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Ubuntu

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This guide was made for Ubuntu Hardy Heron. Most of the guide will work for previous versions with a little twicking.

Make sure that you have all of the repositories enabled. To make sure go to System -> Administration -> Software Sources. In the Ubuntu Software tab make sure there is a check mark next to:

  • Canonical-supported Open source software (main)
  • Community-maintained Open Source software (universe)
  • Proprietary drivers for devices (restricted)
  • Software restricted by copyright or legal issues (multiverse)

You might also want to go to the Third-Party Software tab and check all the boxes there too. I also have apturl enabled for this page. This means that if you want to, you can install the programs I list below just by clicking on the files links. Example, to install restricted formats you could follow the instructions below, or you could simply click on the ubuntu-restricted-extras link.

Install Everything Below Script

I have written a script to install everything below in one quick step. If you would rather just run one script instead of doing all the steps below.

Step 1

Right click here, click Save Link As and then save it in your home directory

Step 2

Open a terminal by going to the top left hand corner and click on Applications -> Accessories -> Terminal

Step 3

In the terminal enter:

sudo bash installScript

Step 4

The install script will prompt that now is a good time to put a script into Sessions. To do this

  1. Open Sessions by going to System -> Preferences -> Sessions
  2. In the Startup Programs tab click on the Add button.
  3. In the Add Startup Program window type in the following:
  • Name:Start Script
  • Command: /home/username/Scripts/StartScript
  • Comment: Starts programs

Getting Support for Restricted Formats

This package depends on some commonly used packages in the Ubuntu multiverse repository. Installing this package will pull in support for MP3 playback and decoding, support for various other audio formats (gstreamer plugins), Microsoft fonts, Java runtime environment, Flash plugin, LAME (to create compressed audio files), and DVD playback. You can read more about the restricted formats here

Step 1

Open a terminal by going to the top left hand corner and click on Applications -> Accessories -> Terminal

Step 2

In the terminal enter:

sudo apt-get install ubuntu-restricted-extras

Getting Your Mouse to Work Using btnx

If you have a mouse with more than 3 buttons and a scroll wheel, then I would suggest that you use btnx to get your mouse fully functional. Btnx is a daemon that enables rerouting of mouse button events through uinput as keyboard and other mouse button combinations. For example, you can configure an extra mouse button to send a Ctrl+Alt+Right command to switch workspaces. You can read more about btnx here

.

Step 1

Open a terminal by going to the top left hand corner and click on Applications -> Accessories -> Terminal

Step 2

In the terminal enter:

echo "deb http://ppa.launchpad.net/daou/ubuntu hardy main" | sudo tee -a /etc/apt/sources.list
echo "deb-src http://ppa.launchpad.net/daou/ubuntu hardy main" | sudo tee -a /etc/apt/sources.list

Step 3

In the terminal enter:

sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get install btnx

Step 4

Go to http://www.ollisalonen.com/btnx/man/btnx-manual.html#running-btnx-config and follow the instructions to configure your mouse

How to Get Compiz Fully Working

Compiz Fusion is the result of a merge between the well-known Beryl composite window manager and Compiz Extras, a community set of improvements to the Compiz composite window manager. Compiz Fusion aims to provide an easy and fun-to-use windowed environment, allowing use of the graphics hardware to render each individual window and the entire screen, to provide some impressive effects, speed and usefulness. You can find out more about it here. In my opinion Ubuntu should come with the CompizConfig Settings Manager already, but sadly it’s not. This allows you to configure Compiz to your liking.

Step 1

Open a terminal by going to the top left hand corner and click on Applications -> Accessories -> Terminal

Step 2

In the terminal enter:

sudo apt-get install compizconfig-settings-manager

How to Get Emerald Theme Manager

The Emerald Theme Manager allows you to install, edit and switch between Emerald themes. In order for it to work, select Emerald as your window decorator. You will also need to enable the Window Decorations plugin (via CCSM

).

Step 1

Open a terminal by going to the top left hand corner and click on Applications -> Accessories -> Terminal

Step 2

In the terminal enter:

sudo apt-get install emerald

You must now make Emerald you default theme manager. To do this there are two ways. The first is the best way, but if the first doesn’t work for you it is because emerald is trying to be loaded too early. This is where the second method comes in handy.

Step 3a

Open Sessions by going to System -> Preferences -> Sessions

Step 4a

In the Startup Programs tab click on the Add button.

Step 5a

In the Add Startup Program window type in the following:

  • Name: Emerald
  • Command: emerald –replace
  • Comment: Starts Emerald as you Theme Manager

And that is all you need to do. If this doesn’t work, use the following

Step 3b

Open a terminal using Step 1 and enter:

cd && mkdir Scripts && cd Scripts && gedit startScript

Step 4b

In the text editor that came up copy and paste the following, then save and exit

#!/bin/bash
sleep 30
emerald --replace

Step 5b

In the terminal enter

sudo chmod +x startScript

Step 6b

Follow step 3a to open Sessions and enter the following:

  • Name:Start Script
  • Command:/home/username/Scripts/startScript
  • Comment: Starts your startScript

How to Install Conky

Conky is a free, light-weight system monitor for X, that displays any information on your desktop. Here is a picture so you can see what it can look like. You can also find out more about Conky here. Conky.jpg

Step 1

Open a terminal by going to the top left hand corner and click on Applications -> Accessories -> Terminal

Step 2

In the terminal enter:

sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get install conky

Step 3

In the terminal type:

sudo gedit .conkyrc

Step 4

In gedit paste your configuration preferences. Here is my code.

Step 5 (if does not load properly)

Follow from step 3b in How to Get Emerald Theme Manager, and then change the startScript to look like

#!/bin/bash
sleep 30
emerald --replace &
sleep 5
conky

How to Install Gnome-Do

GNOME Do allows you to quickly search for many items present in your GNOME desktop environment (applications, Evolution contacts, Firefox bookmarks, files, artists and albums in Rhythmbox, Pidgin buddies, etc.) and perform commonly used actions on those items (Run, Open, Email, Chat, Play, etc.). GNOME Do is inspired by Quicksilver and GNOME Launch Box.You can find out more about Gnome Do here, or you can find more plugins and how to install them here.

Step 1

Open a terminal by going to the top left hand corner and click on Applications -> Accessories -> Terminal

Step 2

In the terminal enter:

echo "deb http://ppa.launchpad.net/do-core/ubuntu hardy main" | sudo tee -a /etc/apt/sources.list
echo "deb-src http://ppa.launchpad.net/do-core/ubuntu hardy main" | sudo tee -a /etc/apt/sources.list
sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get install libwnck2.20-cil gnome-do