Hacking conky's own_window_type desktop to run on one virtual desktop

Question

Since I have no dual screen setup (just a laptop) I'd like to use my virtual desktops to run different conky instances on (almost) every virtual desktop. I tried to accomplish this by using own_window_type normal in conky, and that works - until I call the desktop, then it just minimises like a regular app. That's not what I want.
People in #conky suggested I use the if_match functionality in conky, so I can keep using the own_window_type desktop setting, but that does not solve my issue since you cannot define different conky window sizes in one configuration file. I checked in with #openbox and they told me essentially Conky should not display on every virtual desktop (and frankly they have a point, since you can tell e.g. Openbox to sticky an app on every virtual desktop). However, one would need to hack the code for that (specifically the stuff that takes care of putting the desktop window type on every virtual desktop). That's where you guys come in, since my C knowledge is close to non-existent .
I was told to look at x11.c and specifically the init_window() function but I'm at loss where to start...
/* -*- mode: c; c-basic-offset: 4; tab-width: 4; indent-tabs-mode: t -*-
* vim: ts=4 sw=4 noet ai cindent syntax=c
* Conky, a system monitor, based on torsmo
* Any original torsmo code is licensed under the BSD license
* All code written since the fork of torsmo is licensed under the GPL
* Please see COPYING for details
* Copyright (c) 2004, Hannu Saransaari and Lauri Hakkarainen
* Copyright (c) 2005-2010 Brenden Matthews, Philip Kovacs, et. al.
* (see AUTHORS)
* All rights reserved.
* This program is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify
* it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by
* the Free Software Foundation, either version 3 of the License, or
* (at your option) any later version.
* This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
* but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
* MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. See the
* GNU General Public License for more details.
* You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License
* along with this program. If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
#include "config.h"
#include "conky.h"
#include "logging.h"
#include "common.h"
#include "x11.h"
#include <X11/Xlib.h>
#include <X11/Xatom.h>
#include <X11/Xmd.h>
#include <X11/Xutil.h>
#ifdef IMLIB2
#include "imlib2.h"
#endif /* IMLIB2 */
#ifdef XFT
#include <X11/Xft/Xft.h>
int use_xft = 0;
#endif
#ifdef HAVE_XDBE
int use_xdbe;
#endif
#ifdef USE_ARGB
int use_argb_visual;
int have_argb_visual;
#endif /* USE_ARGB */
int own_window_argb_value;
/* some basic X11 stuff */
Display *display = NULL;
int display_width;
int display_height;
int screen;
static int set_transparent;
static int background_colour;
/* workarea from _NET_WORKAREA, this is where window / text is aligned */
int workarea[4];
/* Window stuff */
struct conky_window window;
char window_created = 0;
/* local prototypes */
static void update_workarea(void);
static Window find_desktop_window(Window *p_root, Window *p_desktop);
static Window find_subwindow(Window win, int w, int h);
/* X11 initializer */
void init_X11(const char *disp)
if (!display) {
if ((display = XOpenDisplay(disp)) == NULL) {
CRIT_ERR(NULL, NULL, "can't open display: %s", XDisplayName(disp));
screen = DefaultScreen(display);
display_width = DisplayWidth(display, screen);
display_height = DisplayHeight(display, screen);
get_x11_desktop_info(display, 0);
update_workarea();
static void update_workarea(void)
/* default work area is display */
workarea[0] = 0;
workarea[1] = 0;
workarea[2] = display_width;
workarea[3] = display_height;
/* Find root window and desktop window.
* Return desktop window on success,
* and set root and desktop byref return values.
