Compiz/Configuration

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This article details more advanced Compiz configuration. It is assumed that you have successfully installed Compiz and have a basic, working configuration. For information on installation, basic configuration and troubleshooting, please consult the Compiz article.

Settings storage options

Configuration backends

Note:

Depending on what packages you have installed, not all of the Compiz backends may be available.
The GConf backend was dropped from Compiz 0.9.12 (revision 3991).

By default, Compiz stores its configuration settings in a plain text file ~/.config/compiz-1/compizconfig/Default.ini. In CCSM this is known as Flat-file Configuration Backend.

Compiz can also store its settings in the GSettings or GConf databases. To change how Compiz saves its settings open CCSM and click on the Preferences tab in the left hand column. Then choose your desired backend from the list under Backend.

You can also change the backend manually by editing the ~/.config/compiz-1/compizconfig/config file.

Edit the line below:

backend = ini

ini = Flat File Configuration Backend
gsettings = GSettings Configuration Backend
gconf = GConf Configuration Backend

Once you have edited and saved the file the change will take place immediately. There is no need to log out.

Profiles

Profiles allow you to switch between different sets of Compiz settings easily. To create a new profile open CCSM and click on the Preferences tab. Under Profile click the plus sign to add a new profile or the minus sign to delete one. All changes made in CCSM will be written to your current profile.

Profiles are specific to the backend you are using. For instance, if you are using the GSettings backend then any new profile you create will be a GSettings profile. If you switch to a different backend then your current profile will not work and you will automatically switch to a profile available for that backend.

Note: If you see more than one profile named Default this is probably because you have used more than one backend e.g. you will have a default profile for ini and a default profile for GSettings or GConf.

Window decoration themes

Emerald

Tip: For installing Emerald, see Compiz#Extras.

Note: Some themes may cause Emerald to crash if they are selected. See Compiz#Emerald crashes when selecting a theme.

Many Emerald themes are available for download on compiz-themes.org. Emerald themes can be installed, selected, removed and edited using the emerald-theme-manager program. For downloaded themes, unzip the tarball and then install it using the Import option in the theme manager.

Emerald themes are store in two locations:

/usr/share/emerald/themes -- system
~/.emerald/themes -- user

The currently selected Emerald theme is copied into the ~/.emerald/theme directory.

Emerald settings such as window button pulse can be configured in emerald-theme-manager and are written to the ~/.emerald/settings.ini file.

GTK Window Decorator

Note: It is not necessary for Compiz to be using the GConf or GSettings backends in order for Compiz to read Metacity settings stored in the GConf or GSettings databases.

The GTK Window Decorator can be compiled with support for the Metacity or Marco window managers (depending on the Compiz version). If it is compiled with this support, the theme used by Metacity or Marco will also be used by GTK Window Decorator. If GTK Window Decorator is not compiled with Metacity or Marco support, a builtin fallback theme will be used.

Many Metacity themes are available for download on gnome-look.org. Once downloaded, they should be unpacked into a directory such as /usr/local/share/themes (for Metacity) or ~/.themes (for Marco).

Compiz 0.9

The GTK Window Decorator provided by Compiz 0.9 can be compiled with Metacity (version 3) support. Assuming this support is compiled in, change the Metacity theme using the commands below:

In a GNOME Flashback session

Firstly, ensure that the theme type is set to metacity:

$ gsettings set org.gnome.metacity.theme type metacity

Then the theme can be set with the following command:

$ gsettings set org.gnome.metacity.theme name theme-name

In a MATE session

Use the following command:

$ gsettings set org.mate.Marco.general theme theme-name

In any other session

Use the following command:

$ gsettings set org.gnome.desktop.wm.preferences theme theme-name

Compiz 0.8

The GTK Window Decorator included in the Compiz provided by the Compiz-Reloaded upstream (versions 0.8.10 and higher) can be compiled with Marco support. Assuming this support is compiled in, use the command below to change the Marco theme:

$ gsettings set org.mate.Marco.general theme theme-name

The GTK Window Decorator included in the Compiz provided by the original Compiz upstream (versions 0.8.9 and below) can be compiled with Metacity (version 2) support. This GTK Window Decorator version expects the theme to be defined as a GConf setting. Assuming this support is compiled in, use the command below to change the Metacity theme:

$ gconftool-2 -s /apps/metacity/general/theme -t string theme-name

KDE Window Decorator

Kwin themes can be downloaded, installed and managed using the KDE systemsettings panel.

