https://bugzilla.novell.com/show_bug.cgi?id=233090 Summary: Compiz Implementation as it stands is far beyond the scope of an ordinary user - Its activations is too complex and Video Card Database Limitedv Product: openSUSE 10.2 Version: Final Platform: i386 OS/Version: SuSE Other Status: NEW Severity: Major Priority: P5 - None Component: Usability AssignedTo: siegfried.olschner@novell.com ReportedBy: alpha096@tpg.com.au QAContact: siegfried.olschner@novell.com Quote Compiz is a window manager taking advantage of the amazing capabilities of OpenGL. This new window manager developed by Novell engineers provides true transparency (even for playing video media), wobbly windows, an amazing desktop cube effect (as displayed in picture), and much, much more. Both Compiz and Xgl come on the 10.2 CDs ready for installation. openSUSE 10.2 also ships with the latest Xorg 7.2, which allows you to run Compiz and other composite window managers without having to use Xgl, should you wish to. For a brand new convert to opensuse they need to follow the following procedure. Using Compiz with the KDE desktop [edit] default Packages First, make sure you are logged into KDE just like normal. Go into "Personal Settings", then "Desktop", then "Taskbar". Make sure "Show windows from all desktops" is checked. (Currently this is required for proper functioning of the taskbar under Compiz.) Now you need to create two files that will let KDE know that you want another window manager (compiz) instead of the default kwin. Open the kate editor as root: KDE Launch (green SUSE logo), Run Command: kdesu kate (you will be prompted for the root password). Copy and paste the following into a new text document: /usr/bin/compiz gconf & /usr/bin/gnome-window-decorator & Note: "gnome-window-decorator" has been replaced by "gtk-window-decorator" since openSUSE 10.2. Save it to /usr/local/bin with the name compiz.sh This file needs to be given execute permissions. That can be done this way: KDE Launch, System, File Manager, File Manager - Super User Mode (you will be promted for the root password). Go to /usr/local/bin, right-click on compiz.sh, choose Properties, Permissions tab, check [x] Is Executable. One more file is needed: create it following the same procedure as for compiz.sh , but save this one in /opt/kde3/env with the name kdewm.sh and copy and paste this line in it: export KDEWM=/usr/local/bin/compiz.sh You also need to make this file executable, in the same way as for compiz.sh. This will instruct KDE to run compiz.sh instead of kwin. Once this is done, log out of KDE and log back in. You should have functioning Xgl on your shiny new K Desktop Environment. [edit] Compiz-Quinn Packete Last modified on 16.09.2006 Warning: Compiz-Quinn packages are now no longer maintained, use compiz or beryl packages instead. In case you're using the newest Compiz-Quinn packages configuration of compiz is even easier. Create a text file /home/username/.kde/Autostart/compiz.desktop where username is set to the name of your user and insert the following: [Desktop Entry] Encoding=UTF-8 Exec=/usr/bin/compiz-start.py GenericName[en_US]= StartupNotify=false Terminal=false TerminalOptions= Type=Application X-KDE-autostart-after=kdesktop Note that a themable window decorator is included in the compiz-quinn package, so there is no need to use gnome-window-decorator on KDE. There is also a very useful tray icon included. As it is written in python make sure to have the following packages installed (install via Yast or Smart): python python-gtk python-gnome python-gnome-extras Configuration GUIs are available by clicking on the tray icon. For news on the latest compiz-quinn packages see Suse Thread on compiz.net. [edit] Configuring Compiz The Desktop Effects tool which is used for enabling and disable Xgl can also be used to configure compiz options. Start it up as before (via the GNOME Control Center or the command line), and look at the options under the "Window Effects", "Desktop Cube", and "Other Features" tabs. For example, you can turn wobbly windows on or off, change the number of virtual desktops available on the desktop "cube", and control which corner of the screen (if any) activates the window picker. As mentioned above, some keybindings and window management settings are configured via the GNOME "Shortcuts" and "Windows" control panels instead. Some of the more obscure (or more recently-added) compiz options are not configurable from the Desktop Effects tool. Older Compiz releases used Gconf, but Compiz-Quinn CVS packages available from HERE use 'csm' to configure Compiz itself, and 'gcompizthemer' to theme and style windows. Some minimal documentation is available there (and in the Compiz page in this wiki) describing what the different options mean. Running 'compiz-manager' will give you a nice system tray icon to launch the various config tools. [edit] Troubleshooting [edit] Nvidia: Cursor flickers or leaves artifact trails If you have an Nvidia card (tested with 6600GT), and your mouse cursor is flickering, you need to set the HWCursor option to "On" in your /etc/X11/xorg.conf, under the [Screen] header. [edit] White screen/cube If you are only seeing a white screen after logging in, chances are you are using a Xgl server version that was built with different libraries than the window manager (see here for more information). An Xgl version that works with openSUSE 10.2 is cvs_060522-39. [edit] KDE Users If you choose KDE as the default desktop during your installation of SUSE Linux 10.1 you may have some problems. The just before the logon manager is about to start you get dumped back to the first console. dmesg tells you "X server startup timeout, terminating". If you have both gnome and kde installed, edit your /etc/sysconfig/displaymanager and set the DISPLAYMANAGER="gdm". [edit] Links For more information about Xgl and Compiz in general, please read the Xgl and Compiz overviews. If you are having problems enabling Xgl, see the Xgl troubleshooting page. Visit #Xgl at irc.freenode.org for more support. Retrieved from "http://en.opensuse.org/Using_Xgl_on_SUSE_Linux" Currently if I show a New Linux user who has never edited a file since 1995 when Microsoft finally realised that the user base was incapable of maintaining 2 files autoexec.bat and config.sys There must be an automated easier was to actieve the above. Confronting a convert user and presenting this the above is just mind blowing. I have tested it with a few collogues and their overwhelming comment is "If I cannot click on it it does not happen” We do have a large amount of opensuse customers, however a new user confronted with above is lost and says forget it. Sometimes with current development we loose sight on gaining a new user and version 10.2 would scare most new users. During my time as a Technical Support Manager for a software company and largest time spent on corporate help desk time was just talking through editing of 2 files config.sys and autoexec.bat right before windows 95 was release. Indeed Mac launched a large advertising campaign which was successful as the proudly touted there were no files to edit and Windows 95 was born I do understand that the package is a vast collection of individual applications and sometimes we are currently forced to edit files. This is unavoidable. It seems just a pity that possible the greatest advance to desktop management is only for the elite to install, rather than an installation option explaining to the user the benefits of compiz and allowing them to decide, havering a quick test of their video cards ability to adopt the new features. The Video Database is quite small in respect to ATI cards which are widely user and most support Hardware acceleration - driver dependant. I feel development is loosing its affinity with the common user and even a new tech in charge of a Network - Perhaps some market focus testing may uncover what we even I take for granted as difficult to others, to the point of the user not accepting opensuse. We seem to be developing a cult following who no one dare enter by reading all the problems and comments in the self help email lists For Discussionv -- Configure bugmail: https://bugzilla.novell.com/userprefs.cgi?tab=email ------- You are receiving this mail because: ------- You are on the CC list for the bug, or are watching someone who is.