[SOLVED] lxde+openbox+urxvt = can't get a transparent terminal

Question

I've been trying to get urxvt fully transparent and maximized every spare time i have after work. But now i'm just wasting time, since it won't work no matter what. My first attempt was to read the wiki: http://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Openbox (urxvt) that didn't work at all for me, then I resorted to a quick search on the forum, found various links: http://bbs.archlinux.org/viewtopic.php?id=64898 & http://bbs.archlinux.org/viewtopic.php?id=64459 with peeps having the same issues like I did, or almost. But alas that didn't work either.
I can move around the terminal urxvt window/border, but it's not transparent, and it's NOT covering my entire screen like it's suppose to.
Any ideas?
Last edited by greenfish (2009-05-04 10:34:43)

Answer 1

brisbin33 wrote:
for transparency:
are you running xcompmgr?  do you have composite enabled in xorg.conf?
for maximized:
please post the relevant snippets you're trying in .config/openbox/rc.xml and any info you've placed in .Xdefaults.
Hello brisbin33, cheers for the prompt reply!
are you running xcompmgr?
yes, I use it for shades around my borders
do you have composite enabled in xorg.conf?
I don't use xorg.conf at all, I rely completly on input hotplugging through xorg-server and HAL, btw I was under the impression xorg-server (input hotplugging) completly ignores your xorg.conf if it's set to use HAL as autodection?
please post the relevant snippets you're trying in .config/openbox/rc.xml and any info you've placed in .Xdefaults
My .config/openbox/lxde-rc.xml:
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<!-- Do not edit this file, it will be overwritten on install.
Copy the file to $HOME/.config/openbox/ instead. -->
<openbox_config xmlns="http://openbox.org/3.4/rc">
<resistance>
<strength>10</strength>
<screen_edge_strength>20</screen_edge_strength>
</resistance>
<focus>
<focusNew>yes</focusNew>
<!-- always try to focus new windows when they appear. other rules do
apply -->
<followMouse>no</followMouse>
<!-- move focus to a window when you move the mouse into it -->
<focusLast>yes</focusLast>
<!-- focus the last used window when changing desktops, instead of the one
under the mouse pointer. when followMouse is enabled -->
<underMouse>no</underMouse>
<!-- move focus under the mouse, even when the mouse is not moving -->
<focusDelay>200</focusDelay>
<!-- when followMouse is enabled, the mouse must be inside the window for
this many milliseconds (1000 = 1 sec) before moving focus to it -->
<raiseOnFocus>no</raiseOnFocus>
<!-- when followMouse is enabled, and a window is given focus by moving the
mouse into it, also raise the window -->
</focus>
<placement>
<policy>Smart</policy>
<!-- 'Smart' or 'UnderMouse' -->
<center>yes</center>
<!-- whether to place windows in the center of the free area found or
the top left corner -->
<monitor>Any</monitor>
<!-- with Smart placement on a multi-monitor system, try to place new windows
on: 'Any' - any monitor, 'Mouse' - where the mouse is, 'Active' - where
the active window is -->
</placement>
<theme>
<name>Bear2</name>
<titleLayout>NLIMC</titleLayout>
<!--
available characters are NDSLIMC, each can occur at most once.
N: window icon
L: window label (AKA title).
I: iconify
M: maximize
C: close
S: shade (roll up/down)
D: omnipresent (on all desktops).
