[SOLVED] How do I install "cron" / change the wallpaper automatically?

[Emnasut]

I tried to install cron on the Pandora by "sudo opkg install cron" but all I get is this error:


* opkg_install cmd: Cannot install package cron.


I wanted to use cron to change the desktop background every x minutes like described here: XFCE Baclground Wallpaper Changer


Any ideas?

 

[meandu229]

Are you connected to the internet?


Try "sudo opkg update" first to get a up to date list of packages

 

[darfgarf]

cron isn't included in the image already?


if it's not don't forget you need this:


sudo opkg update


sudo opkg list | grep -i cron (lists all packages contatining the string "cron", non case sensitive


package might jsut be called something odd

 

[Emnasut]

Heh now it's working, I forgot about updating first. :rolleyes:


Thanks for the quick help! Strange though that it isn't included in the image, I thought cronjob were something every distro uses.

 

[Nintendo]

All sorted? Lock thread?

 

[darfgarf]

in before lock

 

[Emnasut]

Hm now I've got cron running (shows up in ps aux) and I've got this entry in crontab -l:


*/5 * * * * xfdesktop --reload


But the wallpaper still doesn't change. If I just do "xfdesktop --reload" in a terminal it works fine. Help anyone? :unsure:

 

[slaeshjag]

you might need to specify the Xorg display server?

 

[Emnasut]

How do I do that? Does a cronjob execute commands differently than if I just enter them in a terminal?

 

[slaeshjag]

Add -display 0:0


cron runs as a child from a process that's not running under Xorg, that's why it can't access it without telling the program where to look.

 

[darfgarf]

and make sure it knows where xfdesktop is, it'll log any errors somewhere, probably mailed to root

 

[Emnasut]

Interesting thing about the child process not running under Xorg, never would have guessed that. I added --display 0:0 and used the full path /usr/bin/xfdesktop and now it changes the background.


Thanks for all the help guys! Sony, you may lock the thread if you want to. ^^

 

[darfgarf]

make a wiki page

 

[Emnasut]

^ I just did.


Wallpaper Cronjob Wiki


The first time I created a Wiki entry so I don't know if it's any good. Propably riddled with spelling errors too as I'm not a native speaker... B)

 

[slaeshjag]

The comment and the command itself should be on separate lines

 

[Emnasut]

Thanks, I fixed it. Strange, they were on spearate lines while editing...

 

[darfgarf]

Thanks, I fixed it. Strange, they were on spearate lines while editing...

read more on wiki syntax, just hitting enter won't normally give you a new line (in most cases)