Manjaro Difference between revisions of "SLiM Configuration"

Difference between revisions of "SLiM Configuration"

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#REDIRECT [[Install Display Managers]]
=Overview=
=Overview=


[[File:slim.png|thumb|left|375px]]
{{warning|SLiM display manager is not maintained and should be replaced by eg. LightDM.}}


{{tip|Since version 1.6.2, SLiM will automatically find installed desktop environments and window managers.}}


{{note|It will likely be necessary to manually edit the SLiM configuration file and the X-Windows initialisation file whenever a new desktop is added or an old one is removed. However, as illustrated below, it is possible to pre-configure SLiM to automatically work with multiple desktop environments.}}
[[File:slim-manjaro.png|thumb|left|375px]]




SLiM - the '''S'''imple '''L'''og'''i'''n '''M'''anager - is not currently pre-installed with any Manjaro flavour. However, due to popular demand, it has still been made available for download and installation from the official Manjaro repositories. SLiM is responsible for providing the login screen, where your preferred 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.
SLiM - the '''S'''imple '''L'''og'''i'''n '''M'''anager - is currently the default Display Manager for the Manjaro Openbox (ManjaroBox) flavour.  


Although SLiM is highly configurable with an abundance of extra themes available, it is also perhaps suited to more experienced users. This is primarily due to the fact that whereas other display managers such as ''LXDM'' will automatically detect installed desktop environments, SLiM does not and so must be manually configure to work with them.
SLiM is highly configurable with an abundance of extra themes available. Since version 1.6.2, it has become 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" />
<br clear="all" />


= Configuring SLiM to Start Desktop Environments =
= 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 the Manjaro Openbox 0.8.7.1 release 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
  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
  gksu gedit /etc/slim.conf


==Ensure SLiM Automatically Detects Installed Environments==


==Add Desktop Environments to the SLiM Configuration File==
Once the SLiM configuration file has been opened, it will be necessary to ensure that the following line is present:


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:
sessiondir /usr/share/xsessions/


* 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
* to tell the .xinitrc file which desktop it is to start


'''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:


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.
'''# Available sessions (first one is the default).'''
# The current chosen session name is replaced in the login_cmd
# above, so your login command can handle different sessions.
# see the xinitrc.sample file shipped with slim sources
'''<font color="green">sessions            xfce,gnome3,kde,cinnamon,razor-qt,openbox,lxde,mate </font color>'''
 
 
And make the necessary amendment so that it now looks like this:


  '''# Available sessions (first one is the default).'''
  '''# Available sessions (first one is the default).'''
Line 51: Line 60:
  # above, so your login command can handle different sessions.
  # above, so your login command can handle different sessions.
  # see the xinitrc.sample file shipped with slim sources
  # see the xinitrc.sample file shipped with slim sources
  '''<font color="green">sessions            xfce,gnome3,kde,cinnamon,razor-qt,openbox,lxde,mate </font color>'''
  '''<font color="green">sessiondir /usr/share/xsessions/</font color>'''
 
 
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'''.
 
 
==Edit the X-Windows Initialisation File==
 
{{tip|The ''.xinitrc'' file is already owned by you, so there is no need to use the 'sudo' or 'gksu' commands to edit it.}}
 


The .xinitrc is responsible for actually starting your installed desktop environment(s). You will need to first open your terminal in order to edit the '''X-Windows initialisation file'''. The syntax of the command to do this is:


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.'''
[text editor] ~/.xinitrc




Once your amendments have been completed, save your changes and close the configuration file by:
'''Don't forget the dot'''. For example, if you wish to edit the file using ''Geany'', then enter:


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




The next - and final - step necessary is to edit and configure the '''X-Windows Initialisation File'''.
Otherwise you could use the ''Gedit'' text editor instead, by entering the command:


gedit ~/.xinitrc


==Open the X-Windows Initialisation File==
==Ensure the X-Windows Initialisation File Runs Installed Environments==


