Autostart urxvt as desktop background in compiz

When i launch urxvt just with "-name foo", it works like it should but when I add command to it like "-name foo -e sh -c "tmux attach -t1" it changes the window name to that command. Is this just normal behaviour of rxvt? or can it be disabled. And if it can't what kind of workaround I could use?
edit: changed topic to be more precise, and sorry about bad english. Not my native language, but hope that someone could figure out what I'm trying to do and how I should do it
Last edited by wunjo (2011-04-11 15:47:44)

heh, I use also .Xdefaults. Just somekind of error in thinking before typed. What I have understanded, programs reads .Xdefaults every time they are launched and .Xresources only when X launches.
foobar*key: value is just the way I wanted it to be read.
I could explain more precise what I'm trying to do. I'm trying to get compiz as standalone windows manager with cairo-dock and urxvt as terminal that would stay at desktop, and therefore I'm using devilspie to do this.
my .Xdefaults looks like this
DesktopConsole1*depth: 32
DesktopConsole1*buffered: true
DesktopConsole1*foreground: #FFFFFF
DesktopConsole1*background: rgba:0000/0000/0000/dddd
DesktopConsole1*transparent: true
DesktopConsole1*fading: 10%
DesktopConsole1*fadeColor: grey
DesktopConsole1*shading: 45
DesktopConsole1*savelines:12000
DesktopConsole1*scrollBar:false
DesktopConsole1*internalBorder:55
DesktopConsole1*font: xft:Bitstream Vera Sans Mono:pixelsize=17
DesktopConsole1*perl-ext: default,clipboard,matcher
DesktopConsole1*urlLauncher: /usr/bin/chromium-browser
DesktopConsole1*matcher.button: 1
DesktopConsole1*perl-lib: /usr/lib/urxvt/perl/
and ~/.devilspie/DesktopConsole1.ds like this
; generated_rule DesktopConsole1
( if
( begin
( is ( window_name ) "DesktopConsole1" )
( begin
( undecorate )
( fullscreen )
( skip_pager )
( skip_tasklist )
( wintype "dock" )
( set_workspace 1 )
( below )
( set_viewport 1 )
( println "match" )
and .xinitrc like this
#!/bin/sh
# Make sure this is before the 'exec' command or it won't be executed.
[ -f /etc/xprofile ] && . /etc/xprofile
[ -f ~/.xprofile ] && . ~/.xprofile
cairo-dock &
devilspie &
urxvt -name DesktopConsole1 -title DesktopConsole1 -e sh -c "tmux attach -t1" &
urxvt -name DesktopConsole2 &
#kiba-dock &
exec ck-launch-session fusion-icon
now the only problem is that line "urxvt -name DesktopConsole1 -title DesktopConsole1 -e sh -c "tmuxurxvt -name DesktopConsole1 -title DesktopConsole1 -e sh -c "tmux attach -t1" " won't start. It will launch blank window with title "tmux somthing plapla". DesktopConsole2 launch like it should (like you probably noticed I didn't pasted the whole .Xdefaults and devilspie, they are identic with DesktopConsole1 congfig except viewport is 2). DesktopConsole1 launches with that line perfectly well if I launch it after X is started but I want it to be automatic. Openbox would start .desktop files in ~/.config/autostart but openbox just crashed when I started fusion-icon. I don't know does compiz has same kind behaviour for autostart programs.

Similar Messages

Urxvt in the background is not transparent

Hello everyone,
I'm using Openbox and urxvt terminal and I was experimenting with running one urxvt pseudo-transparent in the background like in http://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Ope … background. So I created new name "RootURxvt" in my .Xdefaults file:
RootURxvt.scrollBar: false
RootURxvt.transparent: true
RootURxvt.geometry: 80x24
the rest of my .Xdefaults reagarding urxvt:
URxvt.buffered: true
URxvt.geometry: 85x24
URxvt.transparent: false
URxvt.background: black
URxvt.foreground: gray90
URxvt.cursorColor: green
URxvt.underlineColor: yellow
URxvt.scrollstyle: plain
URxvt.secondaryScroll: true
URxvt.font: -*-fixed-medium-*-*-*-18-*-*-*-*-*-iso8859-2
URxvt.boldFont: -*-fixed-bold-*-*-*-18-*-*-*-*-*-iso8859-2
URxvt.perl-ext-common: default,tabbed
Then I put the appropriate entry to the .config/openbox/rc.xml
<application name="RootURxvt">
<decor>no</decor>
<focus>yes</focus>
<position>
<x>0</x>
<y>0</y>
</position>
<desktop>all</desktop>
<maximized>false</maximized>
<skip_taskbar>true</skip_taskbar>
<layer>below</layer>
</application>
This is the rest of my rc.xml
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>

