Workspaces and workspace switcher

[JD]

PS: forgot to mention I am running 12.10 with latest updates.

On 12/05/2012 01:27 PM, JD wrote:

Dear all,
I just for the first time installed ubuntu 12.10.

I am for the most part very pleased with the experience as far
as ease of operation.

A few things about the desktop really bug me.

It used to be that in order for me to switch to another
workspace, all I hadto do is click on it's icon on the sidebar.
Now, I have to use the switcher - 2 clicks per workspace.
This is so gosh darned annoying, that it is almost a show
stopper for me.

1. So, How can I create an auto-hidden
    sidebar (on the right side of the screen) containing workspace
icons that I can click and be immediately switched to that workspace?

2. Anotherissue is that even though I have downloaded compiz...
     but it does not appear as an icon in System Settings.

     So I tried the command line ccsm
     When the GUI came up, non of it's categories or sub menus
     provide any way to increase the number of workspaces
     nor how to create an auto-hidden sidebar for the workspaces
     (in order for me to obviate the dorky switcher).

     I tried gconftool-2 as well and set the number of workspaces:
     gconftool-2 --set /apps/metacity/general/num_workspaces --type=int 8
     IT DOES NOT WORK!!!
     In fact, there is NO file called
     ~jd/.gconf/apps/metacity/general/num_workspaces

I hope there is aseasoned gnome expert on this list
that can elucidate howto do this.