Some time ago i created an icon quick list to set a video as a wallpaper using alacarte and some scripts. For installing and downloading the needed files i created a script but making the launcher and the icon quick list is a bit tricky.
Please note that not all video types are supported you need to figure out which video types work and which don’t
In the video you see me messing around with the part to open the alacarte-made.desktop file, to open the file you can simply copy+paste the code used in this article. I forgot that i was recording what i was doing and didn’t follow the steps giving in the article. I will do a remake of this video and upload it as soon as possible.
The script will install xwinwrap, zenity, mplayer, alacarte and the classicmenu-indicator on your system. The script also downloads and moves the needed files and videos to your Documents and Videos folders. The script will add the following videos to your system (click on the name to see a preview on YouTube):
Plasmaball
Cypersphere
Anonymous
Digital DNA
Ubuntu
How does it work? Just download the script and save it to your Downloads folder and extract the content of the tar.gz file. When extracted open a terminal window (press Ctrl+Alt+T) and copy+paste the code below:
For 32 bit systems you can download this script. When downloaded extract the content of the tar file to your desktop and open a terminal window (press Ctrl+Alt+T) then copy+paste the following lines:
cd ~/Desktop/
chmod +x video-desktop-script-v1.0
./video-desktop-script-v1.0
When the script is finished you can close the terminal window and you need to start the classicmenu-indicator, to do this press the SuperKey and type: classicmenu-indicator.
For 64 bit systems you can download this script. When downloaded extract the content of the tar file to your desktop and open a terminal window (press Ctrl+Alt+T) then copy+paste the following lines:
cd ~/Downloads/
chmod +x video-desktop-script-64b-v1.0.0
./video-desktop-script-64b-v1.0.0
When the script is finished you can close the terminal window and you need to start the classicmenu-indicator, to do this press the SuperKey and type: classicmenu-indicator.
To create the launcher you need alacarte. To open alacarte press the SuperKey and type: alacarte. To make the launcher follow these steps:
Select Sound & Video in Menus list
Click on New Item button
Enter a name (VideoDesk or something you like)
Click on the Browse… button
Open the following folders: Documents -> VideoWallpapers and select: plasmaball-wallpaper
Add a comment (optional)
When done click on the Close button.
Now it’s time to add some code to the alacarte-made.desktop file, open a terminal window (press Ctrl+Alt+T) and copy+paste the following lines:
cd ..
gedit .local/share/applications/alacarte-made.desktop
When the file is open copy+paste the code below at the end of the alacarte-made.desktop file:
Categories=GNOME;GTK;Core;
X-GNOME-Bugzilla-Bugzilla=GNOME
X-GNOME-Bugzilla-Product=nautilus
X-GNOME-Bugzilla-Component=general
X-GNOME-Bugzilla-Version=3.0.0
X-Ubuntu-Gettext-Domain=nautilus
X-Ayatana-Desktop-Shortcuts=Anonymous;Cypersphere;Digital DNA;Ubuntu;Quit
[Anonymous Shortcut Group]
Name=Anonymous
Exec=/home/tinuz/Documents/VideoWallpapers/Anonymous-Video-wallpaper
TargetEnvironment=Unity
[Cypersphere Shortcut Group]
Name=Cypersphere
Exec=/home/tinuz/Documents/VideoWallpapers/cypersphere-wallpaper
TargetEnvironment=Unity
[Digital DNA Shortcut Group]
Name=Digital DNA
Exec=/home/tinuz/Documents/VideoWallpapers/digital-dna-wallpaper
TargetEnvironment=Unity
[Ubuntu Shortcut Group]
Name=Ubuntu
Exec=/home/tinuz/Documents/VideoWallpapers/ubuntu-wallpaper
TargetEnvironment=Unity
[Quit Shortcut Group]
Name=Quit
Exec=/home/tinuz/Documents/VideoWallpapers/quit-wallpaper
TargetEnvironment=Unity
If you are having problems opening the alacarte file copy+paste the following lines:
cd .local/share/applications/
Now type:
gedit alacarte
followed by pressing the Tab key. When pressing the Tab key you will get the full name of the file.
When done adding the code to the launcher file replace tinuz for your username. When done you can save and close the file and close the terminal window.
In the next step we will add the newly made launcher to the launcher panel. Open your Home folder and press Ctrl+H, open the .local/share/applications/ folder and drag+drop the launcher icon in the launcher panel.
The launcher will now be shown in the launcher panel and to start the plasmaball video all you have to do is to click on the launcher. To use another video click with your right mouse button on the launcher and a list will appear with other videos you can set as your wallpaper. To enable one of the other videos all you have to do is to select the video from the quick list. To stop a video select the quit option in the icons quick list.
If you don’t like the videos i added to the script you can replace them and you can change the scripts used in the Documents folder and the alacarte-made.desktop file. It’s not that difficult to replace a video and change the files but to keep this article “short” i decided not to add it. I will make a separate article on how to change the files and replace a video.
Please note that when minimizing/closing all open windows/files the video will go on top of Unity so it looks like Unity crashed and the launcher panel is no longer visible. This is not the case, to open a program just press the SuperKey and type in the name of the program and it will be started. When the program is up and running the program window will pop up like it normal does and the Launcher panel is also shown again.
This “bug” is something i tried to fix but i couldn’t find the solution. If you use multiple workspaces and have programs/windows open on more then one workspace you won’t have the problem mentioned above.