A simple, always visible desktop clock for all workspaces?

lah7 · 31 December 2025 22:18

As an alternate suggestion: Not sure how minimal or customisable you're looking for - but if it's just a floating text clock, the DIY approach could be to use MATE panels themselves.

Add a panel, set to "Top", uncheck "Expand".
Optionally set background colour/transparency.
Drag where you'd like.
Add either the "Clock" widget or "Command" widget (for custom time/text, see man date)

Here's an example of two panels floating - always on top, always on the current workspace: First one is the clock widget (click for calendar) and the second runs the date command.

Only downside is that the font or text size can't be changed (sadly it does not adjust to the panel height). It'll be the same size as "Application font"

computerguy · 31 December 2025 23:33

Sincere Thanks Once Again GeekBone !!

I tried doing as you told me to & all I did was to make a mess, sadly.

Here is my entire Gotham code:

use_xft yes
xftfont 123:size=8
xftalpha 0.1
update_interval 1
total_run_times 0

own_window yes
own_window_type normal
own_window_transparent yes
own_window_hints undecorated,below,sticky,skip_taskbar,skip_pager
own_window_colour 000000
own_window_argb_visual no
own_window_argb_value 0

double_buffer yes
#minimum_size 100 5
#maximum_width 100
draw_shades no
draw_outline no
draw_borders no
draw_graph_borders no
default_color white
default_shade_color red
default_outline_color green
alignment bottom_left
gap_x 0
gap_y 0
no_buffers yes
uppercase no
cpu_avg_samples 2
net_avg_samples 1
override_utf8_locale yes
use_spacer no

minimum_size 0 0
TEXT

${color white}Cpu: $cpu%
Mem: $mem
HOME:${fs_used_perc /home}%
ROOT:${fs_used_perc /root}%
FREE:${fs_free_perc /home}%
Swap:${swapperc}%
CPU:${top cpu 1}%
MEM:${top_mem mem 1}%
${top_mem name 1}

Please show me the correct way to modify it to get the nice clock you showed before at the upper right ??

Thanks Again !!!

@lah7 - Thanks !! I do need larger, more visible text such that it is sort of ‘in my face’ !!

I did find a nicely visible clock to add as a test, but it doesn’t stay on top of apps & only shows 24 hour time, sadly.

ericmarceau · 1 January 2026 01:45

Maybe the issue is the fonts that may not be recognized.

Replace all instances of

font GE Inspira:

by a suitable alternative font definition, and it will likely work. My two cents worth!

computerguy · 1 January 2026 02:52

Thank You ericmarceau

I noticed that too & 1 thing I tried was substituting the Ubuntu font for the clock addition, but it didn’t help, sadly.

Thanks Again.

ericmarceau · 1 January 2026 04:22

Hey Fred, have you ever tried to change the font on that clock face?

I've located the controlling file, which is here:

/opt/extras.ubuntu.com/my-weather-indicator/share/my-weather-indicator/skins/allinone/skin

Not a large file:

MAIN|All In One Widget|320|300
IMAGE|circle.png|0|0|320|300|LEFT|TOP
TEXT|$LOCATION$|160|40|existence|30|1,1,1,1|CENTER|CENTER
TEXT|$HOUR$:$MINUTES$|150|100|existence|90|1,1,1,1|CENTER|CENTER
TEXT|$DAY$|40|180|existence|90|1,1,1,1|LEFT|CENTER
TEXT|$MONTHNAME$|140|145|existence|24|1,1,1,1|LEFT|CENTER
TEXT|$WEEKDAY$|140|175|existence|24|1,1,1,1|LEFT|CENTER
TEXT|$YEAR$|140|205|existence|24|1,1,1,1|LEFT|CENTER
IMAGE|$CONDITION_ICON_LIGHT$|85|250|40|40|LEFT|CENTER
TEXT|$TEMPERATURE$º $HUMIDITY$|125|250|existence|24|1,1,1,1|LEFT|CENTER

I was hoping to use a slightly differnt font, namely,

I've tried replacing the "existence" string with another font, which the system has registered, namely

/usr/share/fonts/truetype/nimbussansl-regularitalic/NimbusSansL-RegularItalic.ttf

but it keeps ignoring that assignment. Just wondering if you ever tinkered with that?