<openbox_config xmlns="http://openbox.org/3.4/rc">
<resistance>
<strength>10</strength>
<screen_edge_strength>20</screen_edge_strength>
</resistance>
<focus>
<focusNew>no</focusNew>

<followMouse>no</followMouse>

<focusLast>yes</focusLast>

<underMouse>no</underMouse>

<focusDelay>200</focusDelay>

<raiseOnFocus>no</raiseOnFocus>

</focus>
<placement>
<policy>Smart</policy>

<center>yes</center>

<monitor>Active</monitor>

</placement>
<theme>
<name>Carbon</name>
<titleLayout>NLIMC</titleLayout>

<keepBorder>no</keepBorder>
<animateIconify>no</animateIconify>

<name>sans</name>
<size>8</size>

<weight>bold</weight>

<slant>normal</slant>



<name>sans</name>
<size>8</size>

<weight>bold</weight>

<slant>normal</slant>



<name>sans</name>
<size>9</size>

<weight>normal</weight>

<slant>normal</slant>



<name>sans</name>
<size>9</size>

<weight>normal</weight>

<slant>normal</slant>



<name>sans</name>
<size>9</size>

<weight>bold</weight>

<slant>normal</slant>


</theme>
<desktops>

<number>4</number>
<firstdesk>1</firstdesk>
<names>
<name>1</name>
<name>2</name>
<name>3</name>
<name>4</name>
</names>
<popupTime>875</popupTime>

</desktops>
<resize>
<drawContents>yes</drawContents>
<popupShow>Always</popupShow>

<popupPosition>Center</popupPosition>

<popupFixedPosition>

<x>10</x>

<y>10</y>

</popupFixedPosition>
</resize>

<margins>
<top>0</top>
<bottom>0</bottom>
<left>0</left>
<right>0</right>
</margins>
<dock>
<position>TopRight</position>

<floatingX>0</floatingX>
<floatingY>0</floatingY>
<noStrut>yes</noStrut>
<stacking>Above</stacking>

<direction>Vertical</direction>

<autoHide>no</autoHide>
<hideDelay>300</hideDelay>

<showDelay>300</showDelay>

<moveButton>Middle</moveButton>

</dock>
<keyboard>
<chainQuitKey>C-g</chainQuitKey>

<keybind key="C-W-Left">
<action name="DesktopLeft">
<dialog>no</dialog>
<wrap>no</wrap>
</action>
</keybind>
<keybind key="C-W-Right">
<action name="DesktopRight">
<dialog>no</dialog>
<wrap>no</wrap>
</action>
</keybind>
<keybind key="C-W-Up">
<action name="DesktopUp">
<dialog>no</dialog>
<wrap>no</wrap>
</action>
</keybind>
<keybind key="C-W-Down">
<action name="DesktopDown">
<dialog>no</dialog>
<wrap>no</wrap>
</action>
</keybind>
<keybind key="S-W-Left">
<action name="SendToDesktopLeft">
<dialog>no</dialog>
<wrap>no</wrap>
</action>
</keybind>
<keybind key="S-W-Right">
<action name="SendToDesktopRight">
<dialog>no</dialog>
<wrap>no</wrap>
</action>
</keybind>
<keybind key="S-W-Up">
<action name="SendToDesktopUp">
<dialog>no</dialog>
<wrap>no</wrap>
</action>
</keybind>
<keybind key="S-W-Down">
<action name="SendToDesktopDown">
<dialog>no</dialog>
<wrap>no</wrap>
</action>
</keybind>
<keybind key="W-F1">
<action name="Desktop">
<desktop>1</desktop>
</action>
</keybind>
<keybind key="W-F2">
<action name="Desktop">
<desktop>2</desktop>
</action>
</keybind>
<keybind key="W-F3">
<action name="Desktop">
<desktop>3</desktop>
</action>
</keybind>
<keybind key="W-F4">
<action name="Desktop">
<desktop>4</desktop>
</action>
</keybind>
<keybind key="W-d">
<action name="ToggleShowDesktop"/>
</keybind>

