Guake has this annoying thing when used on Unity. It does not adjust its width to compensate for the Unity Launcher when it (Launcher) is set to Never hide. The result is part of it is outside the screen, particularly the right side where the scrollbar is located, and the Add A New Tab button is also hidden as a result. I have mentioned this in a previous post – Use Quake-like Terminals.

Supposedly Guake’s width and height can be adjusted on the fly like any other normal window. However the new width (or height) is not remembered. It will go back to its original 100% width once it un-hides. In the Preferences there is no option to set the width permanently.

In order to fix this you have to edit the Guake python script. Thankfully python is an interpreted language. You do not have to download its source code and re-compile it nor do you need the extra tools to compile code. What you only need to do is edit it directly. The default install is at /usr/lib/guake/guake.py.

Open it with your favorite editor. You can use gedit. Run the following command so that your modifications will be saved:

gksu gedit /usr/lib/guake/guake.py

Now find these lines:

def get_final_window_rect(self):
“””Gets the final size of the main window of guake. The height
is the window_height property, width is window_width and the
horizontal alignment is given by window_alignment.
“””
screen = self.window.get_screen()
height = self.client.get_int(KEY(‘/general/window_height’))
width = 100
halignment = self.client.get_int(KEY(‘/general/window_halignment’))

# get the rectangle just from the first/default monitor in the
# future we might create a field to select which monitor you
# wanna use

Notice the line highlighted in yellow? That is the one line that needs to be modified. The default is 100. That means Guake will occupy the entire width of the screen. Change it to a number smaller than 100.  I’ve set mine to 95.

The changes will not take effect immediately. You have to restart Guake for the changes to take effect.

BEFORE

AFTER

Take note that this only happens when Launcher is set to Never hide using CompizConfig Settings Manager. Otherwise the entire Guake window should be visible on your screen.

Similar Posts:

• > Use Quake-like Terminals July 30, 2011
• > Change The Default Plymouth Ubuntu Theme Background Color November 19, 2011
• > non-KDE app filechooser trick May 12, 2009
• > that annoying blue backround on RH9 January 27, 2007
• > Get Rid Of Obese Scrollbars on Ubuntu Natty May 19, 2011