I did finally get the APP to show the clock face on the Desktop:

If I try this

MAIN|All In One Widget|320|300
IMAGE|circle.png|0|0|320|300|LEFT|TOP
TEXT|$LOCATION$|160|40|nimbussansl-regularitalic|30|1,1,1,1|CENTER|CENTER
TEXT|$HOUR$:$MINUTES$|150|100|nimbussansl-regularitalic|90|1,1,1,1|CENTER|CENTER
TEXT|$DAY$|40|180|nimbussansl-regularitalic|90|1,1,1,1|LEFT|CENTER
TEXT|$MONTHNAME$|140|145|nimbussansl-regularitalic|24|1,1,1,1|LEFT|CENTER
TEXT|$WEEKDAY$|140|175|nimbussansl-regularitalic|24|1,1,1,1|LEFT|CENTER
TEXT|$YEAR$|140|205|nimbussansl-regularitalic|24|1,1,1,1|LEFT|CENTER
IMAGE|$CONDITION_ICON_LIGHT$|85|250|40|40|LEFT|CENTER
TEXT|$TEMPERATURE$º $HUMIDITY$|125|250|nimbussansl-regularitalic|24|1,1,1,1|LEFT|CENTER

I get this:

I have made sure to run fc-cache -fv to regenerate the installed fonts as recognized, but to no avail!

BTW ... Happy New Year!

OldStrummer · 1 January 2026 13:59

Happy New New, Eric!

No, I have never felt the need or desire to change the appearance of my-weather-indicator. Interesting observations, though.

GeekBone · 2 January 2026 05:35

Here is a link to the Gotham config I use.

Gotham

computerguy · 2 January 2026 17:28

Hello GeekBone.

That is the same info you shared before & just as before Conky Mgr. ignores it completely.

Thanks for trying - I’m out of my depth here as a total non-coder & thus I’m now giving up on this idea.

ericmarceau · 2 January 2026 20:23

Stephen ( @GeekBone ) indicated a location of

~/.conky/gotham

I hate to contradict anyone, but on my system (UM 22.04), that configuration directory is located at

~/.config/conky/

I believe that is where you should drop the "gotham" file.

Also, for conky to recognize the specification, that file should be named

conky.conf

However, I have multiple "attempts" of that stored as different files, so to switch from one to the other, I use a symbolic link to point to the "active" file:

