Super simple lxde lubuntu wallpaper changer, no memory usage, no crazy scripts

[ronniew]

Wallpaper changers on lxde or lubuntu are nice to have but tough to find, particularly if you are trying to stay lightweight. Usually wallpaper changers don't usually work because they aren't compatible with pcmanfm.

So after searching the Internet for quite some time and fiddling around I came up with a super easy, simple way to have a wallpaper changer on lxde / lubuntu without using any memory or complicated scripts or programs.

I tried the wallpaper changer called variety which i found on these forums... however it didn't work for me but also upon launch it was using about 40 megs of ram on my system just to change the wallpaper... not exactly lightweight, and it was always running in the background.

I've also looked at some scripts and while they do work they are more complicated then they need to be... although i will say that they usually provide some type of timer wallpaper change feature, which this solution does not... however you'll see it really doesn't matter.

Ok here we go.

First lets make a desktop icon.

To create a desktop icon right click on the desktop and create a blank file. Name the file whatever you want just end it with .desktop I usually name the icon randomwallpaper.desktop

Once the file is created right click on it and open it with leafpad.

Copy and paste the following code in it

[Desktop Entry]
Version=1.0
Name=Random Wallpaper
Comment=Randomly change LXDE wallpaper.
Exec=bash -c 'pcmanfm -w "$(find ~/Pictures/Wallpapers -type f | shuf -n1)"'
Terminal=false
Type=Application
Categories=Utility;
Icon=wallpaper

Once the code is pasted close and save it.

Now I'm going to assume your new icon is on the desktop

We will place this icon in two place...

One in your autostart folder (which provide a random background on startup)

And the other one will go in your applications folder (which will provide access to it through your accessories menu.)

Open your terminal and enter these commands

cd Desktop
cp randomdesktop.desktop ~/.config/autostart
sudo mv randomdesktop.desktop /usr/share/applications

Open up desktop session settings (preferences menu) and make sure the Random Desktop icon is checked if you want it to change your desktop background on startup.

Finally and important... create a folder named Wallpapers inside your Pictures folder and place your desktop backgrounds in there..

Now whenever your computer starts it changes the background and if you want to change it yourself you can select random wallpaper from the accessories menu and it will switch it instantly.

This is an excellent no memory usage, super easy wallpaper changer solution without involving complicated scripts or heavy programs.



CAUTION: This has only been test on Lubuntu 12.04

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

lxde simple weather
aero snap for lubuntu
expose feature for lubuntu

[mörgæs]

Thanks, but please post these guides in
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/Lubuntu/Documentation
in order to have everything in one place.

We are trying to move stuff of long-time value to the wiki and use the forum mainly for support questions.

[ankspo71]

Thanks for the tip.

Unfortunately I am unable to use it in a stock Lubuntu 12.10 because I am affected by a bug in pcmanfm 1.0.1-0ubuntu1, where pcmanfm refuses to launch after setting the wallpaper by command. The latest git version 1.0.2-alpha1 fixes the bug though, which I was able to temporarily test on a non-persistant liveusb. Bug: http://sourceforge.net/tracker/?func...56&atid=801864

[ronniew]

i reported that bug early on, glad to see its been fixed in the latest build

which you might be able to get from here

https://launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/pcmanfm

[MalWiggin]

Unfortunately I am unable to use it in a stock Lubuntu 12.10 because I am affected by a bug in pcmanfm 1.0.1-0ubuntu1, where pcmanfm refuses to launch after setting the wallpaper by command.

I had the same problem but noticed that pcmanfm would still start from a shortcut to a folder, but wouldn't start from it's base application. It meant that I could easily start it up with a shortcut to the home folder on the desktop, but the application launch bar shortcut didn't work.

You can fix that by editing the desktop configuration file for the PCManFM application to direct it to open to a specific file.

To do this, open the terminal and type the following:
cd usr/share/applications
sudo leafpad pcmanfm.desktop

Now scroll down and find the line:
Exec=pcmanfm %U

Here you need to change the "%U" to your preferred default folder. I use /home/malwiggin so the line reads:
Exec=pcmanfm /home/malwiggin

Save the file, and your File Manager should start as normal now.

[seppalta]

For an automatic wallpaper rotator (slide show) script, rather than just a changer, see
http://lxlinux.com/#5.

[MrZorg2012]

Thanks for the tip.

Unfortunately I am unable to use it in a stock Lubuntu 12.10 because I am affected by a bug in pcmanfm 1.0.1-0ubuntu1, where pcmanfm refuses to launch after setting the wallpaper by command. The latest git version 1.0.2-alpha1 fixes the bug though, which I was able to temporarily test on a non-persistant liveusb. Bug: http://sourceforge.net/tracker/?func...56&atid=801864

Yeah mine too. So I had to remove this, too bad, it was kinda cool.

[offgridguy]

Thanks for this thread.

[Jakopc]

Thanks very much for this nice tutorial!
The only thing is that the manual switching via the menu is not always reacting, any clue why?

[ronniew]

and being heavy on resources, neither of which is true.

I guess I'm old school, anything over 10 megs for a wallpaper changer seems crazy. (in truth anything over 5)

In my mind ram is the single most valuable resource in your computer that you actually have quite a bit of control over. There has never been a time that saving as much ram as possible wasn't a good thing.