Enabling Compiz Fusion On An Ubuntu 7.10 Desktop (ATI Mobility Radeon 9200)

Version 1.0
Author: Falko Timme
Last edited 11/12/2007

This tutorial shows how you can enable Compiz Fusion on an Ubuntu 7.10 (Gutsy Gibbon) desktop (the system must have a 3D-capable graphics card - I'm using an ATI Mobility Radeon 9200 here). With Compiz Fusion you can use beautiful 3D effects like wobbly windows or a desktop cube on your desktop.

This document comes without warranty of any kind! I do not issue any guarantee that this will work for you!

1 Preliminary Note

I have tried this on my 3-year old HP Pavilion zt3000 notebook which has an ATI Mobility Radeon 9200 graphic card, and it works really good there.

2 Restricted Drivers Manager

If you're using a new Nvidia or ATI graphic card, you will most likely have to install a proprietary driver for it which you can do under System > Administration > Restricted Drivers Manager. If you are not sure, please try to get Compiz Fusion working without a proprietary driver first, and if it doesn't work, install the proprietary driver for your graphic card using the Restricted Drivers Manager. I don't have to do this because my ATI Mobility Radeon 9200 is old enough to be supported by default. :-)

3 Installing Compiz Fusion

Open the Synaptic Package Manager (System > Administration > Synaptic Package Manager):

Use the Search function and search for compizconfig:

You should find the package compizconfig-settings-manager in the results. Click on it and select Mark for Installation:

Accept that package's dependencies by clicking on Mark:

Afterwards, you should also select the packages emerald and gnome-compiz-manager for installation (you can use the Search fuction again to find them):

Next, click on the Apply button:

Confirm your selection by clicking on Apply again:

Afterwards, the packages are being downloaded and installed:

After all packages have been installed, you can close the Synaptic Package Manager:

4 Enabling Compiz Fusion

To make sure that Compiz Fusion is enabled, go to System > Preferences > Appearance:

In the Appearance Preferences window, go to the Visual Effects tab and make sure that Custom is selected. That's it already. To configure Compiz Fusion, you can click on the Preferences button...

... but you can do the same by going to System > Preferences > Advanced Desktop Effects Settings:

In both cases the CompizConfig Settings Manager opens where you can define the behaviour of Compiz Fusion:

5 Keyboard Shortcuts

Here's a list of the most common Compiz Fusion keyboard shortcuts:

SUPER+SHIFT+DRAG LEFT MOUSE = draw fire
SUPER+SHIFT+C = clear fire
CTRL+ALT+DRAG LEFT MOUSE = rotate cube
CTRL+ALT+LEFT ARROW = rotate cube
CTRL+ALT+DOWN ARROW = flat desktop
SHIFT+ALT+UP = initiate window picker
CTRL+ALT+DOWN = unfold cube
ALT+TAB = window switch
SUPER+TAB = flip switcher or ring switcher, depending on which is enabled.
ALT+F7 = initiate 'move windows'
SHIFT+F9 = water effect
SHIFT+F10 = slow animations
CTRL+ALT+D = show desktop

For Grouping and Tabbing:
SUPER+S = select single window
SUPER+T = tab group
SUPER+Left = change left tab
SUPER+Right = change right tab
SUPER+G = group windows
SUPER+U = ungroup windows
SUPER+R = remove group window
SUPER+C = close group
SUPER+X = ignore group
Hold the SUPER button then select the windows you want to group and then hit SUPER+G.