imported>Oguzkagan |
imported>Verityproductions |
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| = Overview = | | = Overview = |
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| [[file:Lxdm-login.png|thumb|left|454px]]
| | There are several desktop environments available for Manjaro, each with their own unique style, interface, and features. Which you may choose is entirely down to personal preference. However, it is possible to install multiple desktop environments if you wish, which can be selected at the logon screen at any time. |
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| | It is worth noting that a desktop environment is not a single application; it is actually a collection of different components that work together, commonly including a: |
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| {{note|More customization options are available if choosing to manually edit the LXDM configuration file.}}
| | * '''windows manager''' to display, move and resize application windows |
| | * '''file manager''' to visually browse, copy and access files, etc. |
| | * '''background provider''' to display wallpapers, etc. |
| | * '''panel''' to provide a menu and to display information such as the time |
| | * '''settings/configuration manager''' to change the look of the environment |
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|
| | And so on. Most desktop environments will also come with their own preferred applications, in addition to various widgets, addons, and extensions to provide extra features. As such, upon entering the commands provided below in your terminal to download and install a desktop environment, you may be prompted to choose from a selection of components provided for it. |
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| 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 unauthorized access to your system.
| | To install a '''full''' desktop environment - complete with its own preferred file manager, applications, and so on - simply press <enter> when prompted. Everything will be downloaded and installed by default. |
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| LXDM can still be easily customized 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.
| | {{note|If you install this way to use multiple desktop environments, you may find certain applications seem to appear several times in your application menus. For example, several different terminals may be available, as many desktop environments come with their own preferred version, which can also be used in other desktops.}} |
| <br clear="all" />
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| =Option 1: Using the Customisation Tool=
| | Where additional (and optional) extras for a desktop environment are availble, the terminal commands to obtain these have also been provided. These commands have been listed seperately to those for obtaining the desktop environments themselves. |
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| [[file:Lxdm-config.jpg|thumb|left|454px]]
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| | = XFCE = |
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| The '''LXDM Configuration''' application may be found under '''System''' in the XFCE and Cinnamon Menus. Openbox users will also find it under ''System'' if using the Openbox ''AppFinder'' application. Alternatively, searching for '''lxdm''' in ''Synapse'' will yield the correct result.
| | [[File: xfceDE.png|thumb|left|375px]] |
| <br clear="all" />
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| =Option 2: Manually Editing the Configuration File=
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| To undertake any or all of these tasks, it will be necessary to first open the ''LXDM configuration file'' (lxdm.conf) using the terminal. The syntax of the command to open the LXDM configuration file is:
| | XFCE is a lightweight and versatile desktop environment that utilises a classicdrop-down menu to access applications. It is also compatable with Compiz. Although highly configurable, XFCE does provide a somewhat basic interface that may lack some modern features expected (e.g. no built-in search bar in the menu). A little time and effort will also be required to properly customise the deskop to suit personal taste. A 64 bit installation of Manjaro running XFCE uses about 200MB of memory. '''To install XFCE, enter the command:''' |
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| sudo [text editor] /etc/lxdm/lxdm.conf
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| For example, if you wish to edit the file within the terminal using nano (a standard terminal-based text editor) then enter:
| | sudo pacman -S xfce4 |
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| sudo nano /etc/lxdm/lxdm.conf | |
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| 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:
| | To install extra themes, desktop backgrounds, and panel items (widgets), enter the command: |
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| sudo gedit /etc/lxdm/lxdm.conf
| |
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| | sudo pacman -S xfce4-goodies |
| | <br clear="all" /> |
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| ==Enabling Auto-Login== | | = KDE = |
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| {{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.}}
| | [[File: kdeDE.png|thumb|left|375px]] |
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|
| | KDE is a feature-rich and versatile desktop environment that provides several different styles of menu to access applications. It is also compatable with Compiz. An excellent built-in interface to easily access and install new themes, widgets, etc, from the internet is also worth mentioning. While very user-friendly and certainly flashy, KDE is also quite resource heavy and noticably slower to start and use than a desktop environment such as XFCE. A 64 bit installation of Manjaro running KDE uses about 550MB of memory. '''To install KDE, enter the command:''' |
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| 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.
| | sudo pacman -S KDE kdeplasma-applets-networkmanagement |
| | |
| | |
| ===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=''' to activate it
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| '''2.''' remove any text after '''autologin=''' (e.g. dgod)
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| '''3.''' add the name of your personal account at the end of it
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| As an example, LXDM has been configured below to enable a personal user account named 'carl' to be logged in automatically:
| |
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| [base]
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| ## uncomment and set autologin username to enable autologin
| |
| <font color ="green">'''autologin=carl'''</font color>
| |
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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.
