Dual Monitor Dual Workspace

[jtliii]

I understand exactly why you would want two independent workspaces. I like to run apps full screen (not stretched across two monitors but full screen in one) and I hate messing with resizing. I have certain apps I always load on a specific monitor and I like them full screen. For example I run e-mail full screen on my right monitor and vi client full screen on my left. No resizing of screens to make them fit.

Now that I have said that the resolution to this issue is fairly simple. The key is to run the nvidia control panel with sudo.

1. Open a terminal (see I am doing it now. This is open on the right and terminal on the left)
2. type "sudo nvidia-settings"
3. Enter your password
4. Select "X Server Display Configuration" (I am assuming both monitors are enable and that Twinview will stretch across them)
5. Select the "Configure" button
6. Select "Separate X screen)
7. Select "OK"
8. Select "Save to X Configuration File"
9. Reboot

Once you have rebooted you should have two independent workspaces.

If you don't run this with sudo and instead access it by System/Administration/NVIDIA X Server Settings then when you attempt to save the x configuration file you will be denied.

I just went through this and it worked for me.

[Ng Oon-Ee]

This depends what is meant by workspaces. In Ubuntu 'workspace' refers to the multiple-workspace model, most easily illustrated by Compiz' desktop cube (each face is one workspace).

With Separate X Screen configuration, its slightly different. Each monitor is a separate X Screen (or separate X Server), each with its own set of workspaces etc. The problem with that is, unlike Ubuntu workspaces, it isn't possible to transfer windows from workspace to workspace, and program switchers only list programs running on their own workspace.

I use separate X Screen myself, but its not necessarily what the OP and others want.

[mackay]

I agree, I don't think it is possible to every first workspace to monitor 1 and every second workspace to monitor 2...

BTW 1680(2) = 3360

Anyway I thought I would just post my xorg.conf just in case it might help someone. I have dual 22 inch monitors with a nVidia 9800 gtx.

Section "ServerLayout"
    Identifier     "Default Layout"
    Screen      0  "Screen0" 0 0
    InputDevice    "Keyboard0" "CoreKeyboard"
    InputDevice    "Mouse0" "CorePointer"
EndSection

Section "Module"
    Load           "glx"
EndSection

Section "ServerFlags"
    Option         "Xinerama" "0"
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
    # generated from default
    Identifier     "Keyboard0"
    Driver         "kbd"
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
    # generated from default
    Identifier     "Mouse0"
    Driver         "mouse"
    Option         "Protocol" "auto"
    Option         "Device" "/dev/psaux"
    Option         "Emulate3Buttons" "no"
    Option         "ZAxisMapping" "4 5"
EndSection

Section "Monitor"
    Identifier     "Configured Monitor"
EndSection

Section "Monitor"
    Identifier     "Monitor0"
    VendorName     "Unknown"
    ModelName      "Samsung SyncMaster"
    HorizSync       30.0 - 81.0
    VertRefresh     56.0 - 75.0
EndSection

Section "Device"
    Identifier     "Configured Video Device"
    Driver         "nvidia"
    Option         "NoLogo" "True"
EndSection

Section "Device"
    Identifier     "Device0"
    Driver         "nvidia"
    VendorName     "NVIDIA Corporation"
    BoardName      "GeForce 9800 GTX/9800 GTX+"
EndSection

Section "Screen"
    Identifier     "Default Screen"
    Device         "Configured Video Device"
    Monitor        "Configured Monitor"
    DefaultDepth    24
EndSection

Section "Screen"
    Identifier     "Screen0"
    Device         "Device0"
    Monitor        "Monitor0"
    DefaultDepth    24
    Option         "TwinView" "1"
    Option         "TwinViewXineramaInfoOrder" "DFP-0"
    Option         "metamodes" "DFP-0: nvidia-auto-select +0+0, DFP-1: nvidia-auto-select +1680+0"
    SubSection     "Display"
        Depth       24
    EndSubSection
EndSection

Hope this helps!

[Pasdar]

I've been looking for a way to do this, but it doesn't seem possible. Having the ability to do this would be very useful. It sucks to have an extended screen. I'd rather have two workspace, the first one my monitor the second my TV.

[d0b33]

I understand exactly why you would want two independent workspaces. I like to run apps full screen (not stretched across two monitors but full screen in one) and I hate messing with resizing. I have certain apps I always load on a specific monitor and I like them full screen. For example I run e-mail full screen on my right monitor and vi client full screen on my left. No resizing of screens to make them fit.

