I don't know exactly what goes wrong with zim when started by debbie - it gets quite confused about the notebook structure, which is defined in /home/user/.config/zim and than with further control files in the notebook directories defined therein (which I put under MyDocs).
With "sudo debian su -c zim - user" everything works as it should, but not when starting via debbie, although zim does find its folders initially. But when using it further, it does not keep track of what it's doing, and ends in a mess.

I noticed that "su - user" leads to a pwd of /home/user, but "debbie" has / . Also /home/user/.profile is only read with "su - user", hence my suspicion that some things are not initialized like in a regular login shell.

rebhana: thanks for discovering this!

RobbH: that's exactly the post I followed to have theme changes actually work.

I change the background image via "Desktop Settings." Theme changes, as well as Font size, are programmed via the "Appearances" panel in Settings... this wasn't working until rebhana's discovery. I also like to fiddle with the panel settings... you have to do this twice, one for the top panels, once for the panels on the side... in the Appearance section of the settings panel I set "Solid color (with opacity)" to on... this used to be called "Transparency". Also, need to program the Font Custom Color. Below the result,



--denis

Thank you! My misunderstanding was with this part:

I thought that meant that the step you had described before this did not work, after all.

I see, I'll edit my edit then.

Editing task bars, backgrounds and windows:

I have been playing around a bit this morning trying to personalise the desktop (inspired by delaroca).

I am not a confident Linux user yet so it I thought it would be a good idea to post a quick guide on how to change things for others that aren't Linux users, from what I have learnt today, please only follow this if you know what you are doing, until someone else OK's these steps or posts better ones

1) First off open up System Tools --> PCMan File Manager
2) Go to View and select Show Hidden Flies
3) Open up the folder called .config
4) Open up the folder called lxde
5) Open up the file called config (should open in leafpad)
6) Remove the line "sNet/ThemeName=MurrinaNightOrange"

(Screenshots for this stage are labelled PCMan_01 to 04 and Edited_config_file) --> obviously take care when changing anything in here!!

This will now allow you to change the background and task bars (thanks to the guys that posted that answer on here), I have attached a screenshot of what I have done (Desktop Screen Shot.png) and the steps are below if you would like something similar:

1) Right click on the larger task bar (the one where your minmised windows go) and delete it (so you only have the little one left with the cpu monitor etc)
2) Right click on the smaller task bar and copy the preferences from the screenshots that I have attached (Preference Panel 01 to 04)
3) Right click on the desktop and copy screenshot of Desktop Preferences Panel 01

If you would like the "mulitple dektops" icon back just add it in on the Panel Applets menu.

I also changed the "windows" theme by using Openbox config manager in Preferences.

I think the minimised task bar works well because you get even more screen room (you can bring it back up again by either clicking really close to the bottom of the screen or if you are on the desktop drag the mouse down to the bottom of the screen. This set up will probably not be good for everyone but it works well for me

I guess there are easier ways to change the config in terminal but i don't know how so I hope this way is ok, even if it is a bit round-about! If there is anything wrong with these steps could someone let me know, I would hate to mess things up for anyone else, but mine seems to be fine after changing it.

I hope this was of some help to people, I know playing around with desktop pics and task bar colours isn't exactly important but its nice to be able to personalise a bit

"""additional screen shots on post below""""

Extra Screenshots

Final one

davedickson (or someone), you should make a wiki page attached to the main Easy Debian one about configuring Easy Debian's LXDE.

Any questions that you see getting asked here are candidates for the wiki, really...

Qole, no problem when i get a sec ill put a page together, wanted to post here first though to check the steps were correct and none 'dangerous' or if there was an easier/better way of doing things before creating a page

Quick question(s) regarding configuring LXDE.

I've managed to change the fonts and the title bar sizes, but as yet I do not know how to change the size of the scroll bars. Could you plase talk me through this?

Also, when launching applications from a shortcut in hildon they have a separate appearance. Is is possible to edit this as well?
Is it possible to lauch/switch them to full screen?

Thank you for your help, with this device and Easy Debian I hardly have to resort to using my PC and save on the leccy bills!