Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast
Results 1 to 10 of 13

Thread: simple desktop switcher

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Aug 2013
    Beans
    51

    simple desktop switcher

    Hi,

    Due to the circumstance of a new laptop with a very difficult Radeon card, the only way I have been able to get a functional Ubuntu install happening is with the Trusty alpha - which means I have to use Unity for the first time. Testing in a VM, all of the alternate desktops I like cause complete, unusable video implosion. So I am resigned to learning to love Unity. And this could be entirely possible, IF I can find a simple widget to switch workspaces. i don't want much, just a simple display sitting in the top tool bar, like the ones that are standard in cinnamon and gnome -



    That's all - just 4 boxes to switch between windows. Does such a basic thing exist? I can't find anything and I hate the one that is in the main unity ribbon. If I can find such a beast, I am willing to at least try and like unity.

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Jun 2010
    Location
    London, England
    Beans
    Hidden!
    Distro
    Ubuntu Development Release

    Re: simple desktop switcher

    Ok, so you have installed Trusty Tahr. In Unity we open System Settings>Appearance utility and in the Bahaviour tab we tick Enable Workspaces. That will put an icon of a 2 x 2 grid of workspaces in the Unity Launcher. Try clicking on that to see what happens. Or use Ctrl+Alt+arrow ket to move from workspace to work space.

    But that is not what you want is it? So, install gnome-session-flashback. That will put 2 new session options on the login screen. Gnome Flashback (with Compiz) and Gnome Flashback (with Metacity). Choose the Metacity option then you will get a desktop that does not look like Unity or Gnome 3 shell.

    On the bottom panel at the right side will be an icon of a workspace. Right click it and open Properties. That will give you options to add more workspaces along with the little boxes that you like.

    If you choose the with Compiz option then you will need to use CCSM (CompizConfiguration Settings Manager) to get the same effect. Do not use the properties option that will mess things up.

    Edit. One more thing. There is at least one bug with using Gnome Flashback in Trusty Tahr. We get to a desktop all right and the Appearance and Places menus are there on the top panel to the left but on the right side the Network, Sound and Power/cog menu indicators will be missing. It takes about two minutes for them to appear. Just a small inconvenience. But, hey, it is all free.

    Regards.
    Last edited by grahammechanical; February 11th, 2014 at 07:58 PM.
    It is a machine. It is more stupid than we are. It will not stop us from doing stupid things.
    Ubuntu user #33,200. Linux user #530,530


  3. #3
    Join Date
    Jul 2007
    Location
    Magic City of the Plains
    Beans
    Hidden!
    Distro
    Xubuntu Development Release

    Re: simple desktop switcher

    Why do you have to use Unity? I'm running 14.04, no Unity.

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Aug 2013
    Beans
    51

    Re: simple desktop switcher

    @grahammechanical - that is what I am using, unity workspaces. I just don't like them. Sure, pretty and whizzbang - but it's not what I want. Just 4 clickable boxes on static toolbar - thats all I want.

    @Ann - what alternatives are there that don't destroy the windowing system? Basic Gnome desktop is fatal on my machine, too scared to even try and install KDE or Cinnamon (I just spent a week beating my vid card into submission to launch a graphic environment at all - in no mood to rebuild again). Xfce does seem to work, but is just plain ugly and limited. What are you using?
    Last edited by felgro; February 12th, 2014 at 01:41 PM. Reason: typo

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Jul 2007
    Location
    Magic City of the Plains
    Beans
    Hidden!
    Distro
    Xubuntu Development Release

    Re: simple desktop switcher

    Not sure what you mean by "windowing system." I use i3-wm, I also have Lubuntu 14.04 installed on an older computer; LXDE is similar to xfce, but even lighter on resources.

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Aug 2013
    Beans
    51

    Re: simple desktop switcher

    Quote Originally Posted by oldos2er View Post
    Not sure what you mean by "windowing system."
    Desktop. GUI. Non-terminal. Pretty stuff.

    I use i3-wm, I also have Lubuntu 14.04 installed on an older computer; LXDE is similar to xfce, but even lighter on resources.
    Is there a resource anywhere for what does not make Trusty/Unity explode? I achieved a workable system - don't want to start from scratch.

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Jul 2007
    Location
    Magic City of the Plains
    Beans
    Hidden!
    Distro
    Xubuntu Development Release

    Re: simple desktop switcher

    Trusty is still alpha, so it may or may not "explode" of its own accord.
    I really have no experience with Unity other than to say I just don't care for it much. If you look through the Ubuntu +1 subforum you'll see people running various desktop environments on Trusty.

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Jul 2008
    Location
    The Left Coast of the USA
    Beans
    Hidden!
    Distro
    Kubuntu

    Re: simple desktop switcher

    Moved to Ubuntu +1
    Please read The Forum Rules and The Forum Posting Guidelines

    A thing discovered and kept to oneself must be discovered time and again by others. A thing discovered and shared with others need be discovered only the once.
    This universe is crazy. I'm going back to my own.

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Jul 2007
    Location
    Magic City of the Plains
    Beans
    Hidden!
    Distro
    Xubuntu Development Release

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Jun 2007
    Beans
    17,337

    Re: simple desktop switcher

    There is an indicator-workspace that sorta does as you wanted -
    shows which ws on
    switches workspaces *though* only thru the dropdown - see screen (so 1 extra click

    It hasn't been developed in some time (2 yrs.) but can still be used in 14.04 with a few minutes work.
    So won't bother to lay out how unless interested ...
    Attached Images Attached Images

Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast

Tags for this Thread

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •