Wallpaper \ Background changing with Unity Ubuntu 11.10

[drpain]

Hey All,

Since the wallpaper changer I had didn't want to work any more since upgrading to 11.10 I decided to create a Python script to alter the backgrounds-1.xml file located in the /usr/share/backgrounds/contest folder.

This is where they created the background resource file which tells the system which background to use when. What I did was create the Python script to ask you for the folder where you store your wallpapers, the frequency with which you want them to change and the time-out between wallpapers.

I hope some of you find this helpful. You will need Python installed on the system.

I tested it with loads 900+ images and it worked fine, images will be repeated from start to end and shuffled every time it's run.

Kind Regards,

Rudi

[Rodney9]

In Xubuntu 11.10 I have tried desktop nova plus wallch, but neither work, they run but the wallpaper does not change.

I tried your script, thank you, but still the wallpaper does not change.

Any clues ?

[drpain]

Hey Rodney,

It might be simple, I hope.

You can do the following things to find where the problem lies. Firstly something I forgot to mention is that you have to select the contest background set for it to work.

You can do this by Right Clicking on the Desktop and clicking Change Desktop Background. Then you need to select the Contest as your desktop background.

You can check the screen-shot below, I hope it helps:




If you still have no joy, please check the background file to see if it was amended with your backgrounds. You can do this by running the following command:

sudo gedit /usr/share/backgrounds/contest/background-1.xml

Here's my file as an example:



Please let me know if you are able to get it to work. I might need to add some more error control.

[mizzou_tiger]

Thanks drpain!

I've been looking for something like this, worked great for me!

[Angelus-Michael]

Thanks drpain

[drpain]

I did download Xubuntu and loaded it on my Virtual PC, but it appears that they use a different desktop / appearance manager.

This is sadly a hack for Ubuntu 11.10 specifically as the previous method didn't work.

Glad to hear some of you have been able to use it, means I didn't waste time making it!!

[lazysalamander]

Thanks much, works well here.

[drpain]

Great to hear you guys are using it and it's working!

[Hulmemanitarian]

Still having trouble with it, but then I am an total ubuntu noob!

[drpain]

Still having trouble with it, but then I am an total ubuntu noob!

It does require some Linux / Ubuntu know-how. Lets maybe do a checklist:


1. ) Is Python Installed (Yes / No) ?

You can install it using the following command in your terminal:

sudo apt-get install python

Or you can install Python in your Ubuntu Software Center


2. ) Do you know what the absolute path of your wallpaper folder is (Yes / No)?

For example if my username is rudi and my wallpapers are in my home folder then it would be /home/rudi/wallpapers I hope this makes sense to you.