-->
<keepBorder>yes</keepBorder>
<animateIconify>yes</animateIconify>
<font place="ActiveWindow">
<name>sans</name>
<size>10</size>
<!-- font size in points -->
<weight>bold</weight>
<!-- 'bold' or 'normal' -->
<slant>normal</slant>
<!-- 'italic' or 'normal' -->
</font>
<font place="InactiveWindow">
<name>sans</name>
<size>10</size>
<!-- font size in points -->
<weight>bold</weight>
<!-- 'bold' or 'normal' -->
<slant>normal</slant>
<!-- 'italic' or 'normal' -->
</font>
<font place="MenuHeader">
<name>sans</name>
<size>10</size>
<!-- font size in points -->
<weight>normal</weight>
<!-- 'bold' or 'normal' -->
<slant>normal</slant>
<!-- 'italic' or 'normal' -->
</font>
<font place="MenuItem">
<name>sans</name>
<size>10</size>
<!-- font size in points -->
<weight>normal</weight>
<!-- 'bold' or 'normal' -->
<slant>normal</slant>
<!-- 'italic' or 'normal' -->
</font>
<font place="OnScreenDisplay">
<name>sans</name>
<size>10</size>
<!-- font size in points -->
<weight>bold</weight>
<!-- 'bold' or 'normal' -->
<slant>normal</slant>
<!-- 'italic' or 'normal' -->
</font>
</theme>
<desktops>
<!-- this stuff is only used at startup, pagers allow you to change them
during a session
these are default values to use when other ones are not already set
by other applications, or saved in your session
use obconf if you want to change these without having to log out
and back in -->
<number>2</number>
<firstdesk>1</firstdesk>
<names>
<!-- set names up here if you want to, like this:
<name>desktop 1</name>
<name>desktop 2</name>
-->
</names>
<popupTime>875</popupTime>
<!-- The number of milliseconds to show the popup for when switching
desktops. Set this to 0 to disable the popup. -->
</desktops>
<resize>
<drawContents>yes</drawContents>
<popupShow>Nonpixel</popupShow>
<!-- 'Always', 'Never', or 'Nonpixel' (xterms and such) -->
<popupPosition>Center</popupPosition>
<!-- 'Center', 'Top', or 'Fixed' -->
<popupFixedPosition>
<!-- these are used if popupPosition is set to 'Fixed' -->
<x>10</x>
<!-- positive number for distance from left edge, negative number for
distance from right edge, or 'Center' -->
<y>10</y>
<!-- positive number for distance from top edge, negative number for
distance from bottom edge, or 'Center' -->
</popupFixedPosition>
</resize>
<!-- You can reserve a portion of your screen where windows will not cover when
they are maximized, or when they are initially placed.
Many programs reserve space automatically, but you can use this in other
cases. -->
<margins>
<top>0</top>
<bottom>0</bottom>
<left>0</left>
<right>0</right>
</margins>
<dock>
<position>TopLeft</position>
<!-- (Top|Bottom)(Left|Right|)|Top|Bottom|Left|Right|Floating -->
<floatingX>0</floatingX>
<floatingY>0</floatingY>
<noStrut>no</noStrut>
<stacking>Above</stacking>
<!-- 'Above', 'Normal', or 'Below' -->
<direction>Vertical</direction>
<!-- 'Vertical' or 'Horizontal' -->
<autoHide>no</autoHide>
<hideDelay>300</hideDelay>
<!-- in milliseconds (1000 = 1 second) -->
<showDelay>300</showDelay>
<!-- in milliseconds (1000 = 1 second) -->
<moveButton>Middle</moveButton>
<!-- 'Left', 'Middle', 'Right' -->
</dock>
<keyboard>
<chainQuitKey>C-g</chainQuitKey>
<!-- Keybindings for desktop switching -->
<keybind key="C-A-Left">
<action name="DesktopLeft">
<dialog>no</dialog>
<wrap>no</wrap>
</action>
</keybind>
<keybind key="C-A-Right">
<action name="DesktopRight">
<dialog>no</dialog>
<wrap>no</wrap>
</action>
</keybind>
<keybind key="C-A-Up">
<action name="DesktopUp">
<dialog>no</dialog>
<wrap>no</wrap>
</action>
</keybind>
<keybind key="C-A-Down">
<action name="DesktopDown">
<dialog>no</dialog>
<wrap>no</wrap>
</action>
</keybind>
<keybind key="S-A-Left">
<action name="SendToDesktopLeft">
<dialog>no</dialog>
<wrap>no</wrap>
</action>
</keybind>
<keybind key="S-A-Right">
<action name="SendToDesktopRight">
<dialog>no</dialog>
<wrap>no</wrap>
</action>
</keybind>
<keybind key="S-A-Up">
<action name="SendToDesktopUp">
<dialog>no</dialog>
<wrap>no</wrap>
</action>
</keybind>
<keybind key="S-A-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="C-A-d">
<action name="ToggleShowDesktop"/>
</keybind>
<!-- Keybindings for windows -->
<keybind key="A-F4">
<action name="Close"/>
</keybind>
<keybind key="A-Escape">
<action name="Lower"/>
<action name="FocusToBottom"/>
<action name="Unfocus"/>
</keybind>
<keybind key="A-space">
<action name="ShowMenu">
<menu>client-menu</menu>
</action>
</keybind>
<!-- Keybindings for window switching -->
<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>
<!-- Keybindings for running applications -->
<keybind key="W-e">
<action name="Execute">
<startupnotify>
<enabled>true</enabled>
<name>PCManFM</name>
</startupnotify>
<command>pcmanfm</command>
</action>
</keybind>
<!--keybindings for LXPanel -->
<keybind key="W-r">
<action name="Execute">
<command>lxpanelctl run</command>
</action>
</keybind>
<keybind key="A-F2">
<action name="Execute">
<command>lxpanelctl run</command>
</action>
</keybind>
<keybind key="C-Escape">
<action name="Execute">
<command>lxpanelctl menu</command>
</action>
</keybind>
</keyboard>
<mouse>
<dragThreshold>8</dragThreshold>
<!-- number of pixels the mouse must move before a drag begins -->
<doubleClickTime>200</doubleClickTime>
<!-- in milliseconds (1000 = 1 second) -->
<screenEdgeWarpTime>400</screenEdgeWarpTime>
<!-- Time before changing desktops when the pointer touches the edge of the
screen while moving a window, in milliseconds (1000 = 1 second).