<keybind key="W-c">
<action name="Close"/>
</keybind>
<keybind key="A-Escape">
<action name="Lower"/>
<action name="FocusToBottom"/>
<action name="Unfocus"/>
</keybind>
<keybind key="W-space">
<action name="ShowMenu">
<menu>client-menu</menu>
</action>
</keybind>

<keybind key="A-Tab">
<action name="NextWindow"/>
</keybind>
<keybind key="A-S-Tab">
<action name="PreviousWindow"/>
</keybind>
<keybind key="C-A-Tab">
<action name="NextWindow">
<panels>yes</panels>
<desktop>yes</desktop>
</action>
</keybind>

<keybind key="W-u">
<action name="Execute">
<startupnotify>
<enabled>true</enabled>
<name>urxvt</name>
</startupnotify>
<command>urxvt</command>
</action>
</keybind>
<keybind key="W-o">
<action name="Execute">
<startupnotify>
<enabled>true</enabled>
<name>opera</name>
</startupnotify>
<command>opera</command>
</action>
</keybind>
<keybind key="C-W-l">
<action name="Execute">
<startupnotify>
<enabled>true</enabled>
<name>lock</name>
</startupnotify>
<command>xscreensaver-command -lock</command>
</action>
</keybind>
</keyboard>
<mouse>
<dragThreshold>8</dragThreshold>

