Taking screenshots in xfce.

[chatan]

(Using VL 6 Deluxe, xfce)
I know this was asked before: http://forum.vectorlinux.com/index.php?topic=4931.0   but it is an older thread, so I figured I would ask about screen captures again.

I see tigerwolf's post that says:
Right click on the panel.
Select 'add new item'.
From the list that appears, select the Screenshot applet.
Click the 'ADD' button.

That's works, but I don't take screen shots that often, so in xfce (without install KDE stuff) is there an easier way to than adding applet and then removing it time I need a screenshot?

Thanks!

[wcs]

Type this in the terminal:

Code:

import -window root screen.png

If you just do "import screen.png", you'll get a little cross to select the area that you want.

You can put this in a launcher, or even better, go to Keyboard Settings and assign the Print Screen key as a shortcut to the command.

EDIT: I didn't realise that the thread you mention already contains this command as a solution. Well, if you put in in a launcher in the panel, desktop, or menu, it does the job very well. But if you would like something a bit more fancy and with a graphical interface, there's nothing in the repos so far as I can see.

[overthere]

If you do not require a toggle on the menu or a launcher on the bar then use the import as mentioned...

I type: import -window root -pause 5 screenshot.png and then minimize the terninal so it is not in the shot.

 thanks grannygeek for the pause 5 and to EFG for the import -window root screenshot.png..

if the confirmation helps..
cheers

[wcs]

I type: import -window root -pause 5 screenshot.png and then minimize the terninal so it is not in the shot.

nice one. 

[GrannyGeek]

This discussion has helped me learn more about the import utility. -window root enabled me to capture what my launchers look like when the mouse is over them or they're expanded when I click on the little arrow.

Now--
does anyone know how to tell import to number screenshots consecutively? If I use screenshot.png as the file name it gets overwritten if I capture another shot. If I could modify the import command so I'd automatically get screenshot_1, screenshot_2, screenshot_3, etc., the tool would be perfect.
--GrannyGeek

[chatan]

Thanks all!

even better, go to Keyboard Settings and assign the Print Screen key as a shortcut to the command.

That is what I'm looking for.  Not as nice as ksnapshot, but it works good enough for now.
I appreciate it.

Steps:
Menu >>> Settings >>> Keyboard Settings
Shortcuts Tab >>> Add theme
Give it any name
Add Shortcut
command = import -window root screen.png

[wcs]

If I could modify the import command so I'd automatically get screenshot_1, screenshot_2, screenshot_3, etc., the tool would be perfect.

Maybe it can do it with some option.
Alternatively, it could be done by a bash script that checks if the file exists and assigns the next name.
I don't know enough bash for that, though, but I guess it should be simple.

[kidd]

You can suffix a `date` command with the format you want.

for example,

touch screenshot`date +%F` will create a file named screenshot2009-03-07 .

Beware of date flags that output spaces inbetween. It may break your script.

if you want to make screenshots really close one to other, you can try `date +%N` it outputs the time in nanoseconds (don't know based to what) , or %s for the classical unix time (seconds sincs epoch (01-01-1970) .

man date for more info.

HTH

[wcs]

Thanks, kidd!

This one seems to do the trick for me:

Code:

import -window root screen_`date +%F_%T`.png

Outputs this: screen_2009-03-07_19:08:42.png

[wcs]

This one seems to do the trick for me:

Though, unfortunately, the keyboard shortcuts in xfce seems to have problems when one puts the date command in there...

[kidd]

probably xfce does not interpolate backticks, maybe you should write a trivial shellscript, and execute it from xfce.

[wcs]

maybe you should write a trivial shellscript, and execute it from xfce.

Makes sense... I must be tired.
Worked a charm!

[GrannyGeek]

screen_`date +%F_%T`.png works great from a terminal prompt, but when I add it to my XFce launcher I get a file named +%F_%T`.png. I have no idea how to write a shellscript.

wcs,
Could you please post your shellscript?
--GrannyGeek

[wcs]

Could you please post your shellscript?

Here it is.
Just the command with that top line to indicate it's a bash file:

#!/bin/bash
import -window root screen_`date +%F_%T`.png

I put this in a file called screenshot, copied it to /usr/bin, and made it executable:

chmod a+x /usr/bin/screenshot

The new "screenshot" command then goes in the keyboard settings in xfce.
EDIT: Or in a launcher, in your case.

[GrannyGeek]

Thank you very much!

I followed your directions and added the screenshot script to my launcher. It is working just as I had hoped. Now I'll create the PrintScreen keyboard shortcut.
--GrannyGeek