XSplash Background Settings

Background settings dialog for XSplash and the login screen (GDM), providing easy changing of the background image and an optional daemon, that keeps xsplash and gdm background consistent with the desktop wallpaper. Video demo: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WPlbE_sUyVg
Depends on: xsplash imagemagick python-gconf python-gtk2 python-gksu2 python-gobject


INSTALL:

PPA repository (recommended): ppa:meerkat/stable -> Instructions: https://launchpad.net/~meerkat/+archive/stable

DEB package: Download below, just double click

After successful installation you need to reboot once for the daemon to run. Open the configuration dialog through System -> Settings -> XSplash Wallpaper Settings or by running xsplash-wallpaper-settings --settings from terminal. Choose your custom background or activate "Use Desktop Background" to keep your XSplash background consistent with your desktop wallpaper.

Old versions (1.3 and earlier): http://www.google.com/#q="wallpaper_daemon.py"



CUSTOMIZE GDM:
You want to use your gtk and icon theme for the login screen? Run xsplash-background-settings --gdm (Note that this only works for system wide installed themes)
To restore the default ubuntu gdm themes run xsplash-background-settings --restore-gdm



UPGRADE:

from version 1.6 and later: Just install new version.

from version 1.3 and earlier: Please follow the uninstall instructions below and install the new version afterwards.

UNINSTALL / RESTORE DEFAULT XSPLASH:

Version 1.6 and later:
1. Go to System -> Settings -> XSplash Background Settings and choose "Use default background" to restore default XSplash.
2. Remove xsplash-background-settings through package manager.

Version 1.3 and earlier:
1. Remove wallpaper_daemon.py from the startup programs (gnome-session-properties).
2. Extract your backup file. If you used the install routine this file is called backup.TIMESTAMP (where TIMESTAMP is dynamically generated number) and located at /usr/share/images/xsplash. To get the extraction path right use the following command (you may use the TAB key to complete backup. with the right timestamp number):
tar -C / -xf /usr/share/images/xsplash/backup.TIMESTAMP
3. Version 1.0 only:
sudo -u gdm gconftool-2 -t string -s /desktop/gnome/background/picture_filename /usr/share/images/xsplash/bg_2560x1600.jpg
4. restart (dont change your desktop wallpaper before restarting!)



KNOWN ISSUES:

I noticed that on some ubuntu derivatives (such as Linux Mint) the login screen uses a different background image than XSplash. To fix that simply run
sudo -u gdm gconftool-2 -t string -s /desktop/gnome/background/picture_filename /usr/share/images/xsplash/bg_2560x1600.jpg

If you get the error message Quote:

Failed to backup default background
Change settings at your OWN RISK!

and/or the xsplash background is not successfully change by the settings dialog you may be affected by a known issue with gksu (see the discussion started by zetty on Feb 1 2010). A temporary workaround is to either manually permit permanent user write access to the xsplash image folder: Quote:

sudo chmod -R a+rw /usr/share/images/xsplash

or start the settings dialog with sudo: Quote:

sudo xsplash-background-settings --settings

REPORT BUGS / ASK QUESTIONS:
Of course you may report a bug or ask any question by posting a comment here, but if you have a launchpad account (or dont bother creating one) please use the project page on launchpad (http://launchpad.net/xsplash-background-settings), as it is much clearer arranged and nothing gets lost between pages of comments.
Report a bug: http://bugs.launchpad.net/xsplash-background-settings/+filebug
Ask a question: https://answers.launchpad.net/xsplash-background-settings/+addquestion



TRANSLATIONS:
The following language files have already been submitted:

german (part of 1.6)

french by OxayotlTheGreat (part of 1.6.1)

spanish by algalord (part of 1.6.1)

russian by zetty (not released yet)

Many thanks to the translators!



TESTING:
New versions are first released in a special testing ppa. If you want to help testing new releases, use the following repository:
Quote:

deb http://ppa.launchpad.net/meerkat/testing/ubuntu karmic main
deb-src http://ppa.launchpad.net/meerkat/testing/ubuntu karmic main

1.6:
- config gui
- localisation (english, german)
- DEB package