Unity desktop tuning

Sources:

• http://www.webupd8.org/2011/04/things-to-tweak-fix-after-installing.html
• http://www.uielinux.org/myunity/

These tweaks are for Ubuntu 11.04 unless stated otherwise. You might want to try them for newer versions.

MyUnity desktop tuning tool

Ubuntu 12.04

Website:

• http://www.uielinux.org/myunity/

Features:

• Configure launcher, dash, panel, desktop, font, themes

sudo apt-get install myunity

Placement of the maximize, minimize and close buttons in GNOME

Maximize, minimize and close buttons have been moved to the left. Do this to place them on the right or get used to it.

gconf-editor

apps -> metacity -> general -> button_layout -> change to ":maximize,minimize,close"

Nautilus always show full path

Alternatively you can use CTRL+L in Nautilus to make the full path visible. Start gconf-editor:

gconf-editor

Then go to: apps -> nautilus -> preferences -> always_use_location_entry -> enable

Nautilus actions, right click execute script

Go to: Nautilus actions, right click execute script

Remove the global app menu bar

Ubuntu 14.04

Go to System settings (commandline):

unity-control-center

Then to Apearance > Behavior > Show menu's for a window > In windows title bar

Ubuntu 12.04

sudo apt-get autoremove appmenu-gtk appmenu-gtk3 appmenu-qt

Then restart the desktop.

Ubuntu 11.04

sudo mv /usr/lib/indicators/5/libappmenu.so /usr/lib/indicators/5/libappmenu.so.old

ATI: disable "Sync to VBlank"

• Unity on ATI cards seems to perform better with "Sync to VBlank" turned off
• http://www.tuxgarage.com/2011/04/unity-choppy-with-ati-graphics-card-and.html

sudo apt-get install compizconfig-settings-manager
ccsm

OpenGL -> disable "Sync to VBlank" option

Use dconf editor for additional unity settings

sudo apt-get install dconf-tools
dconf-editor

Activity Log Manager for history privacy settings

Ubuntu 11.04

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:zeitgeist/ppa
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get upgrade
zeitgeist-daemon --replace
sudo apt-get install activity-log-manager
activity-log-manager

Ubuntu 12.04

This version contains a Privacy settings tool.

Modify unity sidebar right-click menu

sudo gedit /usr/share/applications/nautilus-home.desktop

[Desktop Entry]
Name=Home Folder
Comment=Open your personal folder
Exec=nautilus %U
Icon=folder
Terminal=false
StartupNotify=true
Type=Application
OnlyShowIn=GNOME;Unity;
Categories=GNOME;GTK;Core;
X-GNOME-Bugzilla-Bugzilla=GNOME
X-GNOME-Bugzilla-Product=nautilus
X-GNOME-Bugzilla-Component=general
X-GNOME-Bugzilla-Version=3.0.0
X-Ubuntu-Gettext-Domain=nautilus
Actions=Root;DoSomething

[Desktop Action Root]
Name=Root
Exec=gksudo nautilus /home/wilbert
OnlyShowIn=Unity;

[Desktop Action DoSomething]
Name=DoSomething
Exec=notify-send 'DoSomething' 'DoSomething'
OnlyShowIn=Unity;

NB: this setting is sometimes overwritten during updates

Unity sidebar: remove "Unity Place Applications"

Ubuntu 11.04

sudo gedit /usr/share/unity/places/applications.place

In section "[Entry:Files]" add "ShowEntry=false"

Unity sidebar: remove "Unity Place Files"

Ubuntu 11.04

sudo gedit /usr/share/unity/places/files.place

In section "[Entry:Files]" add "ShowEntry=false"

Reload unity

unity --replace

Add weather AppIndicator

Ubuntu 11.04

sudo apt-get install indicator-weather

sudo apt-get --purge autoremove indicator-weather

Note: has problems in Ubuntu 12.04

Allow all applications in notification area

gsettings set com.canonical.Unity.Panel systray-whitelist "['all']"

For example you get 'truecrypt is already running' but you do not see the icon in the systray.

TrueCrypt

You could also add [... ,'truecrypt'] in stead of using ['all']. Note: when the problem with TruCrypt persists you might need to remove the truecrype lockfile:

rm ~/.TrueCrypt-lock-$USER

Do not show devices on the Unity side bar

gsettings set com.canonical.Unity.Devices devices-option "Never"

Use standard scrollbars instead of the small overlay scrollbars

sudo apt-get remove overlay-scrollbar liboverlay-scrollbar-0.1-0

Use debian installer when opening .deb files

sudo apt-get install gdebi gdebi-core

Right click a .deb file -> Properties -> Open With" -> "GDebi Package Installer"

Hide UbuntuOne ribbon in Nautilus

Right click on a folder -> Ubuntu One > Hide Ribbon

Grub startupmanager

Configure bootmenu delay and bootmenu screen resolution

GRUB2 StartUp Manager

See also: #Grub-customizer

Grub-customizer

Grub-customizer has advanced functions to configure the startup menu.

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:danielrichter2007/grub-customizer
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install grub-customizer
sudo ppa-purge ppa:danielrichter2007/grub-customizer
grub-customizer

Custom time and date format

dconf-editor

Go to /com/canonical/indicators/datetime/

Settings for format "23 Oct 21:46":

• custom-time-format '%d %b %H:%M'
• show-date 'NO'
• time-format 'custom'

Menu item properties with Ubuntu Natty

Now the menu is gone from Ubuntu it is a bit harder to get the properties of a menu-item. Just type 'menu' and run it, you will be able to customize the menu you don't have but you can also view the properties of menu-items.

Unity search results

When using the Unity menu, the result is based on the name and the description of the shortcut. These can be found in the ".desktop" files (desktop configuration file). To edit a desktop configuration file: right click and choose "properties".

System desktop configuration files can be found in:

• /usr/share/applications

Personal desktop configuration files can be found in:

• ~/.local/share/applications

Geeqie Image Viewer

Good alternative to the default 'Eye of GNOME' image and photo viewer. It has a ton of options. You can traverse your images in order of date.

sudo apt-get install gqview

Other Useful Tools

• avidemux
• minidlna
• wine
• picasa
• google earth
• audacity

Disable the unity keyboard shortcut overlay

Ubuntu 12.04

• http://askubuntu.com/questions/103352/how-do-i-disable-the-unity-keyboard-shortcut-overlay

gconf-editor

Uncheck the option /apps/compiz-1/plugins/unityshell/screen0/options/shortcut_overlay

Disable suspend by default

Shutting down Ubuntu I managed each time to pick the suspend option, which I normally do not use. When I disable suspend the option will be removed from the menu.

• http://askubuntu.com/questions/80278/how-can-i-remove-the-suspend-and-hibernate-options-from-the-power-menu

sudo gedit /var/lib/polkit-1/localauthority/10-vendor.d/com.ubuntu.desktop.pkla

Scroll to the bottom. Check to see if the following information exists, and if not add it:

[Disable hibernate]
Identity=unix-user:*
Action=org.freedesktop.upower.hibernate
ResultActive=no
 
[Disable suspend]
Identity=unix-user:*
Action=org.freedesktop.upower.suspend
ResultActive=no

Disable the Unity keyboard shortcut overlay

Disable the Unity keyboard shortcut overlay

Set root password

After installation you can increase security somewhat by configuring a root password. By default you can boot Ubuntu into rescue-mode and 'drop to root prompt' without entering a password. Know that anyone would still be able to access the files, for example by mounting the drive from a different system. Better means of security are achieved by using encryption.

sudo passwd root