Description: GNOME Panel applets substitute the maximized window title and buttons. I've decided to make it because GNOME violates Fitts's Law by putting a panel between the maxed window buttons and the corner of the screen. These applets were designed to solve the problem. Window Title and Window Buttons are essentially controls for windows that are placed on the Panel instead of a window. They also provide a clever way to increase vertical screen space. By default they only control maximized windows, but can be configured to control any focused window.
Installation from source: 1) Download 2) Unpack 3) ./configure --prefix=/usr --with-gconf-schema-file-dir=/usr/share/gconf/schemas 4) make 5) sudo make install 6) cd buttons && sudo gconf-schemas --register windowbuttons.schemas && cd ../title && sudo gconf-schemas --register windowtitle.schemas && cd .. * Alternatively you can try using gconftool-2 --install-schema-file instead of gconf-schemas --register 7) Add desired applets to panel.
FAQ: Q: How do I hide the window decorations on maximized windows so that it looks like in the screenshots? A: The simplest way is with the help of Compiz. Right click on the Window Buttons applet --> Preferences --> Behavior --> "Hide Compiz decorations for maximized windows". If you do not want to use Compiz then you can achieve the same effect using an external program called maximus created by Canonical Ltd. Q: After installation, I cannot find the applets in the "Add to Panel" dialog. A: Try restarting the panel by pressing Alt+F2 and typing: killall gnome-panel.
TODO: - Make a variant for Gnome Shell - Make a variant for Unity - WBA: A more user-friendly way to configure button order - WBA: Option to save/export the theme - New screenshots (feel free to contribute) - Investigate merging of XfApplet functionality
Latest update:
Great news! Window Applets are now shipped by default with Gnome (Flashback) 3.24.0, as two individual applets (Window Buttons and Window Title) ! I no longer maintain the project, it now gets its love from the GNOME community. This page will remain available for its historic value, but please report the bugs/requests directly to GNOME. Minor note: In order to include the project in GNOME I allowed the new maintainers to change the license to GPL 2.0.Last changelog:
Shipped with GNOME 3.24.0
The applets are now available in GNOME 3.24.0 within the gnome-applets package.
I'm trying to contact the original developer in order to revive this project. If you are reading this, please head over to https://bugzilla.gnome.org/show_bug.cgi?id=770795 to discuss the subject. Thank you.
Trying to make it work on Ubuntu 16.04. Please help.
I LOVE this plugin when i had 14.10, i lost it on 15.04 i want it back. But it does not appear on my "Add to panel" menu. How can i do it? please.
Unfortunately "gnome-window-applets" don't show up in the list of applets for MATE (1.8.1), the linked source code for MATE also leads to a dead end.
I would love to have this working on MATE.
Thank you
Who's made the buttons for Mate? I spoke to Daniel Miranda who made the original app for GNOME but he wasn't really familiar with Mate and Cinnamon stuff.
hi, please take a look at this screenshot:
http://www.li-tech-shop.it/screenshot.png
i'm running window title applet on ubuntu 13.04 (gnome classic) and if the title is very long, this applet covers some of the icons on the right part of the panel...
any hint?
thanks...
Hey great job with this applet.
I have to say that it didnt work on Ubuntu 13.04 at first, then after using gnome-tweak-tool and switching "file manager handle the desktop" on and off again it worked.
Thank you.
i made a special metacity theme with no border, no buttons in maximized state
> http://tinyurl.com/l3dfl34 < (my dropbox plublic folder)
it's a workaround but nicely working
Unfortunately, it looks like the MATE version of the window applets doesn't work in the new MATE 1.6--they've moved their panel from mateconf to GSettings.
Hi,
I'm a big fan of your plugin, and have used it since ubuntu1204. Because I hate unity and gnome-shell, so I have to use fallback mode.
And I found when I checked the hide icon/title option, it works immediately, but when I restart gnome-panel, it will not hide.
I looked through your code, and add a line in init_wtapplet() in windowtitle.c, like following :
toggleExpand (wtapplet);
toggleHidden (wtapplet);
updateTitle (wtapplet);
toggleHidden (wtapplet); //this is added
it now will work properly, but I know it may not be a good solution, so here is the info for you.
Hi!
Can you fix this problem? I get this problem when restarting the gnome panel.
http://kkcdn-static.kaskus.co.id/images/2013/03/16/5198619_20130316062402.png
Thanks & Regards Azis
I have an ubuntu 12.04 with gnome 3 fallback. I installed gnome-window-
applets(see http://www.webupd8.org/2012/02/window-applets-finally-
available-for.html) some days ago and found something that looks like a
bug; try:
prereq.: all behavior check-boxes from preferences-> behavior are
setted to "on".
1. open an window and maximise it -> the applet buttons show up and and
are focused(this is correct)
2. open a second window(pick one that by default is not created
maximized) --> as it is not maximized, the applet buttons get to a
unfocused state(like shadowed --- sorry for my lack of technical terms);
this is also correct because they do not manipulate anymore a maximized
window as I checked in preferences.