The .xinitrc is responsible for actually starting your installed desktop environment(s). In essence, the .xinitrc file will take the name of your chosen (or only) desktop environment from SLiM, and then use that to determine which command to use to actually start it. You will need to first open your terminal in order to edit the '''X-Windows initialisation file'''. The syntax of the command to do this is:
{{warning|SLiM no longer seems to support a default session. It will therefore be necessary to select what desktop environment or window manager you wish to use by first pressing the '''<F1>''' key, prior to entering your username and password.}}


sudo [text editor] ~/.xinitrc


Once the .xinitrc configuration file has been opened, it will be necessary to ensure that the following line is present <u>at the very end of the configuration file</u>:


'''Don't forget the dot'''. For example, if you wish to edit the file within the terminal using nano, then enter:
exec $1


sudo nano ~/.xinitrc


'''Users who had a previous version of SLiM installed''' must completely replace both the previous '''case "$1"''' and '''DEFAULTSESSION=''' commands listed below with the '''exec $1''' command. For example, '''users who installed Manjaro Openbox 0.8.7.1 or earlier''' should first find the following section:


Otherwise you could use the ''gedit'' text editor instead, by entering the command:


  sudo gedit ~/.xinitrc
  DEFAULTSESSION=openbox-session
case "$1" in
    openbox) exec openbox-session ;;
      xfce) exec xfce4-session ;;
      gnome3) exec gnome-session ;;
      kde) exec startkde ;;
      cinnamon) exec gnome-session-cinnamon ;;
      razor-qt) exec razor-session ;;
      lxde) exec lxsession ;;
      mate) exec mate-session ;;
      *) exec $DEFAULTSESSION ;;
esac




==Add Desktop Environments to the X-Windows Initialisation File==
And make the necessary amendment so that it now looks like this:


Again, the purpose of editing this file is to:
exec $1


* list the name(s) (or labels) of your installed desktop environment(s) from the SLiM configuration file, and
* match those name(s) with the command(s) necessary to actually start the desktop environment(s)


To clarify for newer users, the entire ''.xinitrc'' file should now look like this:


The key point to keep in mind is that the name(s) of the desktop(s) listed in the SLiM configuration file must be matched with those listed in the X-Windows Initialisation file. As such, it is therefore '''<u>vitally important</u>''' that the name of any given desktop environment is listed '''EXACTLY''' the same way in both files. This includes the use of captial and lower-case letters. Should there by any difference at all, then there will not be a match, and your chosen desktop environment will not be started. The names and commands themselves must be added after the '''DEFAULTSESSION=''' command. All the names used in the SLiM configuration file above have been listed exactly the same way here, and have been '''<font color="green">colured in green</font color>''' for illustrative purposes.


  #!/bin/sh
  #!/bin/sh
Line 100: Line 128:
  # Executed by startx (run your window manager from here)
  # Executed by startx (run your window manager from here)
  #
  #
## Ensure that the D-Bus Communication System is running properly to fix
## File management, authentication, and other essential system processes
if which dbus-launch >/dev/null && test -z "$DBUS_SESSION_BUS_ADDRESS"; then
    eval "$(dbus-launch --sh-syntax --exit-with-session)"
fi
## Ensure that GTK themes are applied uniformly in the Desktop Environment
   
   
  export GTK2_RC_FILES="$HOME/.gtkrc-2.0"
  export GTK2_RC_FILES="$HOME/.gtkrc-2.0"
   
   
'''DEFAULTSESSION=xfce4-session'''
   
   
  case "$1" in
  ## Where the default Home folders have not already been created, generate them
      '''<font color="green">xfce</font color>''') exec xfce4-session ;;
      '''<font color="green">gnome3</font color>''') exec gnome-session ;;
if [ -x /usr/bin/xdg-user-dirs-update ]; then
      '''<font color="green">kde</font color>''') exec startkde ;;
    /usr/bin/xdg-user-dirs-update
      '''<font color="green">cinnamon</font color>''') exec gnome-session-cinnamon ;;
fi
      '''<font color="green">razor-qt</font color>''') exec razor-session ;;
      '''<font color="green">openbox</font color>''') exec openbox-session ;;
## Ensure that obmenu-generator (a pipe menu) is set to the user.
      '''<font color="green">lxde</font color>''') exec lxsession ;;
      '''<font color="green">mate</font color>''') exec mate-session ;;
sed 's/_user_/'$(whoami)'/' ~/.config/obmenu-generator/schema.pl -i
      *) exec $DEFAULTSESSION ;;
sed 's/_user_/'$(whoami)'/' ~/.config/obmenu-generator/config.pl -i
esac
exec $1


