The Rox Desktop for DSL Linux

Forum: DSL Ideas and Suggestions
Topic: The Rox Desktop for DSL Linux
started by: Curious1

Posted by Curious1 on Mar. 03 2005,01:57

I have used DSL a fair amount but I tend to favor the Cool Linux CD or Puppy Linux for a few reason: I can drag and drop icons as well as right click on them for multiple functions. In dsl linux I feel really constricted and suffocated not being able to drag and drop icons or right click on them. I think the ROX DESKTOP would be an EXCELLENT solution for this. Perhaps a "rox desktop" dsl extension would be in order (not the rox filer). It would be awesome if you guys could create a dsl file for this or a remaster if required. A Thanks to the developers and keep up the good work. :;):

Posted by mikshaw on Mar. 03 2005,03:47

you can get a right-click menu on icons in DSL, if the LNK file is configured that way. Add lines like this:
MenuCommand<num>: <label> : <command>
example:

table Icon
Type: Program
Caption: Aterm
Command: /opt/aterm/aterm
Icon: /home/dsl/.xtdesktop/aterm.png
X: 420
Y: 240
MenuCommand1: Transparent Aterm : /opt/aterm/dsl-aterm
MenuCommand2: Root Aterm : sudo /opt/aterm/aterm -T "super user" -e sudo su

Posted by softgun on Mar. 03 2005,07:33

I agree about the Rox desktop. The Rox filer which is availabale as a dsl is great too. But after i got used to emelfm, I lost interest in the rox filer :-) but the rox filer allows us to drag and drop files into the application too. For example you can drag and drop a shockwave file into the open firefox and it will start to play.....
I always have it as an additional to invoke if needed.
The rox desktop has great features and its own way of packaging files in folders for installation. You take this folder and email it to someone running rox and he/she just drops it into the rox filer and the program will work. There is also a zero install options of running from a cache. Cool fetures which will add to the value of dsl.

Merits serious consideration in my opinion as the default desktop. It is a light weight desktop too.

Posted by Delboy on Mar. 05 2005,20:08

I second this - Rox desktop looks a great bet for a alternative desktop base DSL default.

Posted by cbagger01 on Mar. 06 2005,06:58

I created the original Rox Filer dsl extension and I like the look and feel of the product. It is especially nice to use it as a thumbnail / image browser. However, I find emelfm to be a more useful "get down to business" file manager.

What you may not know is that the Rox Filer extension also has the built-in drag-n-drop desktop icon management functions of the "Rox Desktop".

In order to use this function, you need to do the following:

1) Turn off the existing desktop icons or simply kill the xtdesk process.
2) Go to the Rox user manual and read up on the "pinboard" functionality and how it works.
3) Open an xterminal window and manually start up rox with the pinboard command line parameter. You can place a "&" at the end of the command if you want to put the process into the background and close your xterminal or use it for other purposes.
4) Start dragging some icons on to your desktop from the file manager window.
5) If you like what you see, add the rox command to your .xinitrc and back up your settings folders.

I don't see Rox becoming part of the main DSL base because it takes up more space than the existing applications (xtdesktop, xzgv, emelfm) but it is still a nice program.

But since we are on the subject, a better replacement for xtdeskop icon manager and still small would be fbdesk (Fluxbox desktop icon manager):

< http://fluxbox.sourceforge.net/fbdesk/ >

It has a nice user interface in that you can mange your icons from the GUI instead of editing a text file. Of course you can still edit a text file if that is your preference.

Posted by cbagger01 on Mar. 06 2005,07:45

mikshaw,

I like your use of the xtdesktop Right Click menu.

I was unaware that such a feature existed.

It would be very nice if this feature was added into the next version of DSL for the following Icons:

Xterminal
Emelfm
Beaver

The default option would be to start the application, and the alternative option would be to start the application as "Super User".

Anyone else agree?

Posted by clivesay on Mar. 06 2005,12:51

YES!!

Great idea, CB

Chris

Posted by Curious1 on Mar. 07 2005,05:46

I would (and probably others) would be blissfully happy if the Rox Desktop and or fbdesk was integrated into DSL or made as a DSL extension(s). Just plain awesome!