Xfce 4.12, dual monitors, no mirror display option

wtagg · 2015-09-03 16:16:47

Hello,

I love Xfce and have been happily using it for the last 15 months in Xubuntu 14.04. About three weeks ago, I upgraded to Xubuntu 15.04 (Xrce 4.12) and I'm having difficulty getting my displays configured as desired. I would really appreciate help troubleshooting my problem; I'm keen to learn more about how Xfce works.

What I'm using:

- Xfce 4.12
- Xubuntu 15.04
- Lenovo T450s (max resolution 1920 x 1080)
- Apple 27" monitor (mini-displayport; max resolution 2560 x 1440)
- Displays set to "configure new displays when connected"

Here's what's happening:

- When I start up my laptop with the external monitor plugged in via mini-displayport, I get a light-grey scren on both my laptop and external monitors with an arrow that I am able to move with my mouse--it appears to be mirroring the image on both displays.
- However, the light-grey screen never changes, even after ~5 minutes.
- I've tried Return, Ctrl-Alt-Delet, Ctrl-Alt-Backspace and other key combinations but nothing changes.
- As soon as I unplug the mini-displayport connecting my laptop to the external monitor, I see the Xfce login screen and am able to login without problems.
- After logging in, I have tried connecting the mini-displayport again and I get Xfce display settings with options for extending the monitor, using the laptop monitor, and using the external monitor but "mirror displays" is greyed out. Once I choose the external monitor, I'm able to use the native laptop monitor by selecting the option to "use this display". However, I'm only able to use it under the "extended desktop" configuration. "Mirror displays" is greyed out on the Advanced Display Preferences as well.

Here's what I would like to be able to do:

- At startup, with the external monitor plugged in to my laptop via mini-displayport, I would like to have both monitors set to display with a mirrored image. If this weren't possible before login, then I'd like to have both monitors set to mirror displays after login.

I'm having difficulty making much progress in my troubleshooting. What I've read suggests that 4.10 and above already support multiple monitors, including mirroring. I haven't found much information about what can be done in xfce without using xrandr, a step that I don't want to take until I understand what might be governing the display preferences. I'd really apppreciate advice about what xfce4 settings might be in effect and how I can access them.

Thanks,

Will

Jerry3904 · 2015-09-03 17:12:39

To start off with basics, have you looked at this Help page?

http://docs.xfce.org/xfce/xfce4-settings/display

wtagg · 2015-09-03 18:17:03

@Jerry3904,

Thanks for your reply! Yes, I have seen that page. One of the things I'm trying to accomplish is enabling the "Mirror displays" setting (shown in Figure 1.2). It's greyed out for me and I'm unable to select it. This wasn't the case for me with Xubuntu 14.04 which was using Xfce 4.10 (I think).

Do you have any troubleshooting suggestions for that issue?

Jerry3904 · 2015-09-03 18:26:24

It's not grayed out for me with a laptop and a desktop monitor, though the setup is sometime a bit quirky. What is the output of

cat ~/.config/xfce4/xfconf/xfce-perchannel-xml/displays.xml

In asking that, I am just wondering if you can manually change the values--but am no expert in this stuff!

wtagg · 2015-09-03 18:47:29

Here's what I get:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>

<channel name="displays" version="1.0">
  <property name="Default" type="empty">
    <property name="DP1" type="string" value="2. Apple 27&quot;">
      <property name="Active" type="bool" value="true"/>
      <property name="Resolution" type="string" value="2560x1440"/>
      <property name="RefreshRate" type="double" value="59.950550"/>
      <property name="Rotation" type="int" value="0"/>
      <property name="Reflection" type="string" value="0"/>
      <property name="Primary" type="bool" value="true"/>
      <property name="Position" type="empty">
        <property name="X" type="int" value="0"/>
        <property name="Y" type="int" value="0"/>
      </property>
    </property>
    <property name="eDP1" type="string" value="1. AU Optronics 14&quot;">
      <property name="Active" type="bool" value="true"/>
      <property name="Resolution" type="string" value="1920x1080"/>
      <property name="RefreshRate" type="double" value="60.049471"/>
      <property name="Rotation" type="int" value="0"/>
      <property name="Reflection" type="string" value="0"/>
      <property name="Primary" type="bool" value="false"/>
      <property name="Position" type="empty">
        <property name="X" type="int" value="2560"/>
        <property name="Y" type="int" value="0"/>
      </property>
    </property>
  </property>
  <property name="Notify" type="bool" value="false"/>
</channel>

I don't see anything for "Mirror displays" but perhaps that setting would only show up in the xml output if it was already toggled? I'm just guessing though.

