6. Manipulating the 3D Desktop

6. Manipulating the 3D Desktop
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If you have configured your desktop to use 3D effects (Section 3, “Configuring a 3D Desktop”), here are some hints about the most useful features, depending on the type of implementation you have chosen.

6.1. Manipulating the 3D Desktop with Compiz

Table 1.1. 3D Desktop Manipulations with Compiz

Effect	Manipulation or Keyboard Shortcut	Comment
Show all windows of current desktop	Move the cursor to the top right corner of screen. Keyboard Shortcut: Ctrl-Alt-↑.	All windows are scattered on the desktop, click the one you wish to use.
Move window to next cube face	Grab the window and drag it to the left or right desktop edge	This rotates the cube and allows you to place the window on the next face
Switch face	Ctrl-Alt-← or Ctrl-Alt-→	Rotates the cube left or right
Show faces	Ctrl-Alt-↓	“Flattens” the cube so more than one face become visible
Make active window transparent	Alt-Mouse wheel	Control the transparency level of the window by moving the wheel up (less transparent) and down (more transparent). Objects behind the window appear in transparency

6.2. Metisse, an Innovative Windows Manipulation System

Figure 1.10. Metisse in Action

Table 1.2. Basic Windows Manipulations

Effect	Manipulation or Keyboard Shortcut	Comment
Temporary Window Move	Double-click the window title, and maintain the mouse button down, then move the window..	Useful to temporarily see what's behind the window.
Windows Maximize	Click and hold the maximize icon of the titlebar and then move the cursor to one of the edges or top right corner	Windows gets maximized to fit the edge.

Table 1.3. Advanced Window Effects

Effect	Manipulation or Keyboard Shortcut	Comment
Scale and zoom	Click and hold any window border and choose action	Clicking on an edge or on a corner (where the mouse pointer becomes a double-head arrow) and holding the button makes appear various options Resize Same effect as simply dragging the window border. Scale Allows to actually resize any element inside the window, so they are actually shown bigger or smaller. Rotate Rotates the window according to the chosen axis while moving the mouse.
Zoom Window In and Out	Place the mouse on window title and use mouse wheel.	The mouse sticks to the title while the window resize.
Restore Original Window Appearance	Click the middle button mouse on the window title.	Useful after you have played too much.

Table 1.4. Pager Actions^[2]

Effect	Manipulation or Keyboard Shortcut	Comment
Show or Hide Pager	Press Super key and roll wheel.	You can then move your desktop to another page by clicking on it.
Move Desktop	Press key combination Ctrl-Alt-Arrow key.	You can see the desktop move on the pager (bottom right).
Zoom Current Desktop:	Press Super-F8/F9

	Tip
	This was just an introduction to Metisse capabilities, for more effects, please check the Metisse page at Mandriva and the official documentation.

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