11

When I'm working on my laptop I have periods that I am only using a couple of programs, so the default intellihide setting of the Launcher ('Dodge windows') is very handy. But I also have periods that I have to switch very often between programs, and then I find it very useful (and better for my workflow) that the Launcher doesn't hide.

Now, every time I wan't to switch I have to open CCSM and change the setting (Unity plugin -> Hide Launcher), but it would be easier if I could use a shortcut for it. So my question:

Is there a way to create a shortcut to switch between (or change) the two settings of Compiz?

I thought of command line interface to compiz, but I couldn't directly find something like that.

fossfreedom
  • 174,526
joris
  • 367

5 Answers5

8

You can run

gconftool-2 --type int --set "/apps/compiz-1/plugins/unityshell/screen0/options/launcher_hide_mode" 2

to set the launcher hide mode to "Dodge Windows", and

gconftool-2 --type int --set "/apps/compiz-1/plugins/unityshell/screen0/options/launcher_hide_mode" 0

to set it to never hide.

The mode numbers are:

  • 0 - Never
  • 1 - Autohide
  • 2 - Dodge Windows
  • 3 - Dodge Active Window

You can make this a switch by just calling (the value must be 2 or 0 before):

gconftool-2 --type int --set "/apps/compiz-1/plugins/unityshell/screen0/options/launcher_hide_mode" $((2 - $(gconftool-2 --get "/apps/compiz-1/plugins/unityshell/screen0/options/launcher_hide_mode")))

You then would create a new keybinding (Alt + F2 → gnome-keybinding-properties) with the command being:

/bin/bash -c "gconftool-2 --type int --set "/apps/compiz-1/plugins/unityshell/screen0/options/launcher_hide_mode" $((2 - $(gconftool-2 --get "/apps/compiz-1/plugins/unityshell/screen0/options/launcher_hide_mode")))"
htorque
  • 66,086
4

If you are using Ubuntu 15.04 (vivid) the following commands should work for you.

To enable launcher auto-hide setting use:

dconf write "/org/compiz/profiles/unity/plugins/unityshell/launcher-hide-mode" 1

To disable it use:

dconf write "/org/compiz/profiles/unity/plugins/unityshell/launcher-hide-mode" 0
falconepl
  • 263
3

For Unity

The command to make the launcher autohide:

gconftool-2 --set "/apps/compiz-1/plugins/unityshell/screen0/options/launcher_hide_mode" --type string "1"

And the command to make it never hide:

gconftool-2 --set "/apps/compiz-1/plugins/unityshell/screen0/options/launcher_hide_mode" --type string "0"

For Unity-2D

To autohide launcher:

gsettings set com.canonical.Unity2d.Launcher hide-mode 1

To never hide launcher:

gsettings set com.canonical.Unity2d.Launcher hide-mode 0
jokerdino
  • 41,732
0

I created an application indicator called Unity Launcher Toggle that lets you switch between launcher modes. http://napdivad.com/unity_launcher_toggle/

functionptr
  • 993
0

Here's how you can do it for Ubuntu 16 or 17: (Based on falconepl & htorque's answer)

(This toggles the auto-hiding of launcher)

dconf write "/org/compiz/profiles/unity/plugins/unityshell/launcher-hide-mode" $((1 - $(dconf read "/org/compiz/profiles/unity/plugins/unityshell/launcher-hide-mode")))
Gokul NC
  • 153