Set this to 0 to disable warping -->
<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">
<!-- Menus -->
<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>
<!-- You can specify more than one menu file in here and they are all loaded,
just don't make menu ids clash or, well, it'll be kind of pointless -->
<!-- default menu file (or custom one in $HOME/.config/openbox/) -->
<file>/usr/share/lxde/openbox/menu.xml</file>
<hideDelay>200</hideDelay>
<!-- if a press-release lasts longer than this setting (in milliseconds), the
menu is hidden again -->
<middle>no</middle>
<!-- center submenus vertically about the parent entry -->
<submenuShowDelay>100</submenuShowDelay>
<!-- this one is easy, time to delay before showing a submenu after hovering
over the parent entry -->
<applicationIcons>yes</applicationIcons>
<!-- controls if icons appear in the client-list-(combined-)menu -->
<manageDesktops>yes</manageDesktops>
<!-- show the manage desktops section in the client-list-(combined-)menu -->
</menu>
<applications>
<!--
# this is an example with comments through out. use these to make your
# own rules, but without the comments of course.
<application name="urxvt">
<decor>true</decor>
# enable or disable window decorations
<shade>no</shade>
# make the window shaded when it appears, or not
<position>
# the position is only used if both an x and y coordinate are provided
# (and not set to 'default')
<x>center</x>
# a number like 50, or 'center' to center on screen. use a negative number
# to start from the right (or bottom for <y>), ie -50 is 50 pixels from the
# right edge (or bottom).
<y>20</y>
<monitor>1</monitor>
# specifies the monitor in a xinerama setup.
# 1 is the first head, or 'mouse' for wherever the mouse is
</position>
<focus>yes</focus>
# if the window should try be given focus when it appears. if this is set
# to yes it doesn't guarantee the window will be given focus. some
# restrictions may apply, but Openbox will try to
<desktop>1</desktop>
# 1 is the first desktop, 'all' for all desktops
<layer>above</layer>
# 'above', 'normal', or 'below'
<iconic>no</iconic>
# make the window iconified when it appears, or not
<skip_pager>no</skip_pager>
# asks to not be shown in pagers
<skip_taskbar>no</skip_taskbar>
# asks to not be shown in taskbars. window cycling actions will also
# skip past such windows
<fullscreen>yes</fullscreen>
# make the window in fullscreen mode when it appears
<maximized>true</maximized>
# 'Horizontal', 'Vertical' or boolean (yes/no)
</application>
# end of the example
-->
</applications>
</openbox_config>
My .Xdefaults:
URxvt*transparent:true
URxvt*scrollBar:false
URxvt*foreground:Green
!URxvt*borderless:false
EDIT: I'm using lxde on my asus eeepc900, here's something I just read on the archlinux wiki, so once more having an xorg.conf is useless if you rely on input-hotplugging right? (wiki claims xorg ignores the xorg.conf if it's relying completly on HAL)
Intel drivers
The new Intel driver, xf86-video-intel, comes with compositing enabled by default. It's configured to use the newer EXA acceleration method, but the default build options can result in very slugish performance. In these cases, adding these options to the "Device" section of your /etc/X11/xorg.conf can improve the situation dramatically:
Option "AccelMethod" "exa"
Option "MigrationHeuristic" "greedy"
Option "ExaNoComposite" "false"
Last edited by greenfish (2009-02-26 17:58:34)