<doubleClickTime>200</doubleClickTime>

<screenEdgeWarpTime>400</screenEdgeWarpTime>

<context name="Frame">
<mousebind button="A-Left" action="Press">
<action name="Focus"/>
<action name="Raise"/>
</mousebind>
<mousebind button="A-Left" action="Click">
<action name="Unshade"/>
</mousebind>
<mousebind button="A-Left" action="Drag">
<action name="Move"/>
</mousebind>
<mousebind button="A-Right" action="Press">
<action name="Focus"/>
<action name="Raise"/>
<action name="Unshade"/>
</mousebind>
<mousebind button="A-Right" action="Drag">
<action name="Resize"/>
</mousebind>
<mousebind button="A-Middle" action="Press">
<action name="Lower"/>
<action name="FocusToBottom"/>
<action name="Unfocus"/>
</mousebind>
<mousebind button="A-Up" action="Click">
<action name="DesktopPrevious"/>
</mousebind>
<mousebind button="A-Down" action="Click">
<action name="DesktopNext"/>
</mousebind>
<mousebind button="C-A-Up" action="Click">
<action name="DesktopPrevious"/>
</mousebind>
<mousebind button="C-A-Down" action="Click">
<action name="DesktopNext"/>
</mousebind>
<mousebind button="A-S-Up" action="Click">
<action name="SendToDesktopPrevious"/>
</mousebind>
<mousebind button="A-S-Down" action="Click">
<action name="SendToDesktopNext"/>
</mousebind>
</context>
<context name="Titlebar">
<mousebind button="Left" action="Press">
<action name="Focus"/>
<action name="Raise"/>
</mousebind>
<mousebind button="Left" action="Drag">
<action name="Move"/>
</mousebind>
<mousebind button="Left" action="DoubleClick">
<action name="ToggleMaximizeFull"/>
</mousebind>
<mousebind button="Middle" action="Press">
<action name="Lower"/>
<action name="FocusToBottom"/>
<action name="Unfocus"/>
</mousebind>
<mousebind button="Up" action="Click">
<action name="Shade"/>
<action name="FocusToBottom"/>
<action name="Unfocus"/>
<action name="Lower"/>
</mousebind>
<mousebind button="Down" action="Click">
<action name="Unshade"/>
<action name="Raise"/>
</mousebind>
<mousebind button="Right" action="Press">
<action name="Focus"/>
<action name="Raise"/>
<action name="ShowMenu">
<menu>client-menu</menu>
</action>
</mousebind>
</context>
<context name="Top">
<mousebind button="Left" action="Press">
<action name="Focus"/>
<action name="Raise"/>
<action name="Unshade"/>
</mousebind>
<mousebind button="Left" action="Drag">
<action name="Resize">
<edge>top</edge>
</action>
</mousebind>
</context>
<context name="Left">
<mousebind button="Left" action="Press">
<action name="Focus"/>
<action name="Raise"/>
</mousebind>
<mousebind button="Left" action="Drag">
<action name="Resize">
<edge>left</edge>
</action>
</mousebind>
</context>
<context name="Right">
<mousebind button="Left" action="Press">
<action name="Focus"/>
<action name="Raise"/>
</mousebind>
<mousebind button="Left" action="Drag">
<action name="Resize">
<edge>right</edge>
</action>
</mousebind>
</context>
<context name="Bottom">
<mousebind button="Left" action="Press">
<action name="Focus"/>
<action name="Raise"/>
</mousebind>
<mousebind button="Left" action="Drag">
<action name="Resize">
<edge>bottom</edge>
</action>
</mousebind>
<mousebind button="Middle" action="Press">
<action name="Lower"/>
<action name="FocusToBottom"/>
<action name="Unfocus"/>
</mousebind>
<mousebind button="Right" action="Press">
<action name="Focus"/>
<action name="Raise"/>
<action name="ShowMenu">
<menu>client-menu</menu>
</action>
</mousebind>
</context>
<context name="BLCorner">
<mousebind button="Left" action="Press">
<action name="Focus"/>
<action name="Raise"/>
</mousebind>
<mousebind button="Left" action="Drag">
<action name="Resize"/>
</mousebind>
</context>
<context name="BRCorner">
<mousebind button="Left" action="Press">
<action name="Focus"/>
<action name="Raise"/>
</mousebind>
<mousebind button="Left" action="Drag">
<action name="Resize"/>
</mousebind>
</context>
<context name="TLCorner">
<mousebind button="Left" action="Press">
<action name="Focus"/>
<action name="Raise"/>
<action name="Unshade"/>
</mousebind>
<mousebind button="Left" action="Drag">
<action name="Resize"/>
</mousebind>
</context>
<context name="TRCorner">
<mousebind button="Left" action="Press">
<action name="Focus"/>
<action name="Raise"/>
<action name="Unshade"/>
</mousebind>
<mousebind button="Left" action="Drag">
<action name="Resize"/>
</mousebind>
</context>
<context name="Client">
<mousebind button="Left" action="Press">
<action name="Focus"/>
<action name="Raise"/>
</mousebind>
<mousebind button="Middle" action="Press">
<action name="Focus"/>
<action name="Raise"/>
</mousebind>
<mousebind button="Right" action="Press">
<action name="Focus"/>
<action name="Raise"/>
</mousebind>
</context>
<context name="Icon">
<mousebind button="Left" action="Press">
<action name="Focus"/>
<action name="Raise"/>
<action name="Unshade"/>
<action name="ShowMenu">
<menu>client-menu</menu>
</action>
</mousebind>
<mousebind button="Right" action="Press">
<action name="Focus"/>
<action name="Raise"/>
<action name="ShowMenu">
<menu>client-menu</menu>
</action>
</mousebind>
</context>
<context name="AllDesktops">
<mousebind button="Left" action="Press">
<action name="Focus"/>
<action name="Raise"/>
<action name="Unshade"/>
</mousebind>
<mousebind button="Left" action="Click">
<action name="ToggleOmnipresent"/>
</mousebind>
</context>
<context name="Shade">
<mousebind button="Left" action="Press">
<action name="Focus"/>
<action name="Raise"/>
</mousebind>
<mousebind button="Left" action="Click">
<action name="ToggleShade"/>
</mousebind>
</context>
<context name="Iconify">
<mousebind button="Left" action="Press">
<action name="Focus"/>
<action name="Raise"/>
</mousebind>
<mousebind button="Left" action="Click">
<action name="Iconify"/>
</mousebind>
</context>
<context name="Maximize">
<mousebind button="Left" action="Press">
<action name="Focus"/>
<action name="Raise"/>
<action name="Unshade"/>
</mousebind>
<mousebind button="Middle" action="Press">
<action name="Focus"/>
<action name="Raise"/>
<action name="Unshade"/>
</mousebind>
<mousebind button="Right" action="Press">
<action name="Focus"/>
<action name="Raise"/>
<action name="Unshade"/>
</mousebind>
<mousebind button="Left" action="Click">
<action name="ToggleMaximizeFull"/>
</mousebind>
<mousebind button="Middle" action="Click">
<action name="ToggleMaximizeVert"/>
</mousebind>
<mousebind button="Right" action="Click">
<action name="ToggleMaximizeHorz"/>
</mousebind>
</context>
<context name="Close">
<mousebind button="Left" action="Press">
<action name="Focus"/>
<action name="Raise"/>
<action name="Unshade"/>
</mousebind>
<mousebind button="Left" action="Click">
<action name="Close"/>
</mousebind>
</context>
<context name="Desktop">
<mousebind button="Up" action="Click">
<action name="DesktopPrevious"/>
</mousebind>
<mousebind button="Down" action="Click">
<action name="DesktopNext"/>
</mousebind>
<mousebind button="A-Up" action="Click">
<action name="DesktopPrevious"/>
</mousebind>
<mousebind button="A-Down" action="Click">
<action name="DesktopNext"/>
</mousebind>
<mousebind button="C-A-Up" action="Click">
<action name="DesktopPrevious"/>
</mousebind>
<mousebind button="C-A-Down" action="Click">
<action name="DesktopNext"/>
</mousebind>
<mousebind button="Left" action="Press">
<action name="Focus"/>
<action name="Raise"/>
</mousebind>
<mousebind button="Right" action="Press">
<action name="Focus"/>
<action name="Raise"/>
</mousebind>
</context>
<context name="Root">

