Quick AWN 0.4 Overview – Panel Mode, Applets, Intellihide

By , Published December 5, 2009

AWN is a dock-like window and launcher manager for Linux. But you already know that, right?

Evolution
AWN 0.4. is the next major version due for release and is currently in beta for people desperate to try it out.

The point-four series has reworked AWN from a bottom-bound dock into something much more powerful and flexible, adding a slew of new features, enhancements and UI improvements along the way for good measure.

  • Intellihide? Check.
  • Panel Mode? Check.
  • Swish Docky inspire Applets? Check.
  • Squishy Icon Animations Still There? CHECK!!!!

What’s new?

What isn’t! Let’s over-view the new major features one-by-one: -

Styles
Previous version of AWN come with two styles: Flat or 3D. Both of these still reside in point-four but the following are also added: -

Floaty 

Curvy

Edgy

None

“Extended”
Checking ‘expand the panel’ in the settings dialog extends the dock the full width of your screen. You can then add the ‘panel expander’ applet to shove notifications, trash cans and whatever else to one end of the panel, whilst keeping your launchers and windows the other end.

Like so: -

Position
AWN 0.4 allows a user to place the dock wherever they wish on screen. (top, bottom, left or right).

It is still only possible to have one dock on screen. Docky allows for multiple docks in various positions.

Auto-hiding
Talking of Docky it’s worth mentioning AWN 0.4′s new ‘hiding features’ that were no doubt inspired by the ‘intellihide’ feature the former introduced.

The full list of ‘behaviours’ in AWN are: -

  • Standard  – Keeps AWN on top, doesn’t hide
  • Panel Mode – Works almost like a gnome-panel; maximizing windows snap to the top of the panel. 
  • Autohide Keep Below – AWN stays under windows
  • Autohide Fadeout – AWN fades outs when a window covers the dock
  • Transparency - AWN stays on top but goes “transparent” so you can see the window beneath (see image below)
  • Custom

Launchers Only
AWN allows a user to have a launcher only dock with no window management.

Window Grouping
All windows of one application are grouped under one icon on the dock.

Icons
Drag and drop arranging of icons is now supported.

Applets
Applets now have the opportunity to behave differently. Again, part of this is surely inspired by GNOME Do Docky: -


Settings Dialog

AWN-Manager has been retired and replaced with the shiny new config dialog ‘awn-settings’.

Install/Download

The best way to install AWN 0.4 is to add the AWN:Testing PPA. This will make sure you get all of the latest features, fixes… and new bugs!

You can find it @ https://launchpad.net/~awn-testing/+archive/ppa 

Article originally appeared on omgubuntu.co.uk

Related posts:

  1. Docky Gains Panel Mode, Network Docklet & More
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  • nate8nate

    Does custom under autohide do anything?

    • http://omgubuntu.co.uk/ d0od

      I couldn’t find where you actually set the options for “custom”. It behaves as standard otherwise.

  • Mohan

    Cool, I haven’t looked into AWN for a couple of years now, but I love the new Edgy, going to give that a try now. Got a link to the wallpaper being used in the Edgy screen shot?

  • Mexican user

    Does it have the Fish-eye effect that Docky has?
    I remember I left AWN because I wanted my fish-eye effect :P

    • http://omgubuntu.co.uk/ d0od

      Sadly, no. It has a “zoom” effect which you’d think would try and do something similar, but dems da way it is.

      • Mexican user

        oh well, it seems I am going to stick with Gnome-Do for now, i love that dock!

  • http://ndrw.me AndrewNoNumbers

    Yes! Edgy is the best! I’ve always thought docks were good in form but not function. It seems so much easier to just remember to go to the lower right corner for Trash and lower left for Show Desktop, etc. With docks, everything’s is always shifting because they have to be center aligned, and then you always have to glance down to see where to click.

  • Anonymous

    holy crap. that panel edgy thing looks better than gnome do!
    imma try it

  • http://scribu.net/ scribu

    Looks great. Does anybody know how to get the big ubuntu icon on the left?

    I assume that replaces the [Applications Places System] menu.

    • ninjapirate89

      To get the big icon on the left, change the style to Edgy and move the position slider all the way to the left.

      • http://scribu.net/ scribu

        That did it, thanks. :)

        One last thing: when I try to add the notification area (systray) aplet, I get a warning:

        “Please remove the existing notification area and then restart the applet.”

        Yet, I can’t find this “existing notification area” anywhere.

        Any ideas?

