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Set HiDPI In Element and SchildiChat On Linux

  • Adam Douglas

Using a high dots per inch (HiDPI) display monitor can be challenging when using Element or SchildiChat. However this can be fixed by setting the desired scaling factor. The scaling factor is represented by a percentage in decial form. So a value of 1.5 represents 150%. Setting this value in either Element or SchildiChat is done by adding the parameter --force-device-scale-factor when lauching ethier application.

The following instructions show how to copy the system desktop entry file to the user’s home directory and then add the parameter with the desired scaling factor value via the command line (termainl/console).

Assumptions

  • Steps prefixed with a “$” (dollar sign) represents the CLI (command-line interface) prompt
  • The text after the “$” is to be entered at the CLI
  • A directory paths that include a “~” (tilde) expands automatically to the current user home directory (.e.g. /home/adamsdesk)

Element

  1. Copy the desktop entry file to the user’s home directory. 
     $ cp /usr/share/applications/io.element.Element.desktop ~/.local/share/applications/
  2. Edit the copied desktop entry file. 
     $ nano .local/share/applications/io.element.Element.desktop

     [Desktop Entry]
 Name=Element
 Comment=Feature-rich client for Matrix
 Exec=/usr/bin/element-desktop --force-device-scale-factor=1.5 %u
 Terminal=false
 Type=Application
 Icon=io.element.Element
 StartupWMClass=Element
 Categories=Network;InstantMessaging;Chat;IRCClient
 MimeType=x-scheme-handler/element;
  3. Update database. 
     $ update-desktop-database ~/.local/share/applications

SchildiChat

  1. Copy the desktop entry file to the user’s home directory. 
     $ cp /usr/share/applications/schildichat-desktop.desktop ~/.local/share/applications/
  2. Edit the copied desktop entry file. 
     $ nano .local/share/applications/schildichat-desktop.desktop

     [Desktop Entry]
 Name=SchildiChat
 Exec=/opt/SchildiChat/schildichat-desktop --force-device-scale-factor=1.5 %U
 Terminal=false
 Type=Application
 Icon=schildichat-desktop
 StartupWMClass=schildichat
 Comment=A Matrix Client based on Element with a more traditional instant messaging experience
 MimeType=x-scheme-handler/element;
 Categories=Network;InstantMessaging;Chat;VideoConference;
  3. Update database. 
     $ update-desktop-database ~/.local/share/applications

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