<SOLVED> screensaver using my folder of pictures?

[bearzlos]

Hello, everyone.

I'm using Mint 20.2 cinnamon, 64 bit on my desktop computer. Fully updated as best I can determine including latest kernel.

Awhile back (maybe Mint 19.0??) I was able to set the screensaver to display a selection of pictures I assigned. Then that feature went away when I upgraded.

Is there any way now to have the screensaver display my chosen pictures or is the clock still the only screensaver available?

Thanks. Appreciate your help.
bearzlos

[pbear]

I recommend you modify the thread title to add in Cinnamon to the question.
smurphos is the Forum expert on this topic and he's more likely to notice the thread with that mention.

[decrepit]

I think I've got my Cinnamon version working after installing Xscreensaver. It loaded my picture folder OK, but it wasn't starting. Last night I added it to the start up list, but haven't checked to see if it's working yet.

[smurphos]

A little background shell script that adds a picture slideshow to Cinnamon's native screen-saver / screen-locker - https://github.com/smurphos/nemo_action ... -slideshow

[bearzlos]

Smurphos, thanks for the reply.

But, OMG! This is so far over my head. (It is posted in the beginner questions section).

Do I click on the first link? If yes, then what? (I looked and have no idea how to use that script.)

Then what? How do I install?

Sorry, I am sure that you have provided an answer to my inquiry, but I don't know how to get to that answer and need lots of instruction.

Can you provide guidance to someone who has no idea how to implement your post?

Thanks.
bearslos

[pbear]

(It is posted in the beginner questions section).

Asking in Beginner Questions doesn't guaranty the answer will be simple.

If this is a bit too advanced for you at this poit, bookmark the solution and come back to it later. If and when you decide to give it a try, make sure you have a backup of your home folder (especially the hidden configuration sub-folders), so you can restore the status quo if things go sideways.

[rickNS]

Is there any way now to have the screensaver display my chosen pictures or is the clock still the only screensaver available?

Easy(er) way.
Software manager, install xscreensaver, xscreensaver-gl

Menu, Screensaver (Cinnamon settings) and set that to "Never"

Menu, Screensaver (xscreensaver *)
Set Mode to "only one screensaver"
Select "GLSlideshow"

Click the advanced tab.
Put check in "Choose random Image"
Browse to Pictures folder, or maybe a sub-folder.

[smurphos]

Smurphos, thanks for the reply.

But, OMG! This is so far over my head. (It is posted in the beginner questions section).

Do I click on the first link? If yes, then what? (I looked and have no idea how to use that script.)

Then what? How do I install?

The link is to he installation instructions - reproduced here...all are copy and paste in the terminal

Install git

Code: Select all

apt install git

Clone the repo

Code: Select all

git clone https://github.com/smurphos/nemo_actions_and_cinnamon_scripts.git

Make the directory for local scripts

Code: Select all

mkdir -p ~/.local/bin

Copy the the script to the new directory

Code: Select all

cp -r ./nemo_actions_and_cinnamon_scripts/.local/bin/lock_screen_slideshow.sh ~/.local/bin

Copy the autostart entry to the right place

Code: Select all

cp -r ./nemo_actions_and_cinnamon_scripts/.config/autostart/lock_screen_slideshow.desktop ~/.config/autostart

Final stage is to review the first part of the script to set your directory you want to source the images from - open the script in a text editor

Code: Select all

xdg-open ~/.local/bin/lock_screen_slideshow.sh

Find this section and amend the variable SLIDESHOW_DIR to point to the directory of your choice and save the amended script

Code: Select all

# Set SLIDESHOW_DIR to a directory of your choice
# This directory and it's sub-directorys will be searched for images
# for display in a random order in slideshow mode
SLIDESHOW_DIR="/usr/share/backgrounds"

Finally log off and log back in

[bearzlos]

Is there any way now to have the screensaver display my chosen pictures or is the clock still the only screensaver available?

Easy(er) way.
Software manager, install xscreensaver, xscreensaver-gl

Menu, Screensaver (Cinnamon settings) and set that to "Never"

Menu, Screensaver (xscreensaver *)
Set Mode to "only one screensaver"
Select "GLSlideshow"
ksnip220619-2251.jpg

Click the advanced tab.
Put check in "Choose random Image"
Browse to Pictures folder, or maybe a sub-folder.
ss220619-225422.jpg

Rick, thanks for this. I will try it out and report back. Much appreciated.

[bearzlos]

Smurphos, thanks for the reply.

But, OMG! This is so far over my head. (It is posted in the beginner questions section).

Do I click on the first link? If yes, then what? (I looked and have no idea how to use that script.)

Then what? How do I install?

The link is to he installation instructions - reproduced here...all are copy and paste in the terminal

Install git

Code: Select all

apt install git

Clone the repo

Code: Select all

git clone https://github.com/smurphos/nemo_actions_and_cinnamon_scripts.git

Make the directory for local scripts

Code: Select all

mkdir -p ~/.local/bin

Copy the the script to the new directory

Code: Select all

cp -r ./nemo_actions_and_cinnamon_scripts/.local/bin/lock_screen_slideshow.sh ~/.local/bin

Copy the autostart entry to the right place

Code: Select all

cp -r ./nemo_actions_and_cinnamon_scripts/.config/autostart/lock_screen_slideshow.desktop ~/.config/autostart

Final stage is to review the first part of the script to set your directory you want to source the images from - open the script in a text editor

Code: Select all

xdg-open ~/.local/bin/lock_screen_slideshow.sh

Find this section and amend the variable SLIDESHOW_DIR to point to the directory of your choice and save the amended script

Code: Select all

# Set SLIDESHOW_DIR to a directory of your choice
# This directory and it's sub-directorys will be searched for images
# for display in a random order in slideshow mode
SLIDESHOW_DIR="/usr/share/backgrounds"

Finally log off and log back in

Thanks for your extended reply. Much appreciated. I am first going to try the simpler method in the prior post by Rick.
Will report back.

[bearzlos]

Is there any way now to have the screensaver display my chosen pictures or is the clock still the only screensaver available?

Easy(er) way.
Software manager, install xscreensaver, xscreensaver-gl

Menu, Screensaver (Cinnamon settings) and set that to "Never"

Menu, Screensaver (xscreensaver *)
Set Mode to "only one screensaver"
Select "GLSlideshow"
ksnip220619-2251.jpg

Click the advanced tab.
Put check in "Choose random Image"
Browse to Pictures folder, or maybe a sub-folder.
ss220619-225422.jpg

Rick, thanks for this. I will try it out and report back. Much appreciated.

RickNS, hey, it seems to work! Thanks very much for the solution.
bearslos

[bearzlos]

Sorry, I'm back.

The screensaver with my selected pictures was running nicely. Then on Sunday night I turned off the computer, turned it back on Monday morning.

But the screensaver did not come on after the set time. I had to relaunch X-screensaver (demo) to get it to run.

Have I missed a setting that allows the X-screensaver to restart automatically after the computer is turned on (as does the Mint default screensaver), or must I relaunch X-screensaver (demo) each time the pooter is powered off?

Thanks!
bearslos

[pbear]

Ahem, that's probably why smurphos goes to the trouble of the more complicated procedure.

[smurphos]

Have I missed a setting that allows the X-screensaver to restart automatically after the computer is turned on (as does the Mint default screensaver), or must I relaunch X-screensaver (demo) each time the pooter is powered off?

Just add a xscreensaver item to your Startup applications (it's in the menu).

[bearzlos]

Thanks very much for the help with personalized screensaver.
bearslos