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| ===Step 2: Set the Desktop Environment===
| |
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| 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:
| |
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| ## default session or desktop used when no systemwide config
| |
| <font color ="green">'''session=/usr/bin/startxfce4'''</font color>
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| 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.
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| Otherwise, to set the desired desktop environment:
| |
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| '''1.''' If present, remove the hash ('#') at the beginning of '''session='''
| |
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| '''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
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| '''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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| * '''To start XFCE''':
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| ## default session or desktop used when no systemwide config
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| session=/usr/bin/<font color ="green">startxfce4</font color>
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| * '''To start KDE''':
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| ## default session or desktop used when no systemwide config
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| session=/usr/bin/<font color ="green">startkde</font color>
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| * '''To start Gnome''':
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| ## default session or desktop used when no systemwide config
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| session=/usr/bin/<font color ="green">gnome-session</font color>
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| * '''To start Cinnamon''':
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|
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| ## default session or desktop used when no systemwide config
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| session=/usr/bin/<font color ="green">gnome-session-cinnamon</font color>
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| * '''To start Razor-QT''':
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|
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| ## default session or desktop used when no systemwide config
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| session=/usr/bin/<font color ="green">razor-session</font color>
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| * '''To start Openbox''':
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|
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| ## default session or desktop used when no systemwide config
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| session=/usr/bin/<font color ="green">openbox-session</font color>
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| * '''To start LXDE''':
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|
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| ## default session or desktop used when no systemwide config
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| session=/usr/bin/<font color ="green">lxsession</font color>
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| Once your amendments have been completed, you can save your changes and close the configuration file by:
| |
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| * '''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.
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| Reboot your system for the changes to take effect.
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| ===Optional: Enable Timeout Auto-Login===
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| {{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.}}
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| | |
| 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:
| |
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| ## uncomment and set timeout to enable timeout autologin,
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| ## the value should >=5
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| #<font color ="green">'''timeout=10'''</font color>
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| '''1.''' Remove the hash ('#') from the beginning of '''timeout=''' to activate it, and
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| '''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.
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| | {{note|Upon installing, you will be asked to pick a gstreamer version (phonon or vlc). Gstreamer is a multimedia framework used to handle multimedia applications (i.e. audio and video playback and editing). If you are not sure which one you should choose, pick '''vlc'''.}} |
| | <br clear="all" /> |
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| As an example, LXDM has been configured below to enable timeout auto login after waiting 30 seconds:
| | = Gnome 3 = |
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| ## uncomment and set timeout to enable timeout autologin,
| | [[File: gnome3DE.png|thumb|left|375px]] |
| ## the value should >=5
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| <font color ="green">'''timeout=30'''</font color>
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| Once your amendments have been completed, you can save your changes and close the configuration file by:
| | Gnome 3 is an intuitive desktop environment that utilises a tablet or smartphone style interface to access applications. It is not compatible with compiz. Although Gnome is very easy to learn and use, its customisation options are quite limited, and it can be difficult to configure. A 64 bit installation of Manjaro running Gnome uses about 220MB of memory. '''To install Gnome, enter the command:''' |
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| * '''nano''': Press CTRL and 'x' to exit, 'y' to save, and <enter> to finish, or
| | sudo pacman -S gnome |
| * '''gedit''': Select the 'save' option and then close the window.
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| Reboot your system for the changes to take effect.
| | To install extra themes, games, and features, enter the command: |
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| | | sudo pacman -S gnome-extra |
| === Disable Auto-Login ===
| |
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| 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.
| |
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| [base]
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| ## uncomment and set autologin username to enable autologin
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| '''<font color ="green">#</font color>'''session=/usr/bin/startxfce4
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|
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| ...
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|
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| ## default session or desktop used when no systemwide config
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| '''<font color ="green">#</font color>'''session=/usr/bin/openbox
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| Once your amendments have been completed save your changes and close the configuration file by:
| |
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| *'''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.
| |
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| ==Changing The Background Image==
| |
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| {{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.}}
| |
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| 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:
| |
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| ## background of the greeter
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| # <font color ="green">'''bg=/usr/share/backgrounds/default.png'''</font color> | |
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| [[file:newpathway.png|thumb|left|375px]]
| |
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| 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:
| |
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| '''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'')
| |
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| '''2.''' Remove the hash ('#') from the beginning of '''bg=''' to activate it
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| '''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>)
| |
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| '''4.''' 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/'').
