Xfce Wiki

Sub domains
 

Differences

This shows you the differences between two versions of the page.

Link to this comparison view

Both sides previous revisionPrevious revision
Next revision		Previous revision
faq [2019/03/27 18:03] – [Development] blueberrybrowniefaq [2019/08/30 19:23] (current) – [Frequently Asked Questions] kevinbowen
Line 1: Line 1:
 ====== Frequently Asked Questions ====== ====== Frequently Asked Questions ======
-This is a list of frequently asked questions about Xfce. Feel free to improve and/or extend this page, but keep it clean and easy to read for other users. 
  
-====== Getting started ======+<note important>Please see https://docs.xfce.org/faq for up to date documentation! 
 +</note> 
 + 
 +  * **[[faq#Getting Started|Getting Started]]** 
 +  * **[[faq#Installation|Installation]]** 
 +  * **[[faq#Starting Xfce|Starting Xfce]]** 
 +      * **[[faq#Login Problems|Login Problems]]** 
 +      * **[[faq#Logout Problems|Logout Problems]]** 
 +  * **[[faq#Usage|Usage]]** 
 +      * **[[faq#Keyboard|Keyboard]]** 
 +      * **[[faq#Kiosk|Kiosk]]** 
 +      * **[[faq#Menu|Menu]]** 
 +      * **[[faq#File Manager|File Manager]]** 
 +      * **[[faq#Desktop Manager|Desktop Manager]]** 
 +      * **[[faq#Window Manager|Window Manager]]** 
 +      * **[[faq#Session Manager|Session Manager]]** 
 +  * **[[faq#Visual Appearance|Visual Appearance]]** 
 +      * **[[faq#Applications|Applications]]** 
 +      * **[[faq#Themes|Themes]]** 
 +      * **[[faq#Windows|Windows]]** 
 +  * **[[faq#Development|Development]]** 
 + 
 +---- 
 +====== Getting Started ======
 ===== About Xfce ===== ===== About Xfce =====
  
Line 24: Line 46:
  
 === How long a wait is it between each official release? === === How long a wait is it between each official release? ===
-There is no set schedule, a new version will be released when it is ready. Xfce's development is split up into key phases, each of which can take months or even years to complete. More information on the release model can be found [[https://xfce.org/about/releasemodel|here.]] Currently the wait for Xfce 4.14 has been over 4 years, [[https://wiki.xfce.org/releng/4.14/roadmap|here is it's current status.]] Although this may seem like a long time - remember, Xfce is developed by a small group of hard-working volunteers!  +There is no set schedule, a new version will be released when it is ready. Xfce's development is split up into key phases, each of which can take months or even years to complete. More information on the release model can be found [[https://xfce.org/about/releasemodel|here.]] Currently the wait for Xfce 4.14 has been over 4 years, [[https://wiki.xfce.org/releng/4.14/roadmap|here is it's current status.]] Although this may seem like a long time - remember, Xfce is developed by a small group of hard-working volunteers! 
 + 
 +[[|Back To Top]] 
 + 
 +----
 ====== Installation ====== ====== Installation ======
  
