Simple Expose for lxde lubuntu no compositing required

Expose on the mac and I forget what its called in Unity but its pretty cool for checking out running programs and switching between them easily.

On Lubuntu there is no compositing which makes this feature basically impossible... Luckily Skippy XD does the trick. How? It throws up a quick compositor when you activate it to get the job done, then closes it when your finished selecting what you want. So no resources wasted.

Pretty easy to do..

Download and install SkippyXD depending on your platform from here

Once installed open up run or a terminal and enter

leafpad ~/.config/openbox/lubuntu-rc.xml

find the line

<chainQuitKey>C-g</chainQuitKey>

below it copy and paste the following

Code:

---

<!-- Start Expose for LXDE-->
<keybind key="A-grave">
      <action name="Execute">
        <command>skippy-xd</command>
      </action>
    </keybind>
<!-- End Expose for LXDE-->

---

*****Updated code to correct syntax error, code above is updated*****

save and close

open run or a terminal and run following command

openbox --restart

now when you hold the alt key and hit ` you expose feature will activate

http://www.unleashpc.com/exposelxde.png

*****
I will be providing a series of easy solutions and linking to them below

lxde simple weather
lxde wallpaper changer
aero snap for lubuntu

Why use 'gksu leafpad ...', when just 'leafpad ...' would do?

Getting the following error after running

Code:

---

openbox --restart

---

One or more XML syntax errors were found while parsing the Openbox configuration files. See stdout for more information. The last error seen was in file "/home/******/.config/openbox/lubuntu-rc.xml" line 188, with message: Comment not terminated
<!--- Start Expose for LXDE --->
<keybind key="A-grave"

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Yorvik

Getting the following error after running

Code:

---

openbox --restart

---

One or more XML syntax errors were found while parsing the Openbox configuration files. See stdout for more information. The last error seen was in file "/home/******/.config/openbox/lubuntu-rc.xml line 188, with message: Comment not terminated
<!--- Start Expose for LXDE ---?
<keybind key="A-grave"

---

Maybe it should be

Code:

---

<!--- Start Expose for LXDE --->

---

Replace the ? with >

Lines in .xml files are commented out like this:

Code:

---

    <!-- comments are flanked with <!-- on the LHS and --> on the RHS  -->

---

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Yorvik

Getting the following error after running

Code:

---

openbox --restart

---

One or more XML syntax errors were found while parsing the Openbox configuration files. See stdout for more information. The last error seen was in file "/home/******/.config/openbox/lubuntu-rc.xml line 188, with message: Comment not terminated
<!--- Start Expose for LXDE ---?
<keybind key="A-grave"

---

If you're still having trouble, it maybe because of the parts in bold. I've been lucky in making just one mistake at a time.
As I mentioned elsewhere, I prefer openbox --reconfigure because all that is needed is just to refresh the rc.xml file rather than restart openbox.

The question mark is a typo when copying (I couldn't do a copy/paste from the error box) the error massage. The message only occurs when the code from the first post is pasted into the file.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Yorvik

The question mark is a typo when copying (I couldn't do a copy/paste from the error box) the error massage. The message only occurs when the code from the first post is pasted into the file.

---

Oh! Can you try some keybinding other than A+grave? I'm not sure whether the grave key works. I vaguely remember being unsuccessful with it.

That's it. Two dashes not three solved the syntax error problems. Now to find a key combination that works and isn't already in use.

So what I have now is:

Code:

---

<!-- Start Expose for LXDE -->
<keybind key="A-dead_grave">
      <action name="Execute">
        <command>skippy-xd</command>
      </action>
    </keybind>
<!-- End Expose for LXDE -->

---

and all is well :)

Quote:

---

Two dashes not three solved the syntax error problems.

---

and

Quote:

---

So what I have now is:
...<keybind key="A-dead_grave">
...
and all is well :)

---

1. It's the little things that matter!
2. Re. "dead_grave" ... I had to Google to find out what that meant but now I have this:

Code:

---

    <!-- Launch Customize Look and Feel-->
    <keybind key="A-grave">
      <action name="Execute">
        <command>lxappearance</command>
      </action>
    </keybind>

---

Note that it's a simple grave for me. Trying dead_grave didn't work (but didn't throw up an error either). Maybe it's locale-dependent? In any case, thank you for the grave tip. :)

It could well be locale dependant. I used

Code:

---

xev

---

to determine what the key was.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Yorvik

It could well be locale dependant. I used

Code:

---

xev

---

to determine what the key was.

---

That showed just grave for me. My keyboard is set the US way.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by vasa1

and


1. It's the little things that matter!
2. Re. "dead_grave" ... I had to Google to find out what that meant but now I have this:

Code:

---

    <!-- Launch Customize Look and Feel-->
    <keybind key="A-grave">
      <action name="Execute">
        <command>lxappearance</command>
      </action>
    </keybind>

---

Note that it's a simple grave for me. Trying dead_grave didn't work (but didn't throw up an error either). Maybe it's locale-dependent? In any case, thank you for the grave tip. :)

---

So what is the key combination when I add dead_grave?

ALT + what?

I added this code:

<!-- Start Expose for LXDE -->
<keybind key="A-dead_grave">
<action name="Execute">
<command>skippy-xd</command>
</action>
</keybind>
<!-- End Expose for LXDE -->

ran openbox --start

but nothing happens. What is the key combo for this a work?

ALT + What?

Well, you can use any keys that are convenient for you. The main thing is to make sure the combination isn't already in use somewhere else. There's no warning.

The grave or dead_grave key is on the left side of the keyboard, just below the esc key (and just above the tab key). Without holding down shift, pressing that key should give a ` (grave used in many European languages and even in Bash). Holding down the shift key and pressing that key should give a ~ (tilde).

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by geovino

I added this code:

<!-- Start Expose for LXDE -->
<keybind key="A-dead_grave">
<action name="Execute">
<command>skippy-xd</command>
</action>
</keybind>
<!-- End Expose for LXDE -->

ran openbox --start

but nothing happens. What is the key combo for this a work?

ALT + What?

---

Not
openbox --start
but
openbox --restart

I prefer
openbox --reconfigure

Also try grave instead of dead_grave.

As I pointed out earlier, if you run 'xev' in a terminal it will tell you the code and/or name of the key/s you have pressed.

the first post code is already updated to correct the syntax error

after applying the first post code simply hold down alt then hit `


no need for the secondary post of the code

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by vasa1

Not
openbox --start
but
openbox --restart

I prefer
openbox --reconfigure

Also try grave instead of dead_grave.

---

It's working now. :)

Is it possible to have a transparent background like in your screenshot? Mine is not as good.

Screenshot http://i.imgur.com/Ry9xt.png