A recent update on Ubuntu changed the display settings so I that my menu bar spanned the whole distance of my two-monitor desktop. The menu bar always spanned the whole desktop, but previously it appeared as a split, with the clock and notification icons appearing on the right side of both monitors, but now they were only on the far right. Also, the application menu, which usually followed the application was always displaying on the far left.

I'm a little disappointed that there isn't a more obvious setting for these things. Especially for situations like mine, which I don't think is that uncommon, where the two monitors aren't at the same resolution. The larger, 24-inch has 1920x1200, and the smaller, 22-inch is only 1680x1050. Ubuntu suggests that my desktop is 3600x1200, though, so there are some other quirks too regarding maximizing windows, which then fills both monitors, and loses some on the bottom of the smaller display.

It took a little poking around, and learning a little bit about X-windows meta modes and my NVIDIA configuration tool. The tool showed that I had two monitors, although it was presenting only a single display to the desktop.

After a little reading and button poking, I found in the Advanced settings on the X-window tab in the NVIDIA configuration tool that I could create a new meta mode. This, evidently, allows the xconf to group the displays a little differently.

Other than making the meta mode (by bonking the "add" button), all I did was turn off the "make this the primary display for the X screen" checkbox, and the menu bar returned to its previous behaviour.

Curiously, returning to the configuration tool shows the checkbox on, but does also show the new (second) mode as the selected mode. I guess I'll have to wait to see if the settings survive a logout or reboot.