Cant find where to change from kwin to compiz and emerald

[asdfchanta]

Please help!

[T6]

open synaptic, see if you have compiz fusion and fusion icon installed

fusion-icon is the command to call the app that allows you to do what you want, it is a blue cube with a arrow in it, after installed and called it will be next to the clock in the taskbar

[Chomp]

If Kwin desktop effects are already turned on then you should first turn them off by opening Configure Your Desktop(System Settings) and navigate to Look & Feel > Desktop > Desktop Effects, uncheck Enable Desktop Effects and click Apply.  Next, click Configure Your Computer(PCC) and navigate to Hardware > Configure 3D Desktop Effects, then enable Compiz and click OK.

You might have to install Emerald through Synaptic and download fusion-icon like T6 suggested, it's a very handy little tool if you're going to use Compiz.

[outdoorart]

I had fusion icon running in PCLOS 2009, but now (2010), when I launch it from the app launcher, the icon blinks for a bit in the taskbar and then disappears.  No fusion icon 

Is there something obvious that I'm doing wrong?

[Never_More]

Are you running Kde or Gnome?

[menotu]

If you've done as suggested (including the PCC >> Hardware >> Configure 3D Desktop Effects > Enable the Compiz Fusion button) have you re-started your desktop?

Then try the Fusion icon again - if it kicks in okay, r/click on it and select "Select Window Manager" and choose Compiz.

That should do it.

How much video memory do you have?

[alexjamestodd]

my advice for a newer user would be to enable it through the pclos control centre.

fusion-icon is good if you reguarly switch between the two but control centre is the easier and i imagine designed way to do it

[Chomp]

Yes, do use the PCC for installing Compiz as it will pull in all the necessary programs that make Compiz on KDE 4 a smooth and enjoyable experience.  If you installed Compiz through Synaptic yourself and didn't bother installing and configuring other related apps for KDE 4, then your Compiz experience isn't going to be as smooth as it should be.  Compiz plays nice with Gnome and othe GTK+ like environments, not so much with KDE, at least not without some "hacking", or installing from PCC which will make it "just work".  After that fusion-icon is perfectly fine for switching WM's.

[menotu]

Hey Chomp - isn't it strange how users see things differently?

I use KDE and find it a far better experience than Gnome.

In 2010KDE Compiz is already installed just needs enabling in PCC and with the Fusion Icon - and as you say, Fusion is mainly used for a quick switch between window managers, and getting to Emerald quickly.

But choice and experience is what its all about I guess.

[Chomp]

I don't find it strange that other users see things differently but I do find some of their different preferences strange, but that's okay because it's one of the things about FOSS I love, and that thing is freedom of choice.  I think it's great that someone can seek help, get differing answers that all work towards the same solution, and then have a choice of the method they wish to use to solve their problem.

I'm also a KDE man myself, even preferring QT apps to all other apps, though I won't shy from using a non-QT app if it's better or there's no (adequate) QT alternative.

I'm using MiniMe and haven't used Compiz since KDE 3.5.10 so I'm going from memory about Compiz and KDE playing together nicely and what I remember is installing Compiz from Synaptic the first time I used PCLOS(again from MiniMe) as I wasn't aware of the PCC way of doing it yet.  The integration wasn't the best and at some point I ended up with a fresh install and enabling Compiz through PCC and the integration was much nicer, I also noticed it pulled in other packages I had not installed previously which I imagine were pre-configured for maximum kde-integration goodness.

Nowadays I prefer 3D desktop effects that add to my everyday functionality as opposed to just eye candy and that's why I prefer Kwin effects, and being a KDE user there's no need to use a non-QT app for 3D when Kwin offers more than enough for my needs.  However, if I wanted the awesome win of elite eye candy that is Compiz then I would definitely prefer it to Kwin.

[outdoorart]

Thanks for ideas.

If I enable compiz with PCC, I can then launch fusion icon, change settings, etc.; but nothing really happens (stays with KDE window manager).

If I turn off desktop effects first, I can't even launch fusion icon. 

I'm logging out and in again after every change.

Video card is geforce 9500 with 1MB ram.

Oh well, no big loss; just some of the compiz effects were fun.

[Mark342]

Configure your Desktop > Personal  > Default applications > Change window manager to Compiz