The '''default session''' has been set to xfce4 in this instance as the author's Manjaro installation came with that desktop environment pre-installed. Yours may be different, and you are entirely free to change it if you wish. Note that each line starting with green text:


'''1.''' starts with the  '''<font color="green">''name'' of the desktop environment</font color>'''


'''2.''' uses the command ''exec'' which means ''execute'' (i.e. start), and
Once satisfied that the ''exec $1'' command is present and/or has replaced the old ''case "$1"'' and ''DEFAULTSESSION='' commands, save and close the file. Now reboot the system for the changes to take effect.


'''3.''' ends with the actual ''command'' necessary to start a desktop environment appropriate to the name
=Selecting Multiple Desktop Environments=


[[File:slimsessions.png|thumb|left|375px]]


The exception is the last line which begins with an asterisk ('*' - a wildcard). This is to ensure that if a match is not found, then the default session will be started instead - which in this instance, is xfce4. Again, if the name of a desktop environment listed in this file does not exactly match a name passed to it by the SLiM configuration file, then the actual command to start that desktop cannot be executed.


If you wish, you are free to use the entire example provided in your own .xinitrc file, even if you do not have all of these desktop environments installed. Doing so will not cause any problems, and can make life much easier if you decide to install any new desktops at a future point (i.e. it will only be necessary to edit the SLiM configuration file). '''Otherwise you may just delete the lines for any desktop environments that you do not have installed'''.
{{Note|Again, there is no longer a 'default session', so you will have to manually pick the installed desktop you wish. This includes even where only Openbox has been installed, as it is possible to use this window manager with the KDE desktop environment.}}




Once your amendments have been completed, save your changes and close the configuration file by:
Where two or more desktop environments have be installed (or at least just Openbox), then they can be cycled and selected by pressing the '''F1''' key on the SLiM login screen.
<br clear="all" />


* '''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.


= Previewing Installed Themes =


Now reboot the system for the changes to take effect.
Thankfully, it is not necessary to repeatedly edit the SLiM configuration file and re-boot your system in order to see what the installed themes look like. More conveniently, they can instead be previewed in the terminal. To do so, once the themes have of course been installed:


1. Change to the directory that contains the themes by entering the following command:


=Selecting Multiple Desktop Environments=
cd /usr/share/slim/themes/


Where two or more desktop environments have be installed - and consequently enabled by editing the above files - then they can be cycled and selected by pressing the '''F1''' key on the SLiM login screen.


2. List the installed themes available by entering the following command:


= Enabling Auto Login =
ls


It is possible to bypass the login screen completely and go straight into your chosen desktop environment upon booting up Manjaro. '''Of course, it will be necessary to have already configured SLiM to manually launch your installed desktop environment in order to use this feature'''.


3. Preview any and all installed themes listed. The syntax of the command to do so is:


== Open the Slim Configuration File ==
slim -p [name of theme]


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, to preview a listed theme called ''mindlock'', the following command would be entered


slim -p mindlock


For example, if you wish to edit the file within the terminal using nano (a standard terminal-based text editor) then enter:


sudo nano /etc/slim.conf
To exit from a theme currently being previewed, simply type '''exit''' into the ''user name'' field and then press <enter>


= Changing Themes =


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:
[[File:slimmindlock.png|thumb|left|375px]]


sudo gedit /etc/slim.conf


{{tip|There may be even more themes available from the '''[[Arch User Repository]]'''.}}


== Step 1: Set the Default User ==


{{warning|There '''<u>must not</u>''' be any spaces before the '''default_user''' command, otherwise it will not work.}}
A particularly strong feature of SLiM that has attracted many users is the abundance of varied and wide-ranging themes available for it. Moreover, these themes are very easy to set. To install all available themes for SLiM from the official Manjaro repositories, enter the following command in the terminal:


