Ubuntu – Open new window when clicking Unity launcher icons

launcherunity

Background

I realize middle-clicking on a Launcher icon opens a new instance, but my mouse doesn't have a good middle-click option (clicking the scrollwheel works for this, but it's cumbersome). My workflow tends to involve numerous windows for programs such as terminal and Chrome. Currently, terminal opens new windows when I click the Launcher icon, but Chrome and Nautilus do not.

Research

I found out how to list all the keys associated with org.compiz.unityshell by way of an article on OMG! Ubuntu!, and got this list:

user@comp> gsettings list-keys org.compiz.unityshell
override-decoration-theme
disable-show-desktop
launcher-switcher-forward
reveal-trigger
reveal-pressure
alt-tab-prev-window
launcher-capture-mouse
stop-velocity
panel-opacity-maximized-toggle
automaximize-value
spread-app-windows
panel-first-menu
decay-rate
alt-tab-bias-viewport
background-color
lock-screen
backlight-mode
dash-blur-experimental
edge-responsiveness
show-minimized-windows
inactive-shadow-color
low-graphics-mode
spread-app-windows-anywhere
alt-tab-timeout
switch-strictly-between-applications
autohide-animation
shadow-y-offset
inactive-shadow-radius
menus-discovery-duration
launcher-switcher-prev
menus-fadeout
shadow-x-offset
icon-size
overcome-pressure
dash-tap-duration
execute-command
alt-tab-forward
show-launcher
edge-passed-disabled-ms
launcher-opacity
show-desktop-key
show-hud
scroll-inactive-icons
disable-mouse
alt-tab-next-window
num-launchers
menus-fadein
panel-opacity
launcher-hide-mode
active-shadow-radius
menus-discovery-fadeout
keyboard-focus
alt-tab-prev
urgent-animation
active-shadow-color
launcher-minimize-window
alt-tab-prev-all
launch-animation
menus-discovery-fadein
show-menu-bar
alt-tab-forward-all
shortcut-overlay
user@comp> 

However, none of these look very promising. I have also found other questions wanting to do exactly the opposite of what I want to do, but I couldn't determine from those questions how to reverse it.

Question

Is there a way to make the Unity Launcher open new windows for all programs when left-clicking and not just when middle-clicking?

Best Answer

This is exactly what you want:

The easiest thing to do is:

  1. Remove your existing Chrome icon from the Unity launcher
  2. Open the Unity Dash and make it non-maximized

Then:

  1. Type "chrome"
  2. Drag the Chrome icon to your desktop
  3. Right-click on the Chrome icon on your desktop and choose "Properties"
  4. Modify "Command" to insert & at the end and close the window
  5. Drag the icon from the desktop to your Unity launcher

You can use any folder instead of desktop if you have problem with it.