Workspaces and Viewports

Note: There was once a Number of Desktops option under CCSM -> General Options -> Desktop Size which made it possible to use multiple workspaces along with viewports (though this was incompatible with many Compiz plugins such as Cube). As of Compiz 0.9.11 (revision 3857) the Number of Desktops option has been removed.

Unlike many other window managers, Compiz does not use multiple workspaces. Instead, it uses one workspace but splits it into multiple sections known as viewports. See [1] for more information.

The number and layout of viewports can be configured in CCSM -> General Options -> Desktop Size. Changing the Horizontal Virtual Size will change the number of viewports in a row. Changing the Vertical Virtual Size will add or remove rows of viewports.

If you are using the Desktop Cube plugin, you will not be to use the rows of viewports added by increasing the Vertical Virtual Size. To take advantage of multiple rows of viewports, use the Desktop Wall plugin instead.

Keyboard shortcuts

Below is a list of the default keyboard shortcuts for Compiz.

Switch windows = Alt+Tab.
Switch to next desktops = Ctrl+Alt+←.
Switch to previous desktop = Ctrl+Alt+→.
Move window = Alt+Left click.
Resize window = Alt+Right click.

A more detailed list can be found under CommonKeyboardShortcuts in the Compiz wiki or you can always just look at your plugin's configuration.

Extra shortcuts can be added using the commands plugin in CCSM.

Edge bindings

Besides mouse and key bindings, Compiz can also assign commands to certain actions involving the screen edges, for example: dragging a window to the screen edge. For instance: the Rotate Cube plugin has an option to switch to the next viewport if a window is dragged to the screen edge. Edge bindings can usually be disabled, through CCSM, by unticking Edge Flip options in the plugin's settings section or by disabling actions which have the screen icon next to them in the Bindings section of the relevant plugin.

Plugins

Almost all Compiz functionality is implemented using plugins. Some plugins must be enabled for standard window manager functionality - see Compiz#Enabling important plugins. Plugins that provide extra functionality, above and beyond standard window management, are discussed here.

Grid

If you want to compare two windows side by side by dragging them to the edges of the screen, similar to the "Aero Snap" feature introduced in Windows 7, enable the Grid plugin in CCSM. If you are using the Desktop Wall or Rotate Cube plugin then disable the Edge Flip options in that plugin's section to ensure that windows do not move to the next desktop when dragged to the screen edge.

Tip:

The plugin in CCSM labelled Snapping Windows merely adds resistance to the edges of the screen. It does not resize windows that are dragged to the screen edge.
The Grid plugin in Compiz 0.8 does not support resizing windows by dragging them to the screen edge. Windows can only be compared by using keyboard shortcuts.

Scale

The Scale plugin provides an option to view scaled thumbnails of all windows in the current viewport, similar to the "Present Windows" feature in KDE or the "Overview Mode" in GNOME Shell. Once the plugin is enabled, the view can be accessed by moving the mouse cursor into the top right corner of the screen. The active corner can be configured in the Bindings tab of the plugin's settings section.

Widget Layer

The Widget Layer plugin allows you to define certain windows as widgets. Widget windows are shown on a separate "layer" of the screen. When the widget layer is hidden, all windows defined as widget windows will be iconified. By default, the widget layer is shown and hidden using F9 key.

To define a window as a widget, open CCSM and navigate to the Widget Layer plugin. Click on the Behaviour tab and click on the plus sign button next to the Widget Windows field. In the dialog box that appears, choose Window Title from the Type menu. In the Value field enter the title for the window you wish to define as a widget, for example: galculator.

Screen Magnification

There are two Compiz plugins that can provide magnification functionality. The first is Magnifier which acts much like a magnifying glass (everything within the rectangular box will be zoomed). The magnifier can be used by enabling the plugin in CCSM and pressing Super+m.

The other plugin is called Enhanced Desktop Zoom. When this plugin is enabled, pressing the Super key and scrolling the middle mouse button will magnify the part of the desktop that is under the mouse cursor.

Crash handler

It is a good idea to enable the Crash handler plugin in CCSM. This plugin ensures that if, for whatever reason, Compiz fails to start with the session or crashes at some point during the session, crash logs will be dumped and an alternative window manager will be started. To specify a window manager that can replace Compiz in the event of a crash, click on the Crash handler plugin and tick the Start Other Window Manager option. Then, in the Window Manager Command Line field, enter a command to start the window manager of choice, for instance: xfwm4 --replace.

Compiz configuration without CCSM

Compiz does not have to be configured through CCSM. Settings can be changed by editing the profile directly. For Flat File profiles, this will mean making editing changes to the ~/.config/compiz-1/compizconfig/Default.ini file or similar. For GSettings or GConf profiles, this will mean making changes to the DConf or GConf databases using the gsettings or gconftool-2 tools.

