KDE panel background manager

Various Stuff

Source (link to git-repo or to original if based on someone elses unmodified work): Add the source-code for this project on opencode.net

1
5.0
Description:

The KDE panel background is usually just a flat gray color. This is a program that allows you to make it have different backgrounds and switch from one to another easily. For example, if you have a "Blue Keramik" color scheme like in the second screenshot, you can take the "Blue scratch" background to make the panel be also shaded with blue. In the third screenshot I used "Wood (light)" that looks fine with the color scheme.


Installing note:
-----------------------------
You don't need to do any installation. Just uncompress to any directory you want and directly run the binary "panelbackgroundmanager". It doesn't create any file anywhere.

If you are upgrading from an older version, you should remove it first instead of just
overwriting it.


Adding new backgrounds:
-----------------------------

Since version 0.5 it's possible to install your own backgrounds so that you can choose them
from the list. Installing new themes is not implemented yet, but you just have to copy any
background image you want to the subdirectory "panelbackgroundmanager-0.5/pics/custom".
Close and reopen the program and you'll see it in the list.


Developers note:
-----------------------------
I distribute this program precompiled so that people not used to compiling programs can use it directly without any complication, but of course its license is GPL. I can't include the source code in the tarball because there's not enough space for it (kde-look.org doesn't allow people to submit files greather than 750 kb). Anyway, you can download the source from here:
http://djworldmoz.ods.org/panelshadesmanager/panelbackgroundmanager-source-0.5.tar.gz

Don't do a "make install" as it's not correctly configured yet and will produce unexpected results. Just do "./configure" and "make", and then look for the binary inside the "panelshadesmanager/panelshadesmanager" directory. I'll fix this as soon as I know what do I have to do in KDevelop to make the "make install" also copy the subdirectory "pics".
Last changelog:

17 years ago

Version 0.5 (2003-09-21): The program has been renamed to "KDE panel background manager". It has some improvements:

   · It can handle backgrounds optimized for different panel sizes, for example the "LCD grid" one. The optimized backgrounds theirself will come in the next version.
   · The preview now matches the KDE panel size
   · If you're using another background, a copy of it is made so that it will also appear in the list.
   · Now you can add new backgrounds (manually). There's no GUI for doing it yet, but it will be implemented in the next version.
   · Added a button to undo the background changes and restore the one at the program startup.


Version 0.4.4 (2003-08-25): This is the "fix for the fix". If you downloaded the versions 0.4.2 or 0.4.3 and experienced problems, you should download this.


Version 0.4.3 (2003-08-24): Some people experienced crashes with the last version. I've made some changes that should fix this problem till I release the next version.


Version 0.4.2 (2003-08-21):
   · Added the metal and wood skins.
   · Small changes to the preview funcion. To make the preview now it tiles the background instead of resampling it. That way it uses the same mechanism as Kicker (the KDE panel) does.


Version 0.4.1 (2003-08-19): Added the "Kickback" panel backgrounds made by Simon Golicnik. You can find them at:
http://www.kde-look.org/content/show.php?content=1007


Version 0.4 (2003-08-18):
   · Added the *-pipe shades.
   · Improved the preview system. Now it generates the preview instead of loading it from a file. That way, in the next version you'll be able to add your own backgrounds. I'll probably change the application name to something like "KDE panel background manager".

44 comments
Comments/Ratings

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balcis

13 years ago

yeah, that's what KDE needed for a long time about styling, great work.. I was just thinking about to write to KDE4 brainstorm that KDE is a way behind about panel styles than gnome, that just a gray colour is so poor for the panel, liked your work so much, thanx.

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fuzz

16 years ago

I was getting the same error as you "error while loading shared libraries: libpng.so.3"

Fix if your on debian. Install libpng3 and libpng3-dev

It works for me now.

