So for example, to start a second instance of the terminal using the application overview, Super + ter + (Ctrl+Enter). To create a new window, instead of simply hitting Enter to start the application, use Ctrl+Enter.

But trying to open a new window from an application already running only results in focusing on the open window. Using the activities overview to start an application is very efficient. Multiple windows from the same application Use Super+up to maximize, Super+down to minimize, Super+left and Super+right to move the window left and right. Minimizing, maximizing and moving the application to the left or the right of the screen can be done with only a few key strokes. Using the keyboard it is also easy to manage the size of an application window. To come back to the terminal, use Super + PgUp. Then, to open a new workspace press Super + PgDn. To open a Terminal in the current workspace press the following keys: Super + ter + Enter. A great way to be more productive using Gnome is to use one workspace per application or per dedicated activity, and then use the keyboard to navigate between these workspaces. Gnome Shell uses dynamic workspaces, meaning it creates additional workspaces as they are needed. To close the message tray simply use the same shortcut again. To open the message tray using the keyboard use the Super+m shortcut. This is also the place where the calendar and world clocks are available. In GNOME, notifications are available in the message tray. For example, it’s easy to start the Firefox web browser with the following key sequence Super + fir + Enter. (The Super key usually has a logo on it.) This is really useful when it comes to start an application. The activities overview can be easily opened using the Super key from the keyboard. Learn how to be more efficient with GNOME Shell with these 5 ways to use the keyboard instead of the mouse. In fact, GNOME Shell is also a desktop manager designed for and meant to be driven by the keyboard. The 'wallpaper' option under '.plugins' will only appear when you have added a wallpaper via ccsm.For some people, using GNOME Shell as a traditional desktop manager may be frustrating since it often requires more action of the mouse. It is not possible (at least not easily) due to compiz using relocatable schemas. The equivalent for 14.04 is dconf-editor. Note: the 12.04 answer described using the gsettings editor as an alternative to ccsm. Now install some extra software: compizconfig-settings-managerĮnsure you have the following package installed: compiz-pluginsįinally - enable the use of workspaces in your System Settings (Cog Wheel menu option)

gconf-editorĪdd a comma-separated list with the full-paths to your wallpaper as shown.

If you prefer not to risk ccsm then you can use gconf-editor (you can install it by running sudo apt-get install gconf-editor). What are some of the issues with CCSM and why would I want to avoid it?

Log out and back in again to show new wallpapers.

remember this important bit of information:.

I had no choice but to do a hard-reset via the power button.

during testing, when I enabled wallpaper the desktop froze solid.

Now install some extra software: compizconfig-settings-manager compiz-fusion-plugins-extraįilter to wallpaper - enable the wallpaper plugin and add New wallpaper as shown. Click it to tick it and click it again to untick it. Now the very strange bit - by default the show-desktop-icons is unticked. Navigate to org - gnome - desktop - background Launch dconf-editor (install dconf-tools if required)

Ubuntu manage workspaces