<mousebind button="Middle" action="Press">
<action name="ShowMenu">
<menu>client-list-combined-menu</menu>
</action>
</mousebind>
<mousebind button="Right" action="Press">
<action name="ShowMenu">
<menu>root-menu</menu>
</action>
</mousebind>
</context>
<context name="MoveResize">
<mousebind button="Up" action="Click">
<action name="DesktopPrevious"/>
</mousebind>
<mousebind button="Down" action="Click">
<action name="DesktopNext"/>
</mousebind>
<mousebind button="A-Up" action="Click">
<action name="DesktopPrevious"/>
</mousebind>
<mousebind button="A-Down" action="Click">
<action name="DesktopNext"/>
</mousebind>
</context>
</mouse>
<menu>


<file>menu.xml</file>
<hideDelay>200</hideDelay>

<middle>no</middle>

<submenuShowDelay>100</submenuShowDelay>

<applicationIcons>yes</applicationIcons>

<manageDesktops>yes</manageDesktops>

</menu>
<applications>
<application name="RootURxvt">
<decor>no</decor>
<focus>yes</focus>
<position>
<x>0</x>
<y>0</y>
</position>
<desktop>all</desktop>
<maximized>false</maximized>
<skip_taskbar>true</skip_taskbar>
<layer>below</layer>
</application>
</applications>
</openbox_config>
Finally I added this to the .config/openbox/autostart.sh:
urxvt -name RootURxvt &
and hoped that on restart I will have nice pseudo-transparent urxvt on the background...It worked for a while but after another fiddling with rc.xml and .Xdefaults and restarting X it simply stopped working and the "RootURxvt" simply looks like normal urxvt without decor. I browsed the forums, tried "xrdb -merge" and restaring X and looked on the .Xdefaults and rc.xml files million times but I can't find what's wrong.
I could appreciate any help, I'm new to all this X resource stuff, maybe I just made some braindead mistake
Thanks in advance!
Last edited by martbab (2009-10-03 17:09:36)

Well, I didn't consider it, because I thought that for my application (borderless urxvt terminal embedded in background below all other app windows) the pseudo-transparency aka. "Inherit Pixmap" function implemented in urxvt (I hope I got that right ) could be sufficient.
I also thought that creating a new name "RootURxvt" in the class "URxvt" in the .Xdefaults file would allow me to have two types of urxvt terms running (terminal in the root window and normal "opaque" windowed terminals).
the similar thing is in the post #12 of this thread http://bbs.archlinux.org/viewtopic.php?id=45382 but only with geometry settings.

