This is not even half-baked but I've been keeping some notes while testing Trusty and Saucy. Remember it's only a work in progress and some of it could be incomplete or even inaccurate
GETTING STARTED
This applies to all supported versions
Code:
sudo apt-get install gnome-panel
Note: There is a reason to simply install 'gnome-panel' rather than a specific "gnome" or "session" package, specifically the session and package names have changed frequently to accomodate the addition of GNOME's new classic session. This becomes obvious when you log into the new session.
LOG INTO THE APPROPRIATE NEW (no effects) SESSION
In versions 12.04, 12.04.1, 12.04.2, 12.04.3 and 12.10:
Log out, click on the Ubuntu emblem next to your username, select the "classic (no effects)" session, and then enter your password.
In version 13.04:
Log out, click on the GNOME emblem next to your username, select the "fallback (no effects)" session, and then enter your password.
In versions 13.10 and 14.04:
Log out, click on the GNOME emblem next to your username, select the "flashback (no effects)" session, and then enter your password.
CHANGE TERMINAL THEME
Applies to all supported versions
If you find the default terminal theme (white text on a purple background) as atrocious as I do just open the Terminal, click on Edit > Profile Preferences. Then click on the Colors tab and uncheck "Use colors from system theme", then select "Black on white" from the Built-in schemes.
ADDING ADDITIONAL "indicator-applet" OPTIONS
This applies to all supported versions
You may want to install these so they'll be available for placement in the panel (only 'indicator-applet-complete' is installed by default):
Code:
sudo apt-get install indicator-applet indicator-applet-session
You can compare the difference between the three indicator applets here:
http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.p...7#post11900657
RESTORE THE "Run Command Prompt" FUNCTION
This applies to version 12.04 only
I wanted to get the "Run Command Prompt" back by pressing Alt+F2 just as it was in Gnome 2. This can be quite useful if you should ever do something silly like remove both panels and need to launch the terminal or another application without being able to access the menu(s).
It really couldn't be much simpler, just go to System Tools > System Settings > Keyboard > Shortcuts > System and highlight the line that says "Show the run command prompt". Then just follow the instructions at the bottom of that window.
This can also be done using the CLI:
Code:
gconftool-2 --set "/apps/metacity/global_keybindings/panel_run_dialog" --type string "<Alt>F2"
To revert that to the default setting run:
Code:
gconftool-2 --set "/apps/metacity/global_keybindings/panel_run_dialog" --type string "disabled"
I think this was the default setting in 12.10 and 13.04, but it changed again in 13.10 and 14.04 due to the further depraction of gconf.
DISABLE THE SCREEN LOCK
This applies to all supported versions
I find the screen lock very annoying, I live alone and don't like having to enter my password everytime the screensaver acivates. So you can just go to System Tools > System Settings > Brightness & Lock and select Lock = Off.
This can also be done using the CLI:
Code:
gsettings set org.gnome.desktop.screensaver lock-enabled false
To revert that to the default setting run:
Code:
gsettings set org.gnome.desktop.screensaver lock-enabled true
DISPLAY UPDATE-NOTIFICATIONS IN PANEL
This applies to 12.04, 12.10, and 13.04 only:
In Unity the update-notifications now show up in the Launcher but without the Launcher we now get no persistent update notifications. Still no worries, I got it to show up in either 'indicator-applet' or 'indicator-applet-complete' in gnome-panel by running the command:
Code:
gsettings set com.ubuntu.update-notifier auto-launch false
You can revert that by running:
Code:
gsettings set com.ubuntu.update-notifier auto-launch true
In 13.10 and 14.04 the update notifications now appear in the "window list" when using flashback so no change is required.
