gnome-background-generator 1.1.2

Using XML files

Gnome background can use XML files to make an animated background. This little script allows you to generate automaticaly your own XML background changer file, easily, using the command line.

To generate the XML file, use gnome-background-generator:

usage: gnome-background-generator [-h] [-p PATH] [-o OUTPUT]
                              [-t TRANSITION_TIME] [-d DISPLAY_TIME] [-s]
                              [-b]

A simple command line tool to generate an XML file to use for gnome
wallpapers, to have dynamic walls

optional arguments:
  -h, --help            show this help message and exit
  -p PATH, --path PATH  Path to look for the pictures. If no output is
                        specified, will be used too for outputing the dynamic-
                        wallpaper.xml file. Default value is the current
                        directory (.)
  -o OUTPUT, --output OUTPUT
                        Output filename. If no filename is specified, a
                        dynamic-wallpaper.xml file will be generated in the
                        path containing the pictures. You can also use "-" to
                        display the xml in the stdout.
  -t TRANSITION_TIME, --transition-time TRANSITION_TIME
                        Time (in seconds) transitions must last (default value
                        is 2 seconds)
  -d DISPLAY_TIME, --display-time DISPLAY_TIME
                        Time (in seconds) a picture must be displayed. Default
                        value is 900 (15mn)
  -s, --set-background  '''try to set the background using gnome-appearance-
                        properties
  -b, --debug

Changing your desktop randomly

There is also another command you can use to change your background to a random file from a known directory:

$ gnome-wallpaper-select /path/to/walls

This second one is useful if combined with a cronjob; Unfortunately, it’s sometimes a hard process because crontabs use dbus, and this conflicts with the use of gconftool-2.

Here is a simple tutorial on how to make it work:

$ wget http://github.com/ametaireau/gnome-background-generator/raw/master/xdbus -O ~/.Xdbus
$ crontab -e

And then add

*/4 * * * * . ~/.Xdbus; /usr/local/bin/gnome-wallpaper-select ~/Images/walls