Xfce Forum

newuser3

Member

Registered: 2023-04-04

Posts: 4

configuring desktop switcher

tl;dr : Is there a way to visually distinguish the different workspaces shown on the workspaces switcher?

A little detail:  On my xfce 4.16 system I have six worksapces.  I have assigned a different name to each workspace (via the workspace switcher setting manger) as well as a different wallpaper (via desktop setting).   Currently for each workspace, the switcher displays a black rectange, within which it shows miniture verisions of different windows and programs opened on that workspace.  And if I move the mouse point to that rectange, it shows the name of the workspace I assigned.

Question:  Is there a way for the switcher to either (1) always show the name of the workspace I assigned, and/or (2) show a thumbnail of the wallpaper of that workspace instead of a black rectangle?  (I realize that the color of the rectangle is probably due to the theme I use, but that has nothing to do with my question)

Reason: I do have to switch workspaces regularly, and I often can't remember which is which and I have to manually move the mouse over the switcher rectangles until I find the one I wanted.  This is a minor papercut, but it would be very helpful if I could turn on visual aid on the switcher panel.

Many thanks for your help!

feh

Member

Registered: 2023-04-04

Posts: 5

Re: configuring desktop switcher

Hi Newuser,

Not sure if this is what you want, but if you rightclick on the workspace properties (not settings) the pulldown menu will show "appearance" -> buttons rather than "miniture view"

newuser3

Member

Registered: 2023-04-04

Posts: 4

Re: configuring desktop switcher

Thanks @feh --- very helpful!

This does allow me to distinguish the different workspaces.  But with the way the workspace names are shown, they look the same as the labels in "window buttons".   Is there a way to change the background color of EITHER the window buttons labels OR the workspace switcher buttons labels?

Thanks!

Skaperen

Member

From: right by Jesus, our Saviour

Registered: 2013-06-15

Posts: 862

Re: configuring desktop switcher

if you can mentally associate your workspace usage with a key on the keyboard (as i do) you might try setting keyboard shortcuts to run "wmctrl -s <num>" for the appropriate workspace by number.  i have all ten numbers on my keypad set to switch workspaces (0..9) with one keystroke (yes, i use workspaces that fast and frequent).  then i have Ctrl+<keypad_num> set to workspaces 10..19 for some extra ones.

another option is using some key combination like Shift+Ctrl+Letter using a letter with some meaning related to that workspace usage like Shift+Ctrl+m for where you want to read mail.