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C

djworld

17 years ago

The link to the source code is wroken. Here's the new link:

http://www.deejayworld.net/panelshadesmanager/panelbackgroundmanager-source-0.5.tar.gz

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ryushe

17 years ago

As soon as I start up ./panelbackgroundmanager I get the following error:

"./panelbackgroundmanager: error while loading shared libraries: libpng.so.3: cannot open shared object file: No such file or directory"

Any ideas?

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ryushe

17 years ago

forgot to add specs:
KDE 3.1.4 running on Debian SID.

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C

djworld

17 years ago

That error means the program can't find the libpng library. I don't use Debian, so I'm not sure if this will work, but try:

apt-get install libpng

If that doesn't work, try to see if there is some "libpng.so" anywhere (maybe in /usr/lib) and make a symbolic link and an "ldconfig" to see if works.

Good luck!

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RinkyDinksRJ

17 years ago

I think you should add an option so that it automatically loads the previous panel background at the start of KDE.

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C

djworld

17 years ago

I've implemented it now. The only thing it requires to work is to have write permissions in the pics/custom subdirectory. Actually it makes a copy of your current background if it's not one of the built-in ones.

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C

djworld

17 years ago

Ok, don't worry. I'll implement that in one of the next versions. Right now I have exams in the university, so I can't work on it, but when I finish them I'll continue developing this program, and that's in the TODO list.

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Seawolf

17 years ago

I downloaded the source from your site. I did a ./configure and make. It compiled without error. I moved the panelshademanager program and the two directories, pics & preview to /opt/panelshademanager. See results below.
--------------------------------------
[lrh@farpoint lrh]$ ls -l /opt/panelshadesmanager
total 106
-rw-rw-r-- 1 lrh lrh 18009 Aug 10 13:19 license.txt
-rwxrwxr-x 1 lrh lrh 80776 Aug 22 09:03 panelshadesmanager*
drwxrwxr-x 2 lrh lrh 1256 Aug 22 08:55 pics/
drwxrwxr-x 2 lrh lrh 112 Aug 18 18:11 preview/
-rw-rw-r-- 1 lrh lrh 3971 Aug 21 17:29 readme.txt
[lrh@farpoint lrh]$ cd /opt/panelshadesmanager
[lrh@farpoint panelshadesmanager]$ ./panelshadesmanager
QPainter::begin: Cannot paint null pixmap
-------------------

This is the same error I received from the tar file package on KDE-Look. The error traceback is included below.
----------------------
[New Thread 16384 (LWP 29388)]
0x40cf4677 in waitpid () from /lib/i686/libpthread.so.0
#0 0x40cf4677 in waitpid () from /lib/i686/libpthread.so.0
#1 0x40359e7b in KCrash::defaultCrashHandler(int) ()
from /usr/lib/libkdecore.so.4
#2 0x40d823b8 in __libc_sigaction () from /lib/i686/libc.so.6
------------------------

As previously stated, my system is MDK 9.1 with KDE 3.1.0


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djworld

17 years ago

This new version (0.4.4) MUST work. I've tested it on another computer with Mandrake 9.1 and KDE 3.1.0 where 0.4.2 and 0.4.3 gave the same errors as you, and now it works, so it should work for you too.

The phucking KPixmapEffect::createTiled function were returning null pixmaps that made the program crash. I've implemented my own function that does the same but using QImage instead of KPixmap. I don't like making things already done, but folks, it works. ;)

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Seawolf

17 years ago

*YES* Much happienes. It does work. Many thanks for the extra effort.

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cerebrix

17 years ago

well i wish i could test it for you but i updated to 3.1.3 and everything works great now. sorry man, wish i could be of help still. loving it tho ;-)

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djworld

17 years ago

I've uploaded a new version that should fix it. I haven't tested it yet, but I'll do tomorrow. Anyway, it would be cool if you could test it and tell me if it works for you.