Flat-file sample configuration

Features of this sample configuration:

Ctrl+Alt+[numpad] arranges the current window.
Left and right bottom corner shows taskbar.
Mouse control for everything (but typing).
Some effects.

[core]
as_active_plugins = core;session;glib;grid;notification;workarounds;place;put;wall;regex;blur;dbus;fs;inotify;widget;animation;resize;text;mousepoll;obs;expo;fade;move;staticswitcher;mag;scale;scaleaddon;
s0_hsize = 2
s0_vsize = 2

[wall]
as_show_switcher = false
s0_edgeflip_dnd = true
as_flip_down_edge = 

[expo]
as_reflection = false
as_vp_brightness = 100.000000
as_expo_edge = 
as_expo_button = Button9
as_mipmaps = true
as_zoom_time = 0.150000
as_vp_distance = 0.000000

[scale]
as_initiate_edge = 
as_initiate_all_button = Button8
s0_darken_back = false
s0_opacity = 100
s0_overlay_icon = 0
s0_multioutput_mode = 1
as_show_desktop = false
s0_hover_time = 100
s0_spacing = 4
s0_timestep = 0.100000
s0_speed = 2.615500

[scaleaddon]
s0_window_highlight = true
s0_highlight_color = #ffffff08
s0_window_title = 0

[mag]
as_zoom_in_button = <TopEdge>Button4
as_zoom_out_button = <TopEdge>Button5
s0_mode = 2
s0_radius = 600

[place]
s0_multioutput_mode = 3
s0_mode = 2

[workarounds]
as_notification_daemon_fix = true
as_firefox_menu_fix = true
as_legacy_fullscreen = true
as_qt_fix = true
as_convert_urgency = true

[move]
as_opacity = 85 

[blur]
s0_filter = 1
s0_independent_tex = true
s0_mipmap_lod = 1.700000
s0_gaussian_radius = 7
s0_alpha_blur_match = (any) & !(class=Conky)

[put]
as_put_next_output_button = Button10
s0_speed = 10.441400
s0_timestep = 0.100000 

[obs]
s0_opacity_matches = type=dock | Tooltip | Menu | PopupMenu | DropdownMenu;(any) & !(class=Whaawmp.py | class=Gimp | class=Inkscape | class=Xfdesktop | class=Ristretto);
s0_opacity_values = 70;90;

[animation]
s0_close_effects = animation:Dream;animation:Fade;animation:Fade;
s0_open_effects = animation:Magic Lamp;animation:Fade;animation:Fade;
s0_focus_effects = animation:Dodge;
s0_open_durations = 150;100;100;
s0_close_durations = 150;100;100;
s0_minimize_durations = 150;
s0_shade_durations = 150;
s0_focus_durations = 150;

[widget]
s0_bg_brightness = 100
s0_fade_time = 0.250000
s0_match = type=Dock
as_toggle_edge = BottomLeft|BottomRight
s0_end_on_click = false

[staticswitcher]
s0_highlight_mode = 2
s0_highlight_rect_hidden = 2
as_next_key = Disabled
as_next_no_popup_key = <Alt>Tab
as_prev_all_key = Disabled

GSettings configuration

Note:

Most Compiz schemas are relocatable. This means that a path needs to provided along with the schema name itself - in this case, the path to the Compiz profile, for example: :/org/compiz/profiles/Default/plugins/.
That a Compiz plugin's schema is installed does not guarantee that the plugin itself is installed.

List all of the available Compiz profiles:

$ gsettings list-recursively org.compiz | grep existing-profiles

Show the active Compiz profile:

$ gsettings list-recursively org.compiz | grep current-profile

Set the active Compiz profile:

$ gsettings set org.compiz current-profile profile-name

List all the available Compiz plugins schemas:

$ gsettings list-relocatable-schemas | grep org.compiz

View all of the available settings for a Compiz plugin and their values (this example will show the settings of Static Application Switcher):

$ gsettings list-recursively org.compiz.staticswitcher:/org/compiz/profiles/Default/plugins/staticswitcher/

View the value for a specific Compiz setting (this example checks the whether the Icon option in Static Application Switcher is enabled:

$ gsettings get org.compiz.staticswitcher:/org/compiz/profiles/Default/plugins/staticswitcher/ icon

Change the value for a Compiz plugin setting (this will disable icons in Static Application Switcher):

$ gsettings set org.compiz.staticswitcher:/org/compiz/profiles/Default/plugins/staticswitcher/ icon false

Enabling or disabling a Compiz plugin using GSettings