* Return 0 on failure. */
static Window find_desktop_window(Window *p_root, Window *p_desktop)
Atom type;
int format, i;
unsigned long nitems, bytes;
unsigned int n;
Window root = RootWindow(display, screen);
Window win = root;
Window troot, parent, *children;
unsigned char *buf = NULL;
if (!p_root || !p_desktop) {
return 0;
/* some window managers set __SWM_VROOT to some child of root window */
XQueryTree(display, root, &troot, &parent, &children, &n);
for (i = 0; i < (int) n; i++) {
if (XGetWindowProperty(display, children[i], ATOM(__SWM_VROOT), 0, 1,
False, XA_WINDOW, &type, &format, &nitems, &bytes, &buf)
== Success && type == XA_WINDOW) {
win = *(Window *) buf;
XFree(buf);
XFree(children);
fprintf(stderr,
PACKAGE_NAME": desktop window (%lx) found from __SWM_VROOT property\n",
win);
fflush(stderr);
*p_root = win;
*p_desktop = win;
return win;
if (buf) {
XFree(buf);
buf = 0;
XFree(children);
/* get subwindows from root */
win = find_subwindow(root, -1, -1);
update_workarea();
win = find_subwindow(win, workarea[2], workarea[3]);
if (buf) {
XFree(buf);
buf = 0;
if (win != root) {
fprintf(stderr,
PACKAGE_NAME": desktop window (%lx) is subwindow of root window (%lx)\n",
win, root);
} else {
fprintf(stderr, PACKAGE_NAME": desktop window (%lx) is root window\n", win);
fflush(stderr);
*p_root = root;
*p_desktop = win;
return win;
static int colour_set = -1;
/* if no argb visual is configured sets background to ParentRelative for the Window and all parents,
else real transparency is used */
void set_transparent_background(Window win, int alpha)
(void)alpha; /* disable warnings when unused */
#ifdef USE_ARGB
if (have_argb_visual) {
// real transparency
if (set_transparent) {
XSetWindowBackground(display, win, 0x00);
} else if (colour_set != background_colour) {
XSetWindowBackground(display, win,
background_colour | (alpha << 24));
colour_set = background_colour;
} else {
#endif /* USE_ARGB */
// pseudo transparency
if (set_transparent) {
Window parent = win;
unsigned int i;
for (i = 0; i < 50 && parent != RootWindow(display, screen); i++) {
Window r, *children;
unsigned int n;
XSetWindowBackgroundPixmap(display, parent, ParentRelative);
XQueryTree(display, parent, &r, &parent, &children, &n);
XFree(children);
} else if (colour_set != background_colour) {
XSetWindowBackground(display, win, background_colour);
colour_set = background_colour;
#ifdef USE_ARGB
#endif /* USE_ARGB */
#ifdef USE_ARGB
static int get_argb_visual(Visual** visual, int *depth) {
/* code from gtk project, gdk_screen_get_rgba_visual */
XVisualInfo visual_template;
XVisualInfo *visual_list;
int nxvisuals = 0, i;
visual_template.screen = screen;
visual_list = XGetVisualInfo (display, VisualScreenMask,
&visual_template, &nxvisuals);
for (i = 0; i < nxvisuals; i++) {
if (visual_list[i].depth == 32 &&
(visual_list[i].red_mask == 0xff0000 &&
visual_list[i].green_mask == 0x00ff00 &&
visual_list[i].blue_mask == 0x0000ff)) {
*visual = visual_list[i].visual;
*depth = visual_list[i].depth;
DBGP("Found ARGB Visual");
XFree(visual_list);
return 1;
// no argb visual available
DBGP("No ARGB Visual found");
XFree(visual_list);
return 0;
#endif /* USE_ARGB */
void destroy_window(void)
#ifdef XFT
if(window.xftdraw) {
XftDrawDestroy(window.xftdraw);
#endif
if(window.gc) {
XFreeGC(display, window.gc);
memset(&window, 0, sizeof(struct conky_window));
colour_set = -1;
void init_window(int own_window, int w, int h, int set_trans, int back_colour,
char **argv, int argc)
/* There seems to be some problems with setting transparent background
* (on fluxbox this time). It doesn't happen always and I don't know why it
* happens but I bet the bug is somewhere here. */
set_transparent = set_trans;
background_colour = back_colour;
window_created = 1;
#ifdef OWN_WINDOW
if (own_window) {
int depth = 0, flags;
Visual *visual = NULL;
if (!find_desktop_window(&window.root, &window.desktop)) {
return;
#ifdef USE_ARGB
if (use_argb_visual && get_argb_visual(&visual, &depth)) {
have_argb_visual = 1;
window.visual = visual;
window.colourmap = XCreateColormap(display,
DefaultRootWindow(display), window.visual, AllocNone);
} else {
#endif /* USE_ARGB */
window.visual = DefaultVisual(display, screen);
window.colourmap = DefaultColormap(display, screen);
depth = CopyFromParent;
visual = CopyFromParent;
#ifdef USE_ARGB
#endif /* USE_ARGB */
if (window.type == TYPE_OVERRIDE) {
/* An override_redirect True window.
