HOW-TO: Compiz, Emerald, Fusion-icon in Kubuntu Gutsy

[dentaku65]

This is a quick and dirty guide to install Compiz, Emerald and Fusion-icon on Kubuntu Gutsy, based on my own experience. The guide works for Intel graphic cards (855GM mine) and, I think, with the proper configuration of xorg.conf and drivers works with other graphic cards as well.

See this thread to find a proper xorg.conf for your card (if is posted):
http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=629303


The guide is based on Kubuntu (KDE env) upgraded from Feisty to Gutsy with 3rd party repositories on Feisty side (for instance Trevino repos for Compiz), but even in a clean installation worth a try in case of issues with Compiz.

Please be sure to have enabled *only* official Ubuntu repositories and to have enabled all of them (universe, multiverse, etc..).

Let's start.

1) The cleaning part (can be omitted by the users with a clean install and no 3rd party repository and/or scripts)

Clean apt

sudo apt-get clean

Remove all Compiz/Emerald

sudo aptitude purge ~ncompiz ~nlibdecoration

Update the slocate database (it takes a while)

sudo updatedb

Save your actual settings of Compiz in your Home dir (not mandatory)

cp ~/.config/compiz/compizconfig/Default.ini ~/

Remove one-by-one all the occourences of Compiz/Emerald left on your box, here how to find them.
For Compiz:

locate compiz |more

For ccsm:

locate ccsm |more

For Emerald:

locate emerald |more

After the deletion of files/directories above we have a really clean box and we are ready for the second part.

2) The installation part

Install the official packages

sudo apt-get install compiz-bcop compiz-core compiz-fusion-plugins-extra compiz-fusion-plugins-main compiz-kde compiz-plugins compizconfig-settings-manager emerald libcompizconfig-backend-kconfig libcompizconfig0 libdecoration0 libemeraldengine0 python-compizconfig librsvg2-common

Install the Fusion-icon launcher (not provided by Ubuntu repositories)
Be sure to have essential packages for compilation

sudo apt-get install build-essential

Download and save on your desktop this version of Fusion-icon

http://gitweb.opencompositing.org/?p=users/crdlb/fusion-icon;a=snapshot;h=b3217b36e92fd76b39310de98a9c983923a7464a

Then install it:

cd ~/Desktop

tar xvfz fusion-icon-b3217b36e92fd76b39310de98a9c983923a7464a.tar.gz

cd fusion-icon/

make

sudo make install

*NOTE*: this is not the last version of Fusion-icon, but is the one that works with kwin (or at least the one that I was able to make it works)

Install at least one theme for Emerald (the package emerald-themes is not provided by Ubuntu repositories)
Go here and choose one or more:

http://www.compiz-themes.org/index.php?xsortmode=high&xcontentmode=103&page=0

Or choose one of my favorites

http://www.compiz-themes.org/content/show.php/Kubuntu+Edgy+Default+%28trueglass%29?content=48646

Save a theme package on your desktop

3) The configuration part

Launch the Fusion-icon

fusion-icon &

Press enter twice in the console.
The Fusion-icon launcher will be appear in the tray next to clock, right click on it and choose "Emerald Theme Manager", then click Import button, point to the theme file saved on the desktop and close.
Right click again on Fusion-icon, choose "Select window decorator" and thick on Emerald
Anyway, the Fusion-icon is pretty clear and will restart automatically to the next boot

Save your new settings of Compiz and switch back your original one (if needed, maybe after a test) *not mandatory*

cp ~/.config/compiz/compizconfig/Default.ini ~/.config/compiz/compizconfig/Default.ini.original

cp  ~/Default.ini ~/.config/compiz/compizconfig/Default.ini

Now you can delete fusion-icon-b3217b36e92fd76b39310de98a9c983923a7464a.tar.gz, fusion-icon/ dir and Emerald theme package from your desktop

That's it. Hope it helps.

Addendum
In order to disable annoyances with OpenOffice and Emerald/Compiz (windows out of screen and menu flickering) do a right click on Fusion-icon and choose Settings Manager, go to Utility section, enable the Workarounds plugin and in the Workarounds general tab unthick "Legacy Fullscreen Support" and enable all other options.

Consider to use as configuration file the flat-file option (instead of KDE Configuration Backend)
CCSM -> Preferences -> Backend -> Flat-file Configuration Backend

[mrvertigo]

Awesome, great job

[dentaku65]

Originally Posted by mrvertigo Awesome, great job

Thx mrvertigo

[StitchJAcket]

I can't get this to work when i run the
sudo apt-get install compiz-bcop compiz-core compiz-fusion-plugins-extra compiz-fusion-plugins-main compiz-kde compiz-plugins compizconfig-settings-manager emerald libcompizconfig-backend-kconfig libcompizconfig0 libdecoration0 libemeraldengine0 python-compizconfig librsvg2-common
Command i get
Reading package lists... Done
Building dependency tree
Reading state information... Done
E: Couldn't find package compiz-bcop

So what should i do?
I really want emerald theme manager for a them i am attempting to load for a seminar on how Ubuntu can improve your business in December so it would be greatly appreciated.

[dentaku65]

Originally Posted by StitchJAcket I can't get this to work when i run the sudo apt-get install compiz-bcop compiz-core compiz-fusion-plugins-extra compiz-fusion-plugins-main compiz-kde compiz-plugins compizconfig-settings-manager emerald libcompizconfig-backend-kconfig libcompizconfig0 libdecoration0 libemeraldengine0 python-compizconfig librsvg2-common Command i get Reading package lists... Done Building dependency tree Reading state information... Done E: Couldn't find package compiz-bcop So what should i do? I really want emerald theme manager for a them i am attempting to load for a seminar on how Ubuntu can improve your business in December so it would be greatly appreciated.

Do not include compiz-bcop (it is not mandatory), try this:

sudo apt-get install compiz-core compiz-fusion-plugins-extra compiz-fusion-plugins-main compiz-kde compiz-plugins compizconfig-settings-manager emerald libcompizconfig-backend-kconfig libcompizconfig0 libdecoration0 libemeraldengine0 python-compizconfig librsvg2-common

Or try to enable all the ubuntu repos like universe, multiverse... etc in order to include compiz-bcop

[StitchJAcket]

I tried that last command and i got

Reading package lists... Done
Building dependency tree
Reading state information... Done
Package compiz-core is not available, but is referred to by another package.
This may mean that the package is missing, has been obsoleted, or
is only available from another source
E: Package compiz-core has no installation candidate

[StitchJAcket]

So i tried to change the repositories and that seems to be doing it so thank you very much for your help i appreciate it.

[silvagroup]

Thanks this worked really well. Compiz seems to be behaving much better after following this post.
One question, I used to be able to drag a window from one desktop top to another, but now I can't. How do I get that function back?

Thanks in advance.

[dentaku65]

Originally Posted by silvagroup Thanks this worked really well. Compiz seems to be behaving much better after following this post. One question, I used to be able to drag a window from one desktop top to another, but now I can't. How do I get that function back? Thanks in advance.

I supposed that you have to enable the plugin Rotate Cube
Open Settings Manager -> Desktop -> Rotate Cube

[daniel_szollosi-nagy]

Thanks, this is exactly what I've been looking for!

One quick question - after starting Compiz, I got a small window with a green sphere icon in it at the top left corner of my screen (Adept Notifier). I can't close it - is there any way of getting rid of it?