Now that I have said that the resolution to this issue is fairly simple. The key is to run the nvidia control panel with sudo.

1. Open a terminal (see I am doing it now. This is open on the right and terminal on the left)
2. type "sudo nvidia-settings"
3. Enter your password
4. Select "X Server Display Configuration" (I am assuming both monitors are enable and that Twinview will stretch across them)
5. Select the "Configure" button
6. Select "Separate X screen)
7. Select "OK"
8. Select "Save to X Configuration File"
9. Reboot

Once you have rebooted you should have two independent workspaces.

If you don't run this with sudo and instead access it by System/Administration/NVIDIA X Server Settings then when you attempt to save the x configuration file you will be denied.

I just went through this and it worked for me.

Tried this on karmic, no luck... still won't save to the xorg file when run as sudo.

Help would be appreciated.

Edit: got it working by installing the latest nvidia driver manually.

[orngjce223]

2. type "sudo nvidia-settings"

I think you're supposed to use gksudo for graphical dialog boxes and programs and such...?

[m10]

I have the same issue (feature request?).
The main problem (I think) is that the virtual workspace switcher is buggy (/not feature complete) in this regard.

I would like the switcher to behave in the following way with any dual (or more) head setup (be it separate X screens,xinerama,xrandr,bigdesktop,twinview, etc etc):

• it should setup (at least) a row of virtual workspaces for each screen.
• all workspaces should be visible from all screens as to enable drag&drop in the switcher from one screen to/from another.
  or,said in another way, all switchers, regardless of the screen they are placed on, should display and control all workspaces of all screens.But they should not "sync" the switching of workspaces from different screens, instead they should be able to switch them independently
• each screen should be able to have its own independent number of workspaces (columns/rows)
• it should remember the last multi-display configuration (e.g. after unplugging and replugging the additional screen(s) or a restart)

I made a little simple scheme for this to be as clear as possible (see attachment).

This seems the obvious way (to me) to handle workspaces on a multi-display setup and lots of people seem to have issues with the current way.
There are lots of (as old as from 2007) bug reports across launchpad and gnome bugzilla but they are all confusing/messy (suboptimal descriptions) and I could not find any solution or workaround.

launchpad bug: https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+s...ck/+bug/110899

For reference I am using Twinview on a dual head setup with an Nvidia 8600GS.Using the 190.42 binary-only driver on Karmic.

[spiritofelric]

This is a feature i'd be very interested in having (alternate workspaces able to display on different monitors).

jtliii: I know how to setup separate x screens; however, everything displayed must be setup in that screen, which is hard when the other monitor is not in front of you.

Are there any work-arounds? Is there any way to view an x-screen from another monitor? Or toss applications from one x-screen space to another?

[Paretje]

I understand exactly why you would want two independent workspaces. I like to run apps full screen (not stretched across two monitors but full screen in one) and I hate messing with resizing. I have certain apps I always load on a specific monitor and I like them full screen. For example I run e-mail full screen on my right monitor and vi client full screen on my left. No resizing of screens to make them fit.

Now that I have said that the resolution to this issue is fairly simple. The key is to run the nvidia control panel with sudo.

1. Open a terminal (see I am doing it now. This is open on the right and terminal on the left)
2. type "sudo nvidia-settings"
3. Enter your password
4. Select "X Server Display Configuration" (I am assuming both monitors are enable and that Twinview will stretch across them)
5. Select the "Configure" button
6. Select "Separate X screen)
7. Select "OK"
8. Select "Save to X Configuration File"
9. Reboot

Once you have rebooted you should have two independent workspaces.

If you don't run this with sudo and instead access it by System/Administration/NVIDIA X Server Settings then when you attempt to save the x configuration file you will be denied.

I just went through this and it worked for me.

This sounds intresting for me, but what about the keyboard and the mouse. As you run two diffrent x screens, I assume you need two mouses and keyboards. How do you make X wise so the one is only for this server, and the other for the other?

[juska]

This sounds intresting for me, but what about the keyboard and the mouse. As you run two diffrent x screens, I assume you need two mouses and keyboards. How do you make X wise so the one is only for this server, and the other for the other?

You don't need multiple mice nor keyboards for this configuration. Keyboard works where the focus is and focus is controlled with mouse (which you can drag from monitor to other).
At least it works for me like this out-of-the-box on jaunty.