Doesn't notice change of mouse pointer theme (reverted to non-gconf backend?)

[mannheim]

Binary package hint: compiz

Steps to reproduce (with gutsy updated on 2007-9-21), using compiz-fusion:

1. Go to System->Preferences->Appearance->Theme->Customize and select the "Pointer" tab.

2. Select a different mouse pointer theme than the one you have been using.

3. Use the mouse to drag a window around the screen by its title bar.

Expected results: The mouse cursor displays a "hand" from the newly selected pointer theme while dragging.

Actual results: The mouse cursor displays a "hand" from the previously selected pointer theme while dragging.

Additional remark: This bug does not arise when using metacity in place of compiz. I have found this sort of bug mentioned in forums elsewhere, but couldn't find it here in launchpad, hence this bug report.

[Simon Gerhards (simger-deactivatedaccount)]

Confirmed.
Strangely the right cursor theme is used within Firefox and Openoffice.

[Raivis Dejus (orvils)]

May be duplicate of this bug:
https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/compiz/+bug/86184

There is a patch attached to bug 86184 to fix this problem.

[Tessa (unit3)]

I'm seeing this problem (or at least a related problem) in Hardy on AMD64. When you change a cursor theme, just the text pointer and the "window grabbing hand" get changed, everything else stays the same.

So this likely isn't the same as but 86184, since it's still in existence two releases after that problem was supposed to have been fixed.

[Tessa (unit3)]

Also, it looks like on hardy, compiz has its own config area to set the cursor theme, which doesn't match the gnome one. Perhaps compiz just needs a patch or plugin to copy its setting from gconf if available.

[Vortex Cortex (vortex-cortex)]

I was having this issue with Ubuntu 8.04 + Compiz, but I have fixed the problem:
I realized that compiz was keeping its settings in a flat file instead of GConf.

Open the "Add/Remove Applications Manager"
(Applications > Add/Remove...)
Next to "Show:" select "All available applications"

Search for "Compiz"

Install "Advanced Desktop Effect Settings (cssm)" if it is not already installed.

Open the "Advanced Desktop Effect Settings"
(System > Preferences > Advanced Desktop Effect Settings)

In the left column select "Preferences"
Change the "Backend" to "GConf Configuration Backend"

Now Compiz will store it's settings in the same place that Metacity does (and fix this cursor problem).

[Tessa (unit3)]

Oh, interesting!

If the GConf backend isn't the default, then maybe it should be? Comments from Ubuntu devs?

[SabreWolfy (sabrewolfy)]

Confirmed in Ubuntu Karmic. Switched to large black mouse pointer via System | Preferences | Appearance | Customize | Pointer.

When moving the mouse over title bars, the GNOME panel, clicking a title bar and moving a window or other windows (such as the whole of GCalc), the standard default small white mouse pointer appears. Firefox menus show the large black cursor.

I disabled all Compiz effects via ... Apperance | Visual Effects and the large black cursor is shown everywhere.

[Arturo Torres Sánchez (r2d2.art2005)]

Using GConf doesn't help at all. I'm on Karmic, and changing cursor theme just works over Firefox, and for busy and text cursors.

[Yotam Benshalom (benshalom)]

Same with lucid. Using compiz set to gconf backend shows generic cursors when a different cursor is selected. Firefox and openoffice behave well and show the correct cursors, gtk apps do not.

[dRewsus (drewsus)]

I get the same behaviour in Lucid Beta 2. In Karmic I did not have this problem.
compiz is and has always been set to "GConf Configuration Backend"

[Saša Teković (hseagle2015)]

I have the exact same problem on two of my computers, which are both running Lucid RC. On both computers "GConf Configuration Backend" has beed set from the start.

[dRewsus (drewsus)]

I found a workaround for this.

in /usr/share/icons/default there is a syslink to /etc/alternatives/x-cursor-theme

#make a backup
sudo cp /etc/alternatives/x-cursor-theme /etc/alternatives/x-cursor-theme_backup

#open the file in question
gksu gedit /etc/alternatives/x-cursor-theme

change Inherits=DMZ-White
to reflect the icon theme you are using (ie. "Inherits=pUbuntu-24")
restart X

[Saša Teković (hseagle2015)]

Thanks dRewsus! Your workaround has worked for me too.

[mrbinitie (ayobinitie)]

dRewsus - that was Bang on Target - Merci

[mrdickie (mrdickie)]

@ dRewsus : thanks man, you're a genius. This is the one annoyance that's been bugging me since upgrading to 10.04. I'm surprised the main ubuntu blog sites haven't picked up on this though. I would have thought it would affect a lot of users?

