Screensaver should allow "selective random"

Bug #31979 reported by Kristoffer Lundén
46
This bug affects 4 people
Affects Status Importance Assigned to Milestone
GNOME Screensaver
Expired
Wishlist
gnome-screensaver (Ubuntu)
Triaged
Wishlist
Ubuntu Desktop Bugs

Bug Description

I would like it to be possible to be selective about which screensavers gets to be in the random list. I have a few favourites but currently it is all or nothing.

A simplistic way to implement this would be to simply allow CTRL-selecting in the screensavers list, see attached screenshot for mock-up. It's not totally discoverable but OTOH it was the first thing I tried... and it could be mentioned in the help for those who look for it. Those who don't look for it will never notice.

A further step would be to have a separate GUI for this, but I'm note sure if it's needed. An even better way to do it would be to introduce checkboxes, that way individual screensavers could be previewed while retaining the list.

Revision history for this message
Kristoffer Lundén (kristoffer-lunden) wrote : Mockup of multiple selection

The preview screen turns to an informational banner, in case someone happens to do this by mistake. Could include some simple instructions too.

Revision history for this message
Daniel Holbach (dholbach) wrote :

Thanks for your suggestion, I forwarded it to the upstream bug tracker: http://bugzilla.gnome.org/show_bug.cgi?id=331886

Changed in gnome-screensaver:
assignee: nobody → desktop-bugs
status: Unconfirmed → Confirmed
Revision history for this message
Irios (irios) wrote :

A very simple and discoverable fix would be to add a right-click menu with the option "Use as random screensaver choice"

As for forwarding upstream, I don't envision any progress: the guy has welded shut his clam, and won't budge.

Changed in gnome-screensaver:
status: Unconfirmed → Confirmed
Revision history for this message
Jenda Vančura (jenda) wrote :

I can confirm. I wasn't happy when I first saw this in Dapper.
Checkboxes would be nice, as in the old times (was it breezy...)

Revision history for this message
Broomer68 (jbezemer) wrote :

there is already a "random from selected" in the login-window, so there is no need to reinvent the wheel, just another selection-screen to be used.

Revision history for this message
Mike Hicks (hick0088) wrote :

I've been subscribed to this bug for some time now, but I should note why I'm interested. First, I have been on systems that don't have decent OpenGL support, so many of the 3D screensavers are slow on systems that completely lack 3D, and may cause the system to crash or make the console unusable on those with old/buggy 3D support. Second, many of the screensavers are simply ugly (at least by modern standards, but has anyone ever liked NoseGuy, for instance? -- no offense to anyone who actually likes NoseGuy ;-)

However, for those looking at a workaround, I should note this recent comment from "Tom" on the watched gnome-bug #316462:

>>>BEGIN>>>
you can also edit the gconf-entry for gnome-screensaver:
1) set screensaver to random and not on a piece of paper which ones you want
2) open gconf editor and find apps/gnome-screensaver
3) edit the themes key by removing the unwanted themes

http://www.gnome.org/~bmsmith/gconf-docs/C/gnome-screensaver.html
good luck
tom
<<<<END<<<<

Changed in gnome-screensaver (Ubuntu):
status: Confirmed → Triaged
Changed in gnome-screensaver:
importance: Unknown → Wishlist
Changed in gnome-screensaver:
status: Confirmed → Expired
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