3. vertically maximize the second window("throw" it against the right
side of the screen) --> the applet buttons get to a focused state(wrong
anyway, also see note 1) but if I click one button, the first window
gets minimised/closed/unmaximised, not the second(aka the foused)
window.
So I expect step 3 to always be "applet buttons get to focused state and
they will manipulate the second window(see note 2) becuse it s focused
and (vertically) maximised"...
I think it is very important that the butons can get to be focused at
this step: this tells the user the active window is manipulated by the
applet butons, but it is not! --- this is not questionably.
Note 1: I persoanally expect that to happen --- so it is correct ---
because the violation of Fitt's law that this applet solves is exactly
about maximized windows and the animation from the "throwing" tells me
that a maximization(even if not on all screen, but only on the half
right) is taking place. But this is questionable because:
Note 2: there is a problem with my expectation: if the window is
maximized vertically by other means(say, by using gnome keyboard
shortcuts) then the window might get to occupy some vertical are that is
not near the corner of the screen --- but I personally see no practical
disadvantage in that.
I tried to fix it(so this would be a patch) so I replaced in
gnome-window-applets-0.3/gnome-buttons/windowbuttons.c
all "wnck_window_is_maximized" with
"wnck_window_is_maximized_vertically". I think that only the last of these calls needs to be changed but I did not test it because...
These modifications solved all the issues :)
https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B-I9amXZSfhOMXI5cGNzSHZFU1U/edit?usp=sharing
This is a patch for 0.2.10-mate to fix a compilation error on Linux Mint 14 with Mate 1.4
Installation:
1. patch -p1 -i <patch-file>
2. autoconf
3. ./configure --prefix=/usr
4. make
5. sudo make install
6. cd buttons/
7. mateconftool-2 --install-schema-file windowbuttons.schemas
8. cd ../title
9. mateconftool-2 --install-schema-file windowtitle.schemas
10. Restart Mate and add applet on panel
The "hide title" option for Window Title doesn't work after a logout - I've enabled to hide the window title and only display the window icon, but this is reset after each login/out. Any ideas what's wrong?
Thanks!
-Andrew
I really love these applets! Thanks a lot!
But I would like to use the applets also in my Fuduntu - Fedora-based distro with Gnome 2. Could you please make source of version 0.2.10 for Gnome 2. Versions for MATE and converted deb-files don't work.
Thank you.
I have nautilus manage my desktop. But unfortunately there is neither a desktop nor a nautilus icon showing up as "window" icon.
This looks a little bit weird, because I also use the global menu to the right of the icon and the gnome application menu to the left.
If there is no icon, the space between the application menu icon and the global menu is twice as wide, bacause the window title applet is still there but uses no space ...
Also it would be nice to have an option to display the application name instead of the window title (like on MacOS X)
Would be nice to see this implemented in the near future
Hi, I think your applets are great. I found a little bug. I use Window Butons, check all Internal Behaviur, and check "Hide Compiz decortor for maximaized windows", your applet just add !state=maxvert in windows decorator plugin, it's ok but I use Grid plugin in compiz. After put window left or right, the top panel disapear and the window is not control by your panel. I fix it by change "!state=maxvert" to (!state=maxvert | !state=maxhorz)
Ratings & Comments
376 Comments
I'm trying to contact the original developer in order to revive this project. If you are reading this, please head over to https://bugzilla.gnome.org/show_bug.cgi?id=770795 to discuss the subject. Thank you.
Resolved! :)
Trying to make it work on Ubuntu 16.04. Please help. I LOVE this plugin when i had 14.10, i lost it on 15.04 i want it back. But it does not appear on my "Add to panel" menu. How can i do it? please.
Unfortunately "gnome-window-applets" don't show up in the list of applets for MATE (1.8.1), the linked source code for MATE also leads to a dead end. I would love to have this working on MATE. Thank you
Who's made the buttons for Mate? I spoke to Daniel Miranda who made the original app for GNOME but he wasn't really familiar with Mate and Cinnamon stuff.
I honestly wish I knew. It would be great if these where just part of the stock applet selection on GNOME/MATE/Cinnamon etc..
Daniel Miranda is not the author of the original Window Applets, I am.
hi, please take a look at this screenshot: http://www.li-tech-shop.it/screenshot.png i'm running window title applet on ubuntu 13.04 (gnome classic) and if the title is very long, this applet covers some of the icons on the right part of the panel... any hint? thanks...
Hey great job with this applet. I have to say that it didnt work on Ubuntu 13.04 at first, then after using gnome-tweak-tool and switching "file manager handle the desktop" on and off again it worked. Thank you.
Oh and i had also to install maximus, apt-get install maximus
then to prevent maximus to maximize windows every time apt-get install gconf-editor go to apps, maximus, and check no_maximize, now all is ok :)
i made a special metacity theme with no border, no buttons in maximized state > http://tinyurl.com/l3dfl34 < (my dropbox plublic folder) it's a workaround but nicely working
Unfortunately, it looks like the MATE version of the window applets doesn't work in the new MATE 1.6--they've moved their panel from mateconf to GSettings.