Jerry3904 · 2015-09-03 19:33:19

I wanted to compare it to my laptop, which is mirroring correctly. But I see no differences besides those for the two screens.

So we will have to wait for someone more knowledgeable to come along...

ToZ · 2015-09-03 20:10:27

When I start up my laptop with the external monitor plugged in via mini-displayport, I get a light-grey scren on both my laptop and external monitors with an arrow that I am able to move with my mouse--it appears to be mirroring the image on both displays.
- However, the light-grey screen never changes, even after ~5 minutes.
- I've tried Return, Ctrl-Alt-Delet, Ctrl-Alt-Backspace and other key combinations but nothing changes.

Since Xubuntu uses lightdm, this might be a lightdm issue (Xfce hasn't yet started at this point).

- After logging in, I have tried connecting the mini-displayport again and I get Xfce display settings with options for extending the monitor, using the laptop monitor, and using the external monitor but "mirror displays" is greyed out.

I see this too, but I have a script that I fire off that sets up my monitors when I am in a multi-monitor setup. Also, this bug report is about the same issue. Feel free to add your comments to it.

wtagg · 2015-09-03 20:31:44

@Toz

This is helpful information. I'll investigate how lightdm might be playing a role just after startup and before login.

I'll investigate the bug report too and see if I can offer anything constructive.

Your mention of script is intriguing, would you be willing to share it?

ToZ · 2015-09-03 20:38:13

wtagg wrote:

Your mention of script is intriguing, would you be willing to share it?

Nothing earth-shattering. Its basically xrandr and I don't clone, I extend:

xrandr --output DP2 --auto --right-of LVDS1

...plus I run an rdesktop session on the external monitor.

When I connect to my dock, the display settings minimal button shows up with the clone button disabled (I spent some time fiddling with it, but I don't need the clone option). I dismiss the window and click on a launcher that does the above for me.

netllama · 2015-11-06 20:25:54

Has anyone found any solutions for the inability to setup a mirrored configuration? I just upgraded to 4.12 and I'm also hitting this bug.

ToZ · 2015-11-07 03:14:20

netllama wrote:

Has anyone found any solutions for the inability to setup a mirrored configuration? I just upgraded to 4.12 and I'm also hitting this bug.

It is a bug that has not yet been fixed. In the meantime, does something like the following work:

xrandr --output HDMI-0 --auto --same-as DVI-I-1

Naturally, you'll need to change the information to work with your setup.

netllama · 2015-11-09 15:41:29

Yes, that did work, thanks!

Do you know if there is an XFCE way to invoke that command automatically, so that I don' have to run it manually every time I log into XFCE?

ToZ · 2015-11-09 15:52:40

Add it to your autostart applications list (Settings Manager > Session and Startup > Application Autostart).

netllama · 2015-11-09 15:54:20

Thanks, I'll give that a try.

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#1 2015-09-03 16:16:47

Xfce 4.12, dual monitors, no mirror display option

#2 2015-09-03 17:12:39

Re: Xfce 4.12, dual monitors, no mirror display option

#3 2015-09-03 18:17:03

Re: Xfce 4.12, dual monitors, no mirror display option

#4 2015-09-03 18:26:24

Re: Xfce 4.12, dual monitors, no mirror display option

#5 2015-09-03 18:47:29

Re: Xfce 4.12, dual monitors, no mirror display option

#6 2015-09-03 19:33:19

Re: Xfce 4.12, dual monitors, no mirror display option

#7 2015-09-03 20:10:27

Re: Xfce 4.12, dual monitors, no mirror display option

#8 2015-09-03 20:31:44

Re: Xfce 4.12, dual monitors, no mirror display option

#9 2015-09-03 20:38:13

Re: Xfce 4.12, dual monitors, no mirror display option

#10 2015-11-06 20:25:54

Re: Xfce 4.12, dual monitors, no mirror display option

#11 2015-11-07 03:14:20

Re: Xfce 4.12, dual monitors, no mirror display option

#12 2015-11-09 15:41:29

Re: Xfce 4.12, dual monitors, no mirror display option

#13 2015-11-09 15:52:40

Re: Xfce 4.12, dual monitors, no mirror display option

#14 2015-11-09 15:54:20

Re: Xfce 4.12, dual monitors, no mirror display option

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