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LXDM Configuration (view source)

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= Overview =
= Overview =
   
   
With the exception of the NET-edition, Manjaro 0.8.1 onwards uses a lightweight display / login manager called ''LXDM'' by default for the XFCE flavour. LXDM is responsible for providing the login screen, where your preferred language, keyboard layout, and desktop environment may be selected for your personal user account(s). It also functions as a protective security barrier to prevent unauthorised access to your system. However, some users may prefer to bypass the login screen to boot straight into their desktop environment without entering a password.  
With the exception of the NET-edition, Manjaro 0.8.1 onwards uses a lightweight display / login manager called ''LXDM'' by default for the XFCE flavour. LXDM is responsible for providing the login screen, where your preferred language and desktop environment may be selected for your personal user account(s). It also functions as a protective security barrier to prevent unauthorised access to your system.
 
'''At present theming has not been covered in this guide due to a lack of available themes for LXDM'''. However, other aspects of LXDM can still be easily customised to suit personal taste and preference, including the ability to enable auto-login, change the background image, remove the language menu, and disable the user list. To undertake any or all of these tasks, it will be necessary to first open the ''LXDM configuration file'' (lxdm.conf) using the terminal.




== Open the LXDM Configuration File ==
== Open the LXDM Configuration File ==


To enable this, you must first open up your terminal in order to open and then manually edit the LXDM configuration file. The syntax of the command to edit the LXDM configuration file is:
The syntax of the command to open the LXDM configuration file is:
   
   
  sudo [text editor] /etc/lxdm/lxdm.conf
  sudo [text editor] /etc/lxdm/lxdm.conf


 
For example, if you wish to edit the file within the terminal using nano (a standard terminal-based text editor) then enter:
To use ''nano'' (the default text-based terminal editor) enter the command:
   
   
  sudo nano /etc/lxdm/lxdm.conf
  sudo nano /etc/lxdm/lxdm.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, enter:
Otherwise, you may find it easier to read and edit the file by using ''gedit'', which will open the configuration file as if it were a document. To use gedit instead, enter the command:
   
   
  sudo gedit /etc/lxdm/lxdm.conf
  sudo gedit /etc/lxdm/lxdm.conf




== Set the User ==
=Enabling Auto-Login=
 
Having opened the configuration file, the first step is to set your personal account to be automatically logged in. To do this, under the heading '''## uncomment and set autologin username to enable autologin''':
{{note|Auto-login will only work upon booting up into Manjaro. Otherwise, upon logging out, it will still be necessary to enter your username and password credentials to get back into your desktop environment.}}
 
It is possible to bypass the login screen completely and go straight into your chosen desktop environment upon booting up Manjaro. To do so, two basic steps are required: first, it will be necessary to set the user account to be automatically logged into, and second, it will then be necessary to state the particular desktop environment to be started.
 
 
==Step 1: Set the User==
 
The first step is to set your personal account to be automatically logged in. This is undertaken in the following section, located at the top of the LXDM configuration file:
 
[base]
## uncomment and set autologin username to enable autologin
# <font color ="green">'''autologin=dgod'''</font color>
 


'''1.''' remove the hash ('#') from the beginning of '''autologin='''
'''1.''' remove the hash ('#') from the beginning of '''autologin=''' to activate it


'''2.''' remove any text after '''autologin=''' (e.g. dgod)
'''2.''' remove any text after '''autologin=''' (e.g. dgod)
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Ensure that there are no spaces between the autologin= command and the name of your personal user account. Once complete, the second and final step of setting the default desktop environment to be automatically started must be undertaken.
Ensure that there are no spaces between the '''autologin=''' command and the name of your personal user account. Once complete, the second and final step of setting the default desktop environment to be automatically started must be undertaken.
 
