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pointone

Wiki Admin

From: Waterloo, ON

Registered: 2008-02-21

Posts: 379

[SOLVED] Latest xmobar update changes configuration file syntax

I have already solved my problem, but am posting the solution as I expect others will likely encounter the same issue.

The recent update to xmobar in [community] (0.9-4 to 0.9.1-1) silently introduces configuration file syntax changes, it would appear. After updating, xmobar would fail to start for me, with a generally useless error message:

xmobar: /home/user/.xmobarrc: configuration file contains errors!

Helpful, right?

Anyhow, after much Googling to no avail, I stumbled across http://code.haskell.org/xmobar/xmobar.config-sample, which worked flawlessly on my machine. It turns out, it is now necessary to specify "lowerOnStart = True" in .xmobarrc or it will fail with the above error message.

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bidigo

Member

From: Stuttgart, Germany

Registered: 2008-09-01

Posts: 8

Re: [SOLVED] Latest xmobar update changes configuration file syntax

Thanks pointone!

I struggled with the same error myself and, being unable to fix it, had to downgrade to the previous version.

Just did pacman -Syu now and it works like a charm!

phabulosa

Member

From: Mountain View, CA

Registered: 2007-10-17

Posts: 182

Website

Re: [SOLVED] Latest xmobar update changes configuration file syntax

I have already solved my problem, but am posting the solution as I expect others will likely encounter the same issue.

The recent update to xmobar in [community] (0.9-4 to 0.9.1-1) silently introduces configuration file syntax changes, it would appear. After updating, xmobar would fail to start for me, with a generally useless error message:

xmobar: /home/user/.xmobarrc: configuration file contains errors!

Helpful, right?

Anyhow, after much Googling to no avail, I stumbled across http://code.haskell.org/xmobar/xmobar.config-sample, which worked flawlessly on my machine. It turns out, it is now necessary to specify "lowerOnStart = True" in .xmobarrc or it will fail with the above error message.

NOTE: it seems that lowerOnStart option HAS TO be RIGHT after "position=".

timetrap

Member

From: Here and There

Registered: 2008-06-05

Posts: 342

Website

Re: [SOLVED] Latest xmobar update changes configuration file syntax

Thanks. I was wondering what was up. Adding the line "lowerOnStart = True" worked for me too.

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mantus

Member

From: Norway

Registered: 2009-02-03

Posts: 16

Re: [SOLVED] Latest xmobar update changes configuration file syntax

Brilliant. Worked like a charm. Thanks for the link.

Wondered why it didnt start after logging in and what the error was. Got a slight windows feeling with that error message

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