How to set Desktop Mode off and make it stick?

[dtarrant]

@danfro
I tried one of the commands you suggested and it failed with the message "no such key as rusageMode" (or similar).
I would value your suggestion as to how to trouble-shoot.
Thank you in anticipation.

[kugiigi]

@dtarrant it should be usageMode. It's a mistype

[dtarrant]

@kugiigi
Wow! Thanks Kugi, I'll try again.

[dtarrant]

@kugiigi @danfro
Tried again - still no joy. Got msg:
No such key 'usageMode'
I feel we are on the brink of success.
Also tried 'useageMode' but also no joy.
Any other ideas?

[Pulsar33]

@dtarrant mispellings ...

Use

gsettings set com.canonical.Unity8 usage-mode Windowed
gsettings set com.canonical.Unity8 launcher-width 6
gsettings set com.canonical.Unity8 autohide-launcher true

The opposite of Windowed is Staged

BR
Pulsar33

[dtarrant]

@pulsar33
Many thanks. I will try and let you know how it goes.

[dtarrant]

@pulsar33 @kugiigi @danfro @Luksus @Fuseteam
Brilliant! That worked!
You've made me very happy.
"If you know stuff, you can do stuff!"

[dtarrant]

@kugiigi
This looks interesting:
I now know the correct gsettings command.
I can access .config/upstart with file manager and currently this location is empty (no files).
Please can you explain the format of the script I need to put here so the gsettings command is executed when I boot the tablet.
Not sure if this is relevant, but I just noticed that file manager has an "open terminal here" option at .config/upstart/....

[Keneda]

@dtarrant said in How to set Desktop Mode off and make it stick?:

Not sure if this is relevant, but I just noticed that file manager has an "open terminal here" option at .config/upstart/....

It has this option in any folder.

@dtarrant said in How to set Desktop Mode off and make it stick?:

Please can you explain the format of the script I need to put here so the gsettings command is executed when I boot the tablet.

See there .

For instance, i assume you can call your file rotate-screen-fix.conf, put the right code to start script in it, and then create a rotate-screen-fix file in home folder and put the @Pulsar33 code above in it.

[dtarrant]

@pulsar33 @Keneda @kugiigi
Now I have confirmed the correct gsettings command to switch to staged mode, I need to arrange for it to be executed automatically when I boot the tablet.
I like Kugi's suggestion to use config/upstart/...
I have experimented with file manager which provides an easy way to created folders and files and also the facility to start a terminal wbich makes it possible to delete files and folders.
The problem I have is how best to add text (commands) to the empty file I created.
I have searched for a solution and some approaches seem over-complicated.
I would appreciate your suggestion please.

[kugiigi]

@dtarrant You can use vi or nano via terminal. Or Seabass from the store for ease of use.

Here's a sample code that the tweak tool uses to set the scaling. Not sure if you can do the same of putting the command directly instead of creating a separate script.

start on starting dbus
exec initctl set-env --global GRID_UNIT_PX=28

Here's another example of executing a script/bibary instead

start on started unity8
exec /opt/click.ubuntu.com/dekko2.dekkoproject/current/lib/aarch64-linux-gnu/bin/dekkod

[dtarrant]

@kugiigi
I like your previous suggestion of putting the gsettings command in ~/.config/upstart/....
For me, nano and vi look very tedious to learn and use.
After a quick play, Seabass2 looks much easier, so I will give that a try and let you know how I get on.
Watch this space!
In the words of Pete Juliano:
"If you know stuff, you can do stuff"

[dtarrant]

@kugiigi @Luksus
So I put the gsettings command in ~/.config/upstart/...
using Seabass2.
I did not succeed in making the tablet start in staged mode.
I did notice a few things:

1. My BQ M10 tablet file manager enables access to ~/.config but the TB-X605F does not.
2. Seabass2 can access ~/.config on the BQ, but not on the Lenovo.
3. Seabass2 was harder to use that I anticipated.
4. On the Lenovo, I had to use the command line to access ~/.config/upstart/... and add my gsettings command.
   Next I will re-visit the other suggestions that have been offered and try a different approach.
   It's worrying that the Lenovo behaves differently to the BQ.
   Looks like the Lenovo may have some significant bugs.

[Luksus]

@dtarrant Do you have set a lock-password (sudo-password) on the X605?

[Lakotaubp]

@Luksus just to let you know @dtarrant is having a problem logging in to answer your question (guessed it was this). We are trying to sort out the issue. Thanks.

[dtarrant]

@luksus @Lakotaubp
Sorry about the delay to reply. I had a problem logging in which took a while to fix. Anyhow, in answer to your question about having a passcode set, yes I did. I will explain further:

I have been using my BQ Aquaris M10 Ubuntu Edition as a reference. On this tablet, file manager can't see .config/etc until I unlock the 4-digit passcode, then it becomes accessible.

On my Lenovo TB-X605F, also using a 4-digit passcode, .config/etc was not accessible even after unlocking.
If I recall correctly, I couldn't access .config/etc with Seabass2 either, whilst it was possible from my BQ M10.

[kugiigi]

@dtarrant That's really weird. Maybe the port has apparmor/permission issues?

[Luksus]

@kugiigi
no there are no permission issues... I just tried it on my device.

@dtarrant
did you enable "show hidden files" in file-manager settings? Though that would not change the view in Seabass.

[dtarrant]

@luksus
Regarding file-manager hidden files:
I unlocked "restricted access" which gave me access to .config/upstart on the BQ, but on the Lenovo, did not.

[Luksus]

@dtarrant yes, I know what you mean. But initially hidden folders and files are 'hidden', so you additionally need to make them appear with the following setting (if you not already did it):