The first step is to set your personal account to be automatically logged in. This is undertaken in the following section, located near the bottom of the SLiM configuration file:
sudo pacman -S slim-themes archlinux-themes-slim
<br clear="all" />


# default user, leave blank or remove this line
# for avoid pre-loading the username.
# <font color="green">'''default_user        simone'''</font color>


== Open the SLiM Configuration File ==


1. Remove the hash ('#') from the beginning of the '''default_user''' command to activate it, ensuring that there are no spaces remaining at the beginning of the line.
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:


2. Replace the existing name (i.e. simone) after the default_user command with the name of your personal user account
gksu [text editor] /etc/slim.conf




As an example, SLiM has been configured below to enable a personal user account named 'carl' to be logged in automatically:
For example, if you wish to edit the file within the terminal using the ''gedit'' text editor, the command is:


  # default user, leave blank or remove this line
  gksu gedit /etc/slim.conf
# for avoid pre-loading the username.
  <font color="green">'''default_user        carl'''</font color>


== Set the Desired Theme ==


Once complete, the second and step is to enable the autologin feature itself.
{{warning|Make sure that you list the name of the desired theme correctly.}}




== Step 2: Enable Auto Login ==
Enabling the automatic login is undertaken in the following section, located near the bottom of the SLiM configuration file:


{{warning|There '''<u>must not</u>''' be any spaces before the '''auto_login''' command, otherwise it will not work.}}
# current theme, use comma separated list to specify a set to
# randomly choose from
<font color="green">'''current_theme      default'''</font color>




Enabling the automatic login is undertaken in the following section, also located near the bottom of the SLiM configuration file:
To change the theme, simply replace the name of the current theme listed after the '''current_theme''' command (e.g. default) with the name of the desired theme to set. As an example, SliM has been configured to use the ''mindlock'' theme:
 
# Automatically login the default user (without entering
# the password. Set to "yes" to enable this feature
# <font color="green">'''auto_login          no'''</font color>


 
# current theme, use comma separated list to specify a set to  
1. Remove the hash ('#') from the beginning of the '''auto_login''' command to activate it, ensuring that there are no spaces remaining at the beginning of the line.
# randomly choose from
 
<font color="green">'''current_theme      mindlock'''</font color>
2. Replace the 'no' after the auto_login command with '''yes'''
 
 
As an example, SLiM has been configured below to enable the automatic login feature:
 
# Automatically login the default user (without entering
# the password. Set to "yes" to enable this feature
<font color="green">'''auto_login          yes'''</font color>




Line 223: Line 248:




Reboot your system for the changes to take effect.
=SLiM Login Commands=


{{tip|This section may prove especially useful if SLiM has been misconfigured in some way!}}


= Changing Themes =


[[File:slimmindlock.png|thumb|left|375px]]
SLiM also provides a number of basic functions in addition to logging into a desktop environment. To use these features, simply enter the following commands into the user name field:
 
 
{{tip|There may be even more themes available from the '''[[Arch User Repository]]'''.}}
 
 
A particularly strong feature of SLiM that has attracted many users is the abundance of varied and wide-ranging themes available for it. Moreover, these themes are very easy to set. To install all available themes for SLiM from the official Manjaro repositories, enter the following command in the terminal:
 
sudo pacman -S slim-themes archlinux-themes-slim
<br clear="all" />
 
 
== Preview Installed Themes ==
 
{{note|It is apparently not possible to preview themes where the auto login feature has been enabled.}}


* '''exit''' - Return to the command line
* '''halt''' - Shutdown the system
* '''reboot''' - Reboot the system
* '''console''' - Launch the terminal


Thankfully, it is not necessary to repeatedly edit the SLiM configuration file and re-boot your system in order to see what the installed themes look like. More conveniently, they can instead be previewed in the terminal. To do so, once the themes have of course been installed:


1. Change to the directory that contains the themes by entering the following command:
= Enable Auto-Login =


cd /usr/share/slim/themes/
It is indeed possible to enable automatic login. To do so, it will be necessary to edit both the ''SLiM configuration file'' (slim.conf) and the and the ''X-Windows initialisation file''. Instructions on how to actually open these files to edit them have been omitted as they have already been provided earlier in the article.




