What is the Compiz option "Number of Desktops" for?

What is the Number of Desktops setting for in CompizConfigSettingsManager > General Options > Desktop Size?

There are options for Horizontal/Vertical Virtual Size which change the size of your desktop, but Number of Desktops doesn't seem to do anything.

Example:

Solution 1:

It does nothing.

This bug report has two quotes from Travis Watkins explaining what's going on.

In compiz in hardy you cannot have multiple desktops anymore. Viewports are the only option.

Desktops have less features and are really broken. Unfortunately no one cares to fix these bugs upstream and we have no reason to as we use viewports.

_{Kudos to Rinzwind for finding the bug report.}

Solution 2:

its like the concept of workspace... 1 desktop (workspace) of 2x2 viewports, 2 desktops of 2x2 viewports etc

if you check the output of "wmctrl -d" you will understand

example i now have 1 desktop with 3x3 viewport

0  * DG: 17280x3240  VP: 0,0  WA: 0,0 5760x1080  N/A

if i change number of desktops to 2, i will have:

0  * DG: 17280x3240  VP: 0,0  WA: 0,0 5760x1080  N/A

1  * DG: 17280x3240  VP: 0,0  WA: 0,0 5760x1080  N/A

the compiz expo/wall/cube will change viewports only though, to switch desktop (workspace) you will need another workspace switcher.. but more desktops consume more resources and I find viewports on 1 desktop enough

Solution 3:

The Compiz wiki has information on this.