I find it difficult to hit the window borders in XFCE to enlarge or reduce windows.
I would like to change the theme I am using (Mint X) so that I can grab the border better (it is only 1px). Is it correct that I have to go to the /usr/share/themes/ Mint-X-Sand directory to do this? This contains gtk-2.0, gtk-3.0 and gtk-4.0. I'm not sure if it's right if I select gtk-3.0 here, then the gtk.css file and edit this file? It's a bit complicated because you have to change the outline-width of the windows separately for all applications (menu, thunar, terminal, settings...)
Or is there an easier Method? With alt + right mouse button and touchpad it is also not so comfortable.
I would copy the theme beforehand and paste it into my home directory under themes, then give the theme a different name and change the css file.
get what you saying , i'm on xfce too but haven't noticed that until now , mostly cause seldom drag windows to size.
iv'e tried now and find if you double click empty space on title bar (if it's maximised) makes window bit smaller and then it's easier to find border . drag to size , and xfce will remember the size for that specific window.
Thank you for the tips!
I have found another way to make it easier to change the size of windows. I have defined a keyboard shortcut for changing the window size in the window management settings (I use the left Alt key now).
Nevertheless, I would be pleased if someone could tell me whether my previous suggestion would also work. I'd like to try it.
It would not. In XFCE, you can change widget parameters using the .css.
But the window borders are of the Window Manager. That is XFWM4.
In your theme folder, you will see a folder named xfwm4 - This is your window manager theme.
These are all image files. You can modify the images in order to create a more sizable border area for grabbing and resize.
I can grab a copy of the Mint-X theme and rework it in this way, then send you the theme, if you want.
@Aravisian I would love to, that would make me very happy! I use Mint-X-Sand. I found the xfwm4 folder under default, but I wouldn't know how to change it. That's why I really appreciate your offer.
The Mint-X-Sand-folder contains no xfwm4 child folder. I read that Mint-X has no own xfwm4 theme for various colours, only Mint-y. In Mint-X you can find a subfolder xfwm4.
I hope you don't get an eyeache when you do that for me! I have to use the light-coloured theme because some apps are unreadable with the dark ones.
I'd prefer thin window borders with broad "invisible" grab area. For example, replaced the one-pixel-wide image of the window border with a 4-pixel-wide image where 3 of the columns are transparent.
I found some good information on this topic on this page:
In the xfce forum was a post where it is described how to use the package "borders" and what it makes:
"Download "borders" theme and apply it Box (zip file) Extract to your ~.themes folder ( yourusername .themes) Then, go to settings> window manager and in the "style" tab select "borders." It will preserve your current theme EXCEPT you will now have larger borders to grab on newly opened windows. It does this by applying (I'm not sure, possibly replacing?) XPM files (pictures) that are transparent but wider than any of the standard GTK or XWFM themes to your current theme.
By the way this works with or without enabling display compositing."
The fourth link provided at the end of the website also contains instructions on how to change the frame thickness of the windows in xfwm4, but then the windows no longer look as visually appealing. It would be nicer to add a transparent area to the narrow frame line. I have not yet found any instructions for this.
I have installed the “borders” package. It works well, the border area is now slightly wider, but the windows now have wider borders and no more rounded corners, which doesn't look so good. You can just as well use window themes that have a slightly wider border, such as Default-hdpi or Kokodi or even Default-xhdpi.
@Aravisian Hi Aravisian, I managed to create a wider frame around my windows myself. You won't need to go to the trouble then (unless you still have a solution for leaving the window frame itself narrow and just adding a transparent area around it so it's easier to grip). I took the xfwm4 theme from default-hdpi, which has a wider border, copied the image files for the border and then created my own thick Mint-X xfwm4 theme in ~/.themes. I also made one with xhdpi, but this is really thick!
You are experimenting and getting there. It's a learning experience.
I cannot find a viable download of Mint-X-sand - everything seems to be a Plasma Color scheme.
If you can point me to a download, I will take a look. Can fix the corners and borders right up.
I have looked for it several times and have not found it.
I don't know if this page is suitable and serious:
Of the current 22.1 LM version, there is no own page with the repository yet. The Mint-x and Mint-y themes are not listed separately. Maybe all themes are included here. I'd take the newest version of the themes on the bottom of the page. But the website is not secure.
Personally, the site doesn't inspire much confidence in me, as no secure downloads are possible.
The safest way would be to start a live session with LM and then copy the theme from usr/share/themes. But that is a lot of work with the creation of the boot stick.
@Forpli,
I made the most minimal changes possible. I did not change the rounded corners from the original, so that should be identical.
The file is here:
What I recommend:
Create a new folder in your ~.themes folder and name it Mod-X-Sand
Copy the XFWM folder into it.
Test the theme by going to Settings > Window Manager > Style then setting the window borders to Mod-X-Sand
If it complains of missing symlinks - just copy them over from your existing Mint-x > xfwm4 folder.
(Need root permissions, then recursively set the entire folder ownership to your user and read/write after the transfer).
@Aravisian The windows do not have a top bar. The name of the program and the buttons with which you can make the window small, large and close are missing.