[SOLVED] desktop effects and compiz

Hello all,
Recently rebuilt my system with Arch 32, had 64 on it and mucked it up. Everything appears to be running smoothly, at least as can be. I do have a few questions regarding compiz and other desktop effects.
Whenever I run compiz, it will eventually crash, stripping all borders off windows and I cannot do anything, cannot click anywhere, though I can navigate any open apps on my desktop, just cant bring down menus or such. the only way to fix is a reboot, and a good thing I have been keeping terminal up.
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--nixIT
Last edited by nixIT (2010-11-10 20:20:21)

nixIT wrote:Which brings me to my second question, I have my terminal set to a transparent background, however, the background in terminal is only semi/quasi transparent, meaning my desktop shows through the window, which is great, but when I move the terminal windows over another window, Firefox or Chromium for that matter, the browser doesn't show through terminal but instead my desktop still shows through the terminal. My ubuntu system at work works as expected, meaning when I drag my terminal over other windows, the windows show through the terminal not my desktop. Is there a setting in Arch that I'm missing, or do you know if Ubuntu does some other smoke and mirrors trick?
It sounds like your terminal is using fake transparency i.e. reproducing the desktop background while true transparency is using ARGB visuals (and needs a compositor WM).
If you want your terminal to be truly transparent and it doesn't provide an ARGB visuals option, you need to set a custom matching rule in compiz.

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http://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/windowsserver/en-US/9e26b0d5-e586-45b6-91bf-540a72dd36fc/on-windows-server-2012-r2-the-show-my-desktop-background-on-start-is-grayed-out?forum=winservergen
http://WrinkleFreeIT.com/

Deleting files out of system preferences desktop background.

Does anyone know how to delete files out of system preferences>desktop & screen saver?
Some how when adding one photo to the file for the desktop background it took the entire photo file. So that instead of one photo for the file it has over 200 now. Read everything and tried everything. Still can't figure out how to delete that file from the list.
I know how to add photos or whatever to use as desktop background just no idea how to remove them from the list.
Any ideas?

Doug,
When you go to system preferences>desktop & screen savers>desktop. On the left is a window with the names of the images listed. Apple Images, Nature file, Plants file, Picture Folder, Choose Folder and so forth. The ones that come with Apple products. Not sure what all else is native to Apple.
Iv been using my own desktop background since the day I got the iBook. Normally I just get one photo or image and more it there to use. But, last week I did something different or wrong. Maybe holding a button to long, not sure. Instead of moving the one photo it moved the entire photo file. That file had over 200 (2,500x1,800 in size & over 550KB for each) and probably closer to 250 photos in it.
Way to many to be there. And I simply can't find a way to remove that file from the desktop list. I can high light it, but it doesn't delete with the delete button. I can high light it, but it doesn't change anything in system preferences banner to edit, view, etc....to remove it either. It won't click & drag to trash.
Being very careful because I don't want to delete the file and by error delete it totally off the computer. I could creat a new file with only 1 photo in it for use as the desktop background. Then try to choose that file. However, since the last big OS-X update it's been doing this. Everytime I choose a file or photo it's adding the entire file not just the 1 photo. And Iv managed to add 3 files so far to that list.
Any ideas? Thx, Mike

How to change desktop background in AppleScript in 10.7?

I'm just now upgrading from 10.6 to 10.7, and I'm having trouble with a script that I wrote that worked fine under 10.6. In part, it executes the following command:
 osascript -e "tell application \"Finder\" to set destop picture to POSIX file \"<path>\""
to change the desktop background image to one of two different files based on other conditions.
In 10.7, this command completes with no error code, but it only changes the background of one of my four desktops. Is there a way to programmatically change the background image of all of my desktops simultaneously? Failing that, is there a way to a) find out how many desktops I have and b) loop through them, setting each of their backgrounds in turn?
I did search the web and found the following suggestion:
 osascript -e "tell application \"System Events\" to set picture of every desktop to \"<path>\""
Unfortunately, that also changes only the current desktop's picture.
The larger script is in Perl, so I'd prefer a technology that works well with that language, but if I have to change to a different scripting language, that's not the end of the world.
Thanks much for any suggestions!
Richard

