[ SOLVED ] Can't change font size of the date in task bar (Linux Lite 5.8)

[stevef]

It appears that the first running of the datetime GUI (after either a new install OR running 'Taskbar Restore') behaves slightly differently compared to subsequent running it.

On first run and then choosing to display both date and time, the 'select' for date is greyed out unless a non-default font for the date is selected.  This is different to how it behaves with selecting a font for time.

I guess this is because the default font for the date is fixed size - the clue being in the name 'bitstream vera sans 8'

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[Hannes222222]

Can you confirm that if you actually select a different font for the date by clicking on it (so that the selected font background changes colour) that the 'select' button is still greyed out please ?

HA!

By changing the font type (I choose Sans Bold), the button for the font size became valid again and I could choose an other size! 

So it was the default font type (Bitstream Vera Sans) that prevented me from changing the font size. It seems not all font types allow an adjustment in size.

Thank you so much for giving me that hint! 

Kind regards!

Johannes Peter (from Germany)

PS: How to mark this topic as 'SOLVED'?

[stevef]

Can you confirm that if you actually select a different font for the date by clicking on it (so that the selected font background changes colour) that the 'select' button is still greyed out please ?

[Hannes222222]

Do you have other desktop/panel look and feel changes which may effect font selection ?

I do have:

- german language support
- Theme: Adwaita
- Window-Taskbar-Theme: Default-xhdpi
- as far as I remember I also increased dpi-Value in general; it's set to 124 right now (to make the system look easier for a 14'' screen size)
- made the size of fonts bigger in general (to make the system look easier for a 14'' screen size)
- increased size of desktop task bar (to make the system look easier for a 14'' screen size)

- System fonts are: Roboto Regular [12]  ,  Monospace Regular [10]

Other than that, I kept the xfce-look and feel like it was by default. I made quite some adjustments in size (see points above) to make the system look easier for the 14'' screen size of my mobile laptop.

Oddly enough, the font size of the time could be changed, so no complaints about that.

[stevef]

OK.  As well as the language difference, my 5.8 set up is a result of progressing from 5.0 through 5.2, 5.4 and 5.6 so may not be comparable.

I'll see if I can find some hardware to do a cold 5.8 installation to test.

Do you have other desktop/panel look and feel changes which may effect font selection ?

[Hannes222222]

Did you upgrade from 5.2 to 5.8 using the Linux Lite menu ?  I don't recall any issues with settings getting changed when doing it this way.

No, I installed Version 5.8 fresh ... with a new ROM.

[stevef]

Those settings match the ones the GUI shows but can't change.  I don't know how (or even if) the datetime GUI uses this file.   The system appears to update this file at ten minute intervals.

Did you upgrade from 5.2 to 5.8 using the Linux Lite menu ?  I don't recall any issues with settings getting changed when doing it this way.

[Hannes222222]

Can you post the contents of this file by running.

Code: [Select]

cat ~/.config/xfce4/panel/datetime-7.rc

Code: [Select]

cat ~/.config/xfce4/panel/datetime-7.rc
layout=0
date_font=Bitstream Vera Sans 8
time_font=Sans Bold 24
date_format=%d %b %Y
time_format=%H:%M


[stevef]

I think the relevant file is 'datetime-7.rc' which is listed and has today date and recent time.  I can't see why your GUI would not be able to make changes to it.

Can you post the contents of this file by running.

Code: [Select]

cat ~/.config/xfce4/panel/datetime-7.rc
Please post the results as text rather than an image, it makes it easier to follow.  Select the text in the terminal window, right click and then copy.  When replying select the code tags (the # icon in the rows above where you type your reply).  This should add the words 'code' and '/code' in square brackets to your reply.  Paste your terminal text between the ']' and '[' so it is enclosed by the tags.

[Hannes222222]

Can you open a terminal and run the command

Code: [Select]

ls -al ~/.config/xfce4/panel/
The output should show be a list of some set up files xfce uses.  Please post the result back.

Yes, I can. Please see attached screenshot.

I had Linux Lite 5.2 installed before - on the same machine I use now with Linux Lite 5.8. In this version, everything worked fine; I could change the font size of the date. (Also German language.)

By the way: I love Linux Lite!  It's a great little system!

[stevef]

This works as expected in the English version.  Can you open a terminal and run the command

Code: [Select]

ls -al ~/.config/xfce4/panel/
The output should show be a list of some set up files xfce uses.  Please post the result back.

[Hannes222222]

Hello!

I do have Linux Lite 5.8 installed (German language). I can't change the font size of the date in the task bar. The button, that makes this happen, is grayed out.

Please see attached screenshot.

Kind regards!

Johannes Peter, GERMANY