2. List the installed themes available by entering the following command:
==Enable Auto-Login in the SLiM Configuration file==


ls
Once the SLiM configuration file has been opened, follow the three steps provided.




3. Preview any and all installed themes listed. The syntax of the command to do so is:
'''1.''' Sash-out the the following command, as it is no longer-necessary to auto-detect installed desktop environments:


slim -p [name of theme]
  sessiondir /usr/share/xsessions/




For example, to preview a listed theme called ''mindlock'', the following command would be entered
It should therefore look like this:


  slim -p mindlock
  #sessiondir /usr/share/xsessions/




To exit from a theme currently being previewed, simply type '''exit''' into the ''user name'' field and then press <enter>


'''2.''' Amend the following line to set yourself as the default user by removing the hash, and replacing 'simone' with your account name:


== Set Installed Themes ==
#default_user        simone


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, for the user 'carl', the line would be changed to:


default_user        carl


For example, if you wish to edit the file within the terminal using nano (a standard terminal-based text editor) then enter:


sudo nano /etc/slim.conf


'''3.''' Finally, enable auto-login by amending the following line:


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:
#auto_login          no


sudo gedit /etc/slim.conf


It should therefore look like this:


=== Set the Desired Theme ===
auto_login          yes


{{warning|Make sure that you list the name of the desired theme correctly.}}


Once complete, save and close the file. All that is required now is to edit the ''.xinitrc'' file.


Enabling the automatic login is undertaken in the following section, located near the bottom of the SLiM configuration file:
# current theme, use comma separated list to specify a set to
# randomly choose from
<font color="green">'''current_theme      default'''</font color>


==Set the Desktop Environment in the .xinitrc Configuration file==


To change the theme, simply replace the name of the current theme listed after the '''current_theme''' command (e.g. default) with the name of the desired theme to set. As an example, SliM has been configured to use the ''mindlock'' theme:
Once the SLiM Configuration file has been amended, '''exec $1''' must be replaced with the session (i.e. Desktop Environment or Window Manager) to run automatically. The syntax of the new command is:
 
# current theme, use comma separated list to specify a set to
# randomly choose from
<font color="green">'''current_theme      mindlock'''</font color>


exec [desktop-session]


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
For example, to set Openbox as the default session to log into automatically, the following command would be used:
* '''gedit''': Select the 'save' option and then close the window.


exec openbox-session


=SLiM Login Commands=


{{tip|This section may prove especially useful if SLiM has been misconfigured in some way!}}
Here are a sample of exec commands for popular desktops to aid new users:


exec openbox-session
exec xfce4-session
exec gnome-session
exec startkde
exec cinnamon-session
exec razor-session
exec lxsession
exec mate-session


SLiM also provides a number of basic functions in addition to logging into a desktop environment. To use these features, simply enter the following commands into the user name field:


* '''exit''': Return to the command line
Once complete, save and close the file. Reboot the system for the changes to take effect.
* '''halt''': Shutdown the system
* '''reboot''': Reboot the system
* '''console''': Launch the terminal




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

Latest revision as of 22:47, 23 June 2019

Overview

Warning
SLiM display manager is not maintained and should be replaced by eg. LightDM.



Tip
Since version 1.6.2, SLiM will automatically find installed desktop environments and window managers.
Slim-manjaro.png


SLiM - the Simple Login Manager - is currently the default Display Manager for the Manjaro Openbox (ManjaroBox) flavour.

SLiM is highly configurable with an abundance of extra themes available. Since version 1.6.2, it has become 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.

Configuring SLiM to Start Desktop Environments

Tip
It is not necessary to take any action for Manjaro Openbox (ManjaroBox) release 0.8.8 and onwards.