* No WM hints or button processing needed. */
XSetWindowAttributes attrs = { ParentRelative, 0L, 0, 0L, 0, 0,
Always, 0L, 0L, False, StructureNotifyMask | ExposureMask, 0L,
True, 0, 0 };
#ifdef USE_ARGB
if (have_argb_visual) {
attrs.colormap = window.colourmap;
flags = CWBorderPixel | CWColormap | CWOverrideRedirect;
} else {
#endif /* USE_ARGB */
flags = CWBackPixel | CWOverrideRedirect;
#ifdef USE_ARGB
#endif /* USE_ARGB */
/* Parent is desktop window (which might be a child of root) */
window.window = XCreateWindow(display, window.desktop, window.x,
window.y, w, h, 0, depth, InputOutput, visual,
flags, &attrs);
XLowerWindow(display, window.window);
fprintf(stderr, PACKAGE_NAME": window type - override\n");
fflush(stderr);
} else { /* window.type != TYPE_OVERRIDE */
/* A window managed by the window manager.
* Process hints and buttons. */
XSetWindowAttributes attrs = { ParentRelative, 0L, 0, 0L, 0, 0,
Always, 0L, 0L, False, StructureNotifyMask | ExposureMask |
ButtonPressMask | ButtonReleaseMask, 0L, False, 0, 0 };
XClassHint classHint;
XWMHints wmHint;
Atom xa;
#ifdef USE_ARGB
if (have_argb_visual) {
attrs.colormap = window.colourmap;
flags = CWBorderPixel | CWColormap | CWOverrideRedirect;
} else {
#endif /* USE_ARGB */
flags = CWBackPixel | CWOverrideRedirect;
#ifdef USE_ARGB
#endif /* USE_ARGB */
if (window.type == TYPE_DOCK) {
window.x = window.y = 0;
/* Parent is root window so WM can take control */
window.window = XCreateWindow(display, window.root, window.x,
window.y, w, h, 0, depth, InputOutput, visual,
flags, &attrs);
classHint.res_name = window.class_name;
classHint.res_class = classHint.res_name;
wmHint.flags = InputHint | StateHint;
/* allow decorated windows to be given input focus by WM */
wmHint.input =
TEST_HINT(window.hints, HINT_UNDECORATED) ? False : True;
if (window.type == TYPE_DOCK || window.type == TYPE_PANEL) {
wmHint.initial_state = WithdrawnState;
} else {
wmHint.initial_state = NormalState;
XmbSetWMProperties(display, window.window, NULL, NULL, argv,
argc, NULL, &wmHint, &classHint);
XStoreName(display, window.window, window.title);
/* Sets an empty WM_PROTOCOLS property */
XSetWMProtocols(display, window.window, NULL, 0);
/* Set window type */
if ((xa = ATOM(_NET_WM_WINDOW_TYPE)) != None) {
Atom prop;
switch (window.type) {
case TYPE_DESKTOP:
prop = ATOM(_NET_WM_WINDOW_TYPE_DESKTOP);
fprintf(stderr, PACKAGE_NAME": window type - desktop\n");
fflush(stderr);
break;
case TYPE_DOCK:
prop = ATOM(_NET_WM_WINDOW_TYPE_DOCK);
fprintf(stderr, PACKAGE_NAME": window type - dock\n");
fflush(stderr);
break;
case TYPE_PANEL:
prop = ATOM(_NET_WM_WINDOW_TYPE_DOCK);
fprintf(stderr, PACKAGE_NAME": window type - panel\n");
fflush(stderr);
break;
case TYPE_NORMAL:
default:
prop = ATOM(_NET_WM_WINDOW_TYPE_NORMAL);
fprintf(stderr, PACKAGE_NAME": window type - normal\n");
fflush(stderr);
break;
XChangeProperty(display, window.window, xa, XA_ATOM, 32,
PropModeReplace, (unsigned char *) &prop, 1);
/* Set desired hints */
/* Window decorations */
if (TEST_HINT(window.hints, HINT_UNDECORATED)) {
/* fprintf(stderr, PACKAGE_NAME": hint - undecorated\n");
fflush(stderr); */
xa = ATOM(_MOTIF_WM_HINTS);
