[HOWTO] Turn gnome-terminal into tilda (quake) like pop-up terminal

[Hakimio]

HOWTO: Turn gnome-terminal in tilda (quake) like pop-up terminal

Intro

Why would you want to turn gnome-terminal into pop-up console when there is tilda already? Actually there is only one simple reason: tilda doesn't support drag and drop functionality. If you don't need that you are better off just installing and configuring tilda.

Guide

1. Let's install all the software we'll need:

   1. sudo apt-get install devilspie xbindkeys

   2. launch-restore
2. Open gnome-terminal, select Edit -> Profile Preferencies, "Title and command" tab and specify some initial title (we'll use "Terminal" (without quotes) in this example)
3. Select View and uncheck "Show Menubar" (you'll still be able to enable it by right clicking somewhere on the terminal)
4. Open devilspie rule for gnome-terminal:
   

   gedit ~/.devilspie/terminal.ds

5. Edit it (note the comments):
   

   ; rule for gnome-terminal
   ( if 
   ( is ( window_name ) "Terminal" ) 
   ( begin 
   ( focus )
   ( skip_pager )
   ( skip_tasklist )
   ( stick )
   ( undecorate )
   ; Terminal position: x:660, y:400 window size: 620x340
   ( geometry "660x400+620+340" )
   ( println "match" )
   )
   )

6. Open xbindkeys config:
   

   gedit ~/.xbindkeysrc

7. Remove default rules (as they in most cases are hindering more than helping) and add our own rule(see tips section for a tip how to define your own hotkey):
   

   #Open/restore gnome-terminal by pressing Alt+Z
   "launch-restore Gnome-terminal gnome-terminal"
   mod1+Z

8. Now specify some handy shortcut for minimizing apps:
   • Gnome (default ubuntu desktop manager):
     

     gnome-keybinding-properties

   • XFCE (default xUbuntu desktop manager):
     

     xfce-setting-show xfwm4

9. Add xbindkeys and devilspie to autostarted application list:
   • Gnome:
     

     gnome-session-properties

   • XFCE:
     

     xfce4-autostart-editor

10. Log-out, log-in and press Alt+Z (or any other keyboard shortcut you specified in xbindkeys config) to start/show the terminal and the shortcut you specified for minimizing applications to hide it.
11. Enjoy!

Tips

• xbindkeys has a handy tool for finding out how to define some hotkey:
  

  xbindkeys -k

  After executing the command just press some keys at once and you should see two ways to define the key combination.
• You can use gdevilspie devilspie gui to add new rules.
• You can use xbindkeys-config xbindkeys gui to add new keyboard shortcuts.

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