How do I make Firefox start always maximized?

Question

I am setting up Ubuntu with gnome for my grandma. How can I make firefox start ALWAYS maximized.

Answer 1

It is possible to achieve this with a python script. The script requires python-wnck and python-gtk to be installed in order to work, although I think these are installed by default anyway.

Copy and paste this into a text editor and save it somewhere (eg ~/.maximised-firefox.py):

#!/usr/bin/env python
import wnck
import gtk
import subprocess
import time

firefox = subprocess.Popen(["firefox"])

b = True
while b:
    screen = wnck.screen_get_default()
    while gtk.events_pending():
        gtk.main_iteration()
    windows = screen.get_windows()
    for w in windows:
        if w.get_pid() == firefox.pid:
            w.maximize()
            b = False
    time.sleep(1)


firefox.wait()

Then make this executable and copy to a system wide location by opening a terminal and running:

chmod +x ~/.maximised-firefox.py
sudo cp ~/.maximised-firefox.py /usr/bin/maximised-firefox

You can then, using your grandma's profile, edit the menus using the menu editor. You can get to this from the right click menu of the menu or by running alacarte.

Then edit the firefox item and set the command to maximised-firefox.

Answer 2

Assuming you are using Compiz, you can force an application window to have certain characteristics (e.g. fullscreen, always maximized) by tweaking some settings:

1. Install CompizConfig Settings Manager

   sudo apt-get install compizconfig-settings-manager
   

2. Open it and go to the Window Rules section.

3. In the Maximized text box, enter name=Navigator

4. Finally, enable the Window Rules plugin (checkbox on the left).

This will cause Firefox to always start maximized. As a potentially negative side effect, it will also make it impossible to un-maximize Firefox.