How to switch from metacity to compiz permanently?

Question

I know that by typing a command: compiz --replace into the terminal window you can switch back to compiz, but this only works till the next logout/reboot. I want to switch for good. In Natty Narwhal I can't see any options in Preferences/Appearance to do that. There must be a configuration file somewhere, I guess?

Please, help!

I checked the value you give and it was already set to compiz. However, only after using 'replace' command I get the required functionality like workspace edge.

Solution

You can run gconf-editor, then navigate to /desktop/gnome/session/required_components and change window-manager from metacity to compiz.

Before.

After.

If that does not work, try using compiz --replace as the value. If that still does not work, then add compiz --replace to your startup applications.

Comments

[user2526505]

Thanks to your ideas + some other resources on the net I found a stable solution. I installed compiz fusion-icon package using synaptic and added it to star-up programs. Thanks!

[Jason Southwell]

@Adam: you can mark the question as solved by clicking the tick next to my answer.

[James Waldby - jwpat7]

With a new installation of Ubuntu 12.04, the gconf-editor/desktop/gnome list doesn't include session. (The next entry in list after peripherals is sound).

[Jason Southwell]

@jwpat7 the question is tagged 11.04. It does not have anything to do with 12.04. If you are using a stock installation of 12.04, you are already using Compiz (if your system supports 3D accelerated Unity).