How to center the icons of my launcher?

Here is how my launcher looks:

My latest launcher And here is how I want the launcher to look like:
I want to look like this

Kindly let me know what I can do to have a launcher icon in center as shown in the figure.

Solution 1:

Try the following setting changes in dconf-editor (works on 18.04)

gsettings set org.gnome.shell.extensions.dash-to-dock extend-height false
gsettings set org.gnome.shell.extensions.dash-to-dock dock-position BOTTOM
gsettings set org.gnome.shell.extensions.dash-to-dock transparency-mode FIXED
gsettings set org.gnome.shell.extensions.dash-to-dock dash-max-icon-size 64
gsettings set org.gnome.shell.extensions.dash-to-dock unity-backlit-items true

The property you want to modify to keep the dock only as big as its contents is the extend-height. Set it to false

Source https://linuxconfig.org/how-to-customize-dock-panel-on-ubuntu-18-04-bionic-beaver-linux

Solution 2:

I don't know, how to customize default Unity dock, but I think, It must be really difficult. The only tool I found is unity-tweak-tool, but it behaves very strangely and there isn't setting for icons align.

Fortunately there are many alternative docks. I can show you, how to install and customize Plank (Default dock from Elementary OS) and use it together with default Unity dock.

Plank preview

I tested this on Ubuntu 17.04. I hope that it will work on 16.04 as well.

1. Install

Plank is available from official repositories.

sudo apt install plank

2. Set autostart

Hit Alt + F2 and run command: gnome-session-properties. Than Add and fill inputs:

Name: what you want
Command: plank
Comment: what you want

Now close your session and login again.

3. Add Dash to Plank

Plank as default hasn't Dash launcher so you can add it if you want.

I use xdotool key super command to simulate the Super key press. Read this for more info.

sudo apt install xdotool

Plank works with .desktop files so create one. Open Gedit, insert this:

[Desktop Entry]
Name=Dash
GenericName=Open Ubuntu Dash
Exec=xdotool key super
Terminal=false
Type=Application
Icon=/usr/share/unity/icons/launcher_bfb.png
StartupNotify=false

Check if the icon exists or use your own icon.

Save as Dash.desktop to your home folder. Open nautilus (Files), find this file and in Properties/Permissions allow executing file as program.

Drag file from Nautilus and drop it to Plank dock.

4. Customize

For Plank customization hit Alt + F2 and run command: plank --preferences.

Plank preferences

Finally, I suggest you enable auto-hiding for default Unity dock and set it to left side, because in some cases it may overlap Plank.

Solution 3:

To bring dock to the bottom

$ gsettings set org.gnome.shell.extensions.dash-to-dock dock-position BOTTOM

To bring dock to the center

$ gsettings set org.gnome.shell.extensions.dash-to-dock extend-height false

result