Xfce Forum

freddec

Member

Registered: 2008-05-28

Posts: 5

[Solved] xfdesktop --reload in user crontab ? it is possible ?

Hi all
First I hope you'll anderstand me because I'm French and dont speak English very well.

I use XFCE on Debian Testing Lenny

For my desktop background I use a photo list name wallpaper.list
I would like the wallpaper auto change (all 10 minutes for example)

- When I logon, i've a new wallpaper from my list --> ok
- If I use in xterm the command xfdesktop --reload a new wallpaper is refresh from the list --> OK
- If if use the same command with the alt+F2 LaucherWindow it work fine --> OK
- I've created a button in my panel with the command xfdesktop --reload ans it works fine too on click --> OK

But
- I've tested to use in crontab  the same commands  : */10  *  *  *  *    /usr/bin/xfdesktop --reload   the commands is well execute  regarding syslog

May 28 15:00:01 frederic /USR/SBIN/CRON[5232]: (fred) CMD (/usr/bin/xfdesktop --reload )
May 28 15:10:01 frederic /USR/SBIN/CRON[5292]: (fred) CMD (/usr/bin/xfdesktop --reload )

But nothing my wallpaper doesn't change
Probably something i dont understand with this commands (xfdesktop --reload), maybe an option ?

Thank you for helping me (if possible    )

freddec

freddec

Member

Registered: 2008-05-28

Posts: 5

Re: [Solved] xfdesktop --reload in user crontab ? it is possible ?

Hi

So i've found a solution:
You must add the  DISPLAY:0,0 commands in the crontab line, like this:

*/10  *  *  *  *    DISPLAY=:0.0 /usr/bin/xfdesktop --reload

Thank's at my Friend from the French Debian User Community: ANDESI

Pindakoe

Member

From: NL

Registered: 2003-11-26

Posts: 116

Re: [Solved] xfdesktop --reload in user crontab ? it is possible ?

This did not work for me, probably because of security settings. I get an error along the lines 'cannot connect to host' (no longer have the exact text). Some googling shows others have been there before me.

freddec

Member

Registered: 2008-05-28

Posts: 5

Re: [Solved] xfdesktop --reload in user crontab ? it is possible ?

If you're using xgl instead of xorg maybe you must use DISPLAY:1.0

And/Or if you're using GDM, you must modify the file /etc/gdm/gdm.conf-custom
to give authorization to cron doing something on X
Find:

command=/usr/bin/X -br -audit 0

that become

command=/usr/bin/X -ac -br -audit 0

See there (in french)

carbonfreeze

Member

Registered: 2008-06-18

Posts: 1

Re: [Solved] xfdesktop --reload in user crontab ? it is possible ?

You can also try what is suggested here:

http://rubylution.ping.de/articles/2007 … r-in-xfce4

Incase the link ever goes down, you can use

killall -USR1 xfdesktop

to cause the image to be changed.

timosa

Member

Registered: 2010-10-28

Posts: 1

Re: [Solved] xfdesktop --reload in user crontab ? it is possible ?

For your record, USR1 signal didn't work for me, but USR2 did the job.

killall -USR2 xfdesktop

jeromeg

Member

From: France

Registered: 2010-11-11

Posts: 131

Website

Re: [Solved] xfdesktop --reload in user crontab ? it is possible ?

Hello,

This killall hack is only needed if you don't have upgraded to Xfce 4.6.2, there was a bug with --reload which was fixed in this stable upgrade.

Cheers,

Jérôme