GNOME Bugzilla – Bug 687832
workspace keyboard shortcuts only permit first four workplaces
Last modified: 2012-11-07 11:06:04 UTC
I am running Gnome 3.6.1 on Arch Linux. I am using gnome-fallback mode. When I attempt to add keyboard shortcuts using the gnome-control-center, I am given the option to add keyboard shortcuts for switching to workspace 1 through 4. When I increase the number of workspaces to 7, this still only permits shortcuts 1 through 4. I know that it used to go up to at least 7, as I remember setting shortcuts in the past (this was in gnome-session-fallback on Ubuntu, however, and I am not sure how this differs from gnome-fallback). This was also available in GNOME2. Please note that I can switch to workspaces 5, 6, and 7 using the Workspace Switcher applet, or with the CTRL+ALT+left/right shortcut. GNOME does realize I have more than four workspaces, but it doesn't allow me to configure a keyboard shortcut for more than 4.
I apologize for spamming email by bumping the same bug report: I have confirmed that disabling static workspaces and enabling more than 4 workspaces in gnome-shell also does not offer a keyboard shortcut for anything above 4. This is not an issue only affecting gnome-fallback.
Please note that there was an Arch bug report filed, but nothing reported upstream previously: https://bugs.archlinux.org/task/31130?project=1&cat%5B0%5D=2&string=gnome-control-center
The problem can be fixed by navigating to: /org/gnome/desktop/wm/keybindings And manually editing the keys (keybindings for switch-to-workspace-X). This permits the old behaviour of allowing the use of 1-12. It appears to just be an issue with the GUI. Again, I apologize for your inboxes. I don't do a lot of bug reports I should have put this all together and made one concise post.
I have no google-fu. I apologize. https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=826024 Discusses the philosophy for the change, now displayed 1-4 statically, even if dynamic workspaces are disabled or the user is running in gnome-fallback. My mistake, but it does create a confusing experience if you don't use dynamic workspaces. Perhaps detect if this is disabled or gnome-fallback is used over gnome-shell and re-expose these GUI controls, instead of having to hunt through dconf?
As you mentioned, you can use dconf-editor to get to the other workspaces' shortcuts. We won't be making any other changes related to workspace keybindings though as fallback mode is going away in 3.8: https://live.gnome.org/ThreePointSeven/Features/DropOrFixFallbackMode