Actually, “repeat with k from 18 to (18 + N - 1)” was not a good idea, since it works only with N < 5, as I discovered after posting the script.
So here's an improved version of the previous script that should work with any number of desktops:
set theFile to POSIX file "/Library/Desktop Pictures/Isles.jpg" -- just an example
-- Find out how many desktops you have:
tell application "System Preferences"
 reveal anchor "shortcutsTab" of pane id "com.apple.preference.keyboard"
 tell application "System Events" to tell window "Keyboard" of process "System Preferences"
 set N to count (UI elements of rows of outline 1 of scroll area 2 of splitter group 1 of tab group 1 whose name begins with "Switch to Desktop")
 end tell
 quit
end tell
-- Loop through the desktops, setting each of their backgrounds in turn:
tell application "System Events" to key code 18 using {control down} -- Desktop 1
tell application "Finder" to set desktop picture to theFile
repeat (N - 1) times
 delay 1
 tell application "System Events" to key code 124 using {control down} -- ⌘→
 delay 1
 tell application "Finder" to set desktop picture to theFile
end repeat

I have an older Macbook pro with a dvi output and I want to watch movies on my tv. I have a dvi to hdmi cable but the only image I get on my TV is my desktop background. None of my movie players with appear on the TV screen. What am I doing wrong?

I have an older Macbook pro with a dvi output and I want to watch movies on my tv. I have a dvi to hdmi cable but the only image I get on my TV is my desktop background. None of my movie players with appear on the TV screen. What am I doing wrong?

Hi Maryan,
Open System Preferences > Displays > select the window for you external monitor > click on the Arrangement tab and check the box next to Mirror Displays. It may be slightly different in Lion, but the idea is the same.

I'm trying to hook up my Macbook Pro to my TV. I'm using the 'mini-display port to female HDMI" adapter. all i can see is my desktop background. no folders or icons and when i play a movie it goes blank.

I'm trying to hook up my Macbook Pro to my TV. I'm using the 'mini-display port to female HDMI" adapter. all i can see is my desktop background. no folders or icons and when i play a movie it goes blank.

Drag applications from your main desktop off the right side of the screen and they will appear on the TV. This is the extended desktop mode.
Regards,
Captfred

HT2478 how do you make the setting to change desktop background every time you shut down your mac

how to make setting to change desktop background every time you close your mac
because i want to make it if anybody tries to change my dekstop picture i want it to go backto set desktop picture

Don't let other people access your Mac in admin mode - they might change something a lot more important than the Desktop picture.
However you can use Automator: create an Application in it, and select 'Set the Desktop Picture' from the Library. Choose the picture you want. Save the application, then go to System Preferences>Accounts>Login Items and select the Automator application you just created. This will then run at startup and set your chosen picture.

How to block changes of desktop background image

I manage a 30-computer Mac lab in a public high school and I would like to prevent users from changing the desktop background image.
As far as I know, there are two ways to change the desktop background image: through System Preferences and by right-clicking an image and selecting Set Desktop Picture.
Blocking System Preferences is easily done through Parental Controls.
But how do I prevent the right-click, Set Desktop Picture method of changing the desktop image?
You can imagine the kinds of images that end up as desktop backgrounds in a high school computer lab.

You might try going to System Preferences > Keyboard > Keyboard Shortcuts. In the left pane select Services, then uncheck the item "Set Desktop Picture" under Pictures in the right pane. Once that's done, block that prefs pane.

Change Desktop background from another account ?

Hi Guys,
Just wondering if it's possible to change a desktop background from another account on the same machine.
I'm running 10.6.8, and there's no particular reason for doing this at present, but we do have a couple of work machines where the user has been restricted from making changes to the machine, and it'd be easier to do this from the administrator account.
Also, is it possible to change a desktop background via Apple's remote desktop?
Thanx in advance.

This same thing happens to me, and while not the end of the world, it is defintely annoying. Have you figured it out? Thanks!

I am using Firefox 3.5.9 in Linux Gnome and need to remove the "Set As Desktop Background" from the right click menu or at least disable the users ability to change it from Firefox as I am running a kiosk.

USeing Suse Linux Enterprise Desktop 11SP1 with gnome desktop and Firefox 3.5.9. I have created a firefox user profile and need to remove or restrict the ablitiy of the users to change the desktop background.

See http://kb.mozillazine.org/Chrome_element_names_and_IDs
Add the code to [http://kb.mozillazine.org/UserChrome.css userChrome.css] below the @namespace line.
<pre><nowiki>#context-setDesktopBackground {display:none!important;}
</nowiki></pre>
See also http://kb.mozillazine.org/Editing_configuration

Autostart urxvt as desktop background in compiz

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