        • http://scribu.net/ scribu

          Nevermind, I just had to delete the one from the regular Gnome panel.

          I think I’ll be sticking to AWN from now on. :D

          • Guest

            I tried searching, but where can I delete the notifications from the regular Gnome panel?

          • http://scribu.net/ scribu

            The notification area has a little dotted grip on the left side. Right click on that, and then “Remove from panel”.

  • http://twitter.com/WolfHook Paul

    Shall give this a go tomorrow. Gnome-do is a little jerky on my little Acer Veriton.

    Quick question, you have a cd cover icon on your screenshot. It looks like CoverSutra that I use on my Macs, what is the Linux app you are using.

    • ninjapirate89

      I’m pretty sure it’s the NowPlaying screenlet. If you want to try them out just put ‘sudo apt-get install screenlets’ into a terminal without the quotes.

    • http://omgubuntu.co.uk/ d0od

      It’s called ‘Desktop Art’ and it’s a plugin for Rhythmbox. You can get the .deb @ http://dl.dropbox.com/u/1115768/rhythmbox-deskt…If u use banshee or don’t like the style of Desktop art i recommend using CoverGloobus http://www.omgubuntu.co.uk/2009/10/covergloobus…

      • ninjapirate89

        Whoops! My bad. Screenlets are kinda neat too though. :P

  • http://twitter.com/SeifSallam Seif Sallam

    its nice to have both types of docks the windows model and the OS X model, also its nice to see competition between Docky and AWN

  • Sudhir Khanger

    Once i have added the repo what packages do i need to install.

  • http://www.FreezingMoon.org/ Dread Knight

    Simply breath taking! Distros should have this by default. I wonder what Docky will come up with next… Gonna give the new AWN a try asap under Gnome or KDE and see where it’s more convenient.

    Any idea where can I find the backgrouds for that gnome scrip which sets up background/themes/removes panels etc? Only the backgrounds…

  • http://www.arresojas.it/ Gusions

    http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_FJH0hYZmVtc/SxqteO1JPmI/AAAAAAAAExA/H3xRN1nP0qk/s400/Screenshot.png

    Hello, good post how could i have the button at the left of the panel?

    • http://omgubuntu.co.uk/ d0od

      Set AWN to ‘edgy’
      check expand panel
      move slider to the left
      add “cairo main menu” applet and place it in the far left

  • Anonymous

    AHHHHHHHHH!!!

    This is EXACTLY what I have been looking for from Docky. Will Try!

    Sorry… I get excited… might want to change my pants…

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Ernesto-E-Gutierrez/1126822706 Ernesto E Gutierrez

    this is pretty neat… trying it out :D

  • http://twitter.com/Sheldno Sheldon

    Looks snazzy, too bad it doesn’t support dual monitors… the tips on the forums to change which monitor the dock appears on don’t seem to work anymore.

    • http://twitter.com/Sheldno Sheldon

      Hmm I just discovered that Docky is pretty sweet… :D

  • http://disqus.com/forums/omgubuntu/awn_new_features_download/trackback/ John

    Looks good :) Running it now.

    As an aside, do you know if it is possible to set Rhythmbox to minimise to AWN when I click the X if I have disabled the tray icon? I’ve got too used to closing it to the tray and keep shutting it down by mistake!

  • ken

    where did you get that awn theme at? I can’t find any that work

    • http://disqus.com/forums/omgubuntu/awn_new_features_download/trackback/ John

      Have you definitely got 0.4 installed? The package you need is avant-window-navigator-trunk from the ppa.

      • Guest

        I have the same problem. 0.4 is working, but without a theme (i.e. all I can see e.g. on edgy mode beside my applets are the borders and and light blue background)

        EDIT: Oops, sorry. I found the reason – combiz is needed although some forums stated otherwise.

  • http://linuxers.org/ shredder12

    Good to see that AWN is better than ever

  • Anonymous

    Wow, looking great. Want to try Edgy.

  • http://disqus.com/forums/omgubuntu/awn_new_features_download/trackback/ John

    Can anyone get autostart to work?

    If I tick the box it sets a command in my Startup Applications to awn-autostart but this command doesn’t exist. If I change it to avant-window-navigator it automatically reverts to the original when I next login, without starting.

    Similarly, if I untick the autostart option, and create a start up command of my own, it gets deleted when I login again…

  • Nicolas

    I have a problem with the banshee notification icon in AWN… Is not showed… Anyone have the same problem?