-Xfce can be installed in at least two different ways: +Xfce can be installed either from the package manager of your distro or [[https://docs.xfce.org/xfce/building|from the source code]]. Installing via a package manager is preferred as it allows you to easily go back if the Xfce environment is not for you. Building from the source code allows you to try out the latest features that may be unstable for daily use.
-  * From the package manager of your distro. This is the preferred way as you can easily go back if the Xfce environment is not for you.+
     * [[http://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Xfce|Arch]]     * [[http://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Xfce|Arch]]
     * [[http://wiki.debian.org/Xfce|Debian]]     * [[http://wiki.debian.org/Xfce|Debian]]
Line 34: Line 59:
     * [[http://www.freebsd.org/handbook/x11-wm.html#X11-WM-XFCE|FreeBSD]]     * [[http://www.freebsd.org/handbook/x11-wm.html#X11-WM-XFCE|FreeBSD]]
     * [[http://www.gentoo.org/doc/en/xfce-config.xml|Gentoo]]     * [[http://www.gentoo.org/doc/en/xfce-config.xml|Gentoo]]
-    * Mageia: Mageia Control Center (add the package task-xfce) or, as root, urpmi task-xfce (http://www.mageia.org)+    * [[http://www.mageia.org|Mageia:]] Mageia Control Center (add the package task-xfce) or, as root, urpmi task-xfce
     * MidnightBSD: pkg_add -r xfce4     * MidnightBSD: pkg_add -r xfce4
-    * Mythbuntu: sudo apt-get install mythbuntu-desktop +    * [[http://www.netbsd.org/docs/guide/en/chap-x.html#chap-x-other-window-managers|NetBSD]]
-    * [[http://www.netbsd.org/docs/guide/en/chap-x.html#chap-x-other-window-managers|NetBSD]] (pkg_add xfce4)+
     * Ubuntu: sudo apt-get install xubuntu-desktop ([[http://packages.ubuntu.com/search?keywords=xubuntu-desktop|package description]]; [[apt://xubuntu-desktop|direct install]])     * Ubuntu: sudo apt-get install xubuntu-desktop ([[http://packages.ubuntu.com/search?keywords=xubuntu-desktop|package description]]; [[apt://xubuntu-desktop|direct install]])
-  * [[http://www.xfce.org/download/building|From the source code]]. This way you can build your own environment and try out the latest features.+ 
 +[[|Back To Top]] 
 + 
 +----
  
 ====== Starting Xfce ====== ====== Starting Xfce ======
Line 110: Line 137:
 For some reason, your X applications cannot connect to the session manager. Possible causes for this are: your hostname cannot be resolved (see Login problems section), your home partition or partition containing /tmp is filled up, your hostname contains non-ascii characters (no umlauts allowed, in particular) or either ~/.ICEauthority or /tmp/.ICE-unix have wrong permissions. Check .xsession-errors for clues. For some reason, your X applications cannot connect to the session manager. Possible causes for this are: your hostname cannot be resolved (see Login problems section), your home partition or partition containing /tmp is filled up, your hostname contains non-ascii characters (no umlauts allowed, in particular) or either ~/.ICEauthority or /tmp/.ICE-unix have wrong permissions. Check .xsession-errors for clues.
  
 +[[|Back To Top]]
 +
 +----
 ====== Usage ====== ====== Usage ======
 ===== Keyboard ===== ===== Keyboard =====
Line 167: Line 197:
 Unfortunately, Xfce doesn't have this ability yet. Unfortunately, Xfce doesn't have this ability yet.
  
-=== How do I enable menu accelerators? === +=== How do I enable editable menu accelerators? === 
-Menu accelerators let you set a keyboard shortcut to a menu item or entry. To enable menu accelerators, go to Settings Manager -> Appearance -> Settings tab, and select the 'Enable editable accelerators' option.+Menu accelerators let you set a keyboard shortcut to a menu item or entry. To enable editable menu accelerators, go to Settings Manager -> Appearance -> Settings tab, and select the 'Enable editable accelerators' option. 
 +<note important>Editable menu accelerators were removed in GTK 3, so won't work in applications made in GTK 3 and above</note>
  
 +[[|Back To Top]]
 +
 +----
 ===== Kiosk ===== ===== Kiosk =====
  
-=== I want to use Xfce in a corporate environment and not let users modify their menu. ===+=== I want to use Xfce in a corporate environment, how can I stop users from modifying parts of the system? ===
 See [[howto:kiosk_mode|kiosk mode.]] See [[howto:kiosk_mode|kiosk mode.]]
 +
 +[[|Back To Top]]
 +
 +----
 ===== Menu ===== ===== Menu =====
  
Line 210: Line 248:
 ===What are the exact commands used when launching the 'Settings' applications?=== ===What are the exact commands used when launching the 'Settings' applications?===
 Please see [[mcs-manager_plugin_parameters|this Wiki entry.]] Please see [[mcs-manager_plugin_parameters|this Wiki entry.]]
 +
 +[[|Back To Top]]
 +
 +----
  
 ===== File Manager ===== ===== File Manager =====
Line 232: Line 274:
 You can install the package ''ffmpegthumbnailer''. You can install the package ''ffmpegthumbnailer''.
  
