workspace switcher stuck at 0 rows, 0 columns

The issue is rather a gnome-panel one

Thank you for your bug report, confirmed while running compiz on karmic

don't abuse the title to specify the version you are using that's wrong and create extra work and confusion

The bug remains with Compiz turned off.

I can confirm that this occurs both with and without compiz running.
The settings can be overridden in gconf-editor but the settings UI does not update and is still not functional.

I can confirm this bug with openbox as well. Seems to affect all window managers -- definitely a gnome workspace switcher bug I think.

It's "urgent"/"major" upstream because it "blocks usability of a large portion of
the product", and "Major loss of functionality - menu item broken, data output
extremely incorrect, or otherwise difficult/useless to use." Suggest a higher importance here.

I support the request to change the importance to urgent or major. As pointed out, this is an important feature for many users. In my case, I typically run with 4 workspaces. And I can't easily work without them.

Thanks,

could you stop arguing about bug settings, that's of no use there, the bug is milestoned for karmic already and will be worked

Marked as FIXED in Gnome bugzilla.

the change I've sent upstream has been commited the ubuntu patch will need a similar one too

This bug was fixed in the package gnome-panel - 1:2.27.92-0ubuntu1

---------------
gnome-panel (1:2.27.92-0ubuntu1) karmic; urgency=low

  * New upstream version:
    Panel
    - Add shebang to gnome-panel-add script
    - Use display name instead of name for menu items
      This implies we now support the X-GNOME-FullName key.
    - Make the desktop item editor not emit signals on startup
    - Support X-GNOME-FullName in the desktop item editor
    - Always show icons for categories in the applications menu
    Clock Applet
    - Update the time when the user clicks to open calendar
    Wnck Applets
    - Fix spin buttons not working in workspace switcher preferences
    Misc
    - Require gnome-menus 2.27.92
    - Ship the desktop.in files in tarball, not pre-build .desktop
  * debian/control.in:
    - updated gnome-menus requirement
  * debian/patches/16_compiz_workspace_switcher.patch:
    - updated spin adjustments in the workspace switcher to work correctly
      (lp: #423493)

 -- Sebastien Bacher <email address hidden> Wed, 09 Sep 2009 12:24:44 +0200

When I raise the number of workspaces now, the names of the new workspaces are
Desk 3
Desk 4

as I am using the german language it should be

Arbeitsfläche 2
Arbeitsfläche 3

it looks like

Arbeitsfläche 1
Arbeitsfläche 2
Desk 3
Desk 4

now.

After a boot it's

Arbeitsfläche 1
Arbeitsfläche 2
Arbeitsfläche 3
Arbeitsfläche 4

But when I add another 2 workspaces it's

Arbeitsfläche 1
Arbeitsfläche 2
Arbeitsfläche 3
Arbeitsfläche 4
Desk 5
Desk 6

again

the new comment are a different issue and a known bug