[dRewsus (drewsus)]

I agree, it is odd that none of the main ubuntu blog sites have picked up on this. I can only imagine that people don't change their mouse pointer themes that often or they just spend all their time in Firefox haha.
Maybe Ill spread the word tomorrow (release day!)

[Elias Pizarro Rodriguez (eliaspizarro)]

Another workaround for this is to create a file called:
~/.icons/default/index.theme

Add the following lines to this file

[Icon Theme]
Inherits = <YOUR THEME NAME>

Where your theme name can be obtained from running gconf-editor under
the key

/desktop/gnome/peripherals/mouse/cursor_theme

or the name of the folder of your cursor theme

Restart compiz (Alt + F2 then compiz --replace)

Every time you change the mouse theme you have to remember to change the
file you have created.

[dRewsus (drewsus)]

even better!

a script can easily be made to do this (but as mentioned would have to be run every time you change your cursor theme):
------------------------------
#!/bin/bash

mkdir -p $HOME/.icons/default
CURSOR_THEME=$(gconftool -g /desktop/gnome/peripherals/mouse/cursor_theme)
echo "[Icon Theme]
Inherits = $CURSOR_THEME" > $HOME/.icons/default/index.theme
echo "Compiz will be restarted to enable this. Please stand by."
compiz --replace &
------------------------------

[DjznBR (djzn-br)]

@ dRewsus,

Dude your workaround seems to cause the system to get GNOME unstable, inoperable.
The two times I tried this workaround, it would segfault every GNOME application.
The solution seems to delete the "default" folder created by the script.

[dRewsus (drewsus)]

@DjznBR
are you talking about my original workaround (modding /etc/alternatives/x-cursor-theme) or the one just above involving $HOME/.icons/default/index.theme?
I've run this script on my own systems successfully.
What version of Ubuntu are you using? How exactly do you run this script?

[DjznBR (djzn-br)]

I am talking about this exact same script above: the one involving $HOME/.icons/default/index.theme
My ubuntu is latest lucid lynx 10.04, I run this script inside my home dir, using $ ./compiz_fix which is the name I gave it.

I reproduced this way: compiz enabled, you change the cursor to DMZ-White and then you move the size slider to bigger size (medium), then you run the script right after, restaring compiz. For any other cursor it will work, but particurlaly with DMZ cursors, it won't just let it be sized, but it will also crash titlebars and then you lose your GNOME session. Until you have the "default" directory undeleted, you won't be able to use the system - frequently segfaults. I rebooted many times, no way. Solution was to delete "default" dir created inside .icons.

Maybe this happened because of fglrx or radeon driver. because it happens with both.

[dRewsus (drewsus)]

Ah I see. So you definitely did everything right (so far as I suggested ;))
I do have intel drivers so that is a difference, but I have another with Radeon, so I will try there. I dont think that is the issue though. I am sure it has something to do with the resizing.
The pUbuntu-24 theme I use does not even have a resizing option like DMZ-*.
I'll look into this.

[DjznBR (djzn-br)]

Thanks! Just an errata to post #21
it should read "Until you have the default directory DELETED, you won't... etc"

[Jonathon Fernyhough (jfernyhough)]

It looks like the cursor option is set in gconf but Compiz is ignoring it (see attached screenshot).

I noticed, however, that /apps/compiz/general/allscreens/options/cursor_theme and /apps/compiz/general/allscreens/options/cursor_size have no schema. Is this related?

(The ~/.icons/default/index.theme trick works as a workaround for me, though).

[WangLu (coolwanglu)]

@dRewsus

Here on my computer, if I specify a theme (Inherits=) installed in my home folder but not system-widely, compiz will crash.

[molecule-eye (niburu1)]

The workaround from message 12 worked for me, but it IS a workaround. Every time I change my cursor theme I have to remember to change the default index.theme file.

[antonioni (antonioni-rocha)]

Solution?

Run in terminal:
'cd /usr/share/icons'

The terminal shows:
"[Icon Theme]
Inherits=DMZ-White"

Run in terminal:
'sudo gedit index.theme'

Edit the text file replacing DMZ-White by the name of new cursor. Example:
"[Icon Theme]
Inherits=DMZ-Black"

Run in terminal:
'compiz –replace'

In 'Preferences > Themes' select a new cursor.

[dRewsus (drewsus)]

Antonioni,
read above :P

[Krishna (krishnab)]

It affects me too.

I am using Ubuntu 10.10 Amd64. I just installed Gcursor.

Bur still I cannot change the pointers using the Cursor Selection too. (System -> Preferences -> Cursor Selection )