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= Xfce In Fedora =
= Xfce In Fedora =


Xfce is a lightweight desktop environment available in Fedora. It aims to be fast and lightweight, while still being visually appealing and easy to use.   
Xfce is a lightweight desktop environment available in Fedora. It aims to be fast and lightweight, while remaining visually appealing and easy to use.   


== Getting Xfce ==
== Getting Xfce ==


=== Live CD ===
=== Live CD ===
There is an official [http://spins.fedoraproject.org/xfce/#home Fedora-Spin] dedicated to the Xfce desktop. It is available for both 32bit and 64bit architectures. This live cd comes pre-configured to make “your desktop...speedier!”
There is an official [http://spins.fedoraproject.org/xfce/#home Fedora-Spin] dedicated to the Xfce desktop. It is available for both 32bit and 64bit architectures. This live cd comes pre-configured to make “your desktop...speedier!”


=== Fedora installation DVD  ===


If you have downloaded the Fedora DVD, you can install Xfce by selecting "XFCE" group in "Desktop Environments"


=== Fedora installation DVD (Requires Internet Connection) ===
<!-- Screenshot --> [[File:xfcewikipage3.png|thumb|none|left|]]
If you have downloaded the Fedora DVD don't worry! You can install Xfce using this method as well. Just follow the steps provided and you'll have access to Xfce via the Fedora repositories.  


*After providing the information required by Anaconda you will be greeted by a screen that allows you to modify the software installed on your system.
----


=== Installation using yum ===


<!-- Screenshot --> [[File:xfcewikipage1.png|thumb|none|left|]]
If you have an existing system and would like to install xfce you can use yum to install the desktop.


To install Xfce using yum, execute the following as root:


*Select the additional repository named Fedora 14-i686 or Fedora 14-x86_64; then configure your network interface, thanks to networkmanager it even works with wireless connections!
<pre>
yum groupinstall XFCE
</pre>


After installing Xfce you can use the "Session" menu to choose an Xfce login instead of a GNOME or KDE login.


<!-- Screenshot --> [[File:xfcewikipage2.png|thumb|none|left|]]
== Tips and Tricks ==


=== Disable always-on-top behaviour of XFCE panel ===


*Select the option "Customize Now" and the installer will greet you with a package selection screen, here with the additional repository added, the Xfce desktop environment can be selected along with any additional software you want to be included with your installation.
The alway-on-top property is call ''struts'' in XFCE and there is a hidden property name <code>disable-struts</code> to disable this property.  Hence, you just need to use <code>xfconf-query</code> as below:


<pre>
xfconf-query -c xfce4-panel -p /panels/panel-<number>/disable-struts -t bool -n -s true
</pre>


<!-- Screenshot --> [[File:xfcewikipage3.png|thumb|none|left|]]
Make sure to replace <code><number></code> with the zero-based number of your panel.  Note that this option only allow other windows to maximize over the panel, it doesn't keep the panel below the window.  To achieve the latter, see the next tip.


----
=== Make the panel stay "below" all other windows ===


=== Installation using yum ===
Apparently there is no automated way to do this.  One solution is to use [http://sweb.cz/tripie/utils/wmctrl wmctrl] to change the property of the panel. More details:
If you have an existing system and would like to install xfce you can use yum to install the desktop.


To install Xfce using yum, execute the following as root:
* Make sure you have <code>wmctrl</code> installed:


<pre>
<pre>
su -c 'yum install -y wmctrl'
</pre>


yum groupinstall XFCE
* Now, check for the ID(s) of <code>xfce4-panel</code> on the first column:


<pre>
wmctrl -l | grep "xfce4-panel$"
</pre>
</pre>


The <code>-l</code> option lists running windows in a [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Extended_Window_Manager_Hints EWMH/NetWM]-compatible window manager.
If you have multiple panels running, usually the order of <code>xfce4-panel</code> processes follow the order of your panel.  I.e. if you have 3 panels, the ID of panel0 appears first (with lesser hex value), then panel1, and lastly panel2.
* After determining the ID(s) of your panel(s), use <code>wmctl</code> to activate the <code>below</code> properties:


After installing Xfce you can use the "Session" menu to choose a Xfce login instead of a GNOME or KDE login.
<pre>
wmctrl -i -r <id> -b add,below
</pre>


Options explanation:
<code>-i</code> indicates you are identifying a window using ID instead of string name.
<code>-r</code> specifies the target (the ID followed).
<code>-b add,below</code> add the "below" property to the specified window.  Note that your panel is also a window.


== Links ==
== Links ==
* The [[SIGs/Xfce|  Xfce SIG]]  (Special Interest Group) is a group of Fedora contributors that help improve the Xfce experience in Fedora
* The [[SIGs/Xfce|  Xfce SIG]]  (Special Interest Group) is a group of Fedora contributors that help improve the Xfce experience in Fedora


* http://www.xfce.org/ - Home of the Xfce Desktop Environment
* http://www.xfce.org/ - Home of the Xfce Desktop Environment

Revision as of 16:00, 3 June 2012

Xfce In Fedora

Xfce is a lightweight desktop environment available in Fedora. It aims to be fast and lightweight, while remaining visually appealing and easy to use.

Getting Xfce

Live CD

There is an official Fedora-Spin dedicated to the Xfce desktop. It is available for both 32bit and 64bit architectures. This live cd comes pre-configured to make “your desktop...speedier!”

Fedora installation DVD

If you have downloaded the Fedora DVD, you can install Xfce by selecting "XFCE" group in "Desktop Environments"

Xfcewikipage3.png

Installation using yum

If you have an existing system and would like to install xfce you can use yum to install the desktop.

To install Xfce using yum, execute the following as root: 

yum groupinstall XFCE

After installing Xfce you can use the "Session" menu to choose an Xfce login instead of a GNOME or KDE login.

Tips and Tricks

Disable always-on-top behaviour of XFCE panel

The alway-on-top property is call struts in XFCE and there is a hidden property name disable-struts to disable this property. Hence, you just need to use xfconf-query as below: 

xfconf-query -c xfce4-panel -p /panels/panel-<number>/disable-struts -t bool -n -s true

Make sure to replace <number> with the zero-based number of your panel. Note that this option only allow other windows to maximize over the panel, it doesn't keep the panel below the window. To achieve the latter, see the next tip.

Make the panel stay "below" all other windows

Apparently there is no automated way to do this. One solution is to use wmctrl to change the property of the panel. More details:

  • Make sure you have wmctrl installed:
su -c 'yum install -y wmctrl'
  • Now, check for the ID(s) of xfce4-panel on the first column:
wmctrl -l | grep "xfce4-panel$"

The -l option lists running windows in a EWMH/NetWM-compatible window manager.

If you have multiple panels running, usually the order of xfce4-panel processes follow the order of your panel. I.e. if you have 3 panels, the ID of panel0 appears first (with lesser hex value), then panel1, and lastly panel2.

  • After determining the ID(s) of your panel(s), use wmctl to activate the below properties:
wmctrl -i -r <id> -b add,below

Options explanation: -i indicates you are identifying a window using ID instead of string name. -r specifies the target (the ID followed). -b add,below add the "below" property to the specified window. Note that your panel is also a window.

Links

  • The Xfce SIG (Special Interest Group) is a group of Fedora contributors that help improve the Xfce experience in Fedora
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