ericthered@OasisMega1:~/.config/conky$ ls -l
total 288
drwxr-xr-x 3 ericthered ericthered   4096 Jan 11  2025 CONF__Harvested
lrwxrwxrwx 1 ericthered ericthered     51 Jan 10  2025 conky.conf -> ./conky.conf.TEST5__Modernized__conky.rc__ZeissIcon
lrwxrwxrwx 1 ericthered ericthered     35 Jan 14  2025 conky.conf20 -> ./conky.conf.TEST20__MineHorizontal
-rw-r--r-- 1 ericthered ericthered   2335 Jan  9  2025 conky.conf.DISTRO
-rw-r--r-- 1 ericthered ericthered   2337 Jan  9  2025 conky.conf.TEST1__distro
-rw-rw-r-- 1 ericthered ericthered   7770 Jan 15  2025 conky.conf.TEST20__MineHorizontal
-rw-rw-r-- 1 ericthered ericthered   9391 Jan 10  2025 conky.conf.TEST2__conky_Gist_slinkyvagabond__YPBConky.rc
-rw-rw-r-- 1 ericthered ericthered   6668 Jan 10  2025 conky.conf.TEST3__conky_Reddit__DeCo59__conky.rc
-rw-rw-r-- 1 ericthered ericthered   6044 Jan 10  2025 conky.conf.TEST4__conky.rc__ZeissIcon
-rw-rw-r-- 1 ericthered ericthered   7499 Jan 15  2025 conky.conf.TEST5__Modernized__conky.rc__ZeissIcon
-rw-rw-r-- 1 ericthered ericthered   7118 Jan 13  2025 conky.conf.TEST6__Garuda_MrDhobbs
-rw-rw-r-- 1 ericthered ericthered 100081 Jan 13  2025 conky.conf.TEST6__Garuda_MrDhobbs.jpeg
-rw-r--r-- 1 ericthered ericthered   2337 Jan  9  2025 conky.conf.WORK
-rw-rw-r-- 1 ericthered ericthered  23205 Jan 13  2025 conky_Garuda__Yamato_conky.conf
-rw-rw-r-- 1 ericthered ericthered  11102 Jan 13  2025 conky_Garuda__Yamato_conky.conf_clockRings
-rw-rw-r-- 1 ericthered ericthered   7669 Jan 13  2025 conky_Garuda__Yamato_conky.conf_mediaPlayer
-rwxr-x--- 1 ericthered ericthered     19 Jan 11  2025 conkyIp
-rwxr-x--- 1 ericthered ericthered     19 Jan 11  2025 conkyIpHOLD.txt
-rw-rw-r-- 1 ericthered ericthered   4861 Jan 13  2025 conky_Manjaro__rabcor_conky.conf
-rw-rw-r-- 1 ericthered ericthered  15535 Jan 13  2025 conky_Manjaro__rabcor_seamod_rings.lua
-rwxr-x--- 1 ericthered ericthered    424 Jan 11  2025 myConky.sh
-rw-rw-r-- 1 ericthered ericthered  16927 Jan 10  2025 wttr.in__Weather_Ottawa.png
-rw-rw-r-- 1 ericthered ericthered  17125 Jan 10  2025 wttr.png
ericthered@OasisMega1:~/.config/conky$

The script I use to start conky is the following:

(EDIT: Note the script has been updated for an option to choose from a number of pre-programmed defined behaviour definitions, which I will call "panels", which can be placed at different locations on the screen. It allows one option for, again pre-programmed, choosing a multiple-panel behaviour. )

(EDIT 2: I had forgotten to add a default value for "mode" when I added my last changes. Sorry for the oversight! That is now fixed. )

#!/bin/sh

####################################################################################################
###
###	Script to manage conky reporting display.  
###	The script will kill any running instance of 'conky',
###	then restart unless the '--off' option is used at script execution.
###
###	To start conky:
###		$ myConky.sh
###
###	To stop conky
###		$ myConky.sh --off
###
###	To run conky such that it reports extra messaging in you startup terminal
###		$ myConky.sh --debug
###
###	To run force a prompt with a "panel" selection prompt, enter
###		$ myConky.sh --choices
###
####################################################################################################

option0()
{
	config="${configDir}/conky.conf.TEST5__Modernized__conky.rc__ZeissIcon"
	eval conky -c "${config}" ${debug} &
}

option1()
{
	#config="${configDir}/Gotham_Geekbone__conky.rc"
	config="${configDir}/Gotham.conkyrc"
	eval conky -c "${config}" ${debug} &
}

chooseAlternateConfig()
{
	doLoop=1
	while [ ${doLoop} -eq 1 ]
	do
		echo "\n Choose an alternative Conky behaviour\n
	[0]	Default (global system reporting)
	[1]	Geekbone's clock\n
	[9]	Dual panel - [0] & [1]\n
	Enter selection => \c" ; read mode <&2

	test -n "$(echo "${mode}" | grep -v '[2-8]' )" && {
		doLoop=0 ; } || {
		echo "\n Invalid selection entered.  Please limit responses to one of [0|1|9] ..." ;
	}
	done
} #chooseAlternateConfig()

####################################################################################################


