[SOLVED] Plank dock - visual distortion

atropos · 2015-12-14 22:20:09

Hi all,

I've installed plank (from the unstable repo) and there's something really strange going on. There are very thin (like 1 px thick) borders around dock icons and indicators. I've googled a lot but no one seems to have this problem. What's even more strange - that was also the case when I installed glx-dock a few days ago. I turned compton off but I don't think it was the cause. I checked plank's bug list on launchpad but I didn't find anything similar. Xpropping wasn't very useful

Plank's version: 0.10.1

Cheers,
atropos

Last edited by atropos (2015-12-18 18:31:43)

Head_on_a_Stick · 2015-12-14 22:45:35

atropos wrote:

from the unstable repo

Please read the "Don't Break BunsenLabs" link in my signature and this thread:
http://forums.debian.net/viewtopic.php?&t=114130

I strongly recommend un-installing wahtever you got from sid, fixing your sources.list and updating your package database as soon as possible.

Even then your system may already be b0rked.

If it is a mission-critical application you should probably re-install from scratch.

EDIT: In future, follow this guide if you need to install packages from testing/unstable:
https://wiki.debian.org/SimpleBackportCreation

EDIT2: didn't know that, thanks redcollective

Last edited by Head_on_a_Stick (2015-12-14 22:49:55)

redcollective · 2015-12-14 22:49:02

I have the same issue, but only notice it when a white background from an application window is under the plank menu.

Just so you know, there is a backport for plank in the bunsen repositories - same version.

Red

atropos · 2015-12-14 22:50:40

Oh god, sorry - that was from the jessie-backports.

nobody0 · 2015-12-14 23:26:52

@ atropos,
Don't worry about installing anything from anywhere--you learn that way.

You have few files in two places, in your ~/.config/plank and in /usr/share/plank. The rest you have anywhere else are not actually needed (just junk) In your ~/.config/plank/dock1/settings, you'd find your dock's theme name, most probably "default." You look in your /usr/share/plank/themes/default you'd find a file named dock.theme. Open it as root in your text editor and play with the configs. You'd get rid of those vertical lines. You change something in configs and save, your plank dock would immediately change. That way, you'd see the results. Mostly, you'd have to play with the PlankDrawingDockTheme.

Don't worry about the warning, "This file auto-generated by Plank." Just rename the the theme from default to whatever you want, and put that name in ~/.config/plank/dock1/settings.

Plank would work very well without any updates/upgrades, so you can easily delete plank files in /var/lib/dpkg/info and /usr/share/doc/plank (all junk stuff). You are free from apt trying to dictate to you.

Have a look here too, https://forums.bunsenlabs.org/viewtopic … 2168#p2168

Last edited by nobody0 (2015-12-14 23:41:55)

redcollective · 2015-12-15 20:43:35

I've just checked and I only see the phantom borders on the application indicators on my Bunsen RC1 install. I swear I could not see it on the plank dock on my debian + bunsen netinstall. Can anyone else confirm this?

Red

nobody0 · 2015-12-15 21:10:37

redcollective wrote:

I've just checked and I only see the phantom borders on the application indicators on my Bunsen RC1 install. I swear I could not see it on the plank dock on my debian + bunsen netinstall. Can anyone else confirm this?
Red

Its question of how you play your Compton configs.

damo · 2015-12-15 21:15:20

ostrolek wrote:

@ atropos,
Don't worry about installing anything from anywhere--you learn that way.
.....

If you want to learn by breaking your system then feel free, but don't encourage others with such advice.

nobody0 · 2015-12-15 21:42:58

damo wrote:

ostrolek wrote:
@ atropos,
Don't worry about installing anything from anywhere--you learn that way.
.....
If you want to learn by breaking your system then feel free, but don't encourage others with such advice.

Have I ever said I broke my system?
Unarchive any deb file and you'd see how its built, why the "dependencies" are there, and what goes in /usr/bin, /usr/share, /usr/lib and sometimes in /etc. The info in /var/lib/dpkg is actually dictating to you. Some files don't need that dictating, and one of such are the Plank files. I still use the Slingshot launcher made in the time sof Ubuntu Natty, because I looked inside the deb package.

My advice to anyone is never stop trying. I've built buildings that shouldn't stand, if I'd listened to the professors.

You know, a few decades ago, the batsmen didn't wear helmets, ball guards, thigh pads etc. They still played then, didn't they?

Head_on_a_Stick · 2015-12-15 21:55:32

ostrolek wrote:

@ atropos,
Don't worry about installing anything from anywhere--you learn that way.

Mixing Debian stable with testing/unstable (or Ubuntu PPAs) risks completely wrecking your system.

Any readers who doubt this should take a moment to read through this thread:
http://forums.debian.net/viewtopic.php?&t=114130

Plenty of examples there

Remember: only a fool learns from their own mistakes.

nobody0 · 2015-12-15 22:03:29

Head_on_a_Stick wrote:

ostrolek wrote:
@ atropos,
Don't worry about installing anything from anywhere--you learn that way.
Mixing Debian stable with testing/unstable (or Ubuntu PPAs) risks completely wrecking your system.
Any readers who doubt this should take a moment to read through this thread:
http://forums.debian.net/viewtopic.php?&t=114130
Plenty of examples there
Remember: only a fool learns from their own mistakes.

We are talking about Plank here. If you have better info on this problem, let the OP know about it. Most times, I learn from other fools' mistakes!

