Using arandr for dual monitors, how do I make changes persistent?

[sambarnett]

I want my monitors to be extended onto each other, not mirrored. By default it always mirrors them and then I have to go into arandr to set them to be extended. How can I make this change permanent?

I'm using Xubuntu 12.10.

Thanks,
Sam

[Elfy]

set it up in arandr

save the file - should then be there in .screenlayout/whateveryoucallthefile

add that to startup applications, you might need to type the path in there - from memory searching doesn't see hidden files

[sambarnett]

I tried this but it did not work. Any other suggestions?

[Elfy]

How about some idea of what didn't work?

[sambarnett]

When I log or reboot the monitors still mirror each other. I then have to still manually separate then monitors in arandr each time I start up in order to use extended screens.

[Elfy]

Couple of things to check

is the script in .screenlayouts set to run in Startup apps in system settings

is the script allowed to run - check it's permissions, right click on the file in thunar - permissions tab - you might need to ctrl+h to see hidden files

[sambarnett]

Yes, the script is set to run.

What do the permissions need to be in order for it to run?

[Elfy]

You can either set it to Allow to run in thunar or with a terminal

chmod +x /path/to/the/script

For me, from my terminal that's

chmod -x .screenlayout/good.sh

Make sure that it is called from autostart

ls /home/yourusername/.config/autostart

You should see the name of the item you've called this there.

Mine is called screens

ls /home/hob/.config/autostart
blueman.desktop               devilspie.desktop     screens.desktop
broken windows again.desktop  print-applet.desktop  xscreensaver.desktop

[sambarnett]

It was already set as "allowed to run" and it still doesn't work.

[Elfy]

Can you open a terminal and then run this please

ls .screenlayout/ && ls .config/autostart/

paste the complete output.