XFCE with dual monitors?

malloc · 12-24-2010, 11:45 PM

I have a computer with a dual monitor setup, configured thanks to the nvidia-settings utility that comes with the proprietary NVIDIA drivers.

Everything seems to work fine, except that I am unable to move windows between the two desktops. I can move the mouse between the desktops, but I am restricted to moving the window between the virtual desktops associated with that particular monitor's desktop switcher (virtual desktops).

How can I configure XFCE and/or xorg such that I will be able to move windows between the monitors? It is really cumbersome to use two monitors without being able to move the windows across the monitors so it would be great to find a solution for this.

Thanks in advance.

ozanbaba · 12-25-2010, 02:00 AM

Quote:

# Move the window to previous|next workspace : Alt + Control + Home|End
# Move a window to workspace number N (1-9) : Alt + Control + keypad key number N

However I'm not sure if I understand your question right, though. If this was not what you are looking for, then sorry for the noise.

Link to Xfce4 wm documentation.

frieza · 12-25-2010, 02:48 AM

actually that's not an xfce setting, if you want to be able to drag windows from monitor to monitor, run nvidia-settings and tick the 'enable xinerama' box, save the settings to Xorg.conf and restart the x server (ctl-alt-backspace, or alt-k-printscreen in Ubuntu)

xinerama is the equivalent of the 'span' mode in windows, it creates both screens as one large virtual desktop as opposed to two separate independent screens

malloc · 12-25-2010, 07:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by frieza

actually that's not an xfce setting, if you want to be able to drag windows from monitor to monitor, run nvidia-settings and tick the 'enable xinerama' box, save the settings to Xorg.conf and restart the x server (ctl-alt-backspace, or alt-k-printscreen in Ubuntu)

xinerama is the equivalent of the 'span' mode in windows, it creates both screens as one large virtual desktop as opposed to two separate independent screens

I managed to get a span mode equivalent from manually editing the xorg.conf; however I'm unable to find any checkbox (or other widget) labeled "enable xinerama", do you know where in the nvidia-settings program this widget is to be found?
Even though I have a span mode active at the moment I'd like to see how the nvidia-settings utility handles it as I'm still not happy with the way it works.

ozanbaba · 12-26-2010, 02:42 AM

Xinerama emulated by TwinView so you do not need to enable it. To go dual monitor under X using Nvidia, this is what I did; Connected the new monitor, Run X Nvidia settings, Hit detect. IT detects my otehr monitor and places it according to. You can change resolutions if you want to. Save the nex settings to xorg.conf and I have my dual monitor working. I can move windows between them etc.

PS: I use Xfce 4.6.1 on Slackware64 13.1 with Nvidia 8800 GT.