XGL/Compiz overwriting Ubuntu Themes??

Founder_film · 19 Jul 2006 at 22:50

I am new to Linux and Ubuntu but have been playing around with it a few times. I Installed Ubuntu 6.06 on my PC again tonight but I am having problems with themes and XGL.

I installed my ATi graphics drivers fine and then followed instructions to use XGL and Compiz, I am impressed with it so far however I cant seem to apply any themes properly, when I do some things change but the windows still have the same bar across the top and stuff. Do you guys know how I can fix this?

Also is there a way of just having 1 task bar and not one at the top and one at the bottom? If so how do I set that up?

Thanks

Founder_film · 19 Jul 2006 at 22:52

Oh a couple more things, how do I change the XGL preferences and settings? And I tried applying a Firefox theme and that did not work any ideas why?

Thanks again

EKsparky · 19 Jul 2006 at 23:07

Themes don t work yet (well they did'nt last time i looked)
In KDE the Desktop switch won t work yet
To edit open console type gconf-editor
then click apps click compiz then plugins and your away having lots of fun seeing how bouncey and springy you can make it all

Favorite feature for me open loads of windows then hit your pause button

jmc777 · 19 Jul 2006 at 23:38

Make sure you have all the latest Compiz stuff installed because themes should work just fine. (Check the themes section of the Compiz forums for examples)

Add the following to /etc/apt/sources.list

deb http://xgl.compiz.info/ dapper main
deb http://www.beerorkid.com/compiz/ dapper main

After you update your Compiz files, you should be able to play with themes by using the Compiz Themer (System>Preferences>Compiz Themer) And you can fiddle with the Compiz plugins using Apps>Accessories>Gset-Compiz. (Or use the method descriibed by EKsparky above)

Founder_film said:
Also is there a way of just having 1 task bar and not one at the top and one at the bottom? If so how do I set that up?

There is. Right click on the bottom panel and select 'Delete this panel'. Then right click on the top one and choose 'Add to panel'. In the window that appears, look for 'Window list' and either a) drag the Window list icon onto the top panel, or b) highlight 'Window list' and click the add button in the same window. When you're done it should look like this.

(Or, if you want the top panel at the bottom, like Windows, delete the bottom one, then right click on the top one and choose 'properties'. Change the panel's orientation to 'bottom'.)

Founder_film · 20 Jul 2006 at 11:56

Thanks a lot for your replies, I will mess around with it tonight.

Founder_film · 20 Jul 2006 at 15:06

I have not tried any of the stuff above yet but I was thinking, can you make it so windows do not show a tab in the taskbar (whether it be at the top or bottom)? So the only way to select windows is to click on them.

jmc777 · 20 Jul 2006 at 19:14

Founder_film said:
can you make it so windows do not show a tab in the taskbar

Right-click on that, and select 'Remove from panel'.

Founder_film · 20 Jul 2006 at 19:44

I have been messing around with stuff tonight, but I cannot find the Compiz Themer under System/Preferences. Where do I get it if its not there?

jmc777 · 20 Jul 2006 at 20:05

System>Administration>Synaptic Package Manager

When it loads, click the search button, and search for compiz. When the results appear, look for gcompizthemer and gcompizthemer-themes. (While you're there, install gset-compiz too!)

Highlight the packages you want to install, right-click and choose 'Mark for installation', then hit the 'Apply' button. That should do it.