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#1 2012-02-26 13:45:21

ccc
Member
Registered: 2011-02-03
Posts: 27

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

Hi

I've installed conky on debian wheezy with XFCE 4.8 and conky is running with a black box, there is NO TRANSPARENCY.
This is really strange and I didn't have this problem on squeeze or wheezy with Gnome and I'm using the same config file:

own_window yes
own_window_transparent yes
own_window_type normal
own_window_hints undecorate,sticky,skip_taskbar,skip_pager,below

Even if I try:

own_window_class Conky
own_window_argb_visual yes
own_window yes
own_window_transparent yes
own_window_type override
own_window_hints undecorate,sticky,skip_taskbar,skip_pager,below

or

own_window_argb_visual no

doesn't help!


BTW I cannot use:

own_window_type desktop

because the desktop icons and panel disapear.

Last edited by ccc (2012-02-29 02:30:29)

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#2 2012-02-26 15:33:16

angstrom
Member
Registered: 2011-08-13
Posts: 267

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

I encountered this problem: first,I don't use any composing. There is some kind of conflict between conky 1.8.1 with xfdesktop version > 4.8.1. So I installed xfdesktop-4.8.1 and lock this version. Make sure you don't have : export XLIB_SKIP_ARGB_VISUALS=1 somewhere.

Here is my .conkyrc:

falignment br
background no
update_interval 5
default_color c7c7c7
draw_outline no
format_human_readable yes

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

Last edited by angstrom (2012-02-26 15:33:34)


Xfce is NOT Xubuntu. Bugs in Xubuntu don't mean that Xfce is buggy ...

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#3 2012-02-26 16:07:33

ccc
Member
Registered: 2011-02-03
Posts: 27

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

I have tried your config file and still doesn't work.
BTW where can I find export XLIB_SKIP_ARGB_VISUALS=1 ?

My conky and XFCE version:

# dpkg -l | grep conky
ii  conky                                1.8.1-6                        highly configurable system monitor (transitional package)
ii  conky-std                            1.8.1-6                        highly configurable system monitor (default 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

It seems to be XFCE 4.8 issue and not conky problem, because the same conky config file works well on XFCE 4.6 or on Gnome2 and Gnome3.

Last edited by ccc (2012-02-26 16:16:37)

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#4 2012-02-26 16:34:03

secipolla
Member
Registered: 2012-01-15
Posts: 393

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

Probably I'm missing something here, but I use Debian sid and conky background is transparent with or without compositing enabled: http://en.zimagez.com/zimage/screenshot … 171950.php
~/.conkyrc:

# Conky, a system monitor, based on torsmo
#
# Any original torsmo code is licensed under the BSD license
#
# All code written since the fork of torsmo is licensed under the GPL
#
# Please see COPYING for details
#
# Copyright (c) 2004, Hannu Saransaari and Lauri Hakkarainen
# Copyright (c) 2005-2010 Brenden Matthews, Philip Kovacs, et. al. (see AUTHORS)
# All rights reserved.
#
# This program is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify
# it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by
# the Free Software Foundation, either version 3 of the License, or
# (at your option) any later version.
#
# This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
# but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
# MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the
# GNU General Public License for more details.
# You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License
# along with this program.  If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
#

alignment top_right
background no
border_width 1
color0 607991
color1 7FA4C7
cpu_avg_samples 2
default_bar_size 0 5
default_color B4D1ED
default_outline_color white
default_shade_color white
double_buffer yes
draw_borders no
draw_graph_borders yes
draw_outline no
draw_shades no
extra_newline no
gap_x 25
gap_y 60
minimum_size 5 5
net_avg_samples 2
no_buffers yes
out_to_console no
out_to_stderr no
own_window yes
own_window_class Conky
own_window_transparent yes
own_window_type desktop
show_graph_range no
show_graph_scale no
stippled_borders 0
update_interval 1.0
uppercase no
use_spacer left
use_xft yes
xftfont Trebuchet MS:size=12

TEXT
Frequency: $alignr${freq}MHz
${color0}$stippled_hr
${color}CPU: $alignr$cpu%
${color1}${cpubar}
${color}RAM: $mem/$memmax $alignr$memperc%
${color1}${membar}
${color}Swap: $swap/$swapmax $alignr$swapperc%
${color1}${swapbar}
${color0}$stippled_hr
${color}File systems:
/ ${fs_used /}/${fs_size /} $alignr${fs_used_perc /}%
${color1}${fs_bar /}
${color}/home ${fs_used /home}/${fs_size /home} $alignr${fs_used_perc /home}%
${color1}${fs_bar /home}
${color0}$stippled_hr
${color}Networking:
Up: ${upspeed eth0} $alignr Down: ${downspeed eth0}
${color0}$stippled_hr
${color}Temperatures (°C):
CPU: ${platform it87.656 temp 2}$alignr GPU: ${nvidia temp}

Fans (RPM):
CPU: ${platform it87.656 fan 2}$alignr MoBo: ${platform it87.656 fan 1}
#${color}Volume: $alignr${execi 3 pvol}%
#${color1}${execibar 3 pvol}
#${color}Volume: $alignr${mixer}%
#${color1}$mixerbar

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#5 2012-02-26 17:57:16

ccc
Member
Registered: 2011-02-03
Posts: 27

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

secipolla wrote:

Probably I'm missing something here, but I use Debian sid and conky background is transparent with or without compositing enabled: http://en.zimagez.com/zimage/screenshot … 171950.php
~/.conkyrc:

how I already said:

own_window_type desktop

doesn't work on my system.

