Be able to set button layout (like in Metacity)

[dtrunk90]

I've installed the elementary window decoration theme from here: https://launchpad.net/~elementary-os/+archive/stable

I asked the maintainer what happened with the minimize button. And he gave me this link: http://elementaryos.org/journal/whats-window-controls

The minimize button was removed by any button layout setting - so this is not a Theme bug!

"Changing Metacity settings is exactly what the theme does. This mechanism was originally introduced in Ubuntu to enforce Ambiance button layout change but not affect other themes. So editing this key is what you need to revert the change too."

I don't know why they removed this button. The reason they give is totally nonsense to me - but nevermind - that doesn't help to resolve this problem.

Is there any chance to get back the minimize button? Where does Cinnamon have the button layout settings?

Both /apps/metacity/general/button_layout in gconf-editor and org.gnome.desktop.wm.preferences.button-layout in dconf-editor are set to :minimize,maximize,close - still no minimize button.

[bimsebasse]

You can do that in Cinnamon Settings - other than that this is an elementary gtk/metacity theme issue, not a cinnamon issue.

[dtrunk90]

So it seems i'm getting wrong information from the package maintainer... I'm closing this for now. Will see/hope I can get more info from the other side :-(

[dtrunk90]

Yes, they've removed the minimize button directly in their theme.... I don't know why they don't use existing settings for this. Shame on the developers of this theme! I'm so incensed...

[clefebvre]

Almost as dumb as rhythmbox discontinuing its systray... ah well.

Anyway, on a related note, the configuration of the button layout in cinnamon-master is currently broken (it moved from gconf to gsettings and cinnamon settings needs to be updated accordingly).

[clefebvre]

I just read that: http://elementaryos.org/journal/whats-window-controls

I can't wait for my minimize button to be taken away, I "accidentally" click on it every 20 seconds. They should remove support for keyboards, right-click and middle-click too... all you need is one click and an online keyboard, if the iPad does it surely the PC can do the same. All these keys and mouse buttons are so confusing and people hit them accidently all the time. Sometimes the mouse button does one thing, sometimes another, it's so inconsistent... omg... seriously!!?

I don't know who's blind here, whether I can't see it being better and I'm stuck in some old paradigm or we're facing a generation of self-proclaimed usability experts which eyes have been burnt by the success of a few Apple gadgets.

This comment also is shocking: "I think we'd rather decide what the more sensible solution is in the scope of the entire system than make the user decide something as technical as that.". I'm all in favor of not asking too many questions but when the user explicitly launches a configuration tool or even worse when he goes through a series of gsettings key, there's no excuse not to expose configuration there. I've heard some Gnome devs basically say that configuration was inherently bad because it created bugs, was harder to maintain and it allowed people to experience the "product" differently. If the product isn't configurable, users can't lessen its quality and eventually adapt to it and see the light until they understand the choice made by the developers are better than what they were initially looking for. Cause you see, we, developers (oh wait, I don't think they're including me in this), ... them, developers, know better than you what you need in your computer.

---

I hope my comment above didn't shock any "usability expert" as much as the content of that article shocked me.

[bimsebasse]

Clem, you're old hat :o)

Both Canonical, Gnome and the elementary crew feel a need to educate their users on how to use their computers, I'm sure they'll come to their senses eventually when the UI innovation craze fades and at least provide opt-out alternatives. Until then it's good news for the Mint stock.

[hoodie]

It seems to me that many UI designers lost their believe in the capabilities of their users to operate desktop interfaces. Apparently nobody seems to have used a computer before and needs to be handed the most idiot proof system possible.

[dtrunk90]

Haha Clem you made my day :-D

But here's the final answer I've got: I've got a clarification from the designers - they say they didn't remove the button, they've simply never added it to the Mutter-and-Friends theme which is separate from the one used by Compiz's gtk-window-decorator. So your only option is to hack the code or wait till somebody else does it. Or use an older release, e.g. 3.1 - it also has GTK3 support.

[Cobinja]

Clem, I absolutely agree with you. The desktop environment should be able to be adapted to the users needs and wishes, not vice versa.

[dtrunk90]

If someone knows how to use bazaar and Launchpad repositories and want to help hacking this beautiful theme you can contact me here or by mail (see my profile for mail information)

[bimsebasse]

I'll look into it, shouldn't be too difficult

[dtrunk90]

@bimsebasse All is done now

I need to hack the code now to display the minimize button again. If someone wants to help. You're welcome to join the Team: https://launchpad.net/~egtkmod-packagers

[dtrunk90]

I don't know how to check out a specific release with bzr. There are no tags in their repository and I don't want to look into each release to know what was the last revision :-( https://launchpad.net/egtk