#pid="dum"
debug=">>/dev/null"
doExit=0
doSelect=0
configDir="/home/ericthered/.config/conky"
config="${configDir}/conky.conf.TEST5__Modernized__conky.rc__ZeissIcon"
mode=0

while [ $# -gt 0 ]
do
	case "$1" in
		"--debug" ) debug="" ; shift ;;
		"--off" ) doExit=1 ; shift ;;
		"--choices" ) doSelect=1 ; shift ;;
	esac
done

if [ ${doSelect} -eq 1 ]
then
	chooseAlternateConfig
fi

while [ true ]
do
	pid=$(ps -ef | grep conky | awk '{ if( $8 == "conky" ){ print $2 ; } ; }' | head -1 )
	test -n "${pid}" || { break ; }
	echo ${pid}
	test -n "${pid}" && { kill -9 ${pid} ; }
done

test ${doExit} -eq 1 && { exit ; }

case "${mode}" in
	0 )	option0 ;;
	1 )	option1 ;;
	9 )	option0 ; option1 ;;
esac

One thing you need to keep in mind is that a lot of the component "placement" is "referential", meaning relative to other components. That can be tricky, which is why it usually takes time to "tweak" it to what any individual wants. It is a grind, but it is worth it, once you're done!

My current conky configuration gives me the following look:

Forgot to add the conky config file for my running version:


conky.config = {
background = true,
update_interval = 3,
total_run_times = 0,
net_avg_samples = 1,
cpu_avg_samples = 1,
if_up_strictness = 'link',
imlib_cache_size = 0,
double_buffer = true,
no_buffers = true,
format_human_readable,

use_xft = true,
xftfont = 'Ubuntu:size=8',
font = 'Ubuntu:size=8',
font1 = 'Ubuntu:size=8',
font2 = 'Ubuntu:bold:size=8',
font3 = 'Poky:size=13',
font4 = 'Arial Black:size=28',
font5 = 'Ubuntu:size=7',
font6 = 'Webdings:size=17',
font7 = 'Webdings:size=16',
font8 = 'Wingdings:size=20',
font9 = 'Poky:bold:size=13',
override_utf8_locale = true,
text_buffer_size = 2048,

own_window = true,
own_window_type = 'desktop',
own_window_argb_visual = true,
own_window_transparent = true,
own_window_hints = 'undecorated,below,sticky,skip_taskbar,skip_pager',
alignment = 'top_right',
gap_x = 25,
gap_y = 40,
minimum_size = "200 600",
maximum_width = 200,
default_bar_size = "60 8",

draw_shades = false,
default_color = '4FCF8F',
color0 = 'white',
color1 = 'orange',
color2 = 'yellow',
color3 = '3F6FCF',
color4 = '3F9FEF',
color7 = '8F8F8F',
color8 = 'BFBF6F',
color9 = 'AF8FBF',

};

conky.text = [[

##############
# - SYSTEM - #
##############
${font2}SYSTEM $stippled_hr${font1}
${voffset 0}${offset 0}${color}${font3}S
${goto 32}${voffset -27}${font1}${color}Hostname: ${alignr}${font2}${color4}${nodename}
${goto 32}${font1}${color}Kernel: ${alignr}${font2}${color4}${kernel}
${goto 32}${font1}${color}Uptime: ${alignr}${font2}${color4}${uptime}
# |--MEM
${voffset 3}${offset 0}${color}${font3}M
${goto 32}${voffset -27}${font1}${color}RAM: ${font2}${color1}$memperc%
${goto 32}${voffset 1}${offset 0}${font1}${color}F: ${font2}${color1}${memeasyfree}${color}${font1} U: ${font2}${color1}${mem}
# |--CPU	#${goto 32}CPU1: ${font2}${color1}${cpu cpu1}%${color}${font1} ${alignr}${color0}${cpugraph cpu1 20,60 77507B 5C3566}${color}
${voffset 3}${offset 0}${color}${font3}P
${goto 32}${voffset -27}${offset 0}${font1}${color}CPU1: ${font2}${color1}${cpu cpu1}%${color} ${voffset -2}${alignr}${color7}${cpugraph cpu1 20,60 ${color8} ${color9}}
${goto 32}${font1}${color}CPU2: ${font2}${color1}${cpu cpu2}%${color} ${voffset -2}${alignr}${color7}${cpugraph cpu2 20,60 ${color8} 5C3566}
${goto 32}${font1}${color}CPU3: ${font2}${color1}${cpu cpu3}%${color} ${voffset -2}${alignr}${color7}${cpugraph cpu3 20,60 ${color8} 5C3566}
${goto 32}${font1}${color}CPU4: ${font2}${color1}${cpu cpu4}%${color} ${voffset -2}${alignr}${color7}${cpugraph cpu4 20,60 ${color8} 5C3566}