 
==Step 2: Set the Desktop Environment==
 
It is necessary to ensure what desktop environment is to be booted into, particularly if having installed the NET-edition of Manjaro, and/or if having installed multiple desktop environments. This is set in the following section, located near the top of the configuration file:


## default session or desktop used when no systemwide config
<font color ="green">'''session=/usr/bin/startxfce4'''</font color>


== Set the Desktop Environment ==
It is necessary to explicitly state which desktop environment is to be booted into, even if only one is installed on your system. To do this, under the heading '''## default session or desktop used when no systemwide config''':


'''1.''' remove the hash ('#') from the beginning of '''session='''
In this example, the default desktop environment has already been set to XFCE as this was the Manjaro falvour installed. If you have installed a different flavour (e.g. Gnome/Cinnamon or KDE), then the session listed will be different. Where there is not a hash ('#') at the beginning of '''session=''' (meaning this command won't be ignored), and the desired desktop environment has been listed, then you may save your changes and close the configuration file by:
 
* '''nano''': Press CTRL and 'x' to exit, 'y' to save, and <enter> to finish, or
* '''gedit''': Select the 'save' option and then close the window.
 
 
Otherwise, to set the desired desktop environment:
 
'''1.''' If present, remove the hash ('#') at the beginning of '''session='''


'''2.''' remove 'lxdm' from '''session=/usr/bin/<font color ="red">lxdm'''</font color>, and
'''2.''' Remove the existing desktop environment listed (or any other text such as 'lxdm') from '''session=/usr/bin/<font color ="red">[text to be removed]</font color>''', and


'''3.''' add the command to start your chosen / installed desktop envrionment at the end of it
'''3.''' Add the command to start your chosen / installed desktop envrionment at the end of '''session=/usr/bin/'''. An example for every officially supported desktop environment has been listed below:




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  ## default session or desktop used when no systemwide config
  ## default session or desktop used when no systemwide config
  session=/usr/bin/<font color ="green">xfce4-session</font color>
  session=/usr/bin/<font color ="green">startxfce4</font color>




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Once your amendments have been completed save your changes and close the configuration by:
Once your amendments have been completed, you can save your changes and close the configuration file by:
 
* '''nano''': Press CTRL and 'x' to exit, 'y' to save, and <enter> to finish, or
* '''gedit''': Select the 'save' option and then close the window.
 
Reboot your system for the changes to take effect.
 
 
==Optional: Enable Timeout Auto-Login==


*'''nano''': Press CTRL and 'x' to exit, 'y' to save, and <enter> to finish, or
{{note|The basic auto-login feature itself must also be enabled to enable this feature in turn. In addition, this feature also only works upon first booting up into Manjaro.}}
*'''gedit''': Select the 'save' option and then close the window.
 
In addition to bypassing the login screen completely, it is also possible to be automatically logged in after waiting a certain period of time as well. In this instance, after booting into the login screen, it will wait for a set period of time before automatically logging you in. This is set in the following section, located near the top of the configuration file:
 
## uncomment and set timeout to enable timeout autologin,
## the value should >=5
#<font color ="green">'''timeout=10'''</font color>
 
 
'''1.''' Remove the hash ('#') from the beginning of '''timeout=''' to activate it, and
 
'''2.''' Set the number of '''seconds''' to wait at the login screen, if different from the default value of 10. As stated above the command, the number of seconds specified must be no less than 5.
 
 
As an example, LXDM has been configured below to enable timeout auto login after waiting 30 seconds:
 
## uncomment and set timeout to enable timeout autologin,
## the value should >=5
<font color ="green">'''timeout=30'''</font color>
 
 
Once your amendments have been completed, you can save your changes and close the configuration file by:


* '''nano''': Press CTRL and 'x' to exit, 'y' to save, and <enter> to finish, or
* '''gedit''': Select the 'save' option and then close the window.


Reboot your system for the changes to take effect.
Reboot your system for the changes to take effect.




