Gnome Shell ignoring gconf-editor and button placement

[alansmithee88]

I just upgraded from 10.04 to 12.04 and am slowly getting used to Gnome Shell. I have read plenty of documentation on changing the button layout in the windows via gconf-editor or gconftool, and have gone to /desktop/gnome/shell/windows/button_layout in an attempt to get close, minimize and maximize on the left. However, regardless of what I put there, the setting is disregarded and every window's controls are still on the right after restarting gnome-shell.

I have tried changing this key both with gconf-editor and gconftool via the command line:


$ gconftool --type string --set /desktop/gnome/shell/windows/button_layout "close,minimize,maximize:"
$ gconftool --get /desktop/gnome/shell/windows/button_layout
close,minimize,maximize:

Any tips?

[alansmithee88]

FWIW, this also happens on a second machine, which was upgraded from 11.04 to 11.10 to 12.04.

[wojox]

Try dconf-tools

sudo apt-get update; sudo apt-get install dconf-tools
Open dconf-editor and set the values.

[alansmithee88]

Try dconf-tools

sudo apt-get update; sudo apt-get install dconf-tools
Open dconf-editor and set the values.

That did it.

I found this link that also includes the exact key that needs to be changed: /org/gnome/shell/overrides

http://dazedbyporndreams.com/how-to-place-the-windows-buttons-on-the-left

[BCtom]

Hi everyone,

I had the same problem; the gconf-editor would not work for me either. So, I tried another tweaking program called "Ubuntu Tweak," and it worked. I have no idea why gconf-editor does not work for me, but the buttons are now on the top right side of each window. I am, once again, a happy Ubuntu camper. :)

To find and load it:


sudo add-apt-repository ppa:tualatrix/ppa
sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get install ubuntu-tweakLoad it, then run it, either from Terminal, or find it in the Dash Home menu as "Ubuntu Tweak."

Goto Tweaks/Windows (under Desktop) and choose "Window control button position" at the top of the window. You chould see the change of the buttons instantaneously of all of your windows.