 +[[|Back To Top]]
 +
 +----
 ===== Desktop Manager ===== ===== Desktop Manager =====
 === How can I remove the Trash, Home and Filesystem icons on my desktop? === === How can I remove the Trash, Home and Filesystem icons on my desktop? ===
Line 238: Line 283:
 === Why can't I add items to my desktop? === === Why can't I add items to my desktop? ===
 You have the option to display icons turned off. Go to Settings Manager -> Desktop -> Icons and select File/launcher icons under "Icon type". You have the option to display icons turned off. Go to Settings Manager -> Desktop -> Icons and select File/launcher icons under "Icon type".
 +
 +[[|Back To Top]]
 +
 +----
 ===== Window Manager ===== ===== Window Manager =====
 === Why does Firefox jump between workspaces? === === Why does Firefox jump between workspaces? ===
Line 260: Line 309:
  
     xfwm4 --sm-client-id=${SESSION_MANAGER##*/} & disown     xfwm4 --sm-client-id=${SESSION_MANAGER##*/} & disown
 +
 +[[|Back To Top]]
 +
 +----
 ===== Session Manager ===== ===== Session Manager =====
  
Line 305: Line 358:
 You need to enable the "Prompt on logout" option in Settings Manager -> Session and Startup -> Logout Settings You need to enable the "Prompt on logout" option in Settings Manager -> Session and Startup -> Logout Settings
  
 +[[|Back To Top]]
  
 +----
 ====== Visual Appearance ====== ====== Visual Appearance ======
 ===== Applications ===== ===== Applications =====
Line 336: Line 391:
   XLIB_SKIP_ARGB_VISUALS=1 /usr/bin/Terminal   XLIB_SKIP_ARGB_VISUALS=1 /usr/bin/Terminal
  
 +[[|Back To Top]]
 +
 +----
 ===== Themes ===== ===== Themes =====
 === How can I theme various parts of my Xfce desktop environment? === === How can I theme various parts of my Xfce desktop environment? ===
 Please refer to the [[howto:install_new_themes|How to install new themes]] Wiki page. Please refer to the [[howto:install_new_themes|How to install new themes]] Wiki page.
 +
 +[[|Back To Top]]
 +
 +----
  
 ===== Windows ===== ===== Windows =====
Line 379: Line 441:
  
 Read ''/usr/share/doc/nvidia-glx/README.txt.gz'' (and search for "RenderAccel" and "AllowGLXWithComposite") to see if they are recommended for your system. At least for recent NVidia GLX drivers, "AllowGLXWithComposite" "true" is only for X servers older than X11R6.9.0, and "RenderAccel" "true" is the default setting, and therefore not required. If you are running a recent NVidia driver and a recent xorg-server, you do not need these settings (and should not use the "AllowGLXWithComposite" "true" setting). Read ''/usr/share/doc/nvidia-glx/README.txt.gz'' (and search for "RenderAccel" and "AllowGLXWithComposite") to see if they are recommended for your system. At least for recent NVidia GLX drivers, "AllowGLXWithComposite" "true" is only for X servers older than X11R6.9.0, and "RenderAccel" "true" is the default setting, and therefore not required. If you are running a recent NVidia driver and a recent xorg-server, you do not need these settings (and should not use the "AllowGLXWithComposite" "true" setting).
 +
 +[[|Back To Top]]
 +
 +----
  
 ===== Panel ===== ===== Panel =====
Line 393: Line 459:
 Orage Clock provides this functionality. Add it to the panel, then middle-click the clock to open the Global Time window, where you can add any number of clocks. Orage Clock provides this functionality. Add it to the panel, then middle-click the clock to open the Global Time window, where you can add any number of clocks.
  
 +[[|Back To Top]]
 +
 +----
 ====== Development ====== ====== Development ======
 === How can I report bugs? === === How can I report bugs? ===
-You can report bugs on the [[https://bugzilla.xfce.org/|Xfce Bugzilla site]], the [[https://mail.xfce.org/mailman/listinfo/xfce-bugs|Xfce-bugs mailing list]], or you ask on [[https://forum.xfce.org/|the forums]] for help. Before submitting a bug, please try your best to check if it has already been reported. When writing your bug report, try to be as descriptive as possible, but avoid verbosity. Mozilla has a nice guide on [[https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Mozilla/QA/Bug_writing_guidelines|how to write a bug report]].+You can report bugs on the [[https://bugzilla.xfce.org/|Xfce Bugzilla site]], the [[https://mail.xfce.org/mailman/listinfo/xfce-bugs|Xfce-bugs mailing list]], or you ask on our IRC channel [[irc://irc.freenode.net/#xfce|#xfce on Freenode]] for help. Please do not use the forums to report bugs. Before submitting a bug, please try your best to check if it has already been reported. When writing your bug report, try to be as descriptive as possible, but avoid verbosity. Mozilla has a nice guide on [[https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Mozilla/QA/Bug_writing_guidelines|how to write a bug report]].
  
 === How often are new releases made? === === How often are new releases made? ===
 See [[https://wiki.xfce.org/faq#how_long_a_wait_is_it_between_each_official_release|previous answer]]. Xfce's development is split up into key phases, each of which can take months or even years to complete. Although this may seem like a long time - remember, Xfce is developed by a small group of hard-working volunteers! See [[https://wiki.xfce.org/faq#how_long_a_wait_is_it_between_each_official_release|previous answer]]. Xfce's development is split up into key phases, each of which can take months or even years to complete. Although this may seem like a long time - remember, Xfce is developed by a small group of hard-working volunteers!
  
-=== I have asked a question / reported a bug on the mailing list / Bugzilla but no one is answering ===+=== I have asked a question / reported a bug on the mailing list / Bugzilla, why isn't anyone answering? ===
   * Give it time. Maybe the responsible developer is on vacation, or hasn't checked the mailing list / Bugzilla yet. Keep in mind that the developers have their own lives outside of contributing to Xfce and may be quite busy.   * Give it time. Maybe the responsible developer is on vacation, or hasn't checked the mailing list / Bugzilla yet. Keep in mind that the developers have their own lives outside of contributing to Xfce and may be quite busy.
   * Try giving more detailed information. Perhaps no one can figure out what it is you are trying to say, and they just don't want to take the time to contact you or reply to your post to find out. Usually the more information you provide, the better.   * Try giving more detailed information. Perhaps no one can figure out what it is you are trying to say, and they just don't want to take the time to contact you or reply to your post to find out. Usually the more information you provide, the better.
   * Consider if you've been been disrespectful when asking your question / reporting a bug. While you are allowed your own opinion on things, remember that the software you are talking about was made by volunteers and provided to you for free. You didn't pay for it, so you are asking for a favour. By asking your question in a polite, respectful way, you are increasing your chances that somebody will reply to you.   * Consider if you've been been disrespectful when asking your question / reporting a bug. While you are allowed your own opinion on things, remember that the software you are talking about was made by volunteers and provided to you for free. You didn't pay for it, so you are asking for a favour. By asking your question in a polite, respectful way, you are increasing your chances that somebody will reply to you.
   * The developers / volunteers in question simply may not want to reply to you. Perhaps they are having a bad day, or they think your report doesn't necessarily warrant a reply. Don't take it personally if you don't get a response. Try asking again after a good amount of time, as your question / report may not have been seen, taking caution not to come across as nagging. Taking time out of your day to report a bug is always greatly appreciated, and it may have been seen by a developer, just not replied to.   * The developers / volunteers in question simply may not want to reply to you. Perhaps they are having a bad day, or they think your report doesn't necessarily warrant a reply. Don't take it personally if you don't get a response. Try asking again after a good amount of time, as your question / report may not have been seen, taking caution not to come across as nagging. Taking time out of your day to report a bug is always greatly appreciated, and it may have been seen by a developer, just not replied to.
 +
 +[[|Back To Top]]
 +
 +----