if (xa != None) {
long prop[5] = { 2, 0, 0, 0, 0 };
XChangeProperty(display, window.window, xa, xa, 32,
PropModeReplace, (unsigned char *) prop, 5);
/* Below other windows */
if (TEST_HINT(window.hints, HINT_BELOW)) {
/* fprintf(stderr, PACKAGE_NAME": hint - below\n");
fflush(stderr); */
xa = ATOM(_WIN_LAYER);
if (xa != None) {
long prop = 0;
XChangeProperty(display, window.window, xa, XA_CARDINAL, 32,
PropModeAppend, (unsigned char *) &prop, 1);
xa = ATOM(_NET_WM_STATE);
if (xa != None) {
Atom xa_prop = ATOM(_NET_WM_STATE_BELOW);
XChangeProperty(display, window.window, xa, XA_ATOM, 32,
PropModeAppend, (unsigned char *) &xa_prop, 1);
/* Above other windows */
if (TEST_HINT(window.hints, HINT_ABOVE)) {
/* fprintf(stderr, PACKAGE_NAME": hint - above\n");
fflush(stderr); */
xa = ATOM(_WIN_LAYER);
if (xa != None) {
long prop = 6;
XChangeProperty(display, window.window, xa, XA_CARDINAL, 32,
PropModeAppend, (unsigned char *) &prop, 1);
xa = ATOM(_NET_WM_STATE);
if (xa != None) {
Atom xa_prop = ATOM(_NET_WM_STATE_ABOVE);
XChangeProperty(display, window.window, xa, XA_ATOM, 32,
PropModeAppend, (unsigned char *) &xa_prop, 1);
/* Sticky */
if (TEST_HINT(window.hints, HINT_STICKY)) {
/* fprintf(stderr, PACKAGE_NAME": hint - sticky\n");
fflush(stderr); */
xa = ATOM(_NET_WM_DESKTOP);
if (xa != None) {
CARD32 xa_prop = 0xFFFFFFFF;
XChangeProperty(display, window.window, xa, XA_CARDINAL, 32,
PropModeAppend, (unsigned char *) &xa_prop, 1);
xa = ATOM(_NET_WM_STATE);
if (xa != None) {
Atom xa_prop = ATOM(_NET_WM_STATE_STICKY);
XChangeProperty(display, window.window, xa, XA_ATOM, 32,
PropModeAppend, (unsigned char *) &xa_prop, 1);
/* Skip taskbar */
if (TEST_HINT(window.hints, HINT_SKIP_TASKBAR)) {
/* fprintf(stderr, PACKAGE_NAME": hint - skip_taskbar\n");
fflush(stderr); */
xa = ATOM(_NET_WM_STATE);
if (xa != None) {
Atom xa_prop = ATOM(_NET_WM_STATE_SKIP_TASKBAR);
XChangeProperty(display, window.window, xa, XA_ATOM, 32,
PropModeAppend, (unsigned char *) &xa_prop, 1);
/* Skip pager */
if (TEST_HINT(window.hints, HINT_SKIP_PAGER)) {
/* fprintf(stderr, PACKAGE_NAME": hint - skip_pager\n");
fflush(stderr); */
xa = ATOM(_NET_WM_STATE);
if (xa != None) {
Atom xa_prop = ATOM(_NET_WM_STATE_SKIP_PAGER);
XChangeProperty(display, window.window, xa, XA_ATOM, 32,
PropModeAppend, (unsigned char *) &xa_prop, 1);
fprintf(stderr, PACKAGE_NAME": drawing to created window (0x%lx)\n",
window.window);
fflush(stderr);
XMapWindow(display, window.window);
} else
#endif /* OWN_WINDOW */
XWindowAttributes attrs;
if (!window.window) {
window.window = find_desktop_window(&window.root, &window.desktop);
window.visual = DefaultVisual(display, screen);
window.colourmap = DefaultColormap(display, screen);
if (XGetWindowAttributes(display, window.window, &attrs)) {
window.width = attrs.width;
window.height = attrs.height;
fprintf(stderr, PACKAGE_NAME": drawing to desktop window\n");
/* Drawable is same as window. This may be changed by double buffering. */
window.drawable = window.window;
#ifdef HAVE_XDBE
if (use_xdbe) {
int major, minor;
if (!XdbeQueryExtension(display, &major, &minor)) {
use_xdbe = 0;
} else {
window.back_buffer = XdbeAllocateBackBufferName(display,
