Ubuntu

I'd like to add a screensaver (Sherman's Aquarium) to Ubuntu 8.10

Asked by pbug

I've installed Ubuntu 8.10 on an old PC. It runs nicely (better then XP so far) but I'd like to add screensavers of my choice. I searched for Ubuntu screen savers, and came across Sherman's Aquarium 3.01 and downloaded it. I've no idea of how to actually add it to my screensavers.

Thanks!

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nhasian
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nhasian (nhasian) said : 		#1

the readme file included says:

Quick installation:

./configure
make
make install (become root might be required.)

inplace of the last line you may need to use:

sudo make install

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amicrawler (amicrawler2008) said : 		#2

you do not need to to a configure and a make make install

the pkg is all ready in the synaptic pkg manger i run 8.10 ubuntu and i did a search for sherman and it came up and i installed it Sherman's Aquarium

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pbug (rtroy56) said : 		#3

I understand the make suggestion, I did use synaptic pkg manager as also suggested and installed Sherman's Aquarium and a dependent package. It does not show up in the list of screen savers; it seems like it may need other tools installed. It describes itself as a GNOME 2 panel applet, a Windowmaker applet, and Xscreensaver hack.

Thanks again!

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nhasian (nhasian) said : 		#4

okay you got me curious. i installed the package successfully. i right clicked on my toolbar and clicked on add applet. sure enough there was Sherman's Aquarium. its just a little tiny box in my toolbar though. if you figure out how to make it go fullscreen let me know.

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nhasian (nhasian) said : 		#5

Open a Terminal from the menu Applications → Accessories → Terminal and type:

shermans

theres an example of what it will look like. now to install it as a screensaver follow the instructions in:

/usr/share/doc/shermans-aquarium/XSCREENSAVER

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pbug (rtroy56) said : 		#6

On my ubnuto installation, I have an add to panel command that comes up with the right click, so I did that, and just like you Sherman went to the bar below (toolbar?). So I then did what you said next - I opened a terminal, and read through /usr/share/doc/shermans-aquarium/XSCREENSAVER. I didn't take long to discover that xscreensaver had not been installed... So now screensaver runs instead of gnome screensaver. So I added Sherman to the list, and it now shows up. Only problem is that the prefs screen is too big for my monitor and won't resize, so I can't adjust the prefs. I'm wondering if another editable file controls those.

Thanks! I was once a VMS SA and programmer and DBA, and I've dabbled in Solaris and Digital Unix, but don't know much about Ubuntu, Gnome, etc.

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Best nhasian (nhasian) said : 		#7

you got further than me. i uninstalled it rather than install the xscreensaver. personally i do not like to use a screensaver at all. chews up cpu cycles and battery power. i just set my monitor to blank after 15 mins.

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pbug (rtroy56) said : 		#8

I got parts of it working. It does activate (unless power management does first), I get my fish swimming by. I can control some features by editing the config file while others don't react at all to config changes.

I never got file access to my xp or vista systems or vice versa (samba); that will be my next project. The good news; overall, u8.10 runs very well on this 10 year old Dell PIII (only 768mb and a 16mb video card, 250gb HD). It really looks nice and is easy to use for browsing, games, etc. The synaptic installer is easy to use. On the bad side, network configuration seems to be missing in action, things like screensavers are horrific to set up. Some things require su / root access to get to but ubuntu blocks that access in some cases (yes, I know about sudo).

The upshot - great for geeks, nice for simple use by non-geeks if a geek is around to maintain it.

BTW, I may try to install Win 7 beta on the same antique box to see what happens (dual boot, of course).

Thanks,

Ron