[SOLVED] dmenu opens invisibly (until I start typing) in x server 1.9

Sara · 2010-11-02 22:40:18

I had been sticking with xorg-server 1.8.1.902-1 for the longest time because whenever I upgraded to 1.9+, dmenu would open silently, i.e. dmenu didn't replace my status bar in dwm until I began typing. Normally, as soon I open dmenu, it replaces the status bar with the list of installed programs. This goes for any use of dmenu, to include in surf. This was annoying enough to keep me from upgrading, but plagued by bugs in xorg-server 1.8 (my entire system freezing), I upgraded.

I'm pretty sure it's X that's the problem, but here's the list of all the programs I was using the old versions of in order to keep dmenu acting sane (I kept everything X-related downgraded lest upgrading the dependencies messed up X):

warning: intel-dri: ignoring package upgrade (7.8.2-1 => 7.8.2-3)
warning: libgl: ignoring package upgrade (7.8.2-1 => 7.8.2-3)
warning: mesa: ignoring package upgrade (7.8.2-1 => 7.8.2-3)
warning: xf86-input-evdev: ignoring package upgrade (2.4.0-2 => 2.5.0-1)
warning: xf86-input-synaptics: ignoring package upgrade (1.2.2-2 => 1.3.0-1)
warning: xf86-input-wacom: ignoring package upgrade (0.10.8-1 => 0.10.8-2)
warning: xf86-video-fbdev: ignoring package upgrade (0.4.2-1 => 0.4.2-2)
warning: xf86-video-intel: ignoring package upgrade (2.12.0-1 => 2.12.0-3)
warning: xf86-video-vesa: ignoring package upgrade (2.3.0-2 => 2.3.0-3)
warning: xkeyboard-config: ignoring package upgrade (1.8-1 => 2.0-1)
warning: xorg-server: ignoring package upgrade (1.8.1.902-1 => 1.9.2-1)
warning: xorg-server-utils: ignoring package upgrade (7.5-6 => 7.6-1)
warning: xorg-utils: ignoring package upgrade (7.6-3 => 7.6-5)

Though I remarked on my usage of dmenu in dwm, the experience has been the same in XMonad and ratpoison--silent opening until I start typing, but perfectly okay in X server 1.8.1.902-1. I tried using the re-write of dmenu_run in C (available in the AUR), but that didn't help (which one would expect, as I have this problem in surf too, for changing the url invokes dmenu). Thanks to anyone who helps (or lets me know that I'm not alone).

I'm using dmenu 4.0.2 with the xft patch, but I tried using the unpatched version in 4.1.1-1, and had the same problem.

[Edit] Guess I should have tried again. Indeed, with a previous version of X server, in the 1.9 series, I had had this problem, new dmenu or old, but in 1.9.2, everything is working as it should using the latest dmenu 4.1.1-1. Sorry for the hasty forum post. [/Edit]

[Edit] I figured out the problem: the xft patch to dmenu. When I applied the patch (available in the AUR) to dmenu, dmenu thereafter experienced the same exact problem. So I believe the patch has to be updated for the latest X server. Unfortunately, I don't know even where to begin to start, but perhaps someone else might know. [/Edit]

Last edited by Sara (2010-11-02 23:12:20)

Trindol · 2010-11-03 00:44:28

I've had this same problem, as well as my right-click openbox menu not showing up properly and other drop down menus overstaying their welcome on screen. No version of xorg-server 1.9 in the repos has worked well for me so far. I keep reverting to xorg-server-compositing-fix in the AUR. Which is also at 1.9. And works without a hitch as far as I can tell.

Last edited by Trindol (2010-11-03 00:45:16)

Sara · 2010-11-03 02:02:41

Thanks for letting me know! Hadn't even tried to look at the AUR for patches.

[Edit] Installed xorg-server-compositing-fix from the AUR and all's well. I was worried no one would check this thread because I had marked it as SOLVED... for I only marked it as solved for I had discovered the reason (or thought I discovered the reason), but didn't have a real "fix" for the problem. Thanks to you, this thread really is solved . [/Edit]

Last edited by Sara (2010-11-03 04:27:52)

Arch Linux

#1 2010-11-02 22:40:18

[SOLVED] dmenu opens invisibly (until I start typing) in x server 1.9

#2 2010-11-03 00:44:28

Re: [SOLVED] dmenu opens invisibly (until I start typing) in x server 1.9

#3 2010-11-03 02:02:41

Re: [SOLVED] dmenu opens invisibly (until I start typing) in x server 1.9

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