My eyes...my eyes...my xeyes are missing

[DoYouKubuntu]

I'm with you, GG. I don't like those things either.

I didn't know it was no longer possible to resize the panel. I've stuck with the same look for so many years, I can't even recall in which DECADE I last toyed with resizing the panel! I know at one point I had it smaller and centered; it had kind of a floating look. I don't know when that was.

Looking at screenshots of my desktops over the years shows one thing really clearly: I'm consistent! I find something I like and that's that. Kind of like Kubuntu. Since starting with it in 2005, sure, I've played with other distros, but never seriously considered switching. I'm very loyal! My Bank of America and Discover card accounts are both 30 years old this year. I stick with what works!

[DoYouKubuntu]

You can make a kwin rule to hide xeyes from the taskbar (this can be created in SystemSettings>WindowManagement>WindowRules)
kwin rules can be a bit tricky to setup correctly as there are many options, but I created a quick one you can add/edit to fit your needs:
$HOME/.config/kwinrulesrc:

[$Version]
update_info=kwinrules.upd:replace-placement-string-to-enum

[1]
Description=Settings: yakuake
clientmachine=localhost
clientmachinematch=0
skiptaskbar=true
skiptaskbarrule=2
title=~?zsh ? Yakuake
titlematch=0
types=1
wmclass=yakuake
wmclasscomplete=false
wmclassmatch=1

[2]
Description=xeyes -hide from taskbar
skiptaskbar=true
skiptaskbarrule=2
wmclass=xeyes
wmclassmatch=1

[General]
count=2

The xeyes rule is the [2] and [1] is for yakuake, you can copy this file as a starting point and then use systemsettings to edit as you see fit (you can also delete the yakuake rule in systemsettings)

Wow, thanks @kubicle! I'll play with it later on when I have more time.

[kubicle]

there is no longer a way to size the panel to be less wide than the screen.

Err...what now? Seems to work fine here.

Wow, thanks @kubicle! I'll play with it later on when I have more time.

I edited the rule to include a "keep above" rule. (you can also do some nifty things with a kwin rule, like adding a bit of transparency to the eyes etc)

[Don B. Cilly]

I created a quick one you can add/edit to fit your needs:
$HOME/.config/kwinrulesrc:

It doesn't work!

Just kidding. It didn't work - well obviously - until I logged out/in. :-)
I guess you can "source" it... but.. it works. No entry in taskbar, and consequently, in Latte. Cheers.

[GreyGeek]

Err...what now? Seems to work fine here.
...)

Since you said the ability was still there I started looking for graphical artifacts which could trigger re-sizing the horizontal width of the panel.
I moved my mouse all over the panel and around its rim and never saw anything. Then, because of my hand tremors, the mouse slide to the right side of the blank space between the panel and the control bar above it ... and a very tiny triangle appeared. I dragged it to the left and the panel followed. Thank Kubicle!
I'm a

Your kwinrulessrc worked beautifully too.

[GreyGeek]

xeyes beside the panel

See the attached screen capture

[kubicle]

I moved my mouse all over the panel and around its rim and never saw anything.

This could be a plasma theme issue, on my theme the resize handles are quite visible.

Your kwinrulessrc worked beautifully too.

I'll pour myself a glass of beer, then...and try to wrap my head around the fact that people still use xeyes (the beer might help)

[DoYouKubuntu]

I'll pour myself a glass of beer, then...and try to wrap my head around the fact that people still use xeyes

Party pooper!

I've had such fun with xeyes over the years Friends/relatives who use *cough* other OSes, would look...and squint...and say "oh, wait, those eyes are following you!" Yep. They sure were.

I also always had a moon phase widget in my panel, as can be seen in the screenshot ^ top. I guess that's gone, too, eh? I haven't searched for it yet. I remember one friend getting a kick out of its "waxing moon" or "waning moon" when hovering over it. She thought it was so clever. Me too.

GG, that's great! I'm glad you figured out how to make it work. Looks good!

[Don B. Cilly]

I have a moon phase widget (see my screen cap).
It's called Luna (II).
I'm pretty sure I got it with "get new widgets".

[EDIT]

[kubicle]

Isn't anyone missing Neko then? You can still get him to chase the mouse with the "oneko" package.
(don't forget to check "oneko -help" for options)

[DoYouKubuntu]

I was gone for a few minutes, DBC, and guess what I found? TWO, count 'em, two! moon phase widgets. I installed them both, configured them, then picked the one I liked better: Gealach. The other was Luna (II). Yay! Now with eyes and moon phases, I feel more at home!

@kubicle, is Neko one of those things that runs around your actual screen? If so, I wouldn't like it. I find them distracting. I like xeyes because they're just there, doing their thing without getting in the way.

[GreyGeek]

@DYK I just played with xeyes as a problem. My idea didn't work till Kubicle supplied the key. I sigterm'd it after I got it working. IF I loose track of my mouse I use Ctl+Shft to make the mouse send out a ring of circles, which is default in the Settings.

[DoYouKubuntu]

GG and everyone, thanks to @kubicle's excellent help, plus a bit of fine-tuning, I now have xeyes running, automatically at startup, in my bottom right corner, without the program itself showing in my panel, and always on top. Thank you so much, @kubicle! This is so close to what I wanted, that I'm going to consider it... drum roll please... solved!

[oshunluvr]

I see (pardon the pun) a missed opportunity for some levity here...

...clearly, the title of this thread should have been: "Dr. my eyes, can you tell me what is wrong?"



Dad jokes are the best!

[DoYouKubuntu]

I see (pardon the pun) a missed opportunity for some levity here...

...clearly, the title of this thread should have been: "Dr. my eyes, can you tell me what is wrong?"



Dad jokes are the best!

Indeed they are.

Good point about "Dr my eyes..." To be honest, that hadn't occurred to me. What I heard was Al Bundy (on Married...with Children) screaming in agony, "my eyes! my eyes!" when he'd see certain things (that probably couldn't be shown on TV anymore because they're not politically correct enough ).