window.window, XdbeBackground);
if (window.back_buffer != None) {
window.drawable = window.back_buffer;
fprintf(stderr, PACKAGE_NAME": drawing to double buffer\n");
} else {
use_xdbe = 0;
if (!use_xdbe) {
NORM_ERR("failed to set up double buffer");
if (!use_xdbe) {
fprintf(stderr, PACKAGE_NAME": drawing to single buffer\n");
#endif
#ifdef IMLIB2
cimlib_init(display, window.drawable, window.visual, window.colourmap);
#endif /* IMLIB2 */
XFlush(display);
XSelectInput(display, window.window, ExposureMask | PropertyChangeMask
#ifdef OWN_WINDOW
| (own_window ? (StructureNotifyMask |
ButtonPressMask | ButtonReleaseMask) : 0)
#endif
static Window find_subwindow(Window win, int w, int h)
unsigned int i, j;
Window troot, parent, *children;
unsigned int n;
/* search subwindows with same size as display or work area */
for (i = 0; i < 10; i++) {
XQueryTree(display, win, &troot, &parent, &children, &n);
for (j = 0; j < n; j++) {
XWindowAttributes attrs;
if (XGetWindowAttributes(display, children[j], &attrs)) {
/* Window must be mapped and same size as display or
* work space */
if (attrs.map_state != 0 && ((attrs.width == display_width
&& attrs.height == display_height)
|| (attrs.width == w && attrs.height == h))) {
win = children[j];
break;
XFree(children);
if (j == n) {
break;
return win;
void create_gc(void)
XGCValues values;
values.graphics_exposures = 0;
values.function = GXcopy;
window.gc = XCreateGC(display, window.drawable,
GCFunction | GCGraphicsExposures, &values);
//Get current desktop number
static inline void get_x11_desktop_current(Display *current_display, Window root, Atom atom)
Atom actual_type;
int actual_format;
unsigned long nitems;
unsigned long bytes_after;
unsigned char *prop = NULL;
struct information *current_info = &info;
if (atom == None) return;
if ( (XGetWindowProperty( current_display, root, atom,
0, 1L, False, XA_CARDINAL,
&actual_type, &actual_format, &nitems,
&bytes_after, &prop ) == Success ) &&
(actual_type == XA_CARDINAL) &&
(nitems == 1L) && (actual_format == 32) ) {
current_info->x11.desktop.current = prop[0]+1;
if(prop) {
XFree(prop);
//Get total number of available desktops
static inline void get_x11_desktop_number(Display *current_display, Window root, Atom atom)
Atom actual_type;
int actual_format;
unsigned long nitems;
unsigned long bytes_after;
unsigned char *prop = NULL;
struct information *current_info = &info;
if (atom == None) return;
if ( (XGetWindowProperty( current_display, root, atom,
0, 1L, False, XA_CARDINAL,
&actual_type, &actual_format, &nitems,
&bytes_after, &prop ) == Success ) &&
(actual_type == XA_CARDINAL) &&
(nitems == 1L) && (actual_format == 32) ) {
current_info->x11.desktop.number = prop[0];
if(prop) {
XFree(prop);
//Get all desktop names
static inline void get_x11_desktop_names(Display *current_display, Window root, Atom atom)
Atom actual_type;
int actual_format;
unsigned long nitems;
unsigned long bytes_after;
unsigned char *prop = NULL;
struct information *current_info = &info;
if (atom == None) return;
if ( (XGetWindowProperty( current_display, root, atom,
0, (~0L), False, ATOM(UTF8_STRING),
&actual_type, &actual_format, &nitems,
