Very Computer

Does anyone know how to change the window manager on Redhat 6.2, XF 4.0?

I created the file /etc/sysconfig/desktop with a single line "AnotherLevel",
but it always starts AfterStep (I think that's what it's called) instead!
I also tried changing the Window Manager from within AfterStep and restarted
X.  But it still didn't change the WM.

I've tried to follow all the configuration files (/etc/X11 to /var/X11R6 to
/usr/X11R6, etc) but I really can't figure out what is going on.  Just too
many levels of indirection to figure out.  Is there a logfile that records
the startup of X, including the window manager?

BTW, I haven't got any config files in my home directory.  Also, I'm using
"startx" from a console window.  (I don't like xdm).

Thanks for any help,
    Richard

Quote:>Does anyone know how to change the window manager on Redhat 6.2, XF 4.0?

>I created the file /etc/sysconfig/desktop with a single line "AnotherLevel",
>but it always starts AfterStep (I think that's what it's called) instead!
>I also tried changing the Window Manager from within AfterStep and restarted
>X.  But it still didn't change the WM.

>I've tried to follow all the configuration files (/etc/X11 to /var/X11R6 to
>/usr/X11R6, etc) but I really can't figure out what is going on.  Just too
>many levels of indirection to figure out.  Is there a logfile that records
>the startup of X, including the window manager?

>BTW, I haven't got any config files in my home directory.  Also, I'm using
>"startx" from a console window.  (I don't like xdm).

>Thanks for any help,
>    Richard

Actually, that isn't how I do it, but I think the word you need for
AnotherLevel is fvwm2.  I did man AnotherLevel and found that out.  There is
also wmconfig which is supposed to be used to configure it.  I just got it
going to see what was needed.  I usually use icewm.

So I am guessing that you can just put fvwm2 in that file you spoke of.

My method is to make several .Xclients - gnome.Xclients, kde.Xclients,
ice.Xclients and now fvwm2.Xclients.  The kde.Xclients is what was .Xclients
after I set up kde, the original wm that I had. So I did:
mv .Xclients kde.Xclients
ln -s fvwm2.Xclients .Xclients
startx

When I want icewm again, I do
rm .Xclients
ln -s ice.Xclients .Xclients
startx

I also have .fvwm2rc which I copied from /etc/X11/fvwm2/system.fvwm2rc.  If
you don't have that, it will just default to the system file.  

My fvwm2.Xclients is just my ice.Xclients with a slight change.  Here it is:

# run profile to set $PATH and other env vars correctly
. $HOME/.bash_profile
# setup background
xsetroot -solid '#056'
## setup mouse acceleration
#xset m 7 2
# run initial programs
#xterm -sb &
#netscape &
xscreensaver &
#kppp &
#xterm -e mc &
kfm &
konsole &
# start icewm, and run xterm if it crashes (just to be safe)
#exec icewm || exec xterm -fg red
exec fvwm2

Anita

PS: I agree on the xdm.

<snip>

I investigated further and found that there is AnotherLevel as you said.  I
put exec AnotherLevel in my fvwm2.Xclients in place of exec fvwm2 and it
has a different (and better) look.  Maybe that /etc/sysconfig/desktop isn't
working.  You might try making an .Xclients for it with exec AnotherLevel in
it.  I'm curious if that will work.  

I recall a while back trying the desktop thing and it didn't work for me as
I recall.  I know that is supposed to be the way to change them, but when I
started out with KDE, I did switchdesk and fooled around with it.  I found
out that I could not switchdesk back out of whatever wm I managed to land
in.  That was when I began looking for how to switch back to kde and saw the
thing about /etc/sysconfig/desktop.  When that did not work, I looked at
.Xclients and found that switchdesk had rewritten that and had made some
other .Xclients like -default and another one.  I looked at them and found a
simple exec some-wm-name and I was able to change it back to kde.  Then I
found icewm and it came with a nice .Xclients that I filled in with some
other apps.  I comment them and uncomment them as the mood strikes.  

If you get it working with desktop, let us know.

Anita

I fixed the problem by creating the file ".Xclients" in my home directory
with the single line "exec AnotherLevel".

So, it seems /etc/sysconfig/desktop is ignored, at least for Redhat 6.2 and
Xfree 4.0.

    Richard