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| '''5.''' 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'').
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| <br clear="all" /> | | <br clear="all" /> |
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| [[file:abgreen.png|thumb|left|375px]]
| | = Cinnamon = |
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| | [[File: cinnamonde.png|thumb|left|375px]] |
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| 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 use of capitalisation where required (e.g. <u>P</u>ictures):
| |
|
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|
| ## background of the greeter
| | Cinnamon is a desktop environment based on Gnome that utilises a large panel-style menu to access applications. It is not compatible with compiz. Despite being based on Gnome, it has more customisation options and is easier to configure. Users of Windows Vista or Windows 7 may find Cinnamon's interface comfortably familiar. A 64 bit installation of Manjaro running Cinnamon uses about 350MB of memory. '''To install Cinnamon, enter the command:''' |
| <font color ="green">'''bg=/home/carl/Pictures/abstractgreen.jpg'''</font color>
| |
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| | pacman -S cinnamon |
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| Once your amendments have been completed, you can save your changes and close the configuration file by:
| | {{note| as a gnome-based desktop, many gnome configuration applications will work with cinnamon, e.g. gnome-color-manager.}} |
| | |
| * '''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.
| |
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| The change will be immediate, and may be viewed by simply logging out.
| |
| <br clear="all" /> | | <br clear="all" /> |
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| ==Removing The Language Menu== | | = Openbox = |
| | |
| [[file:nolang.png|thumb|left|375px]]
| |
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| 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>
| |
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| All that is required to replace the '1' after the '''lang=''' command with a '0':
| |
|
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|
| ## if show language select control
| | Openbox is not a desktop environment, but a windows manager. Although a basic menu is available (and accessed by right-clicking on the desktop), absolutely nothing else is provided with Openbox's basic installation - not even its own themes or configuration application! One for the minimalists out there, or perhaps those who want to use Openbox as a foundation to build on. It will be necessary to install and configure your own choice of panel, file manager, background provider, and so on. '''To install Openbox, enter the command:''' |
| <font color ="green">'''lang=0'''</font color>
| |
| <br clear="all" />
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|
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| Once your amendments have been completed, you can save your changes and close the configuration file by:
| | sudo pacman -S openbox |
|
| |
|
| * '''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.
| | To install a logout script, configuration application, themes, and a background provider (nitrogen), enter the command: |
|
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|
| | sudo pacman -S oblogout obconf openbox-themes nitrogen |
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| ==Disabling The User List== | | = Razor-QT = |
|
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|
| [[file:nouser.png|thumb|left|375px]] | | [[File: razorde.png|thumb|left|375px]] |
|
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|
| | Razor-QT is a lightweight, desktop environment still under development. It has no window manager of its own, although it can be configured to use Compiz as such (not using the Fusion-Icon, however). It is designedd with lower-end computers in mind. At its current stage of development, Razor-QT may not be suitable for many users. A 64 bit installation of Manjaro running Cinnamon uses about xMB of memory. '''To install Razor-QT, enter the command:''' |
|
| |
|
| 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:
| | sudo pacman -S razor-qt |
|
| |
|
| ## if disable the user list control at greeter
| | To install the recommended Window Manager, use USB devices, and shutdown/reboot from Razor-QT, enter the command: |
| <font color ="green">'''disable=0'''</font color>
| |
|
| |
|
| All that is required to replace the '0' after the '''disable=''' command with a '1':
| | sudo pacman -S openbox upower udisks |
|
| |
|
| ## if disable the user list control at greeter
| | {{note|You will need to manually edit Razor-QT's configuration file '''~/.config/razor/session.conf''' to set the window manager.}} |
| <font color ="green">'''disable=1'''</font color>
| |
| <br clear="all" /> | | <br clear="all" /> |
|
| |
| 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.
| |
|
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| [[Category:Contents Page]]
| |
Overview
There are several desktop environments available for Manjaro, each with their own unique style, interface, and features. Which you may choose is entirely down to personal preference. However, it is possible to install multiple desktop environments if you wish, which can be selected at the logon screen at any time.
It is worth noting that a desktop environment is not a single application; it is actually a collection of different components that work together, commonly including a:
- windows manager to display, move and resize application windows
- file manager to visually browse, copy and access files, etc.
- background provider to display wallpapers, etc.