Users who have installed an earlier version of SLiM (e.g. provided with the Manjaro Openbox 0.8.7.1 release 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.


Edit the SLiM Configuration File

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 using Geany (provided with the Openbox flavour) then enter:

gksu geany /etc/slim.conf


Otherwise, if you wish to edit the file using Gedit (provided with the XFCE flavour) then enter:

gksu gedit /etc/slim.conf

Ensure SLiM Automatically Detects Installed Environments

Once the SLiM configuration file has been opened, it will be necessary to ensure that the following line is present:

sessiondir /usr/share/xsessions/


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).
# The current chosen session name is replaced in the login_cmd
# above, so your login command can handle different sessions.
# see the xinitrc.sample file shipped with slim sources
sessions            xfce,gnome3,kde,cinnamon,razor-qt,openbox,lxde,mate 


And make the necessary amendment so that it now looks like this:

# Available sessions (first one is the default).
# The current chosen session name is replaced in the login_cmd
# above, so your login command can handle different sessions.
# see the xinitrc.sample file shipped with slim sources
sessiondir /usr/share/xsessions/


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.


Edit the X-Windows Initialisation File

Tip
The .xinitrc file is already owned by you, so there is no need to use the 'sudo' or 'gksu' commands to edit it.


The .xinitrc is responsible for actually starting your installed desktop environment(s). You will need to first open your terminal in order to edit the X-Windows initialisation file. The syntax of the command to do this is:

[text editor] ~/.xinitrc


Don't forget the dot. For example, if you wish to edit the file using Geany, then enter:

geany ~/.xinitrc


Otherwise you could use the Gedit text editor instead, by entering the command:

gedit ~/.xinitrc

Ensure the X-Windows Initialisation File Runs Installed Environments

Warning
SLiM no longer seems to support a default session. It will therefore be necessary to select what desktop environment or window manager you wish to use by first pressing the <F1> key, prior to entering your username and password.


Once the .xinitrc configuration file has been opened, it will be necessary to ensure that the following line is present at the very end of the configuration file:

exec $1


Users who had a previous version of SLiM installed must completely replace both the previous case "$1" and DEFAULTSESSION= commands listed below with the exec $1 command. For example, users who installed Manjaro Openbox 0.8.7.1 or earlier should first find the following section:


DEFAULTSESSION=openbox-session

case "$1" in
    openbox) exec openbox-session ;;
     xfce) exec xfce4-session ;;
     gnome3) exec gnome-session ;;
     kde) exec startkde ;;
     cinnamon) exec gnome-session-cinnamon ;;
     razor-qt) exec razor-session ;;
     lxde) exec lxsession ;;
     mate) exec mate-session ;;
     *) exec $DEFAULTSESSION ;;
esac


And make the necessary amendment so that it now looks like this:

exec $1


To clarify for newer users, the entire .xinitrc file should now look like this:


#!/bin/sh

#
# ~/.xinitrc
#
# Executed by startx (run your window manager from here)
#

## Ensure that the D-Bus Communication System is running properly to fix
## File management, authentication, and other essential system processes

if which dbus-launch >/dev/null && test -z "$DBUS_SESSION_BUS_ADDRESS"; then
    eval "$(dbus-launch --sh-syntax --exit-with-session)"
fi


## Ensure that GTK themes are applied uniformly in the Desktop Environment

export GTK2_RC_FILES="$HOME/.gtkrc-2.0"


## Where the default Home folders have not already been created, generate them

if [ -x /usr/bin/xdg-user-dirs-update ]; then
   /usr/bin/xdg-user-dirs-update
fi

## Ensure that obmenu-generator (a pipe menu) is set to the user.

sed 's/_user_/'$(whoami)'/' ~/.config/obmenu-generator/schema.pl -i
sed 's/_user_/'$(whoami)'/' ~/.config/obmenu-generator/config.pl -i


exec $1


Once satisfied that the exec $1 command is present and/or has replaced the old case "$1" and DEFAULTSESSION= commands, save and close the file. Now reboot the system for the changes to take effect.

