Peppermint 3 is gtk3 (12.04 based), and he says it works fine in that ???
That might be a case, but as I understand, LXDE is still gtk2 based (could be wrong though)
Also are the packages on the same version?
Yes all the PC’s are synced to the same database and use the same version of gramps, :(using different versions on different machines can cause data corruption (I learned that the hard way) >:(
I still haven’t tried different themes I had to spend most of the evening doing my VAT return but I will as soon as i can and let you know 
many thanks
Graeme
seems to work in PM3 with xfwm4 and compositing … though it would be impossible to tell without your database and pics.
There are NO drop shadows, but I’m getting the graduated background you have in Mint
I’s not perfect though … I’m also getting the same white background where the tree lines are that you’re getting in Mint.
Are you sure it’s not just the image (photo) size that’s giving you problems, as there’s no pics in your Peppermint version ?
I still think this is compositing related.
*seems* to work in PM3 with xfwm4 and compositing .. though it would be impossible to tell without your database and pics.
I will happily send you my database if you wish to try it
Are you sure it's not just the image (photo) size that's giving you problems, as there's no pics in your Peppermint version ?
I can’t be sure but I can test that out and let you know but I can say I only ever remember seeing this problem since using MINT 14, The reason you dont see pics in the Peppermint screenshot is because at that time I wanted both PC’s running Gramps at the same time so I had to copy the database to a different location for the peppermint PC because 2 PC’s cant read the same database at the same time, I didn’t copy the media files because the media wasn’t important for what I was doing (hope I’ve explained that ok)
I’ve attached a screenshot of the same view with thumbnails in Peppermint to let you see the difference
Many thanks
Graeme
OK, it looks exactly the same with openbox-peppermint (no compositing) and xfwm4 (with compositing) in Peppermint 3.
See the 2 screenshots below … as you can see it looks the same, but you can see xfwm4 has compositing, look at the drop shadows on the file manager window top left.
BTW, if anyone’s considering ID theft … the names/dates have been changed to protect the guilty 
Hi Mark
I see very little difference between the 2 screenshots and would be happy with either, but I took your advice and moved to Peppermint 3 as my main desktop, Mint 14 / cinnamon has been giving me too many issues from video streaming to the problems I’m having with gramps and many more in between, I can’t say Mint is the problem or my hardware but Peppermint seems much more stable and fluent,
In an attempt to add a little eye candy to Peppermint I decided to try Cairo dock and i love it but it needs compositing the problem I’m having with that is that I have to switch compositing on manually via a Cairo Dock applet (composite manager), it’s simply a matter of toggling every time i boot up but is there any way I can set peppermint to load compositing by default because sometimes when I click compositing manages Cairo Dock will freeze and I have to reboot, also I was so impressed with Cairo dock I decided to install it on my Grand-Daughters PC that’s also running Peppermint 3 but it’s a bit too slow and sluggish, is there any way I can speed it up or is likely to simply be a matter of too little hardware resources on that particular machine ?
Many thanks
Graeme
OK, you have a couple of options here
-
install xcompmgr and set it to autostart
-
replace the openbox-peppermint window manager with xfwm4 (as I’ve done) … this also gives you things like window snapping like in Win7 and window drop shadows as beneath the window manager in the screenshots I attached previously … the down side - it breaks keyboard shortcuts for things like ctrl_Alt+T for opening a terminal.
-
use the “fake transparency” setting in cairo-dock … but personally I’ve found this problematic.
–
Hi Mark
I think I’m already using option 3 and it is problematic as in the problem i described in my last post (re freezing) so I’m leaning towards option 2 but I really don’t know much about this stuff, can I ask what you would suggest ?
Many thanks
Graeme
OK first answer these questions …
a) can you see, and do you like the drop shadow effect underneath the lie manager widow in the second of my screenshots … the shadow that makes the file manager window appera to be floating above the grandpa window.
b) would the Win7 style window snapping be any use to you … where you can drag a window to the side of screen and it automagicay resizes to half the desktop, then you can do another window to the opposite side ?
b) do you use keyboard shortcuts ? <— this is really the important question (at east till I figure out how to get the keyboard shortcuts to work with xfwm4)
–
a) can you see, and do you like the drop shadow effect underneath the lie manager widow in the second of my screenshots .. the shadow that makes the file manager window appera to be floating above the grandpa window.
It took me while to notice it but now that i do I like it and would like to have that effect if I can
b) would the Win7 style window snapping be any use to you .. where you can drag a window to the side of screen and it automagicay resizes to half the desktop, then you can do another window to the opposite side ?
I’ve never used Win 7 so I’m sure i can live without it and to be honest it doesn’t sound like something I’d particularly care about
b) do you use keyboard shortcuts ? <--- this is really the important question (at east till I figure out how to get the keyboard shortcuts to work with xfwm4)
I don’t use keyboard shortcuts very often (I’m a mousey clicky kinda guy) so I don’t think that would trouble me that much
OK, xfwm4 it is then.
