How do I configure the launcher to "dodge windows"?

12.04

I'm afraid the dodge window capability was deliberately removed from 12.04

According to Mark Shuttleworth

"dodge-windows approach tested very poorly. We thought it would work well, tried it, tested it, and have had to evolve from there based on evidence....

If users encounter the dodge by moving windows against the launcher, then it is fine. They see that the dodge happens when they push the launcher away, they discover they can move the window back and the launcher will reappear. So far so good.

Here's the problem. Most users don't discover the dodging by moving a window till it touches the launcher. They first encounter it when they maximise a window. So, they login to the desktop. Good. They start an app. Good. Then they maximise a window, and the launcher "disappears". To these users, the behaviour is deeply uncomfortable, random. And these are in fact the majority of users. It also turns out that users who can work with dodging launchers can also work perfectly well with launchers which always hide when not used."

By default the launcher is always visible.

More information about how to configure the launcher can be found in the Q&A

How can I configure Unity's launcher auto-hide behavior?

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Dodge Windows is a topic covered by WebUpd8

An enterprising developer has written some scripts that mimic the dodge window behaviour when a window is moved into the launcher area - i.e. it hides and unhides as appropriate.

A similar script is available to autohide the launcher when a window is maximised.

Note - these are in binary deb format. Obviously - installing random binaries is not recommended practise from a security point. Read the article if you wish to pursue this.

How to restore Dodge behavior in 12.04

This Ubuntu Geek post and this newer WepUpd8 post report how to restore the Dodge Windows and Dodge Active Windows for Unity in 12.04. These can then be set in the Unity plugin in CompizConfig Settings Manager. Update: For 12.10 / 13.04, please refer also to this WepUpd8 post.

It is required to add a ppa:

sudo apt-add-repository ppa:ikarosdev/unity-revamped

and run a distribution upgrade:

sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get dist-upgrade

Then open CCSM and set it to your favorite behavior!

(The terminal is only to document Ubuntu version.)

You might have to log out and in again for it to take effect.

This patch also restores the old Click-To-Minimize behavior. See this Webupd8 post for details.

All changes can be reverted by the following commands:

sudo apt-get install ppa-purge
sudo ppa-purge ppa:ikarosdev/unity-revamped

Alternatively, a hack to restore the older Dodge behavior is reported on here.

I tried out the "real dodge" version, and it works so-so in my opinion. Most notably, the launcher does not "go above" active windows, but pushes them to the side, where it sometimes gets stuck (so the launcher doesn't go away again). In general, when the launcher shifts position, so does many other things on screen (e.g., icons on the desktop).

An alternative is to (almost) permanently hide the launcher (see here) and use a dock with the wished for behavior (for example cairo-dock).

12.04

Here is the solution: https://help.ubuntu.com/community/Unity-ReplaceDodgeWindowsBehavior

have fun!