How to change mouse cursor theme @ gdm login window [Solved]

[hakerdefo]

The system-wide cursor theme is set with the symlink /usr/share/icons/default; mine targets the folder /usr/share/icons/Vanilla-DMZ.

As root, recreate the symlink to target your preferred cursor theme folder.

Thanks Knome! That should do it. A stupid question, how do i recreate the symlink to target Vanilla-DMZ directory? Do i have to remove the old symlink first?

[hakerdefo]

lxappearance

Thanks for help Tim! I have been able to change the cursor theme by going to menu>settings>mouse settings but that change only take effect after i login to salix. Cursor theme at gdm screen remains unchanged. Does the change to the cursor theme made in lxappearance also apply to gdm screen cursor theme?

[hakerdefo]

lxappearance

Thanks Tim! Are changes made to cursor theme in lxappearance system wide? I mean the changes i made via the mouse settings of xfce do not apply to gdm screen they only take effect only after i login.

[knome]

Thanks Knome! That should do it. A stupid question, how do i recreate the symlink to target Vanilla-DMZ directory? Do i have to remove the old symlink first?

Assuming you're running Thunar file manager as root...

Navigate to /usr/share/icons. Right click Desktop in sidepane and Open in New Window
Remove or make a backup copy of the original /default symlink.
Right-click on your target cursor folder and Send To > Desktop (Create Link)
Rename the new link to default and drag it back to /usr/share/icons.
You may need to re-Login or reboot.

It's probably easier with a quick command line or a different file manager.

[knome]

Sorry knome, they fail to open as .png images when renamed that way. Tested in all available image programs mentioned above, plus gthumb. BTW pcmanfm lists their properties as X11 cursor (image/x-xcursor).

I could Quack that format as easily as you; just thought you might happen to know. Appreciate the feedback; please let me know if a bright solution happens to pop up

Odd... GIMP is now working for me on the original files without the .png append.
Try opening a cursor file from GIMP (show All Files in dialog) with Open and/or Open as Layers.

[hakerdefo]

Thanks Knome! That should do it. A stupid question, how do i recreate the symlink to target Vanilla-DMZ directory? Do i have to remove the old symlink first?

Assuming you're running Thunar file manager as root...

Navigate to /usr/share/icons. Right click Desktop in sidepane and Open in New Window
Remove or make a backup copy of the original /default symlink.
Right-click on your target cursor folder and Send To > Desktop (Create Link)
Rename the new link to default and drag it back to /usr/share/icons.
You may need to re-Login or reboot.

It's probably easier with a quick command line or a different file manager.

Thanks knome!!! Thanks for all your help! Yes you are right it is easier to change a symlink via terminal as i found out. All i did was,

Code: Select all

cd /usr/share/icons

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ln -nsf Vanilla-DMZ default

Thanks again to everyone! Now it's time to mark this topic solved. Cheers!!!

[Tim CowChip]

lxappearance

Thanks Tim! Are changes made to cursor theme in lxappearance system wide? I mean the changes i made via the mouse settings of xfce do not apply to gdm screen they only take effect only after i login.

I was answering the ''how to preview cursors" question in this thread and by doing so demostrated poor forum ettiquette.
Your original question was answered by knome, X11 or system-wide cursor themes and user-specific cursor themes are handled seperately.
To reply to your question about lxappearance though, it works pretty much the same as XFCE settings. It is a handy way of customizing the look and feel of light window managers like openbox and fluxbox.

[hakerdefo]

lxappearance

Thanks Tim! Are changes made to cursor theme in lxappearance system wide? I mean the changes i made via the mouse settings of xfce do not apply to gdm screen they only take effect only after i login.

I was answering the ''how to preview cursors" question in this thread and by doing so demostrated poor forum ettiquette.
Your original question was answered by knome, X11 or system-wide cursor themes and user-specific cursor themes are handled seperately.
To reply to your question about lxappearance though, it works pretty much the same as XFCE settings. It is a handy way of customizing the look and feel of light window managers like openbox and fluxbox.

Oh come on Tim! You were only trying to help so you need not worry about etiquettes and the rest! By the way you've got a cool desktop there in that lxappearance screenshot!

[jayseye]

@knome: Thanks, I had already tested Gimp's Open command, specifying All Files, before previously reporting that it had failed. Open Layers uses the same file recognition logic, so of course that fails as well. (See below for an unrelated work-around.) Specifically the error reported is:

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Opening '/usr/share/icons/Vanilla-DMZ/cursors/arrow' failed: Unknown file type

@Tim Cowchip: Wonderful utility lxappearance, thank you! In addition to displaying all the cursor themes, it automatically previews each one as you highlight it...

I'd hesitated at first, assuming it would have too many dependencies; though in fact they were already fully satisfied in Salix Fluxbox 13.37. Plus, lxappearance is truly a lazy person's way to control other aspects of Fluxbox. This little gem deserves recognition as a hidden treasure.

[knome]

@ jayseye

I'm running GIMP 2.8 which now has... "Added plug-ins for X11 Mouse Cursor import and export support" so I guess it depends on which version you're running. Though it didn't work for me at first, something must have given these plug-ins a boot up the backside and started working.

I agree that lxappearance gives you the best overall preview of mouse cursor themes... saves all the faffing about with GIMP, etc., etc.