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

http://ubuntuforums.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=230702&d=1359307780

[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.

[sambarnett]

sbarnett@sbarnett-Satellite-L755:~$ ls .screenlayout/ && ls .config/autostart/
default.sh
AF4C043927B5E6AC71FCF2B33F18A482A1AF95D5.chromium-service.desktop
blueman.desktop
dropbox.desktop
Screen.desktop
xfce4-settings-helper-autostart.desktop
sbarnett@sbarnett-Satellite-L755:~$

[Elfy]

Ok - now


cat .config/autostart/Screen.desktop && cat .screenlayout/default.sh

Let's make sure the files look like they should.

It all 'looks' right as far as files being where they should.

You can also see if the script is working from a terminal


./.screenlayout/default.sh

One other thing - what graphics card are you using and driver for it.

I used to use nvidia driver with a card - had to set it up with nvidia-settings in that case.

[sambarnett]

sbarnett@sbarnett-Satellite-L755:~$ cat .config/autostart/Screen.desktop && cat .screenlayout/default.sh
[Desktop Entry]
Encoding=UTF-8
Version=0.9.4
Type=Application
Name=Screen
Comment=
Exec=/home/sbarnett/.screenlayout/default.sh
OnlyShowIn=XFCE;
StartupNotify=false
Terminal=false
Hidden=false

#!/bin/sh
xrandr --output HDMI1 --off --output LVDS1 --mode 1366x768 --pos 0x0 --rotate normal --output DP1 --off --output VGA1 --mode 1360x768 --pos 1366x0 --rotate normal
sbarnett@sbarnett-Satellite-L755:~$


-------

I don't know what video card I'm using. It's a Toshiba laptop.

[sambarnett]

By the way I checked and it DOES work from a terminal.

[Elfy]

Moved to Desktop Environments

Not sure what's going wrong to be honest, all seems ok to me - especially if running the script from a terminal does the job.

Moved it here to get some different people looking.

[Toz]

Exec=/home/sbarnett/.screenlayout/default.sh
Does this file exist and is it executable?

[sambarnett]

Yes that file exists. As a matter of fact I can even make a shortcut to that on the desktop and click on it right after I boot up and it will immediately change the screen settings to the correct settings.

Any other ideas?

[cinq]

I solved it (it worked for me at least)!
that's my script

#!/bin/bash
sleep 5

sh ./startdual.sh
exit

startdual.sh is the saved configuration copy-pasted on m home folder and excecutable.