Head_on_a_Stick · 2015-12-15 22:19:28

ostrolek wrote:

We are talking about Plank here. If you have better info on this problem, let the OP know about it.

Yes the thread is about Plank.

However, as a moderator here one of my duties is to step in and correct bad advice.

ostrolek wrote:

Most times, I learn from other fools' mistakes!

Good plan -- read the forums.debian.net thread I linked above

EDIT: Also, please avoid full-quoting, it makes the thread very difficult to follow.

Quote specific portions of text of you wish to make a point

nobody0 · 2015-12-15 23:25:53

Its best to reply to the exact problem, and only if one knows how to solve the problem. Plank can be installed in Debian using a deb file. Or, by pasting the relevant files in relevant places. Plank is practically OS agnostic. Plank also doesn't work well with compton, vice versa. The OP has a specific problem, which I had gone through few years ago.

There are many such apps that are OS agnostic, but the "dependencies" sort of imprison the user. Just because the app is not yet in the repo doesn't mean that app is not good. Using an app is just like riding a bike, you fall, you get up, you learn to ride.

redcollective · 2015-12-16 00:30:53

ostrolek wrote:

The OP has a specific problem, which I had gone through few years ago.

All right then, back on track.

Don't suppose you remember your fix then O.?

I've disabled compositing, and fiddled around with shadows exclusions in the compton config, no luck yet.

Red

redcollective · 2015-12-16 10:33:54

I installed RC1 in a vm, no indicator issues at all. I checked my compton config on my netinstalled bunsen (which also doesn't exhibit the problem), and nothing leaps out at me. I matched my existing working compton config with the RC1 default, no problems exhibited. I'm not convinced this is just a compositing issue. I'll restart and see if anything changes.

Red

atropos · 2015-12-16 12:17:40

Hi all,

I tried restoring my Compton settings, disabling it, restarting - with no luck. I've also checked the debug messages however they focus mainly on Plank's internals that seem to be kinda OK.

@Ostrolek, I've also used your Plank theme/settings but since your indicator padding is set to be larger than the defaults the distortion was even bigger.

Cheers,
atropos.

nobody0 · 2015-12-16 16:58:47

atropos wrote:

Hi all,
I tried restoring my Compton settings, disabling it, restarting - with no luck. I've also checked the debug messages however they focus mainly on Plank's internals that seem to be kinda OK.
@Ostrolek, I've also used your Plank theme/settings but since your indicator padding is set to be larger than the defaults the distortion was even bigger.
Cheers,
atropos.

You have more or less found the answer. The shadow behind the . is amplified, and to the right side and top. So, try to change the colours, distance between the icon and the plank etc, until you get rid of that shadow.

redcollective · 2015-12-17 09:18:36

It's more like a border around the bounding box of the app indicator icon. I have tried the same configs on two separate machines, one exhibits the problem, one doesn't. Also looked at load order for compositing, as in the past some bugs have required compositing to load after plank, but no joy there. @Ostrolek if you could detail your fix in the compton config that would be super helpful, 'cos I'm just not seeing it.

Red

nobody0 · 2015-12-17 12:17:18

This is my compton config, https://forums.bunsenlabs.org/viewtopic … 2056#p2056

redcollective · 2015-12-17 20:57:13

I've tried that config before, but there's nothing with any influence over the borders around the plank indicators. I'm not seeing this as a simple compton config issue, as the same config on two different machines has the different effects. I'll try and get a bug submitted on the plank repo and see what happens.

@atropos if the borders annoy you AND you can live without indicators you can set their size to 0 in your theme:

IndicatorSize=0

Red

#1 2015-12-14 22:20:09

[SOLVED] Plank dock - visual distortion

#2 2015-12-14 22:45:35

Re: [SOLVED] Plank dock - visual distortion

#3 2015-12-14 22:49:02

Re: [SOLVED] Plank dock - visual distortion

#4 2015-12-14 22:50:40

Re: [SOLVED] Plank dock - visual distortion

#5 2015-12-14 23:26:52

Re: [SOLVED] Plank dock - visual distortion

#6 2015-12-15 20:43:35

Re: [SOLVED] Plank dock - visual distortion

#7 2015-12-15 21:10:37

Re: [SOLVED] Plank dock - visual distortion

#8 2015-12-15 21:15:20

Re: [SOLVED] Plank dock - visual distortion

#9 2015-12-15 21:42:58

Re: [SOLVED] Plank dock - visual distortion

#10 2015-12-15 21:55:32

Re: [SOLVED] Plank dock - visual distortion

#11 2015-12-15 22:03:29

Re: [SOLVED] Plank dock - visual distortion

#12 2015-12-15 22:19:28

Re: [SOLVED] Plank dock - visual distortion

#13 2015-12-15 23:25:53

Re: [SOLVED] Plank dock - visual distortion

#14 2015-12-16 00:30:53

Re: [SOLVED] Plank dock - visual distortion

#15 2015-12-16 10:33:54

Re: [SOLVED] Plank dock - visual distortion

#16 2015-12-16 12:17:40

Re: [SOLVED] Plank dock - visual distortion

#17 2015-12-16 16:58:47

Re: [SOLVED] Plank dock - visual distortion

#18 2015-12-17 09:18:36

Re: [SOLVED] Plank dock - visual distortion

#19 2015-12-17 12:17:18

Re: [SOLVED] Plank dock - visual distortion

#20 2015-12-17 20:57:13

Re: [SOLVED] Plank dock - visual distortion

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