xfce4 always on top

[sledgehammer]

I use etm_qt 2.2.3 constantly to organize and document my life.  (an earlier version is in the 7.0 repository).  One of etm's features is a timer, which allows me to conveniently record and organize time spent on various projects, phone calls, etc.  The bottom of the etm display shows the timer's status (on, off, paused).  It would be nice if I could see the timer portion of the etm display no matter which workspace I am in.  (I use 6 workspaces).  However, the little etm icon in the panel disappears unless focus is on etm.  So I am constantly having to figure out which workspace etm is in, move it to the current workspace, and then use alt-tab all the time to check its status.

Is there a program anyone knows about that would allow me quick and convenient access to etm?

Is there a program that would allow me to always show the bottom of the etm screen (the timer) no matter which workspace I am in and no matter what program I am running at the time?

I am told that there is a mac program (geektool) that does this, but I have not tried it.

Any suggestions?

[sledgehammer]

I have updated to etm 2.3.0.  The directions state I should be able to keep it always on top with conky.  I have installed conky.  Here is from the etm group's google group site:

Added action_status in  etm.cfg with keys 'running', 'paused' and 'stopped'. If specified, the relevant of these commands will be executed whenever the status of the action timer changes. This could be used, for example, with geektool or conky to show the current status of the timer on the user's desktop. E.g.,
action_status:
running: 'echo !summary!: !time!, running > ~/.etm/timer_status.text'
paused: 'echo !summary!: !time!, paused > ~/.etm/timer_status.text'
stopped: 'echo  > ~/.etm/timer_status.text'
 
          and then use geektool or conky to display the contents of  ~/.etm/timer_status.text on the  desktop. Note that !summary! expands to the action's summary and !time! to the current elapsed time.

Has anyone done something like this with conky or some other program?

[overthere]

I am not skilled with conky but if you installed it you will need a .conkyrc file in your home directory. then if you open a terminal and type conky the display will be on your desktop. I will add the rc I found for a clock for you to try and perhaps modify. but someone else may be better help later.

you would just copy /paste into a text file and name it .conkyrc....most I can offer

Code:

alignment top_right
background yes
border_margin 5
border_width 5
default_color ffffff      # grey 5f5f5f 3F3F3F
double_buffer yes
draw_borders no
draw_outline no
draw_shades no
gap_x 60
gap_y 180
maximum_width 240
minimum_size 175
no_buffers yes
override_utf8_locale yes
own_window yes
own_window_title conky
own_window_hints undecorated,below,sticky,skip_taskbar,skip_pager
own_window_transparent yes
own_window_type normal ## normal /override /desktop
text_buffer_size 8000
total_run_times 0
update_interval 0.5
uppercase no
use_xft yes
xftalpha 1
xftfont Freesans:pixelsize=9

# fonts
# Blue Highway
# Zegoe Light - U
# Zekton
# Calibri
# Engebrechtre
# Opeln2001

TEXT
${font Zekton:pixelsize=45}${alignc}${time %H:%M}${font}

${font Zekton:pixelsize=11}${alignc}${time  %B %d, %Y}
${alignc}${time %A}${font}

[sledgehammer]

Thanks overthere,

Conky works fine....I will have to learn how to make it do what I want.  You code helped.

I need to learn how to tell it to show  ~/.etm/timer_status.text, to not show all that other stuff, and to always stay on top (or at least to show in all workspaces).

John

[overthere]

To show a txt file with conky use exec cat /path/to/file, the clock rc is on all workspaces but not on top of the browser and other windows..think that is own_window but not sure what the override is

here I have a TODO file in /home/someone and listed in the text section with # in front of the clock in the same conkyrc

http://files.myopera.com/dsl-o/albums/550557/conkya.png

you can rename your current .conkyrc and replace with the clock and play with the text , size color, content. simple # the clock lines as seen in the pic

if you open the .conkyrc in a text file to edit it, when you click save the changes show on screen, so easy to play usually

Code:

TEXT
${font :pixelsize=16} ${color cyan}To Do List:
${color yellow}${exec cat /home/someone/TODO}${font}

[sledgehammer]

Thanks.

John

[overthere]

Found this simple clockrc that I like better and added the simple todo list to it..note the spaces create a space on the display.

If not helpful perhaps of value to others looking for a simple conkyrc

http://files.myopera.com/dsl-o/albums/550557/conkyclock.png

Code:

#
# ~/.conkyrc-clock - an attractive, Elegant Brit-style desktop clock
#

alignment      top_right
color0          e1e1e1
color1          e04613
default_color   ffffff
double_buffer   yes
draw_shades     no
font            DejaVu Serif-36
gap_x           20
gap_y           20
minimum_size    225
own_window      no
update_interval 3
use_xft         yes

TEXT
$alignc${time %-I:%M}$color0${time %P}${font DejaVu Serif-12}
$color1${hr 3}$color
$alignc${time %A, %B %-d}
$color1${hr 3}$color

${font DejaVu Serif:pixelsize=16} ${color1}TO DO LIST:

${color white} ${exec cat /home/someone/TODO}${font}
#

[sledgehammer]

Handsome.

[sledgehammer]

I've now got conky working beautifully with etm_qt, so if anyone wants details, let me know.  It shows a little blue rectangular box along the bottom of the screen, regardless of which workspace I am in, telling me what the etm timer is doing, whether paused, stopped or running, and which project is being charged with the time.

Thanks!

John

[overthere]

Glad to see you have it working

so you added action status to the etm.cfg as above? did you have to add three lines to conky for running, paused, stop...perhaps you would post the conkyrc

Cheers

[sledgehammer]

double_buffer yes
alignment top-left
background no
border_width 0
cpu_avg_samples 2
default_color white
default_outline_color white
default_shade_color white
draw_borders no
draw_graph_borders yes
draw_outline no
draw_shades no
use_xft yes
xftfont DejaVu Sans Mono:size=10
gap_x 80
gap_y 10
minimum_size 300 5
net_avg_samples 2
no_buffers yes
out_to_console no
out_to_stderr no
extra_newline no
# the following puts the display in a panel on top of others
own_window yes
own_window_type panel
own_window_hints above
own_window_transparent yes
own_window_class Conky
stippled_borders 0
update_interval 5.0
uppercase no
use_spacer none
show_graph_scale no
show_graph_range no

TEXT
${exec cat ~/.etm/timer_status.text}