Can someone explain me how to set up those patches ?

Thanks !

* Hopefully it works as expected if you open the capplet on one workspace, then move it to a different workspace before closing it? (Where ‘as expected’ means the selection updates to reflect the new workspace background, and I can set the new workspace background as well?)

* Is it possible to set hints to make the appearance capplet automatically appear “Always on Visible Workspace” (as I can do manually via its titlebar), and would it make sense to do so, to simplify changing multiple workspace backgrounds in one go? (That’s what happens on MacOS X, but for multiple monitors rather than different workspaces– just like GNOME, different workspaces are stuck with the same background, in Leopard…) Even if it’s possible, would certainly need a little usability testing to see if people liked that, though, as it’s obviously different to how every other app/window on the desktop behaves…

Please make sure to check this bug:
http://bugzilla.gnome.org/show_bug.cgi?id=444320

Some notes:
- Add a checkbox “[] Apply to all workspaces”
- Make nautilus use a RGBA colormap and draw a transparent background in case of a composite manager taking over (see patches in the bug)
- Adjust/Fork the compiz wallpaper plugin to use the new background gconf keys instead of it’s own to set the drawn wallpapers

This would allow multiple wallpapers on non-composited and composited environments and integrate with GNOME.

In the video, however, it looks like there is a small lag between the time you switch workspace and the time the wallpaper shows up. Are you seeing this?

Also, I think it’s really important to have this capability work with compiz. I know it may not be easy, but compiz is one of the big drivers for people trying Ubuntu for the first time.

Thanks again!

I have one suggestion for capplet GUI, IMHO I do no think drop down box is a very good idea. What if the users has let’s say 99 workspaces (this might lower number), the drop down list would list 99 workspaces?!! Imagine that! Well, so a check box Apply to all workspaces would be enough.

Besides, I think the capplet should have some kind of way to preview what bg is used on each workspace rather than let user change workspace by workspace to figure out only if someone can come up with a neat and simple GUI. Else just leave it as it is.

Go Digg it
http://digg.com/linux_unix/Gnome_Different_Wallpapers_for_Workspaces_complete

I love nona’s suggestion about the mini view of the viewports + drag & drop. As long as it scales well (follow the workspace switcher applet settings?), UI space shouldn’t be an issue.

Keep it up!