How to Set Up the GNOME Docky
by momrocker in Circuits > Software
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How to Set Up the GNOME Docky
In this instructable, you will learn how to set up the infamous Gnome Docky, a tool not unlike the icon bar for the Mac OS X.
This instructable will set it up for Ubuntu, a free linux OS, but it is also possible to perform in other Linux distros, with slightly modified instructions.
This instructable will set it up for Ubuntu, a free linux OS, but it is also possible to perform in other Linux distros, with slightly modified instructions.
Supplies
Supplies needed:
1) Keyboard
2) Mouse
3) Basic typing skills
4) A computer running Ubuntu (or other Linux distro)
1) Keyboard
2) Mouse
3) Basic typing skills
4) A computer running Ubuntu (or other Linux distro)
Getting GNOME Do
First, open the Terminal (applications->accessories->terminal) and type/copy+paste into it the following code:
sudo apt-get install gnome-do
After the line saying "[sudo]password:", type in your password (it will seem like you are not typing, but it is still picking up any keys you hit), and when it asks you to confirm with "y/n" (yes/no), type in "y" and hit the [enter] key. This will automatically install all components of GNOME Do and make shortcuts to it in your applications tab.
After the installation is complete you may safely leave the Terminal by clicking the [x], hitting [ctrl]+[d] simultaneously, or typing "exit" and hitting the [enter] key.
sudo apt-get install gnome-do
After the line saying "[sudo]password:", type in your password (it will seem like you are not typing, but it is still picking up any keys you hit), and when it asks you to confirm with "y/n" (yes/no), type in "y" and hit the [enter] key. This will automatically install all components of GNOME Do and make shortcuts to it in your applications tab.
After the installation is complete you may safely leave the Terminal by clicking the [x], hitting [ctrl]+[d] simultaneously, or typing "exit" and hitting the [enter] key.
Formatting Before Setting Up Docky
Because the GNOME Do "Docky" (Which I will refer to now on as "Docky") needs to take up the entire top or bottom (e.g. the app bar or the minimize bar cannot co-exist with Docky), you must move the bars on the top or bottom to somewhere other then... well... the top or bottom.
Right click an empty spot on the top or bottom bar, and click [properties] out of the small menu that appears. In the "Orientation" box, you can set it to the top, bottom, left, or right for both the top and bottom bar, and as an added bonus, you can move both of them to the same side, where one will stay above the other.
For this example, we will set both of their orientations to "top".
Right click an empty spot on the top or bottom bar, and click [properties] out of the small menu that appears. In the "Orientation" box, you can set it to the top, bottom, left, or right for both the top and bottom bar, and as an added bonus, you can move both of them to the same side, where one will stay above the other.
For this example, we will set both of their orientations to "top".
Set Up Docky
In the applications bar, click the GNOME Do shortcut (Applications->Accessories->GNOME Do) and type into the GNOME Do box that appears:
preferences
This must be put in exactly this way, or it will not pin-point the right "preferences". When it is successfully typed into the box, hit the enter key to open up the preferences for GNOME Do. At the top, click the |Appearances| tab and set the theme to "Docky" in the box.
If it is already set to Docky, you may have to change it to something different, and then change it back.
From here, you can edit the Docky to be on the top or bottom, the size of the icons, the zoom when you scroll over them, autohide, etc. etc. To have the best results, I recommend to set the hiding feature to "autohide", or the bottom of open windows may stop on the top of the Docky, but it is your personal preference that decides how you have it.
preferences
This must be put in exactly this way, or it will not pin-point the right "preferences". When it is successfully typed into the box, hit the enter key to open up the preferences for GNOME Do. At the top, click the |Appearances| tab and set the theme to "Docky" in the box.
If it is already set to Docky, you may have to change it to something different, and then change it back.
From here, you can edit the Docky to be on the top or bottom, the size of the icons, the zoom when you scroll over them, autohide, etc. etc. To have the best results, I recommend to set the hiding feature to "autohide", or the bottom of open windows may stop on the top of the Docky, but it is your personal preference that decides how you have it.
Test It!
If you followed my directions, the docky will now inhabit the bottom of the screen whenever you scroll over its general area, and it will automatically choose multiple applications to the docky.
To test it, click on one of these applications, making sure to keep your cursor over it until it completes two jumps, and wait for it to boot up, hopefully 100% successful.
To test it, click on one of these applications, making sure to keep your cursor over it until it completes two jumps, and wait for it to boot up, hopefully 100% successful.