Cube Effect in Ubuntu 7.10 (Gutsy Gibbon)
Dear Friends, This guide will help you to setup CUBE effects as well as more desktop effects in linux.. hope you will enjoy it...
How to Configure Compiz and it's plugins
Ubuntu has some exciting features among all desktop operating systems and thats why I like it and enjoy my work ....
On top of default configurations you get in ubuntu, here are some tips to advance Compiz' configurations. If you don't like them, you will at least get familiar with the settings manager.
CompizConfig Settings Manager
This guide makes use of the CompizConfig Settings Manager (ccsm) provided by the Compiz Fusion project.
So if you do not have it already installed, you need to install it first. On Ubuntu the required package is called compizconfig-settings-manager.
In order to install it on Gutsy from command line you can use
sudo aptitude install compizconfig-settings-manager
or through web browser ( Firefox), click here: apt:compizconfig-settings-manager
Now let's start the settings manager via System → Preferences → Advanced Desktop Effects Settings.
Or simply type in the terminal (or [Alt]+[F2]):
Use the Filter in the top left corner of the application to find your required plugin. Don't waste your time looking for the plugins all the time
Getting the cube
Firstly, enable the following plugins (by checking the box next to them):
- Desktop Cube - to actually use it, we might have to disable some other plugins (just follow the popup)
- Rotate Cube - that is necessary to spin the cube
- Viewport Switcher (optional) - if you want to change desktops with the mousewheel
- Cube Caps (optional) - lets you use an images on top and bottom of the cube
Secondly, we have to increase the number of the virtual desktops to 4
at General Options → Desktop Size → Horizontal Virtual Size
(the other two options have to be left at 1)
Now we can switch desktops via [Ctrl]+[Alt]+[Left]/[Right] and spin the cube via [Ctrl]+[Alt]+[Left Mousebutton] (or via middle-click on the desktop).
Configuring the Cube
- Set the cube (semi-)transparent
Set Desktop Cube → Transparent Cube → Opacity During Rotation to 85.0000 (or what suits you best) - Additionally you might want to disable Lighing in General Options → Display Settings
- Cange the cube's color
Cube Caps → Appearance → Cube Top/Bottom Color - choose a color for each option, that fits best to your wallpaper - Cube on a glossy plane
Enable the Cube Reflection plugin - Show the cube's engine
Enable the Cube Gears plugin
Getting windows to wobble (Not mandatory for cube effect)
- You can also enable Wobbly Windows
- Then, if you want your panel menu to be wobbly as well, choose Shiver in Wobbly Windows → General → Map Effect
- And you might want to disable Wobbly Windows → General → Snap Inverted to prevent windows from adhering to screen edges.
Bind useful plugins to screen corners
- Display active windows at once when moving the mouse pointer to the top right corner of the screen
Double-click Scale → Actions → General → Initiate Window Picker For All Windows and choose TopRight - Display all virtual desktop when moving the mouse pointer to the top left corner of the screen
Double-click Expo → Actions → Bindings → Expo and choose TopLeft
Tips & Tricks for Scale and Expo
- If you enable the Scale Addons and Scale Window Title Filter plugins, it enhances your Scale mode:
- Right-clicking a window lets you have a look at the application
- You can close a window via [Middle Mouseclick]
- And if you are looking for a certain application, just type the first letters of the window title
- While in Expo mode
- You can change the desktop by right-clicking on a different one
- And you can even drag the windows from one desktop to another