- panel to provide a menu and to display information such as the time
- settings/configuration manager to change the look of the environment
And so on. Most desktop environments will also come with their own preferred applications, in addition to various widgets, addons, and extensions to provide extra features. As such, upon entering the commands provided below in your terminal to download and install a desktop environment, you may be prompted to choose from a selection of components provided for it.
To install a full desktop environment - complete with its own preferred file manager, applications, and so on - simply press <enter> when prompted. Everything will be downloaded and installed by default.
Note
If you install this way to use multiple desktop environments, you may find certain applications seem to appear several times in your application menus. For example, several different terminals may be available, as many desktop environments come with their own preferred version, which can also be used in other desktops.
Where additional (and optional) extras for a desktop environment are availble, the terminal commands to obtain these have also been provided. These commands have been listed seperately to those for obtaining the desktop environments themselves.
XFCE
XFCE is a lightweight and versatile desktop environment that utilises a classicdrop-down menu to access applications. It is also compatable with Compiz. Although highly configurable, XFCE does provide a somewhat basic interface that may lack some modern features expected (e.g. no built-in search bar in the menu). A little time and effort will also be required to properly customise the deskop to suit personal taste. A 64 bit installation of Manjaro running XFCE uses about 200MB of memory. To install XFCE, enter the command:
sudo pacman -S xfce4
To install extra themes, desktop backgrounds, and panel items (widgets), enter the command:
sudo pacman -S xfce4-goodies
KDE
KDE is a feature-rich and versatile desktop environment that provides several different styles of menu to access applications. It is also compatable with Compiz. An excellent built-in interface to easily access and install new themes, widgets, etc, from the internet is also worth mentioning. While very user-friendly and certainly flashy, KDE is also quite resource heavy and noticably slower to start and use than a desktop environment such as XFCE. A 64 bit installation of Manjaro running KDE uses about 550MB of memory. To install KDE, enter the command:
sudo pacman -S KDE kdeplasma-applets-networkmanagement
Note
Upon installing, you will be asked to pick a gstreamer version (phonon or vlc). Gstreamer is a multimedia framework used to handle multimedia applications (i.e. audio and video playback and editing). If you are not sure which one you should choose, pick vlc.
Gnome 3
Gnome 3 is an intuitive desktop environment that utilises a tablet or smartphone style interface to access applications. It is not compatible with compiz. Although Gnome is very easy to learn and use, its customisation options are quite limited, and it can be difficult to configure. A 64 bit installation of Manjaro running Gnome uses about 220MB of memory. To install Gnome, enter the command:
sudo pacman -S gnome
To install extra themes, games, and features, enter the command:
sudo pacman -S gnome-extra
Cinnamon
Cinnamon is a desktop environment based on Gnome that utilises a large panel-style menu to access applications. It is not compatible with compiz. Despite being based on Gnome, it has more customisation options and is easier to configure. Users of Windows Vista or Windows 7 may find Cinnamon's interface comfortably familiar. A 64 bit installation of Manjaro running Cinnamon uses about 350MB of memory. To install Cinnamon, enter the command:
pacman -S cinnamon
Note
as a gnome-based desktop, many gnome configuration applications will work with cinnamon, e.g. gnome-color-manager.
Openbox
Openbox is not a desktop environment, but a windows manager. Although a basic menu is available (and accessed by right-clicking on the desktop), absolutely nothing else is provided with Openbox's basic installation - not even its own themes or configuration application! One for the minimalists out there, or perhaps those who want to use Openbox as a foundation to build on. It will be necessary to install and configure your own choice of panel, file manager, background provider, and so on. To install Openbox, enter the command:
sudo pacman -S openbox
To install a logout script, configuration application, themes, and a background provider (nitrogen), enter the command:
sudo pacman -S oblogout obconf openbox-themes nitrogen
Razor-QT
Razor-QT is a lightweight, desktop environment still under development. It has no window manager of its own, although it can be configured to use Compiz as such (not using the Fusion-Icon, however). It is designedd with lower-end computers in mind. At its current stage of development, Razor-QT may not be suitable for many users. A 64 bit installation of Manjaro running Cinnamon uses about xMB of memory. To install Razor-QT, enter the command:
sudo pacman -S razor-qt
To install the recommended Window Manager, use USB devices, and shutdown/reboot from Razor-QT, enter the command:
sudo pacman -S openbox upower udisks
Note
You will need to manually edit Razor-QT's configuration file ~/.config/razor/session.conf to set the window manager.
