“Switch to specific workspace” shortcuts don't work after a reboot

Question

i've defined some shortcuts to access each of my workspaces:

<Super>+1 for the First
<Super>+2 for the Second
etc...

when I assign these shortcuts, they function properly until I reboot. I have no idea why it's happening.

For some reason, On the desktop I have at work (same distrib, 10.10), it works fine.

To make them function again, I need to un-asign all of them, and then reasigning them again.

I have a script which automate these operations:

gconftool-2 --unset /apps/metacity/global_keybindings/switch_to_workspace_1
gconftool-2 --unset /apps/metacity/global_keybindings/switch_to_workspace_2
gconftool-2 --unset /apps/metacity/global_keybindings/switch_to_workspace_3
gconftool-2 --unset /apps/metacity/global_keybindings/switch_to_workspace_4
gconftool-2 --unset /apps/metacity/global_keybindings/switch_to_workspace_5
gconftool-2 --unset /apps/metacity/global_keybindings/switch_to_workspace_6
gconftool-2 --unset /apps/metacity/global_keybindings/switch_to_workspace_7
gconftool-2 --unset /apps/metacity/global_keybindings/switch_to_workspace_8

gconftool-2 -t str --set /apps/metacity/global_keybindings/switch_to_workspace_1 "<Mod4>ampersand"
gconftool-2 -t str --set /apps/metacity/global_keybindings/switch_to_workspace_2 "<Mod4>eacute"
gconftool-2 -t str --set /apps/metacity/global_keybindings/switch_to_workspace_3 "<Mod4>quotedbl"
gconftool-2 -t str --set /apps/metacity/global_keybindings/switch_to_workspace_4 "<Mod4>apostrophe"
gconftool-2 -t str --set /apps/metacity/global_keybindings/switch_to_workspace_5 "<Mod4>parenleft"
gconftool-2 -t str --set /apps/metacity/global_keybindings/switch_to_workspace_6 "<Mod4>minus"
gconftool-2 -t str --set /apps/metacity/global_keybindings/switch_to_workspace_7 "<Mod4>egrave"
gconftool-2 -t str --set /apps/metacity/global_keybindings/switch_to_workspace_8 "<Mod4>undersocre"

But when I configure this script to be run at startup, strangely it doesn't work.

Anyone have clues about how to solve this ?

Answer 1

It appears not to be working on Natty + compiz (it works if you use metacity - metacity --replace). You can workaround this way:

You can use wmctrl and make shortcuts for specifics commands.

Basics commands:

If you are using metacity:
wmctrl -d to show all of your workspaces.
wmctrl -s <workspace_name> to change to a specific workspace.

If you are using Compiz:
you will have to do a trick because Compiz "workspaces" are actually Viewports of a single Workspace.

Trick Instructions

Check the output of wmctrl -d For example, mine is:

0 * DG: 4098x2304 VP: 1366,0 WA: 0,23 1366x745 N/A

This means that actually I have one Workspace of 4098 x 2304 instead of what I "think" I have (nine "workspaces", 3 x 3).
I was at what was supposed to be "workspace" 2, but actually I was at viewport (VP) 1366,0 (4098 / 3 = 1366) as showed by the output above.

So this is how it works: we take the whole Workspace and divide for the numbers of "workspaces" we "think" we have. In my case: 4098 / 3 = 1366 and 2304 / 3 = 768.

if I want to go to my "workspace" 1, the command is:
wmctrl -o 0,0

Then, if I want to go to my "workspace" 4, the command is:
wmctrl -o 0,768

if I want to go to my "workspace" 8, the command is:
wmctrl -o 1366,1536

if I want to go to my "workspace" 9, the command is:
wmctrl -o 2732,1536

Got it? ;-)

Making the shortcuts

1) We will need Compiz Settings Manager.

You can install these from the Ubuntu Software Center or by clicking here

2) Open Compiz (Alt + F2 and type ccsm and hit Enter)

3) Go to Commands and add for example wmctrl -o 0,0 to one command

4) Then go to Keybindings and make the <Super>+1 shortcut for it.

5) Repeat steps "3" and "4" for the others workspaces.