I was reading about how to get multiple workspaces in the mutter version of Unity, however since Compiz is replacing Mutter how do I go about adding and removing workspaces in Compiz version of Unity?
I was reading about how to get multiple workspaces in the mutter version of Unity, however since Compiz is replacing Mutter how do I go about adding and removing workspaces in Compiz version of Unity?
15.04 and later
On later versions of Ubuntu Workspaces are in the Workspace switcher. The number of desktops can be modified by installing the CompizConfig Settings Manager and changing the numbers listed under "General Options > Desktop Size".
13.04 -14.10
Workspaces are by default disabled on a new install of Ubuntu v13.04.
You can toggle workspaces on/off as well as defining the number of workspaces through unity-tweak-tool (
sudo apt install unity-tweak-tool
)12.04
The number of workspaces can be safely set without using CCSM through MyUnity
Move the slide-bars to change the number of horizontal & vertical workspaces
for example 4x1
11.10 and below
Using CCSM
This works on Ubuntu 12.04 LTS as well, but it is easier and safer to use MyUnity instead.
The options for the number of workspaces can be found in
compizconfig-settings-manager
under General Options. Do not set horizontal workspaces below 2 or the workspace switcher button won't work.Using MyUnity
MyUnity can be used also in 11.10 and below, with additional steps.
In a terminal, use
sudo add-apt-repository ppa:myunity/ppa && sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get install myunity
to install MyUnity. Then, use the steps described above to 12.04.12.10
MyUnity has been removed from the quantal repositories pending a rewrite. It may make a reappearance at a later date.
Until then, the number of workspaces can be changed using one of four methods:
dconf-editor
method 1
If you love the terminal you can achieve the above via:
where
[x]
and[y]
are numeric valuesmethod 2
method 3
dconf-tools
IMPORTANT NOTE: you must have used method one or two previously for dconf-editor to show the keys to change.
The reason for this is because
dconf-editor
does not show relocatable schema keys by default unless they have been previously changed.First install
dconf-tools
.Then press ALT+F2 and type
dconf-editor
Press Enter or click on the icon shown.
This then opens the application:
Navigate down the tree to
org - compiz - profiles - unity - plugins - core
and change the values shown.In Ubuntu 14.04 CLI:
Write:
You could also use the newly created quicklist from me, which can be found here:
Quicklist to Add/Remove workspaces rows/columns
You can open a terminal and set as you want.
With this command you set the number of horizontal viewports (at this example I am changing it to "3"):
And with this you set the number of vertical viewports (at this example I am changing it to "4"):
Install
compizconfig-settings-manager
, launch it through System Settings (in the Personal section), then go to General Options (in the General Section), now in the tab Desktop Size you can change the number of vertical or horizontal desktops.You could try with
ccsm
ormyunity
.ccsm (CompizConfig Settings Manager)
Open a terminal and run:
enter your password and enter y when asked.
Now press ALT and F2 together, type
ccsm
and press Enter.When CompizConfig Settings Manager appears, select Desktop Wall.
MyUnity With MyUnity you can set the number of desktops, but nothing more.
Open a terminal and run:
enter your password and enter y when asked.
Now press ALT and F2 together, type
myunity
and press Enter.When MyUnity appears, select desktop. Change H Desktop for horizontal desktops and V Desktop for vertical desktops.
Actually, you can change desktops without using either ccsm or MyUnity. I have a script to add o remove rows and columns, but you can create a simple alias to set either one.
For example to set the number of columns, enter this at a bash prompt:
gconftool-2 --type int --set /apps/compiz-1/general/screen0/options/hsize Num_of_Cols
, where "Num_of_Cols" is a number for the horizontal size, or number of columns.For the number of rows, use vsize instead of hsize.
I originally got the script from this askubuntu article, about adding the options as quicklists to the unity launcher, but it works as a script in any menu, or as a bash function or alias.
I used CompizConfig Settings Manager (CCSM). Open CCSM, select
General Options
then go to theDesktop Size
tab.You can adjust the number and the layout of the workspaces by using the
Horizontal Virtual Size
andVertical Virtual Size
sliders to adjust the number of "columns" and "rows" respectively.Using this method does not appear to change the settings mentioned above in gconf editor.