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#6 2012-02-26 18:36:15

secipolla
Member
Registered: 2012-01-15
Posts: 393

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

You said that 'own_window_type normal' didn't work.
How do you set up your wallpaper? Do you use something other than the desktop preferences?
Also you can backup your conkyrc, then use only the settings from my file just to make sure you don't have anything interfering.
If it works (as it should), then you start copying back your own settings until you find what's braking it (I think specially 'own_window_argb*' doesn't work in this case).

Last edited by secipolla (2012-02-26 18:36:48)

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#7 2012-02-26 20:38:32

ccc
Member
Registered: 2011-02-03
Posts: 27

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

secipolla wrote:

You said that 'own_window_type normal' didn't work.
How do you set up your wallpaper? Do you use something other than the desktop preferences?
Also you can backup your conkyrc, then use only the settings from my file just to make sure you don't have anything interfering.
If it works (as it should), then you start copying back your own settings until you find what's braking it (I think specially 'own_window_argb*' doesn't work in this case).

Really sorry, I mean "own_window_type desktop" doesn't work and I've corrected my first posting.
I'm using  default XFCE desktop with some additional desktop launchers.
I've tried your config, but must change "own_window_type desktop" to "own_window_type normal", otherwise it doesn't work (empty -> nothing displayed), but with "own_window_type normal" or "own_window_type override" I still get a black box.

Last edited by ccc (2012-02-26 21:31:23)

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#8 2012-02-28 16:43:11

angstrom
Member
Registered: 2011-08-13
Posts: 267

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

Hi,

I tested the configuratin of secipolla.

With xfdesktop ver 4.8.1
- with own_window_type desktop : transparent ok. But as soon as I click-drag (selection) on the desktop, the conky disapear (but still running)
- with own_window_type normal : transparent ok. Windows movable. Appear only on current desktop (as expected)
- with own_window_type override : transparent ok. Don't disappear when I select on desktop. Show on all desktop. No flickering

With xfdesktop ver 4.8.3
- I have the same than above, except the transparency don't work : it take as background the wallpaper of login manager instead of xfdesktop one. (And get black background if I use autologin).
- Here the screenshot of : xfdesktop 4.8.3, own_window_type override : http://img822.imageshack.us/img822/8818/snapg.png
snapg.png

Conclusion : install xfdesktop 4.8.1

If someone can confirm this behavior, we can file a bug.

Last edited by angstrom (2012-02-28 17:10:19)


Xfce is NOT Xubuntu. Bugs in Xubuntu don't mean that Xfce is buggy ...

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#9 2012-02-28 16:55:08

secipolla
Member
Registered: 2012-01-15
Posts: 393

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

Mine is 4.8.3
* edit: yes, I confirm that click&drag on the desktop makes conky disappear.
I didn't notice this as I don't leave conky running, and only display/hide when I want to peek on its info.

Notice regarding imageshack: they don't let people see the full image anymore (right-click>see image) unless cookies are enabled, so it's useful to post also the direct link.

Last edited by secipolla (2012-02-28 17:01:11)

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#10 2012-02-28 17:20:34

angstrom
Member
Registered: 2011-08-13
Posts: 267

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

I created an empty account and still have this transparency problem with xfdesktop 4.8.3 ....
I think also that must not be xfdesktop bug. It's kind of who puts the wallpaper first, between xfdesktop and the login manager (mine is kdm 4.7.2) then conky use the wallpaper for his transparency.
But how determine who fault here ?


Xfce is NOT Xubuntu. Bugs in Xubuntu don't mean that Xfce is buggy ...

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#11 2012-02-28 21:38:52

ToZ
Administrator
From: Canada
Registered: 2011-06-02
Posts: 10,948

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

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

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#12 2012-02-29 02:25:35

ccc
Member
Registered: 2011-02-03
Posts: 27

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

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

Last edited by ccc (2012-02-29 02:26:54)

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#13 2012-02-29 07:33:10

Nick
Dev
From: ~
Registered: 2005-02-17
Posts: 1,144
Website

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

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.

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#14 2012-03-06 00:47:48

ccc
Member
Registered: 2011-02-03
Posts: 27

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

Has anyone a solution?

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#15 2012-03-21 02:33:49

gekk0
Member
From: Rome, Italy
Registered: 2012-03-21
Posts: 6

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

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

21dequc.png

Bye

Last edited by gekk0 (2012-03-21 02:41:59)


XFCE on Debian Testing

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#16 2012-03-28 15:24:09

Fock
Member
Registered: 2012-03-28
Posts: 2

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

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.

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#17 2012-04-05 10:02:21

lenod
Member
Registered: 2012-04-05
Posts: 1

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

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`

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#18 2012-04-25 17:32:41

secipolla
Member
Registered: 2012-01-15
Posts: 393

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

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).

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#19 2012-05-31 23:31:36

ccc
Member
Registered: 2011-02-03
Posts: 27

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

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

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#20 2012-06-01 10:33:21

Keith Hedger
Member
From: Torrington,Devon,UK
Registered: 2012-04-01
Posts: 46
Website

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

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

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#21 2012-09-19 23:15:48

ccc
Member
Registered: 2011-02-03
Posts: 27

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

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

Last edited by ccc (2012-09-20 00:36:38)

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#22 2012-09-19 23:31:40

angstrom
Member
Registered: 2011-08-13
Posts: 267

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

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

Xfce is NOT Xubuntu. Bugs in Xubuntu don't mean that Xfce is buggy ...

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#23 2012-09-25 21:31:27

ccc
Member
Registered: 2011-02-03
Posts: 27

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

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...

debian wheezy conky

Last edited by ccc (2012-09-25 21:56:25)

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#24 2013-04-02 17:32:53

sakamoto
Member
Registered: 2012-09-03
Posts: 3

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

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?

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#25 2013-05-10 10:31:07

tuxshake
Member
Registered: 2013-05-10
Posts: 1

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

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`

Last edited by tuxshake (2013-05-10 10:36:23)

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