MOVE WINDOW-MANAGEMENT BUTTONS TO THE RIGHT
In version 12.04 only:
Code:
gconftool-2 --set "/apps/metacity/general/button_layout" --type string ":minimize,maximize,close"
Note: to restore the defaults run:
Code:
gconftool-2 --set "/apps/metacity/general/button_layout" --type string "close,minimize,maximize:"
In versions 12.10, 13.04, 13.10, and 14.04:
Code:
gsettings set org.gnome.desktop.wm.preferences button-layout :minimize,maximize,close
To move them back to the left:
Code:
gsettings set org.gnome.desktop.wm.preferences button-layout close,minimize,maximize:
IMPROVE WINDOW-MANAGEMENT BUTTON APPEARANCE
In version 12.04 only:
Code:
sudo apt-get install shiki-colors-metacity-theme
Code:
gconftool-2 -s --type string /apps/metacity/general/theme Shiki-Colors-Metacity
To restore the default theme just run:
Code:
gconftool-2 -s --type string /apps/metacity/general/theme Ambiance
In versions 12.10, 13.04, 13.10, and 14.04:
Code:
sudo apt-get install shiki-colors-metacity-theme
Code:
gsettings set org.gnome.desktop.wm.preferences theme Shiki-Colors-Metacity
Or to restore the Ambiance theme:
Code:
gsettings set org.gnome.desktop.wm.preferences theme Ambiance
DISABLE OR REMOVE THE OVERLAY-SCROLLBARS
This applies to all supported versions, and there are two options:
Option #1, safest:
I found the overlay-scrollbars to be inconsistent and annoying in the classic DE and I'd previously recommended just removing them altogether but I believe I've found a much better way to disable them on a per-user basis. Simply run one command:
Code:
echo export LIBOVERLAY_SCROLLBAR=0 >> ~/.xprofile
Then just log out and log back in for that change to take effect.
If you should later wish to revert that just run:
Code:
sed -i 's/^export LIBOVERLAY_SCROLLBAR.*/#&/' ~/.xprofile
Option #2, more permanent, possibly very permanent, so proceed with caution:
Should you wish to remove them permanently you can run the following command, but be warned - just reinstalling those packages does NOT restore them correctly - so you may never be able to get them back if you change your mind:
Code:
sudo apt-get purge liboverlay-scrollbar-0.2-0 liboverlay-scrollbar3-0.2-0 overlay-scrollbar
RESTORE THE MISSING MENU AND BUTTON ICONS
This applies to all supported versions
I also dislike the missing menu and button icons so I run:
Code:
gsettings set org.gnome.desktop.interface menus-have-icons true
Code:
gsettings set org.gnome.desktop.interface buttons-have-icons true
HAVE FILE MANAGER HANDLE THE DESKTOP
This applies to all supported versions
This one is the hardest for me to explain. By default the GNOME 3 desktop is set to NOT display any icons, but it's possible for the desktop to display any combination of these icons/"actors":
Computer...........(computer-icon-visible)
Home...............(home-icon-visible)
Network............(network-icon-visible)
Trash..............(trash-icon-visible)
Mounted volumes....(volumes-visible)
But to do so you must first set the "stage" by running:
Code:
gsettings set org.gnome.desktop.background show-desktop-icons true
But that only sets the "stage" for the "actors", now you must decide which actors you want on the stage. You're now the director.
After running that command either reboot or log out and log back in. When you get back to a blank DE background decide what you want displayed. (Hint, the "true" or "false" at the end of these commands is the key):
To show the Computer icon run:
Code:
gsettings set org.gnome.nautilus.desktop computer-icon-visible true
To hide the Computer icon run:
Code:
gsettings set org.gnome.nautilus.desktop computer-icon-visible false
To show the Home icon run:
Code:
gsettings set org.gnome.nautilus.desktop home-icon-visible true
To hide the Home icon run:
Code:
gsettings set org.gnome.nautilus.desktop home-icon-visible false
To show the Network icon run:
Code:
gsettings set org.gnome.nautilus.desktop network-icon-visible true
To hide the Network icon run:
Code:
gsettings set org.gnome.nautilus.desktop network-icon-visible false
To show the Trash icon run:
Code:
gsettings set org.gnome.nautilus.desktop trash-icon-visible true
To hide the Trash icon run:
Code:
gsettings set org.gnome.nautilus.desktop trash-icon-visible false
To show Mounted Volumes run:
Code:
gsettings set org.gnome.nautilus.desktop volumes-visible true
To hide Mounted Volumes run:
Code:
gsettings set org.gnome.nautilus.desktop volumes-visible false
DISABLE THE FIREFOX AND THUNDERBIRD GLOBAL MENU ADD-ONS:
This applies to all supported versions
You may or may not find that you need to disable the Firefox and/or Thunderbird global menu add-ons. To do so in Firefox just go to Tools > Add-ons > Global Menu Bar integration and select Disable. You'll then be prompted to restart Firefox. I don't use Thunderbird so I can't be sure of the specific procedure with it, but I'd think it's similar.