🔒 Setting transparent window on Linux

[hollow willow]

Hi, I got a python script with tkinter, where app.attributes('-transparentcolor', app['bg']) is used to remove the window background. The content is fully visible. But this seems to work only on window, but on my linux client it returns an error:
"Bad attribute -transparentcolor"

I've tried some variants from google search with "-alpha" or with app.configure(bg='') but nothing is working. Maybe one of you have any idea ?

[elfin pulsar]

@hollow willow

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[dusky coyote]

From what I saw online, you need app.wm_attributes('-alpha', 0.0)

@hollow willow

[cinder ore]

In X11 you need to set the -type attribute for the window. you can set it to normal

[hollow willow]

@dusky coyote but then is everything completely transparent. Nothing visible. The Window just contains some Buttons, they will disappear also with -alpha 0.0

@cinder ore do you mean in combination with -transparentcolor ?

[dusky coyote]

apparently you also need app.wait_visibility(app)

[cinder ore]

No, you don't need that.

import tkinter as tk

root = tk.Tk()
root.title("Transparent Window")
root.attributes('-type', 'normal')
root.attributes('-alpha', 0.6)

root.mainloop()

That works on my system.

[hollow willow]

let me try

[cinder ore]

I'm using xfwm4

You need a compositing window manager for this to work.

If you want the individual widgets to be transparent you may have to set the transparency attribute individually. I don't know.

[hollow willow]

app = tk.Tk()
app.title("URL Opener")
app.attributes('-topmost', True)  # Ensure the window stays on top
app.wm_overrideredirect(True)  # Remove window decorations
app.attributes('-type', 'normal');
#app.attributes('-transparentcolor', app['bg'])
#app.wait_visibility(app)
app.wm_attributes("-alpha", 0.5)

[cinder ore]

No, you don't seem to need that.

I made a button and didn't set any attributes with it and it seems to inherit the alpha from the root window.

[hollow willow]

@dusky coyote as you see in my snippet I tried that also

@cinder ore yes, but I don't want my buttons to inherit the alpha

[cinder ore]

You might have to set the alpha individually then - perhaps there's an attribute you can set so they don't inherit it.

[hollow willow]

ok, I will try that, good Idea, thank you.

[cinder ore]

You're welcome.

[hollow willow]

Ok, I give up. I think there is no way to achieve what I want with linux

[elfin pulsar]

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