##########
# - HD - #
##########
${voffset -12}${color}${font2}HDD $stippled_hr
${offset 27}${voffset 2}${font1}${color}Disk: ${font2}${color4}DB001_F1
${offset 27}${font1}${color}Used: ${font2}${color1}${fs_used /}
${voffset -28}${font1}${offset 122}${color7}${diskiograph 20,60 ${color8} ${color9}}
${offset 27}${voffset 2}${font1}${color}Disk: ${font2}${color4}DB001_F2
${offset 27}${font1}${color}Used: ${font2}${color1}${fs_used /DB001_F2}
${voffset -28}${font1}${offset 122}${color7}${diskiograph 20,60 ${color8} ${color9}}
${offset 27}${voffset 2}${font1}${color}Disk: ${font2}${color4}DB001_F3
${offset 27}${font1}${color}Used: ${font2}${color1}${fs_used /DB001_F3}
${voffset -28}${font1}${offset 122}${color7}${diskiograph 20,60 ${color8} ${color9}}
${offset 27}${voffset 2}${font1}${color}Disk: ${font2}${color4}DB001_F4
${offset 27}${font1}${color}Used: ${font2}${color1}${fs_used /DB001_F4}
${voffset -28}${font1}${offset 122}${color7}${diskiograph 20,60 ${color8} ${color9}}
${offset 27}${voffset 2}${font1}${color}Disk: ${font2}${color4}DB001_F5
${offset 27}${font1}${color}Used: ${font2}${color1}${fs_used /DB001_F5}
${voffset -28}${font1}${offset 122}${color7}${diskiograph 20,60 ${color8} ${color9}}
${offset 27}${voffset 2}${font1}${color}Disk: ${font2}${color4}DB001_F6
${offset 27}${font1}${color}Used: ${font2}${color1}${fs_used /DB001_F6}
${voffset -28}${font1}${offset 122}${color7}${diskiograph 20,60 ${color8} ${color9}}
${offset 27}${voffset 2}${font1}${color}Disk: ${font2}${color4}DB001_F7
${offset 27}${font1}${color}Used: ${font2}${color1}${fs_used /DB001_F7}
${voffset -28}${font1}${offset 122}${color7}${diskiograph 20,60 ${color8} ${color9}}
${offset 27}${voffset 2}${font1}${color}Disk: ${font2}${color4}DB001_F8
${offset 27}${font1}${color}Used: ${font2}${color1}${fs_used /DB001_F8}
${voffset -28}${font1}${offset 122}${color7}${diskiograph 20,60 ${color8} ${color9}}


