r/xubuntu

IMPORTANT:

Find the panel you want to hide and unhide with your keyboard by the number in panel preferences menu. For eg: panel-1

Change the number in the script provided below:

For eg: "panel-2" , in the script below, becomes panel-1(replace it in all the three lines it is mentioned)

Copy paste this script into your text editor and SAVE THE FILE in the directory of your choice as panelhide.sh
open terminal CD to to the DIR and chmod +x panelhide.sh
Now open xfce4-keyboard-settings app by pressing Alt+F2 or typing it in your terminal> Go to Applications Shortcuts> Add a shortcut from the bottom menu> Add the panelhide.sh in the command field. > Add the non-conflicting shortcut of your choosing and your're done.
control delay of panel hiding animation to speed up the process add this code into your

~/.config/gtk-3.0/gtk.css

/**this goes into your gtk.css***/
#XfcePanelWindow {
    -XfcePanelWindow-popup-delay: 0;
    -XfcePanelWindow-popdown-delay: 0;
}

panelhide.sh

#!/bin/bash
val=$(xfconf-query -c xfce4-panel -p /panels/panel-2/autohide-behavior)
if [ "$val" -eq 1 ]; then
    xfconf-query -c xfce4-panel -p /panels/panel-2/autohide-behavior -s 2
else
    xfconf-query -c xfce4-panel -p /panels/panel-2/autohide-behavior -s 1
fi

HOWTO: Call and hide panel's like menus via keyboard shortcuts.