Hi, I'm a big fan of your plugin, and have used it since ubuntu1204. Because I hate unity and gnome-shell, so I have to use fallback mode. And I found when I checked the hide icon/title option, it works immediately, but when I restart gnome-panel, it will not hide. I looked through your code, and add a line in init_wtapplet() in windowtitle.c, like following : toggleExpand (wtapplet); toggleHidden (wtapplet); updateTitle (wtapplet); toggleHidden (wtapplet); //this is added it now will work properly, but I know it may not be a good solution, so here is the info for you.
Hi! Can you fix this problem? I get this problem when restarting the gnome panel. http://kkcdn-static.kaskus.co.id/images/2013/03/16/5198619_20130316062402.png Thanks & Regards Azis
I have an ubuntu 12.04 with gnome 3 fallback. I installed gnome-window- applets(see http://www.webupd8.org/2012/02/window-applets-finally- available-for.html) some days ago and found something that looks like a bug; try: prereq.: all behavior check-boxes from preferences-> behavior are setted to "on". 1. open an window and maximise it -> the applet buttons show up and and are focused(this is correct) 2. open a second window(pick one that by default is not created maximized) --> as it is not maximized, the applet buttons get to a unfocused state(like shadowed --- sorry for my lack of technical terms); this is also correct because they do not manipulate anymore a maximized window as I checked in preferences. 3. vertically maximize the second window("throw" it against the right side of the screen) --> the applet buttons get to a focused state(wrong anyway, also see note 1) but if I click one button, the first window gets minimised/closed/unmaximised, not the second(aka the foused) window. So I expect step 3 to always be "applet buttons get to focused state and they will manipulate the second window(see note 2) becuse it s focused and (vertically) maximised"... I think it is very important that the butons can get to be focused at this step: this tells the user the active window is manipulated by the applet butons, but it is not! --- this is not questionably. Note 1: I persoanally expect that to happen --- so it is correct --- because the violation of Fitt's law that this applet solves is exactly about maximized windows and the animation from the "throwing" tells me that a maximization(even if not on all screen, but only on the half right) is taking place. But this is questionable because: Note 2: there is a problem with my expectation: if the window is maximized vertically by other means(say, by using gnome keyboard shortcuts) then the window might get to occupy some vertical are that is not near the corner of the screen --- but I personally see no practical disadvantage in that. I tried to fix it(so this would be a patch) so I replaced in gnome-window-applets-0.3/gnome-buttons/windowbuttons.c all "wnck_window_is_maximized" with "wnck_window_is_maximized_vertically". I think that only the last of these calls needs to be changed but I did not test it because... These modifications solved all the issues :)
https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B-I9amXZSfhOMXI5cGNzSHZFU1U/edit?usp=sharing This is a patch for 0.2.10-mate to fix a compilation error on Linux Mint 14 with Mate 1.4 Installation: 1. patch -p1 -i <patch-file> 2. autoconf 3. ./configure --prefix=/usr 4. make 5. sudo make install 6. cd buttons/ 7. mateconftool-2 --install-schema-file windowbuttons.schemas 8. cd ../title 9. mateconftool-2 --install-schema-file windowtitle.schemas 10. Restart Mate and add applet on panel
The "hide title" option for Window Title doesn't work after a logout - I've enabled to hide the window title and only display the window icon, but this is reset after each login/out. Any ideas what's wrong? Thanks! -Andrew
I really love these applets! Thanks a lot! But I would like to use the applets also in my Fuduntu - Fedora-based distro with Gnome 2. Could you please make source of version 0.2.10 for Gnome 2. Versions for MATE and converted deb-files don't work. Thank you.
I have nautilus manage my desktop. But unfortunately there is neither a desktop nor a nautilus icon showing up as "window" icon. This looks a little bit weird, because I also use the global menu to the right of the icon and the gnome application menu to the left. If there is no icon, the space between the application menu icon and the global menu is twice as wide, bacause the window title applet is still there but uses no space ... Also it would be nice to have an option to display the application name instead of the window title (like on MacOS X) Would be nice to see this implemented in the near future
Hi, I think your applets are great. I found a little bug. I use Window Butons, check all Internal Behaviur, and check "Hide Compiz decortor for maximaized windows", your applet just add !state=maxvert in windows decorator plugin, it's ok but I use Grid plugin in compiz. After put window left or right, the top panel disapear and the window is not control by your panel. I fix it by change "!state=maxvert" to (!state=maxvert | !state=maxhorz)
i have the same bug.. what file a have to mod ?? thx
I changed the value in compizconfig-settings-manager in the section windowsdecorator
thx a lot!! works perfect
I'd love it if you could port this to Xfce4 or Xubuntu. I'm in dire need to maximise my vertical space on my laptop. :/