###############
# - NETWORK - #
#		⇗ ⇘ ➚ ➘ ⟰ ⟱ ⤴ ⤵ ⬈ ⬊ ⬆ ⬇ 🠉 🠋 🠝 🠟 🡅 🡇 🢁 🢃 🢅 🢆 
#		⊏ ⯶ 🎘 🔌 🖧 ¬
###############
${voffset -8}${color}${font2}NETWORK $stippled_hr${font1}
# |--ETH0
${if_up enp2s0}\
${voffset -1}${color}${font6}➚${font1}${color}
${goto 32}${voffset -22}Up: ${font2}${color1}${upspeed enp2s0}${color}
${goto 32}${font1}Total: ${font2}${color1}${totalup enp2s0}${color}
${voffset -28}${font1} ${alignr}${color7}${upspeedgraph enp2s0 20,60 ${color8} ${color9}}${color}
${voffset -3}${color}${font6}➘${font1}${color}
${goto 32}${voffset -22}Down: ${font2}${color1}${downspeed enp2s0}${color}
${goto 32}${font1}Total: ${font2}${color1}${totaldown enp2s0}${color}
${voffset -28}${font1} ${alignr}${color7}${downspeedgraph eth0 20,60 ${color8} ${color9}}${color}
${voffset -3}${color}${font6}⊏${font1}${color}
${goto 32}${voffset -22}Local IP: ${alignr}${font2}${color4}${addr enp2s0}${color}
${goto 32}${font1}Public IP: ${alignr}${font2}${color4}${exec ~/.config/conky/conkyIp}${color}
${endif}

#############
# - CLOCK - #
#############
${voffset -14}${font2}DATE $stippled_hr${font1}
${voffset -3}${alignc}${color3}${font Arial Black:size=30}${time %H:%M}${font1}
${alignc}${color0}${time %d %B %Y}${font1}

 ]];

--[[
## |--WLAN0
#${else}${if_up WLAN0}
#${voffset -5}${color0}${font6}”${font1}${color}${goto 32}${voffset -5}Up: ${font2}${color1}${upspeed WLAN0}${color}${font1} ${alignr}${color2}${upspeedgraph WLAN0 8,60 77507B 5C3566}${color}
#${goto 32}Total: ${font2}${color2}${totalup WLAN0}${color}${font1}
#${voffset 2}${color0}${font6}“${font1}${color}${goto 32}${voffset -5}Down: ${font2}${color1}${downspeed WLAN0}${color}${font1} ${alignr}${color2}${downspeedgraph WLAN0 8,60 77507B 5C3566}${color}
#${goto 32}Total: ${font2}${color2}${totaldown WLAN0}${color}${font1}
#${voffset 2}${color0}${font3}Y${font1}${color}${goto 32}${voffset -2}Signal: ${font2}${color1}${wireless_link_qual_perc WLAN0}%${color}${font1} ${alignr}${color2}${wireless_link_bar 8,60 WLAN0}${color}
#${voffset 2}${color0}${font7}¬${font1}${color}${goto 32}${voffset -8}Local IP: ${alignr}${color2}${addr WLAN0}${color}
#${goto 32}Public IP: ${alignr}${color2}${execi 10800 ~/.conky/conkyIp}${color}
## |--PPP0
#${else}${if_up ppp0}
#${voffset -5}${color0}${font6}”${font1}${color}${goto 32}${voffset -5}Up: ${font2}${color1}${upspeed ppp0}${color}${font1} ${alignr}${color2}${upspeedgraph ppp0 8,60 77507B 5C3566}${color}
#${goto 32}Total: ${font2}${color2}${totalup ppp0}${color}${font1}
#${voffset 2}${color0}${font6}“${font1}${color}${goto 32}${voffset -5}Down: ${font2}${color1}${downspeed ppp0}${color}${font1} ${alignr}${color2}${downspeedgraph ppp0 8,60 77507B 5C3566}${color}
#${goto 32}Total: ${font2}${color2}${totaldown ppp0}${color}${font1}
#${voffset 2}${color0}${font7}¬${font1}${color}${goto 32}${voffset -4}Local IP: ${alignr}${color2}${addr ppp0}${color}
#${else}${voffset 4}${offset 4}${color0}${font8}N${font1}${color}${voffset -6}${goto 32}Network Unavailable${voffset 14}${endif}${endif}

]];

computerguy · 2 January 2026 20:46

Thanks for your reply ericmarceau !!

My PC does not have a ~/.config/conky/ directory - of course I could make it if needed ?!?

All it does have is ~/.conky with the added /gotham subdirectory.
As I’d indicated before - re-coding my ‘gotham’ file or adding another have both evaded my absolute non-coder skillset.