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Seawolf

17 years ago

I just noticed the new version - same results as before.
-----------------------
[New Thread 16384 (LWP 14596)]
0x40cf4677 in waitpid () from /lib/i686/libpthread.so.0
#0 0x40cf4677 in waitpid () from /lib/i686/libpthread.so.0
#1 0x40359e7b in KCrash::defaultCrashHandler(int) ()
from /usr/lib/libkdecore.so.4
#2 0x40d823b8 in __libc_sigaction () from /lib/i686/libc.so.6
--------------------------

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cerebrix

17 years ago

no luck, heres the error w/ 4.3

-------------------------------------

[New Thread 16384 (LWP 2940)]
0x40cf3677 in waitpid () from /lib/i686/libpthread.so.0
#0 0x40cf3677 in waitpid () from /lib/i686/libpthread.so.0
#1 0x40358e7b in KCrash::defaultCrashHandler(int) ()
from /usr/lib/libkdecore.so.4
#2 0x40d813b8 in __libc_sigaction () from /lib/i686/libc.so.6



maybe theres something i need to have installed? that i dont? just a wild guess here, im still on my first few weeks w/ seriously using mandrake and linux in general

-Christian

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cerebrix

17 years ago

yeah im getting the following error as well, and yes, 4.1 worked perfect. is there a link i can download it from? i reinstalled my system and didnt backup 4.1 beforehand.

anyway heres the error it returned and yes, im running mandrake 9.1 and k 3.1.0. I also tried downloading the source and no luck, heres the error for both since they return the same error in backtrace

---------------------------------------------

[New Thread 16384 (LWP 4734)]
0x40cf3677 in waitpid () from /lib/i686/libpthread.so.0
#0 0x40cf3677 in waitpid () from /lib/i686/libpthread.so.0
#1 0x40358e7b in KCrash::defaultCrashHandler(int) ()
from /usr/lib/libkdecore.so.4
#2 0x40d813b8 in __libc_sigaction () from /lib/i686/libc.so.6


excellent enhancement tho!!!! now i just need to get a working copy back.

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refriedbean

17 years ago

It does seem to work properly with vertical panels? I have my main panel vertically aligned to the left, and my taskbar horizontally aligned at the bottom. But it colors only the main panel, and then only a solid color (not the shades), and it doesnt color the child panel at all..

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djworld

17 years ago

I didn't thought of that. It should rotate the image for that to work properly. That's easy, but if you have the taskbar at the bottom and the other components of the panel at one side, there will be problems. I know how to see if the panel is on the left, on the bottom or where is it, but if it's split in two parts I'll only know how to get one of them. Anyway if you send me your "kickerrc" config file I can take a look at it and it will help. It's located at ~/.kde/share/config/

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Kormac

17 years ago

I love the 'pipe' backgrounds.
Good work!
The app is nice too, although I prefer to move the wallpapers into the regular kicker wallpaper dir and use the 'panels 2' prefs module. I don't like having application directories lying around, but the app is really handy.

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djworld

17 years ago

Then you'll like to hear this: I've talked to a KDE developer and there's a possibility that this program will be embedded into the KDE Control Center and distributed together with the future KDE 3.2. I'm still not sure if that will finally become reality, but I'll work on it if it's needed. Anyway I'd like to release an 1.0 version that will allow you to add your own backgrounds and handle different panel sizes with a new and better UI look.

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Seawolf

17 years ago

I just downloaded version 0.4.2 on my MDK 9.1 system. When I tried to run the panelshademanager program I got the following errors.
---------------------------
[lrh@farpoint panelshadesmanager]$ ls -l
total 1138
-rw-rw-r-- 1 lrh lrh 18009 Aug 10 13:19 license.txt
-rwxrwxr-x 1 lrh lrh 1135628 Aug 21 17:20 panelshadesmanager*
drwxrwxr-x 2 lrh lrh 1136 Aug 21 17:21 pics/
drwxrwxr-x 2 lrh lrh 80 Aug 18 17:48 preview/
-rw-rw-r-- 1 lrh lrh 3971 Aug 21 17:29 readme.txt
[lrh@farpoint panelshadesmanager]$ panelshadesmanager
QPainter::begin: Cannot paint null pixmap