Gimme an hour or so … having a curry ATM
No problem Mark I’m going out for a few beers soon so I’ll follow any instructions in the morning
Many thanks
Graeme
[EDIT]
@ Emegra
If you’re not interested in Win7 style window snapping … there’s an easier method of getting compositing and drop shadows, that will also not break keyboard shortcuts here:
http://linuxforums.org.uk/index.php?topic=10662.msg80989#msg80989
thanks to SeZo
[END EDIT]
These instructions are for Peppermint 3.
First, add the PPA:
sudo add-apt-repository ppa:fossfreedom/xfwm4
Now update your package cache:
sudo apt-get update
now install xfwm4, xfwm4-themes, and stiler:
sudo apt-get install xfwm4 xfwm4-themes stiler
Now we need to edit a couple of files so they show in the menus … so run:
sudo gedit /usr/share/applications/xfce-wm-settings.desktop
When a file opens with a ton of stuff in it, make it read:-
[Desktop Entry] Version=1.0 Type=Application Name=xfwm4 Window Manager Comment=Configure window behavior and shortcuts Icon=xfwm4 Exec=xfwm4-settings %f Categories=Settings;DesktopSettings;GTK; StartupNotify=true Terminal=falseSAVE the file, and exit gedit.
Now back in the terminal run:
sudo gedit /usr/share/applications/xfce-wmtweaks-settings.desktop
When a file opens with a ton of stuff in it, make it read:-
[Desktop Entry] Version=1.0 Type=Application Name=xfwm4 Window Manager Tweaks Comment=Fine-tune window behaviour and effects Icon=wmtweaks Exec=xfwm4-tweaks-settings %f Categories=Settings;DesktopSettings;GTK; StartupNotify=true Terminal=falseSAVE the file, and exit gedit.
OK, now go to:-
menu > Preferences > Desktop Session Settings
click the “Advanced Settings” tab
and change:-
Window Manager: openbox-peppermint
to
Window Manager: xfwm4
Click the “OK” button.
Log off, and on again (or reboot).
You should now be using the xfwm4 window manager … go to:
menu > Preferences > xfwm4 Window Manager Tweaks
then click the “Compositor” tab.
Make sure ALL five of the boxes at the top are ticked.
Click “Close”.
You’re done … cairo-dock should now work properly, and you shoud have window drop shadows
BTW … You can change windows borders in
menu > Preferences > xfwm4 Window Manager
then click the “Style” tab … and select which borders you want down the left hand side.
Window colour themes are still selected in:
menu > Preferences > Customise Look & Feel
If you decide you DO want Win7 style snapping … go to:
menu > Preferences > xfwm4 Window Manager
then click the “Advanced” tab.
Tick both boxes under “Windows Snapping”
If you want to know what Win7 style window snapping is … watch this video:
If you are not quite ready for the switch to the XFCE window manager (instead of openbox) then you could try Compton
I am quite impressed with compton as a composite manager (works well with openbox+razor-qt on Arch)
It is a fork from xcompmgr-dana (which is a fork istelf from xcompmgr).
See here for Lubuntu
PPA for *buntu 12.10: compton : Richard Grenville
or look here
Dunno if it’s just me, but I don’t seem to be able to get the drop shadow effect with xcompmgr or compton in Peppermint 3
(BTW, that PPA also contains a version of compton for 12.04 … which is what Peppermint 3 is based on)
Here’s what I tried:
xcompmgr -c -r10 -F -f -D5 -C -o0.8 &
or
compton -c -r10 -F -f -D5 -C -o0.8 &
(among other settings)
Nothing ???
Though cairo-dock works … so compositing is obviously enabled
Dunno…
I am running with compton -c and it has shadows.
Also just for try installed on netbook which is openbox+LXDE+Arch and just works.
So decided to leave it on and put @compton -c into /etc/xdg/lxsession/LXDE/autostart
OK, I was obviously trying to be too clever … that works (drop shadows)
However …
When I fire up cairo-dock … I now get a gradiated shadow effect across the bottom (inch or so) of my screen … I don’t get that with xfwm4 ???
It’s as if the black box you get without compositing, is now a gradiated semi-transparent shadow … if you get my meaning (?)
Pity, because it would be nice to have the keyboard shortcuts back … I can probably easily solve these keyboard shortcuts, I just need to take a looksee at default Xfce4 configs … one day I may even get round to that
To tell the truth I quite like the configurability of xfwm4 … but can see compton is probably lighter, and it would certainly be an easier fix if it weren’t for that weird shadow effect at the bottom of screen.
and just for completeness
xcompmgr -c
doesn’t give me drop shadows at all … go figure ???
When I fire up cairo-dock .. I now get a gradiated shadow effect across the bottom of my screen ..Try:
compton -cC
-C When -c is specified, attempts to avoid painting shadows on panels and docks.
Source man compton howto
Sh*t … removed the PPA … Ill re add it
OK … that did the trick … Cheers
I’ll type that up for Emegra … becuase the @compton -cC goes in /etc/xdg/lxsession/Peppermint/autostart in Peppermint.