and is one of my most hated unity features, for nautilus and synaptic at least. I hesitate to add the unity tweak tool as it wanted to download a giant list of other unity stuff. Is there any other workaround?

ToZ · 2016-05-21 20:22:20

cmcanulty wrote:

I am really bugged by the overlay scrollbar which is back in xubuntu and is one of my most hated unity features, for nautilus and synaptic at least. I hesitate to add the unity tweak tool as it wanted to download a giant list of other unity stuff. Is there any other workaround?

Add:

export GTK_OVERLAY_SCROLLING=0

..to ~/.bashrc (if you're using bash).

cmcanulty · 2016-05-21 21:33:25

Thanks, I did that. I hope xfce doesn't let more of this stuff creep in. Thank you

MountainDewManiac · 2018-09-11 04:39:06

ToZ wrote:

cmcanulty wrote:
I am really bugged by the overlay scrollbar which is back in xubuntu and is one of my most hated unity features, for nautilus and synaptic at least. I hesitate to add the unity tweak tool as it wanted to download a giant list of other unity stuff. Is there any other workaround?
Add:
export GTK_OVERLAY_SCROLLING=0
..to ~/.bashrc (if you're using bash).

I hate to revive an old thread, but wanted to ask if there is anything more required now that Xfce is partially "in GTK3 mode," and figured that someone doing a web search would end up at this thread anyway. A user (of Mint Xfce) on Mint's forum tried the above without success.

Thread is here:
https://forums.linuxmint.com/viewtopic. … 7&t=275300
if anyone would like to help directly.

Regards,
MDM

Last edited by MountainDewManiac (2018-09-11 04:39:53)

cmcanulty · 2018-09-11 12:15:45

I am still getting it in synaptic. I am running Xubuntu 18.04 64bit. It isn't listed as installed in synaptic

ToZ · 2018-09-11 16:19:50

You can test whether it has an effect on individual apps by setting the environment variable before running the app. for example:

GTK_OVERLAY_SCROLLING=0 xed

...or:

GTK_OVERLAY_SCROLLING=0 synaptic

For me, the setting still works both from the command line and from within ~/.bashrc (caveat: you must be using bash for this location to work). I can only test this on Arch right now, but will have a look later when I have access to my Xubuntu system.

mint4all · 2018-09-11 16:21:12

Greetings!

@ MDM ... Nothing wrong with reviving an old topic -- extra help is always welcome smile

@ cmcanulty ... Anyway, i looked over my LM18.3-xfce everyday-workhorse, and the "GTK_OVERLAY_SCROLLING=0" variable is set; i have no idea how it is being set: there's no ~/.bashrc on my system, and the /etc/environment file does not contain it either. So i must assume that it was set by default (originally minted to LM18-xfce beta, then upgraded to .0, .1, .2, now 18.3).

I looked around a bit more and found that this variable was not set on my LM19.0-xfce laptop, and the overlay scrollbars (fade-in/-out) are in effect in both the Mint-X & -Y themes (confirmed this with Thunar, Synaptic & LibreOffice). Then i updated /etc/environment in root mode with this variable, rebooted, and now it worked perfectly: just as described @ https://bbs.archlinux.org/viewtopic.php?id=196118 (last reply), the fading scrollbars are gone. I will now go and check my other systems and make those updates if needed.

Imho, those fading scrollbars are a PITA especially for me: i prefer to position my primary panel vertically, in deskbar mode, along the right side of my widescreen displays. So that fixes one of my usability issues, and now i can auto-hide my right-side panel(s) and get that screen space back for my apps, ie in LO-Calc. Thanks a lot!

Cheers, M4A

cmcanulty · 2018-09-11 21:48:53

ToZ I did the first command and got an error

cmcanulty@ubuntu1:~$ sudo GTK_OVERLAY_SCROLLING=0 xed
[sudo] password for cmcanulty:
sudo: xed: command not found
cmcanulty@ubuntu1:~$ GTK_OVERLAY_SCROLLING=0 synaptic

then I did the 2nd one with sudo and it seemed to work (it opened synaptic with a normal scrollbar, yea) but will it be permanent or do I have to do each time? What I don't understand as the overlay scrollbar isn't installed, I hate it, Thanks so much

Last edited by cmcanulty (2018-09-11 21:52:14)

ToZ · 2018-09-12 00:41:31

Xubuntu (18.04) has it disabled by default, and GTK_OVERLAY_SCROLLING=0 is specified in /etc/X11/Xsession.d/56-xubuntu-session. I don't currently have access to a Mint install to check.

Maybe try something similar in Mint.

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#1 2016-05-20 03:28:09

Ubuntu's overlay scrollbar remains in XFCE

#2 2016-05-20 04:10:32

Re: Ubuntu's overlay scrollbar remains in XFCE

#3 2016-05-21 16:13:53

Re: Ubuntu's overlay scrollbar remains in XFCE

#4 2016-05-21 20:22:20

Re: Ubuntu's overlay scrollbar remains in XFCE

#5 2016-05-21 21:33:25

Re: Ubuntu's overlay scrollbar remains in XFCE

#6 2018-09-11 04:39:06

Re: Ubuntu's overlay scrollbar remains in XFCE

#7 2018-09-11 12:15:45

Re: Ubuntu's overlay scrollbar remains in XFCE

#8 2018-09-11 16:19:50

Re: Ubuntu's overlay scrollbar remains in XFCE

#9 2018-09-11 16:21:12

Re: Ubuntu's overlay scrollbar remains in XFCE

#10 2018-09-11 21:48:53

Re: Ubuntu's overlay scrollbar remains in XFCE

#11 2018-09-12 00:41:31

Re: Ubuntu's overlay scrollbar remains in XFCE

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