In this How-To we take a closer look at Virtual Desktops and some of the options available to make your use of them more pleasant and productive. In other How-Tos we have looked at how to change the way your desktops "flip" (turning off "edge flipping") and at how to set up different backgrounds (wallpaper) for each Virtual Desktop.

This time we will look a bit closer at the Virtual Desktops dialog.

You configure Virtual Desktops by selecting "Configure" from the Main Menu, then "Configuration Panel". Select "Screen" from the left-hand column and "Virtual Desktops" from the right.

Here's the "Advanced" version of the dialog that then pops up:

The preview pane shows your current Virtual Desktop layout (complete with wallpaper!). It is from this window that you can change the number and layout of your Virtual Desktops by using the two "sliders" to increase the width and depth of the desktop array (yes, I use 12 Virtual Desktops. Long story.) You can also click on any particular desktop and bring up a dialog to configure that desktop alone. Here's the single desktop dialog.

This dialog allows you to change the name of the desktop - handy for those of us who like to assign particular uses or functions to our desktops. The one shown is one of mine that I use for graphics work. I have called it "Graphics#2". (See Part 2 of our How-To on Gadgets, Modules and Shelves for more on configuring desktops for specific functions)

Selecting "Configure" on our single desktop dialog brings up another window in which you can set the background for this desktop alone. This is a handy way to re-wallpaper several desktops quickly.

Naming and setting unique wallpapers for your different Virtual Desktops is one way to make desktop navigation easier and quicker. When I change desktops (using the pager or Alt-scroll mouse wheel), the names of the various desktops a their different backgrounds appear briefly as I navigate through them.

Cool!

Aubrey