&bytes_after, &prop ) == Success ) &&
(actual_type == ATOM(UTF8_STRING)) &&
(nitems > 0L) && (actual_format == 8) ) {
if(current_info->x11.desktop.all_names) {
free(current_info->x11.desktop.all_names);
current_info->x11.desktop.all_names = NULL;
current_info->x11.desktop.all_names = malloc(nitems*sizeof(char));
memcpy(current_info->x11.desktop.all_names, prop, nitems);
current_info->x11.desktop.nitems = nitems;
if(prop) {
XFree(prop);
//Get current desktop name
static inline void get_x11_desktop_current_name(char *names)
struct information *current_info = &info;
unsigned int i = 0, j = 0;
int k = 0;
while ( i < current_info->x11.desktop.nitems ) {
if ( names[i++] == '\0' ) {
if ( ++k == current_info->x11.desktop.current ) {
if (current_info->x11.desktop.name) {
free(current_info->x11.desktop.name);
current_info->x11.desktop.name = NULL;
current_info->x11.desktop.name = malloc((i-j)*sizeof(char));
//desktop names can be empty but should always be not null
strcpy( current_info->x11.desktop.name, (char *)&names[j] );
break;
j = i;
void get_x11_desktop_info(Display *current_display, Atom atom)
Window root;
static Atom atom_current, atom_number, atom_names;
struct information *current_info = &info;
XWindowAttributes window_attributes;
root = RootWindow(current_display, current_info->x11.monitor.current);
/* Check if we initialise else retrieve changed property */
if (atom == 0) {
atom_current = XInternAtom(current_display, "_NET_CURRENT_DESKTOP", True);
atom_number = XInternAtom(current_display, "_NET_NUMBER_OF_DESKTOPS", True);
atom_names = XInternAtom(current_display, "_NET_DESKTOP_NAMES", True);
get_x11_desktop_current(current_display, root, atom_current);
get_x11_desktop_number(current_display, root, atom_number);
get_x11_desktop_names(current_display, root, atom_names);
get_x11_desktop_current_name(current_info->x11.desktop.all_names);
/* Set the PropertyChangeMask on the root window, if not set */
XGetWindowAttributes(display, root, &window_attributes);
if (!(window_attributes.your_event_mask & PropertyChangeMask)) {
XSetWindowAttributes attributes;
attributes.event_mask = window_attributes.your_event_mask | PropertyChangeMask;
XChangeWindowAttributes(display, root, CWEventMask, &attributes);
XGetWindowAttributes(display, root, &window_attributes);
} else {
if (atom == atom_current) {
get_x11_desktop_current(current_display, root, atom_current);
get_x11_desktop_current_name(current_info->x11.desktop.all_names);
} else if (atom == atom_number) {
get_x11_desktop_number(current_display, root, atom_number);
} else if (atom == atom_names) {
get_x11_desktop_names(current_display, root, atom_names);
get_x11_desktop_current_name(current_info->x11.desktop.all_names);
void update_x11info(void)
struct information *current_info = &info;
if (x_initialised != YES)
return;
current_info->x11.monitor.number = XScreenCount(display);
current_info->x11.monitor.current = XDefaultScreen(display);
#ifdef OWN_WINDOW
/* reserve window manager space */
void set_struts(int sidenum)
Atom strut;
if ((strut = ATOM(_NET_WM_STRUT)) != None) {
/* reserve space at left, right, top, bottom */
signed long sizes[12] = {0};
int i;