    • ninjapirate89

      I’ve had that happen a few times. I’m not sure what causes it but usually if you disable the ‘Notification Area Icon’ in Banshee and re-enable it, it will fix itself.

  • Anonymous

    AWN has now completely replaced my Gnome Panels.

    What a stunning new release. This release will no doubt encourage more applet development too.

  • Nash

    does anyone know how to get this running for 64bit?
    im missing a dependency of a prior bzr version :(

    • Phreck

      Having the same problem on my 64bit. I’ve posted on the AWN forums to see if it can get resolved, we’ll see…

  • Anonymous

    That looks a bloody lovely dock for Ubuntu. especially Edgy.

  • Anonymous

    I don`t know hot to install AWN 0.4. May be i`m stupid,but…i add packs ,remove awn from Synaptic, and ?

    • http://disqus.com/forums/omgubuntu/awn_new_features_download/trackback/ John

      Add the ppa, install avant-window-navigator-data-trunk, and I think that drags in all of the required files…

      If in doubt, do a synaptic search for awn or avant and install anything with a version number: 0.3.9.1-bzr…..

  • Randy

    what is needed for the edgy panel to have that curved ubuntu menu button?
    Mine doesnt have that curve, is it a custom hack?

    • http://omgubuntu.co.uk/ d0od

      No it’s not a hack, if you read the comments above you’ll have seen how to do it, but for ease here it is again: -

      Set AWN to ‘edgy’
      check ‘expand panel’
      move the slider to the left
      add “cairo main menu” applet and place it in the far left

  • Anonymous

    Well I borked my panels good and proper yesterday, and there was no way other than to have a fresh install of Karmic, so I sis that and installed the gorgeous looking Avant Window Navigator.

    http://img4.imageshack.us/img4/8674/mydesktopig.png

  • http://digitizor.com/ Ricky

    The autohide is one feature I’ve been waiting for for some time :)

  • bry

    I’m a big Docky fan, so I’ll probably stick with that.

    The only drawback for it is I wish that it could have a way of including the application menus (like a stacks-ish thing), and the syetem menu to get access to shutdown etc.

    If they were in Docky, then I would do away with the top Gnome Panel (which is curently set on auto-hide).

  • Superman

    I have a problem with this version of AWN. When i open a new window it doesn`t adds to the panel. A bug or i should add a special modul to make that visible?
    Also Intellihide doesn`t work for me ;/

    • http://omgubuntu.co.uk/ d0od

      It’s a cliché to say but this is still a beta version so weird unexplainable things will happen.

      You do have the ‘manage windows’ or similar checked in the AWN settings?

  • Anonymous

    Pretty nifty – but – what happens with dual monitors? Does it put the dock in the middle of the two monitors, half on one, half on the other – or does it do what Docky does and give you the option of having it on screen 1 or screen 2?

  • http://www.open-future.co.uk/ Scott Pashley

    This looks really nice!

    Keep up the great reporting, as usual, OMG! UBUNTU!

  • manny

    so freakin cool wow

  • Anonymous

    I really gotta say that I LOVE the current trunk version of AWN. It is hands-down amazing. I can do anything and everything I could possibly want with the dock, and it looks REALLY sweet. The only feature not currently ready is themes, but the thing looks awesome no matter what. If you think Docky is cool, you gotta check AWN out. I had used Docky for a very long time, but if AWN keeps going in the direction is has been, I’m sold :)

  • Anonymous

    Is it necessary to always keep one gnome panel or is there a way to delete it and just use AWN? Cheers.

  • Guest

    Where can I get this/these applets shown in the picture under this text “Applets
    Applets now have the opportunity to behave differently. Again, part of this is surely inspired by GNOME Do Docky: -” ?

    • http://omgubuntu.co.uk/ d0od

      That is an applet “painting” itself on the dock (like some of docky’s applets do when you press them/scroll wheel on them).

      You add the shutdown applet
      right click it and check the box letting it paint window/use panel or something along those lines. Then when you press it – you get that in the screenshot.

      • Guest

        Thanks – it was the Quit-Logoff-applet. Somehow my laptop displays only the “lock screen”-icon right. The other ones are grayish and the text is not anti-aliased (has an ugly white shading). Could this be related to some compiz settings I haven’t turned on.

        Btw – thanks for your helpful and fast replies generally. You surely have a great blog!

  • Lulius

    How do I add another panel? For instance I would like to have two of them, one at the bottom of my screen and one on the left side. How do I do that?