Difference between revisions of "SLiM Configuration"

SLiM Configuration (view source)

Revision as of 18:19, 13 November 2013

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 =Overview=
-{{tip|Since version 1.6.2, SLiM will automatically find installed desktop environents and window managers.}}
+{{tip|Since version 1.6.2, SLiM will automatically find installed desktop environments and window managers.}}
 [[File:slim.png|thumb|left|375px]]
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 SLiM - the '''S'''imple '''L'''og'''i'''n '''M'''anager - is currently the default Display Manager for the Manjaro Openbox (ManjaroBox) flavour.
-SLiM is highly configurable with an abundance of extra themes available, and since version 1.6.2, is suitable for less experienced users as it can now automatically detect any installed desktop environments and window managers. However, users installing SLiM manually will still need to make an amendment to the '''.xinitrc'' configuration file for it to work properly.
+SLiM is highly configurable with an abundance of extra themes available. Since version 1.6.2, it is suitable for less experienced users as it can now automatically detect any installed desktop environments and window managers. However, users installing SLiM manually will still need to make an amendment to the '''.xinitrc'' configuration file for it to work properly.
+<br clear="all" />
 = Configuring SLiM to Start Desktop Environments =
-{{tip|Don't worry if it transpires that SLiM has been mis-configured in some way, and it is not consequently possible to actually get past the login screen. There are a list of commands below that can be used in SLiM, including returning to the command line or launching a terminal.}}
+{{tip|It is not necessary to take any action for Manjaro Openbox (ManjaroBox) release 0.8.8 and onwards.}}
-Once SLiM has been '''[[Install_Display_Managers#SLiM|installed and enabled]]''', it will be necessary to manually edit both the ''SLiM configuration file'' and the ''X-Windows initialisation file'' in order to actually start your installed desktop environment(s). '''If these files are not edited - or not edited properly - then it is likely that you will not be able to proceed any further than the login screen itself.'''
+'''Users who have installed an earlier version of SLiM''' (e.g. provided with Manjaro Openbox 0.8.7.1 and earlier) will need to manually edit both the ''SLiM configuration file'' (slim.conf) and the ''X-Windows initialisation file'' (.xinitrc) in order to enable the new auto-detect feature. '''Users who have manually installed the latest version of SLiM''' will only need to manually edit the '''.xinitrc''' file. The amendments required are themselves very quick and easy to implement.
-==Open the SLiM Configuration File==
+==Edit the SLiM Configuration File==
-The purpose of editing this file is to add the name(s) of your installed desktop environment(s). SLiM will then pass these name(s) to the X-Windows initialisation file (.xinitrc), which in turn will actually start your desired desktop environment(s). You will need to first open your terminal in order to edit the '''SLiM configuration file'''. The syntax of the command to do this is:
+The purpose of checking and/or editing this file is to ensure that SLiM will automatically detect installed desktop environments and window managers. You will need to first open your terminal in order to edit the '''SLiM configuration file'''. The syntax of the command to do this is:
   sudo [text editor] /etc/slim.conf
-For example, if you wish to edit the file within the terminal using nano (a standard terminal-based text editor) then enter:
+For example, if you wish to edit the file using Geany (provided with the Openbox flavour) then enter:
-  sudo nano /etc/slim.conf
+  gksu geany /etc/slim.conf
-Otherwise - if you have installed the full version of Manjaro (i.e. not the NET-Edition) - you may find it easier to use the pre-installed ''gedit'' text editor instead. This will open the configuration file up as a document, making it easier to read and edit. To use gedit instead, the command is:
+Otherwise, if you wish to edit the file using Gedit (provided with the XFCE flavour) then enter:
   sudo gedit /etc/slim.conf
-==Add Desktop Environments to the SLiM Configuration File==
-Once the SLiM configuration file has been opened, it will be necessary to add the name(s) of your installed desktop(s) in order to:
+==Ensure SLiM Automatically Detects Installed Environments==
-* display the name(s) of your desktop(s) on the login screen - which is helpful if you want to know which one you are switching to, and
+Once the SLiM configuration file has been opened, it will be necessary to ensure that the following line is present:
-* to tell the .xinitrc file which desktop it is to start
+ sessiondir /usr/share/xsessions/
-This is undertaken in the '''# Available Sessions''' section, located towards the middle of the file. In the example below, all the available desktops have been added. The text itself has been '''<font color="green">colured in green</font color>''' for illustrative purposes.
+'''Users who had a previous version of SLiM installed''' must replace the '''sessions''' command with the above '''sessiondir''' command. For example, '''users who installed Manjaro Openbox 0.8.7.1 or earlier''' should first find the following section:
   '''# Available sessions (first one is the default).'''
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-As illustrated, if two or more desktops are listed, they must be seperated with a comma (''','''). In addition, as stated, the first desktop listed will be the default. This means that if you do not choose which desktop you want on the login screen, the name of the default one will be automatically sent to the .xinitrc file. '''You do not have to add all of the desktops listed in the above illustration.'''
+And make the necessary amendment so that it now looks like this:
+ '''# Available sessions (first one is the default).'''
-Once your amendments have been completed, save your changes and close the configuration file by:
+ # The current chosen session name is replaced in the login_cmd
+ # above, so your login command can handle different sessions.
-* '''nano''': Press CTRL and 'x' to exit, 'y' to save, and <enter> to finish, or
+ # see the xinitrc.sample file shipped with slim sources
-* '''gedit''': Select the 'save' option and then close the window.
+ '''<font color="green">sessiondir /usr/share/xsessions/</font color>'''
-The next - and final - step necessary is to edit and configure the '''X-Windows Initialisation File'''.
+Once satisfied that the ''sessiondir'' command is present and/or has replaced the old ''sessions'' command, save and close the file. The next - and final - step necessary is to edit and configure the '''X-Windows Initialisation File'''.