Truly, all throughout my IT consultancy I kept as distant from any coding work as possible, knowing I’d most likely screw it up.

That is why I asked if someone could take my existing, working Conky code & somehow add the clock for me.

Thanks Again.

ericmarceau · 2 January 2026 20:54

I'll take a look to see what I can do. Give me a day or two.

Can you give me a snapshot image of what you are currently seeing with what you have from your Gotham setup?

Looking at your code, and comparing to Geekbone's code, the first problem I encounter is the missing first line from Geekbone's, which is mandatory. Still "grokking" the meaning of both config files.

The next major issue is that you have not used single-quotes for value assignments. Those quotes are mandatory, for certain types of value assignment.

I don't know enough if your use of "xftfont" is an issue, vs simply "font", as used by Geekbone.

OldStrummer · 2 January 2026 21:37

This. Being a bit of a command-line geek, I enjoyed tweaking my conky configuration on my sandbox laptop. But once set, it’s a delightful way to have a lot of system info at a glance!

ericmarceau · 2 January 2026 21:57

Where can I find the 123 font which is being referenced in your conky config?

computerguy · 2 January 2026 22:08

Thanks Again !!

I am in absolutely no hurry & I’m uploading an image of my existing Conky Gotham, which stays at the lower left 24/7.

The nice clock OldStrummer mentioned would need to go at the top right, if possible (sadly his shared screenie went away somehow ?!?).

conky1

ericmarceau · 2 January 2026 22:11

did you mean this one?

https://ubuntu-mate.community/uploads/default/original/3X/3/0/30df05a6b10ceb27c71bdd3116b13b26e66f2ba5.png

computerguy · 2 January 2026 22:42

My bad old memory…see below please.

ericmarceau · 2 January 2026 22:47

But that one was not a custom conky. As you see from my own posts above, that was using a separate APP, which is called

my-weather-indicator

Is that what you are trying to get? If so, that is what I was able to install, and showed in my post above (first snapshot).

Is that what you are trying to do?

BTW, you can run 2 separate instances of conky, one for each of 2 different configuration files (can't have the default name), doing the following:

conky -c ~/.config/conky/conky_existing.conf &

conky -c ~/.config/conky/conky_clock.conf &

computerguy · 2 January 2026 23:02

I’m very sorry for that error - all I got right was the ‘transparent’ part.

Here is that image:

My hope was for my existing instance at the lower-left and also for that at the upper right.

I do also have MWI at the upper left, but it has no time option.

ericmarceau · 3 January 2026 00:43

So ...

You can run ...

one instance with your existing system config (call it conky_system.conf), and
a second conky config file containing Geekbone's config file, without changing its contents (call it conky_clock.conf),

then, whenever you want to start your conkys, (manually or at boot), you can run the following:

conky -c ${conkyReadable_1}/conky_system.conf &

conky -c ${conkyReadable_2}/conky_clock.conf &

and you will have what you want. The variables are meant to demonstrate that the files don't need to reside

either in the conky default config directory,
nor in a single shared directory with all such configs (although that is the simplest and most logical).

This approach allows you to control the styling of each conky "panel" separately!

Hope that resolves the issue. If not, let me know.

One proviso ...

It seems that your "system" file is using a different format/specification syntax than Geekbone's. When I try to run yours, it does NOT work, but Geekbone's works like a charm. So, if you have issues with his file, change the syntax to match what you did with yours, namely

remove all "=" signs for assignments,
remove single-/double-quotes, except where you need them for multi-string/-value assignments,
change all instances of true/false to corresponding yes/no values,
remove the "object-bracketing" wrappers to match your own file,

and that likely would resolve any acceptance issues!

computerguy · 3 January 2026 01:00

WOW E**ricmarceau - you are AMAZING !!!**

I’ve read what you shared twice just now & must confess that this old, retired man is close to the end of this day, so…I’ll re-read it & play around with it when my old brain is properly caffeinated - maybe even tomorrow if my other chores allow.

Sincerest Thanks.