The backtrace showed the folowing.
----------------------------------
[New Thread 16384 (LWP 12944)]
0x40cf4677 in waitpid () from /lib/i686/libpthread.so.0
#0 0x40cf4677 in waitpid () from /lib/i686/libpthread.so.0
#1 0x40359e7b in KCrash::defaultCrashHandler(int) ()
from /usr/lib/libkdecore.so.4
#2 0x40d823b8 in __libc_sigaction () from /lib/i686/libc.so.6

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djworld

17 years ago

BTW, how is called the directory where you downloaded the program? Does it contain any space or unusual character?

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Seawolf

17 years ago

To answer your two previous questions:

Yes, I had been running version 0.4.1 without problem. My system is MDK 9.1 with KDE 3.1.0

The directory where the package resides is:

[lrh@farpoint panelshadesmanager]$ pwd
/opt/panelshadesmanager
[lrh@farpoint panelshadesmanager]$ ls -l
total 1138
-rw-rw-r-- 1 lrh lrh 18009 Aug 10 13:19 license.txt
-rwxrwxr-x 1 lrh lrh 1135628 Aug 21 17:20 panelshadesmanager*
drwxrwxr-x 2 lrh lrh 1136 Aug 21 17:21 pics/
drwxrwxr-x 2 lrh lrh 80 Aug 18 17:48 preview/
-rw-rw-r-- 1 lrh lrh 3971 Aug 21 17:29 readme.txt
[lrh@farpoint panelshadesmanager]$

As you can see, there are no embeded spaces or other special characters in the directory name. I even did a cd into that directory and then called the program as ./panelshademanager

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djworld

17 years ago

It's strange as I also use Mandrake 9.1 (but with KDE 3.1.3 instead of the default 3.1.0 that comes with MDK) and I haven't got any error when running it. Did you use the version 0.4.1 and it worked properly? Try to download the source and compile it to see if the error remains. The only difference in the code is that now it also uses the classes KPixmap and KPixmapEffect, but there should be no problem with that. If someone else gets the same error please tell me and I'll rebuild the program and update it.

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17 years ago

Version 0.5 (2003-09-21): The program has been renamed to "KDE panel background manager". It has some improvements:

   · It can handle backgrounds optimized for different panel sizes, for example the "LCD grid" one. The optimized backgrounds theirself will come in the next version.
   · The preview now matches the KDE panel size
   · If you're using another background, a copy of it is made so that it will also appear in the list.
   · Now you can add new backgrounds (manually). There's no GUI for doing it yet, but it will be implemented in the next version.
   · Added a button to undo the background changes and restore the one at the program startup.


Version 0.4.4 (2003-08-25): This is the "fix for the fix". If you downloaded the versions 0.4.2 or 0.4.3 and experienced problems, you should download this.


Version 0.4.3 (2003-08-24): Some people experienced crashes with the last version. I've made some changes that should fix this problem till I release the next version.


Version 0.4.2 (2003-08-21):
   · Added the metal and wood skins.
   · Small changes to the preview funcion. To make the preview now it tiles the background instead of resampling it. That way it uses the same mechanism as Kicker (the KDE panel) does.


Version 0.4.1 (2003-08-19): Added the "Kickback" panel backgrounds made by Simon Golicnik. You can find them at:
http://www.kde-look.org/content/show.php?content=1007


Version 0.4 (2003-08-18):
   · Added the *-pipe shades.
   · Improved the preview system. Now it generates the preview instead of loading it from a file. That way, in the next version you'll be able to add your own backgrounds. I'll probably change the application name to something like "KDE panel background manager".

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FailOverFlow
Apr 07 2013
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updated Sep 21 2003
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