= Restore the Login Screen =
== Disable Auto-Login ==


To restore the login screen, edit the LXDM configuration file once again and comment out the lines beginning with '''autologin=''' and '''session='''. An example has provided below.
To restore the login screen, edit the LXDM configuration file once again and comment out the lines beginning with '''autologin=''' and '''session='''. An example has provided below.
Line 118: Line 172:




Reboot your system for the changes to take effect.
=Changing The Background Image==
 
{{tip|As illustrated below, using the File Manager can make this task much simplier and easier, particularly for new users. Please note that Linux is also case-sensitive so ensure that upper and lower case letters are used correctly.}}
 
 
Once your chosen desktop environmet has been downloaded (e.g. a ''.png'' or ''.jpg'' image file), it can be set in the following section, located near the top of the configuration file:
 
## background of the greeter
# <font color ="green">'''bg=/usr/share/backgrounds/default.png'''</font color>
 
 
As illustrated, it will be necessary to specify the exact location of the background image to use. Although it is possible to copy the new background images to the existing '''backgrounds''' folder using Root privilages, in this instance a new folder location will be specified:
 
[[file:newpathway.png|thumb|left|375px]]
 
'''1.''' Open your file manager and locate the folder containing the desired background image. The full location should then be listed in the address bar (e.g. in this instance it is ''/home/carl/Pictures'')
 
'''2.''' Remove the hash ('#') from the beginning of '''bg=''' to activate it
 
'''3.''' Remove the existing location and image file specified after the '''bg=''' command (e.g. bg=<font color ="red">/usr/share/backgrounds/default.png</font color>
 
'''3.''' Enter the new location of the image to use after the '''bg=''' command - by either manually typing it in or copying and pasting it from the address bar of the file manager - and ensure that it ends with a forwards slash (e.g. ''/home/carl/Pictures/'').
 
'''4.''' After the forwards slash, enter the full name of the image you wish to use, including the file type extension (e.g. ''/home/carl/Pictures/abstractgreen.jpg'').
<br clear="all" />
 
As an example, the author has activated the ability to set backgrounds, and used a background image (''abstractgreen.jpg'') located in their ''Pictures'' folder. Again, note the correct used of capitalisation where required (e.g. <u>P</u>ictures):
 
## background of the greeter
<font color ="green">'''bg=/home/carl/Pictures/abstractgreen.jpg'''</font color>
 
Once your amendments have been completed, you can save your changes and close the configuration file by:
 
* '''nano''': Press CTRL and 'x' to exit, 'y' to save, and <enter> to finish, or
* '''gedit''': Select the 'save' option and then close the window.
 
The change will be immediate, and may be viewed by simply logging out.
 
 
=Remove Language Menu from Bar =
 
By default the drop-down Language Menu is located in the top bar. As this may serve no purpose for many users it can easily be removed. Doing so may also improve the appearance of the login screen by consequently providing a cleaner, less cluttered appearance. This is undertaken in the following section, located at the bottom of the LXDM configuration file:
 
## if show language select control
<font color ="green">'''lang=1'''</font color>
 
 
All that is required to replace the '1' after the '''lang=''' command with a '0':
 
## if show language select control
<font color ="green">'''lang=0'''</font color>
 
 
Once your amendments have been completed, you can save your changes and close the configuration file by:
 
* '''nano''': Press CTRL and 'x' to exit, 'y' to save, and <enter> to finish, or
* '''gedit''': Select the 'save' option and then close the window.
 
The change will be immediate, and may be viewed by simply logging out.
 
 
=Disable User List=
 
By default, available username(s) will already be listed for selection on the login screen. For added security - and (at least for some users) to improve the appearance of the login screen - this feature can be disabled. In this instance, it will consequently be necessary to manually enter both the username and password to log on. This is undertaken in the following section, located at the bottom of the LXDM configuration file:
 
## if disable the user list control at greeter
<font color ="green">'''disable=0'''</font color>
 
All that is required to replace the '0' after the '''disable=''' command with a '1':
 
## if disable the user list control at greeter
<font color ="green">'''disable=1'''</font color>
 
 
Once your amendments have been completed, you can save your changes and close the configuration file by:
 
* '''nano''': Press CTRL and 'x' to exit, 'y' to save, and <enter> to finish, or
* '''gedit''': Select the 'save' option and then close the window.
 




[[Category:Customisation and Configuration]]
[[Category:Customisation and Configuration]]
[[Category:Contents Page]]
[[Category:Contents Page]]
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