/* define strut depth */
switch (sidenum) {
case 0:
/* left side */
sizes[0] = window.x + window.width;
break;
case 1:
/* right side */
sizes[1] = display_width - window.x;
break;
case 2:
/* top side */
sizes[2] = window.y + window.height;
break;
case 3:
/* bottom side */
sizes[3] = display_height - window.y;
break;
/* define partial strut length */
if (sidenum <= 1) {
sizes[4 + (sidenum*2)] = window.y;
sizes[5 + (sidenum*2)] = window.y + window.height;
} else if (sidenum <= 3) {
sizes[4 + (sidenum*2)] = window.x;
sizes[5 + (sidenum*2)] = window.x + window.width;
/* check constraints */
for (i = 0; i < 12; i++) {
if (sizes[i] < 0) {
sizes[i] = 0;
} else {
if (i <= 1 || i >= 8) {
if (sizes[i] > display_width) {
sizes[i] = display_width;
} else {
if (sizes[i] > display_height) {
sizes[i] = display_height;
XChangeProperty(display, window.window, strut, XA_CARDINAL, 32,
PropModeReplace, (unsigned char *) &sizes, 4);
if ((strut = ATOM(_NET_WM_STRUT_PARTIAL)) != None) {
XChangeProperty(display, window.window, strut, XA_CARDINAL, 32,
PropModeReplace, (unsigned char *) &sizes, 12);
#endif /* OWN_WINDOW */
#ifdef HAVE_XDBE
void xdbe_swap_buffers(void)
if (use_xdbe) {
XdbeSwapInfo swap;
swap.swap_window = window.window;
swap.swap_action = XdbeBackground;
XdbeSwapBuffers(display, &swap, 1);
#endif /* HAVE_XDBE */
I guess this is one of the important bits:
switch (window.type) {
case TYPE_DESKTOP:
prop = ATOM(_NET_WM_WINDOW_TYPE_DESKTOP);
fprintf(stderr, PACKAGE_NAME": window type - desktop\n");
fflush(stderr);
break;
Reading the NET_WM spec (which all major WMs use as the standard more or less) does not tell me anything meaningful (at least not for me ):
_NET_WM_WINDOW_TYPE_DESKTOP indicates a desktop feature. This can include a single window containing desktop icons with the same dimensions as the screen, allowing the desktop environment to have full control of the desktop, without the need for proxying root window clicks.
If anyone could tell me what to replace, that would be great .

Answer 1

Hi lewisspindlove,
Thanks for your input,
it doesn't happen when i have my desktop in a "single picture" mode, and,
it doesn't happen on other accounts, because besides mine(Admin), there is only
the Guest account and this does not occur on that account.
I tried your method of removing the wallpapers folder from Libary, then I
noticed that the computer will select ANY image which I last used when in
"single picture" mode, not "Change picture every 5mins" mode.
For example, let's say I have a picture which I saved in the Documents folder,
and I use that in "single picture" mode; after which I revert back to the folder which contains the pictures I want for "Change picture every 5mins" mode (which is stored somewhere else).
If i go to the Login window & log back in again, the computer selects the picture
I last used (the one in the Documents folder) as my background, BUT, after 5mins the picture changes to the ones I'm using for "Change picture every 5mins".
I hope I'm not confusing everyone!
This is a complicated & weird but ANNOYING problem!
Any ideas if an Archive & Install would help? Does that erase all of my stored data on my HDD?