Workspace switcher preferences do not remember number of workspaces

I just found a workaround for the problem, and a potential cause.

Workaround:
* Run gconf-editor.
* Browse to /apps/metacity/general
* Set a value for "num_workspaces". (Or right-click and choose "unset key" to
reset to a default value of 4.)

Changes to the number of desktops that are made via workspace switcher are now
saved.

Possible cause:
My original value for this key was not set. (Possibly as a result of upgrading
from Warty->Hoary->Breezy and a switch to using this key instead of
/desktop/gnome/applications/window_manager/number_of_workspaces in recent Gnome
updates?)

Thanks for your bug. Is the gconf key updated when you change the number of
workspaces from the applet?

(In reply to comment #2)
> Thanks for your bug.

No problem - thanks for looking at it! :-)

> Is the gconf key updated when you change the number of
> workspaces from the applet?

It doesn't appear to be, not until you make the manual amendment using gconf.
Until you set the value with gconf it seems to stay set as "null" (or the gconf
equivalent).

I'm basing this on the fact that I tried changing the number of desktops several
times, and it was only after I had run gconf that the changes started to stay in
place.

Vincent, any idea on what could cause that issue?

No idea :-)

Andy: is the key updated when you change the setting in the applet, now that
you've set the setting in gconf once?

(In reply to comment #5)
> Andy: is the key updated when you change the setting in the applet, now that
> you've set the setting in gconf once?

Hi Vincent - yes - since updating the setting in gconf the changes that are made
through the applet are retained.

Some additional background that I should have included earlier. I have brought
my $HOME, and my Gnome config, along with me through a couple of different
distros for a couple of years now. Metacity used to use the key
"/desktop/gnome/applications/window_manager/number_of_workspaces" but it looks
like this has been deprecated at some point. Possibly Gnome isn't doing
something sensible with existing configs, and migrating this value to
"/apps/metacity/general/num_workspaces"?

Unfortunately I can't remember if I started fresh with a new Gnome configuration
when I switched to Warty so I'm not sure when this problem may have started.

(In reply to comment #6)
> (In reply to comment #5)
> > Andy: is the key updated when you change the setting in the applet, now that
> > you've set the setting in gconf once?
>
> Hi Vincent - yes - since updating the setting in gconf the changes that are made
> through the applet are retained.

Ah, this will make it more difficult to debug (but it's better for you ;-)).

> Some additional background that I should have included earlier. I have brought
> my $HOME, and my Gnome config, along with me through a couple of different
> distros for a couple of years now. Metacity used to use the key
> "/desktop/gnome/applications/window_manager/number_of_workspaces" but it looks
> like this has been deprecated at some point. Possibly Gnome isn't doing
> something sensible with existing configs, and migrating this value to
> "/apps/metacity/general/num_workspaces"?

True. Might be a metacity bug. Maybe when it migrates the setting?

I'll look at the code.

Weird. I can't find anything related to this.

I am still seeing this problem on a fresh install of Ubuntu Dapper. Number of workspaces is not remembered across sessions, despite changing the number of workspaces every time I login via the applet's preferences.

Note that I have uninstalled metacity in favor of sawfish. I still have libmetacity0 installed.

That is useful information. Andy, are you using sawfish or another window manager too?

Your bug lacks information we would need to investigate further. We
are now going to close the bug - please reopen if you have more
information at hand.

After an upgrade from fiesty to gutsy beta, I'm also plagued with this problem.

* Right-click workspace switcher.
* Select "Preferences" from the popup menu.
* Change the number of workspaces. (eg, 6). The changes take place immediately.
* Click "OK"
* Logout or reboot
* Log back into gnome
* The number of workspaces switches back to the default number of 2.

Wim, you probably should not comment on bugs closed for almost a year, your issue is likely a new one and a duplicate if you are using the desktop effects option