[SOLVED] Xfce4 entry on KDM issue - some thoughts

[agmg]

I just don't understand why XFCE was available in the past with my KDM session manager and now it's not.  Unless, in the past, I was using GDM all along and never knew it?

i can't give a exact answer. better question would be is kdm or xfce the problem. this is also not clearly answerable for me.
it seems like kdm starts all other DEs but xfce not but if i compare the session starter files they are nearly the same just differences in the names and descriptions. the session starter files are normally stored in /etc/X11/< cant remember the folder name> except for kde. this entry is stored in /usr/share/apps/kdm or so. but copying the file of xfce in this location does also not work. i'm a bit out of knowledge in this case also the integration guide for xfce into kdm on the xfce site does not help :/

After installing task-xfce and task-xfce-plugins
wmsession.d is modified and there is a new entry called 06Xfce
dm/sessions is modified and there is a new entry called 06xfce4.desktop

No entry under /usr/share/apps/kdm/sessions. No xfce4 option in KDM.

But if someone reinstalls kdm then the above folder is modified and has a new entry: 06xfce4.desktop
And the option for xfce4 in KDM appears. What could be causing this?

I've tried installing task-xfce and task-xfce-plugins with a reinstallation of kdm at the same time.
Result was that xfce4 entry appears in KDM.

Could task-xfce be modified to reinstall kdm alongside all new packages as a temporary measure for this issue?

I'm guessing that manually adding the 06xfce4.desktop file under /usr/share/apps/kdm/sessions would have the same effect.
I'm not sure yet, I'm making a new VB installation to check it out...
Could this file be added during package installation?

[agmg]

Did a new installation under VirtualBox (based on KDE minime 2012.12)

Installed task-xfce and task-xfce-plugins. Restart. No entry for xfce4 in KDM.

Copied 06xfce4.desktop from another installation under /usr/share/apps/kdm/sessions called xfce.desktop.

Entry for xfce4 appeared on KDM but boots to KDE. Contents of the file:

Code: [Select]

[Desktop Entry]
Encoding=UTF-8
Name=xfce4
Comment=xfce4
TryExec=/usr/bin/startxfce4
Exec=xfce4
Icon=
Type=Application
So, the only way to have xfce4 entry in KDM is reinstall the kdm package...

[craesz]

I had this issue in a test system... didn't put the effort into it that you did. I asked on the forum and was told you had to use gdm not kdm. That does work but gdm is different to me. Hope you get this working/solved because I'd like to spend more time with xfce.

[agmg]

Have you tried reinstalling kdm?

[gseaman]

There is probably a script in the kdm spec file that could be adapted to the task-xfce spec.

Galen

[agmg]

More on the issue...

Xfce installed. Deleted the following files:

/usr/share/apps/kdm/sessions/06xfce4.desktop
/etc/X11/dm/Sessions/06xfce4.desktop
/etc/X11/wmsession.d/06xfce

Created a new .desktop file under /usr/share/apps/kdm/sessions/ with the name xfce4.desktop

Contents:

Code: [Select]

[Desktop Entry]
Encoding=UTF-8
Type=XSession
Exec=/usr/bin/startxfce4
TryExec=/usr/bin/startxfce4
Name=xfce4
Comment=The Xfce4 Desktop Environment
xfce appears on KDM and boots to xfce normally.



I will make one more new install and check this out.

[agmg]

New installation based on KDE MiniMe 2012.12.
Did a full update and then installed task-xfce and task-xfce-plugins

No entry for Xfce in KDM.

Conclusion No1:

Copying the file 06xfce4.desktop from /etc/X11/dm/Sessions to /usr/share/apps/kdm/sessions
gives an entry for Xfce4 in KDM but loops back to KDE.

Contents of 06xfce4.desktop

Code: [Select]

[Desktop Entry]
Encoding=UTF-8
Name=xfce4
Comment=xfce4
TryExec=/usr/bin/startxfce4
Exec=xfce4
Icon=
Type=Application
Creating a new .desktop file under /usr/share/apps/kdm/sessions with the contents of 06xfce4.desktop (the name doesn't affect anything)
has similar result (doesn't boot to Xfce).

Conclusion No2:

Creating a new .desktop file under /usr/share/apps/kdm/sessions with the following contents:

Code: [Select]

[Desktop Entry]
Encoding=UTF-8
Type=XSession
Exec=/usr/bin/startxfce4
TryExec=/usr/bin/startxfce4
Name=xfce4
Comment=The Xfce4 Desktop Environment
gives an entry which boots successfully to Xfce from KDM. Again, name doesn't affect anything (I called mine xfce4.desktop)

So, question is: can a new .desktop file with these contents be created under /usr/share/apps/kdm/session during xfce installation?
Off course it would be great if someone else could also test this to be sure that this works for everyone.

I still can't figure out why reinstalling kdm also fixes this.

[ghostbunny]

This should be possible. could be a task for a %post scriptlet in the spec of the xfce4-session package.

this can check whether kdm is installed and if so it creates a desktop file in the kdm directory.

i'll try this at evening

[agmg]

Thank you ghostbunny. If you need help in testing, please let me know

[ghostbunny]

http://www.pclinuxos.com/forum/index.php/topic,112588.msg961145.html#msg961145

[JohnW_57]

http://www.pclinuxos.com/forum/index.php/topic,112588.msg961145.html#msg961145

Solved on both arches:

Code: [Select]

[Desktop Entry]
Encoding=UTF-8
Type=XSession
Exec=/usr/bin/startxfce4
TryExec=/usr/bin/startxfce4
Name=Xfce4
Comment=The Xfce4 Desktop Environment

This solved the issue.

JohnW

[agmg]

Marking as solved. New packages will render this thread obsolete.

Thanks everyone