Selecting Multiple Desktop Environments

Slimsessions.png


Note
Again, there is no longer a 'default session', so you will have to manually pick the installed desktop you wish. This includes even where only Openbox has been installed, as it is possible to use this window manager with the KDE desktop environment.


Where two or more desktop environments have be installed (or at least just Openbox), then they can be cycled and selected by pressing the F1 key on the SLiM login screen.


Previewing Installed Themes

Thankfully, it is not necessary to repeatedly edit the SLiM configuration file and re-boot your system in order to see what the installed themes look like. More conveniently, they can instead be previewed in the terminal. To do so, once the themes have of course been installed:

1. Change to the directory that contains the themes by entering the following command:

cd /usr/share/slim/themes/


2. List the installed themes available by entering the following command:

ls


3. Preview any and all installed themes listed. The syntax of the command to do so is:

slim -p [name of theme]


For example, to preview a listed theme called mindlock, the following command would be entered

slim -p mindlock


To exit from a theme currently being previewed, simply type exit into the user name field and then press <enter>

Changing Themes

Slimmindlock.png



Tip
There may be even more themes available from the Arch User Repository.


A particularly strong feature of SLiM that has attracted many users is the abundance of varied and wide-ranging themes available for it. Moreover, these themes are very easy to set. To install all available themes for SLiM from the official Manjaro repositories, enter the following command in the terminal:

sudo pacman -S slim-themes archlinux-themes-slim



Open the SLiM Configuration File

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:

gksu [text editor] /etc/slim.conf


For example, if you wish to edit the file within the terminal using the gedit text editor, the command is:

gksu gedit /etc/slim.conf

Set the Desired Theme

Warning
Make sure that you list the name of the desired theme correctly.


Enabling the automatic login is undertaken in the following section, located near the bottom of the SLiM configuration file:

# current theme, use comma separated list to specify a set to 
# randomly choose from
current_theme       default


To change the theme, simply replace the name of the current theme listed after the current_theme command (e.g. default) with the name of the desired theme to set. As an example, SliM has been configured to use the mindlock theme:

# current theme, use comma separated list to specify a set to 
# randomly choose from
current_theme       mindlock


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.


SLiM Login Commands

Tip
This section may prove especially useful if SLiM has been misconfigured in some way!


SLiM also provides a number of basic functions in addition to logging into a desktop environment. To use these features, simply enter the following commands into the user name field:

  • exit - Return to the command line
  • halt - Shutdown the system
  • reboot - Reboot the system
  • console - Launch the terminal


Enable Auto-Login

It is indeed possible to enable automatic login. To do so, it will be necessary to edit both the SLiM configuration file (slim.conf) and the and the X-Windows initialisation file. Instructions on how to actually open these files to edit them have been omitted as they have already been provided earlier in the article.


Enable Auto-Login in the SLiM Configuration file

Once the SLiM configuration file has been opened, follow the three steps provided.


1. Sash-out the the following command, as it is no longer-necessary to auto-detect installed desktop environments:

 sessiondir /usr/share/xsessions/


It should therefore look like this:

#sessiondir /usr/share/xsessions/ 


2. Amend the following line to set yourself as the default user by removing the hash, and replacing 'simone' with your account name:

#default_user        simone


For example, for the user 'carl', the line would be changed to:

default_user        carl


3. Finally, enable auto-login by amending the following line:

#auto_login          no


It should therefore look like this:

auto_login          yes


Once complete, save and close the file. All that is required now is to edit the .xinitrc file.


Set the Desktop Environment in the .xinitrc Configuration file

Once the SLiM Configuration file has been amended, exec $1 must be replaced with the session (i.e. Desktop Environment or Window Manager) to run automatically. The syntax of the new command is:

exec [desktop-session]


For example, to set Openbox as the default session to log into automatically, the following command would be used:

exec openbox-session


Here are a sample of exec commands for popular desktops to aid new users:

exec openbox-session
exec xfce4-session
exec gnome-session
exec startkde
exec cinnamon-session
exec razor-session
exec lxsession
exec mate-session


Once complete, save and close the file. Reboot the system for the changes to take effect.

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