Updated e16 Light-Weight Alternative for CentOS Altarch 7.6.1810 on i386

Issues related to applications and software problems
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Len E.
Posts: 20
Joined: 2014/10/11 00:04:37

Updated e16 Light-Weight Alternative for CentOS Altarch 7.6.1810 on i386

Post by Len E. » 2018/12/16 02:58:04

(This post in this category updates the e16 desktop alternative described
in two previous posts:
-Updated e16 Light-Weight Desktop Alternative for CentOS Altarch
7.5.1804 on i386, 2018/05/30
-Remastering CentOS Altarch 7(1611) on i386 for LXDE and/or e16
desktops, 2017/03/18).

The purpose of this post is to provide a small update to the 1st previous
post, but most importantly to provide documentation on two e16 characteristics
which should have been described at the outset, but are very belatedly
presented now.
***************************************************************************************
e16 startup file modifications to enable polkit authentication;
file starte16 is located in /usr/share/e16/misc.
(The modified file is attached as starte16.txt).

So that polkit authentication is operative for programs like gparted,
the execute statement,
exec /usr/libexec/polkit-gnome-authentication-agent-1 &
is inserted in two locations in the file.

***********************************************************************************
when e16 is installed, 4 desktop files are created in /usr/share/xsessions:

e16-gnome2.desktop
e16-gnome3.desktop
e16-kde.desktop
e16.desktop

The first 3 have no function when e16 is the sole desktop, and should be
eliminated.
********************************************************************************************
The small update to the 1st previous post is caused by the fact that the latest
e16 version, e16-1.0.19, is available for CentOS7.6. As the latest e16 .src file
is based on fc28, it, and imlib2 and lxterminal fc28 files were used in
2-step builds (rpm -ivh --nomd5, rpmbuild -bb) to generate current .i686
rpms. All the other .i686 rpms are as before.
The current list is attached as CentOS7e16hybrid19.txt.
*********************************************************************************************
Two peculiarities came up with this latest configuration.

-previously, the EPEL .src files, gparted-0.19.1-6.el7.src.rpm and
polkit-gnome-0.105-6.el7.src.rpm were used in 2 step builds to
produce the .i686 rpms to implement gparted.

-the current gparted EPEL.src file is gparted-0.32.0-1.el7.src.rpm;
2 step builds with it always fail.
-the workaround was to utilize a fedora .i686 file which was compatible
with the libstdc++.i686, version 4.8.5-36 package used on CentOS7.6.
The newest file turned out to be gparted-0.18.0-2.fc20.i686.rpm, which
worked successfully with the latest polkit-gnome-0.106*.el7.i686.rpm.
#########

The system-config-printer package invoked from the "Print Settings" menu
item freezes up when trying to add a network printer. (I have cups and
hplip installed to support an HP network-connected printer).
I was able to add the printer by using the browser cups administration
capability, http://localhost:631/admin.

On my two CentOS Altarch 7.6.1810-Gnome installed distros, both
upgraded with sudo yum upgrade from 7.5.1804 versions, the
"Print Settings" capability works fine.

Len
Attachments
CentOS7e16hybrid19.txt
(961 Bytes) Downloaded 55 times
starte16.txt
(540 Bytes) Downloaded 53 times

Len E.
Posts: 20
Joined: 2014/10/11 00:04:37

Re: Updated e16 Light-Weight Alternative for CentOS Altarch 7.6.1810 on i386

Post by Len E. » 2018/12/28 00:14:58

I've just encountered a problem with e16 for the first time,
which I was able to solve quickly thanks to some expert advice
from Kim Woelders, who maintains the e16 desktop software.

I belatedly realized that on my latest e16 desktop, the docking
area or iconbox which normally appears at the bottom right of
the screen was missing. Without it, there is no location from
which minimized desktop sessions can be restored.

In typical fashion, a left mouse click anywhere on the screen
brings up the User Menus, for invoking applications, whereas
a right mouse click brings up the Settings menu for maintenance
purposes.

Settings --> Desktop ---> Create New Iconbox immediately
creates and activates the missing docking area.

Len

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