FVWM: Live root window with a changing image in one corner

[Axelle Apvrille]

Hi list,

On my fvwm background, I have a background image, right? On this
background image, I'd like to display in a corner a slide show of images.
Any idea how to do this?
As a first step, I don't even know how I could add an image on part of
the root window.
fvwm-root will change the entire root window, which is not what I am
looking for.

With root-tail, I managed to write some information (tail
/var/log/messages) to the root window. It's the same idea, instead here
I'd like to add an image.
Once it works it could be extended to a pool of images, or even a video.
The idea is to make the background look more 'live'.

Thanks

-- Axelle

[Thomas Adam]

Post by Axelle Apvrille
Hi list,
On my fvwm background, I have a background image, right? On this
background image, I'd like to display in a corner a slide show of images.
Any idea how to do this?
As a first step, I don't even know how I could add an image on part of
the root window.
fvwm-root will change the entire root window, which is not what I am
looking for.

It's none of those, as it happens. This also has nothing to do with FVWM,
you realise?

What you're asking for is one of those desktop widget programs, like
adesklets or gdesklets (from Google) which I am sure will be able to do
this.

Instead, what I would do for this is use FvwmButtons.

Give it a colorset using RootTransparent, and whatever else you want.

In the FvwmButtons definition, you should maybe apply a shapemask, it
depends on the effect you're after -- I'm thinking perhaps for rounded
corners? You'll want to also set:

Style FvwmButtons-Alias !Borders, !Title, NeverFocus

Post by Axelle Apvrille
From this point on, for animated images, you should swallow an application

such as feh to enable random images. Likewise mplayer for streaming video.

Other options you can investigate is using the "Unmanaged" style option
instead for different applications rather than using FvwmButtons.

Note though this has nothing to do with the root window at all. It never
did.

-- Thomas Adam

[Axelle Apvrille]

Post by Thomas Adam

Post by Axelle Apvrille
Hi list,
On my fvwm background, I have a background image, right? On this
background image, I'd like to display in a corner a slide show of images.
Any idea how to do this?
As a first step, I don't even know how I could add an image on part of
the root window.
fvwm-root will change the entire root window, which is not what I am
looking for.

It's none of those, as it happens. This also has nothing to do with FVWM,
you realise?
What you're asking for is one of those desktop widget programs, like
adesklets or gdesklets (from Google) which I am sure will be able to do
this.
Instead, what I would do for this is use FvwmButtons.
Give it a colorset using RootTransparent, and whatever else you want.
In the FvwmButtons definition, you should maybe apply a shapemask, it
depends on the effect you're after -- I'm thinking perhaps for rounded
Style FvwmButtons-Alias !Borders, !Title, NeverFocus
From this point on, for animated images, you should swallow an application
such as feh to enable random images. Likewise mplayer for streaming video.
Other options you can investigate is using the "Unmanaged" style option
instead for different applications rather than using FvwmButtons.
Note though this has nothing to do with the root window at all. It never
did.

Ah yes!
So actually, it's just displaying a window (whatever app) and making it
look like it's on the root window (everything transparent).

I hadn't thought about this way.
Thanks

Axelle

[Mag. Dr. Nikolaus Klepp]

Post by Axelle Apvrille

Post by Thomas Adam

Post by Axelle Apvrille
Hi list,
On my fvwm background, I have a background image, right? On this
background image, I'd like to display in a corner a slide show of
images. Any idea how to do this?
As a first step, I don't even know how I could add an image on part of
the root window.
fvwm-root will change the entire root window, which is not what I am
looking for.

It's none of those, as it happens. This also has nothing to do with
FVWM, you realise?
What you're asking for is one of those desktop widget programs, like
adesklets or gdesklets (from Google) which I am sure will be able to do
this.
Instead, what I would do for this is use FvwmButtons.
Give it a colorset using RootTransparent, and whatever else you want.
In the FvwmButtons definition, you should maybe apply a shapemask, it
depends on the effect you're after -- I'm thinking perhaps for rounded
Style FvwmButtons-Alias !Borders, !Title, NeverFocus
From this point on, for animated images, you should swallow an
application such as feh to enable random images. Likewise mplayer for
streaming video.
Other options you can investigate is using the "Unmanaged" style option
instead for different applications rather than using FvwmButtons.
Note though this has nothing to do with the root window at all. It never
did.

Ah yes!
So actually, it's just displaying a window (whatever app) and making it
look like it's on the root window (everything transparent).
I hadn't thought about this way.
Thanks
Axelle

Don't forget to put it on the buttom most layer :-)

Nik