Unable to get a transparent xterm...

bitsdd · 2014-07-24 16:50:00

Hello Guys,
For some reason i'm unable to get a transparent xterm window (started through xinitrc) but when i starting xterm manually then it is behaving normally, may i ask the reason why??

my .xinitrc

#!/bin/sh
#
# ~/.xinitrc
#
# Executed by startx (run your window manager from here)

if [ -d /etc/X11/xinit/xinitrc.d ]; then
  for f in /etc/X11/xinit/xinitrc.d/*; do
    [ -x "$f" ] && . "$f"
  done
  unset f
fi

# Statusbar loop
while true; do
   xsetroot -name "$( date +"%F %R" )"
   sleep 1m    # Update time every minute
done &

#Autostart Section
while true;do
        feh --randomize --bg-fill ~/img/*
        sleep 5s # Update every 5 second
done&
[ -n "$XTERM_VERSION" ] && transset-df -a >/dev/null
[[ -f ~/.Xresources ]] && xrdb -merge ~/.Xresources
xcompmgr&
xterm -bg black -fg white -cr red  /bin/sh &

#WM/DE section
exec dwm

.Xresources

xterm*cursorColor: #ff0000
xterm*background: #1a1a1a
xterm*foreground: #d5d5d5

Last edited by bitsdd (2014-07-24 17:51:54)

Trilby · 2014-07-24 16:58:54

Where do you set transparency? What exact command do you execute when it works as desired? Does the xterm from your xinitrc launch at all?

You probably shouldn't background xrdb - it may not finish loading before the xterm on the next line is launched the way you've written it. This would not cause the current issue - unless of course that is not your complete Xresource file (then if very likely could).

Last edited by Trilby (2014-07-24 17:06:14)

bitsdd · 2014-07-24 17:50:56

Trilby wrote:

Where do you set transparency? What exact command do you execute when it works as desired? Does the xterm from your xinitrc launch at all?
You probably shouldn't background xrdb - it may not finish loading before the xterm on the next line is launched the way you've written it. This would not cause the current issue - unless of course that is not your complete Xresource file (then if very likely could).

I followed this
and installed xcompmgr and transset-df and (yes [ -n "$XTERM_VERSION" ] && transset-df -a >/dev/null it's in my xinitrc "now")
and then opened xterm via dmenu and it appears to be tranparent (that's what i wanted)
but the xterm executed from xinitrc (only that one) never get a transparent background.
I think i'm doing something wrong but don't know what?? (xrdb fixed )

Trilby · 2014-07-24 17:58:44

That line from the wiki should not be in your xinitrc, it should be in your shell rc file (e.g. ~/.bashrc). But it sounds like it's already there. The one you put in the xinitrc will never do anything, so it can be removed.

I suspect the problem is you are not executing the same command in the two cases. What command are you running with dmenu? Just "xterm"? If so, put just "xterm &" in your xinitrc.

The actual cause of the problem is that you specify /bin/sh in the line in xinitrc (why?). This prevents the ~/.bashrc file from being read, so the transset command is never executed.

bitsdd · 2014-07-24 18:17:15

Thanks Trilby it worked, /bin/sh came out to be the culprit.
But just for understanding, why did /bin/sh did'nt worked as /bin/bash even though i put

[ -n "$XTERM_VERSION" ] && transset-df -a >/dev/null

in .xinitrc it must execute transset-df.

if

[[ -f ~/.Xresources ]] && xrdb -merge ~/.Xresources

is working
then why isn't

[ -n "$XTERM_VERSION" ] && transset-df -a >/dev/null

Last edited by bitsdd (2014-07-24 18:18:26)

Trilby · 2014-07-24 18:36:44

bitsdd wrote:

why did /bin/sh did'nt worked as /bin/bash even though i put
[ -n "$XTERM_VERSION" ] && transset-df -a >/dev/null
in .xinitrc it must execute transset-df.

Two reasons:

1) That conditional does not pass - xinitrc is not run from an xterm. So the transset-df command never executes.

2) Even if the conditional passed, the transset-df command would fail. That command sets the transparency of the window of the controlling terminal emulator. There is no controlling terminal emulator, and there is no window, so transset-df has nothing to set.

Arch Linux

#1 2014-07-24 16:50:00

Unable to get a transparent xterm...

#2 2014-07-24 16:58:54

Re: Unable to get a transparent xterm...

#3 2014-07-24 17:50:56

Re: Unable to get a transparent xterm...

#4 2014-07-24 17:58:44

Re: Unable to get a transparent xterm...

#5 2014-07-24 18:17:15

Re: Unable to get a transparent xterm...

#6 2014-07-24 18:36:44

Re: Unable to get a transparent xterm...

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