Option to disable minimized window rearrange about advanced-alttab-window-switcher

[G-dH]

Hi, minimized windows at the end of the tab list are hard-coded into the window manager which generates the list. Each Meta.Window has stable sequence id, but I can't find any MRU sequence id. Unfortunately, I don't see an easy solution for this.

[Knud3]

I see. Thanks for reply. Have to look how to build one without it then. Already done that for xfwm4, but I would like to try gnome. Or I try to change gnome window manager to xfwm4.

Or do you have any recommendations?

[G-dH]

You can't replace window manager in GNOME Shell. The only way I see is tracking windows from the extension code in order to get custom MRU list.

[Knud3]

Thats goes beyond my understanding. So, maybe I stick with xfce4, because I already got it working. Can't change my 20 year old habit :)

[G-dH]

My bad, I overlooked the user-time window property, that means I can add the option.

[G-dH]

And now it's available in the repository.

[Knud3]

Wow, nice! I tested it immediately. It have little bug:

Lets say I have windows A,B,C,D in alttab. A is active window and I minimize it. I activate window B. Now alttab order is still A,B,C,D so tapping alt+tab once just activate window what already was active. Expected order would be B,A,C,D.

And some feature request to add:

• Disabling "Minimized windows at the end" should automatically disable "Skip Minimized Windows". Definately not biggie, but might be more useful that way.
• Minimized windows have faded icon in alttab. It might be usefull for some, but maybe have option to disable that feature.
• You might wan't to unify options text appearance. It would look more professional. Now it seems quite random which words begin with capital letter. Definately not biggie either.

Huge thanks for this addition!

[G-dH]

Thanks for the test and the feedback!
I'm unable to reproduce the bug - tested on (Ubuntu) GS 3.36 and (Fedora) GS 41.

• My suggestion would be - Hide Minimized windows at the end option if Skip Minimized Windows is active. Added on the to-do list.
• Faded icons are useful for me. I don't minimize windows, but some applications (VirtualBox) does it in special situations without my permission. Option added.
• Options text improved a little bit..

[Knud3]

I tested it with Fedora 35 Workstation live-cd. All settings default. Here is terrible quality screencapture: https://1drv.ms/v/s!AkB2BxNSQ4E2kvUTfrUEXdtTrZX3Wg?e=p9O5wO

[G-dH]

Did you try to click into the window before you used the AltTab switcher? On my installs this step is usually not necessary, but if the window is not really focused, the timestamp is not updated..

[Knud3]

Yes, I also tried that and it won't change alttab behaviour.

[G-dH]

Even on Live Fedora 35 the sorting is fine..

[Knud3]

I dig this little deeper... Most apps works, which is nice. It seems that there are some exeptions like this Extensions app where it does not work like it is intended. It also looks like these window exeptions are little faded for some reason in alttab and does not have minimize button. See screenshot: https://1drv.ms/u/s!AkB2BxNSQ4E2kvUUhekzbY15njamOw?e=pLOarb

Can you find out how are these windows different and maybe even fix this bug (which is very narrow fortunately).

[G-dH]

These "faded" windows are windows with attached modal windows/dialogs and AltTab switcher lists only the main window. But again, your screenshot is showing different behavior than any of my systems, where Prefs windows opened from the Extensions app are always listed in the AltTab switcher as separate windows.

GNOME Shell is designed to use workspaces instead of minimizing windows, GNOME app windows have only Close button, minimize is available from the header bar context menu, in the latest versions as Hide instead of Minimize. I don't use minimizing at all.

[Knud3]

I hate workspaces. I tried to change my workflow to those once, but no... Minimizing is my second nature. I have never even thought why I do it, but it is just so deep in my workflow that I can't get out of it. I do not even use desktop, so that is not the reason. Maybe I just like to see my wallpaper (which is all black screen) :D

Maybe you need to market your extension more now, because I googled this feature for hours and found hundred threads where people asked this for Gnome.

Maybe I give Gnome now a chance. I have liked XFCE a lot, but panel functions are not very reliable, so I have search replacement. And native Fedora comes with Gnome.

Thanks again for making this happen!

You have any idea when this is available in https://extensions.gnome.org ?

[Knud3]

It also have this little bug/feature. Let's say that we again have windows A, B, C, D.

I minimize A, so B comes active. I click C, so it comes active. Now order is C, A, B, D. Expected would be C, B, A, D. So, it did not register B for some reason without clicking it.

Maybe I can live with this. Can't tell now. I see it in use.

[G-dH]

Again, I'm unable to reproduce the bug you're reporting on any installed or live system. The AATWS uses timestamps provided by the window manager to sort the windows for the switcher, I don't see any room for mistake on my side.
Do you have any other extension enabled?

[Knud3]

No. I just did USB stick with https://getfedora.org/fmw/FedoraMediaWriter-win32-latest.exe, booted and loaded this one extension.

I can try it again later.

[G-dH]

Hi, any news to the issue?

[Knud3]

I'm swapping computers. I can try in couple of days with fresh system.

[Knud3]

Problem exist at least with extension app: https://1drv.ms/v/s!AkB2BxNSQ4E2kvUdfLl2oiYR72-EMA?e=IiZ2hj

Also some addittional feature proposals:

• Centered (to screen) Overlay Title
• In Hotkey menu include options to "Clear All" and "Reset to Defaults"

And found one misspell: "Close Aall Windows of Selected App"

[G-dH]

The problem are modal windows - those attached to other window. The focused window with AATWS prefs is not even listed in the switcher if I see it correctly, it seems to be modal of Extensions app window. Window manager updates timestamp of the focused window but not the one of it's parent. On my systems, extension preferences windows launched from the Extensions app appear in the AATWS list like normal windows, unlike dialog windows.

Thanks for the typo and please open new issues for the feature requests.

[Knud3]

Yes. You are right. But if I switch to Extension window it brings AATWS prefs. And Dash does show it is active: https://1drv.ms/u/s!AkB2BxNSQ4E2kvUeAE_LqkHCkVifag?e=yBYx7X

[G-dH]

Indeed, the order is broken because I've added the sorting of minimized windows by the time stamp and that moves the parent window, which was previously moved to the position of its child, back to its original position in the list. I'll fix it and also add an option that allows to include modal windows to the list.

[Knud3]

Superb!

[G-dH]

Available in the repository.
57f334b

[Knud3]

For some reason window switching stopped working. App switching still works. No matter if I change hotkey. Reboot did not help. If I disable this extension then native window switching works.

Where does it saves settings? I am using Fedora, if it matters. I will try to reset settings first.

[G-dH]

You can open a terminal and execute the following command to see what's going on:

journalctl /usr/bin/gnome-shell -f -o cat

Settings are stored by the GSettings, you can access it using dconf Editor. Search for advanced-alt-tab.

[G-dH]

I'm testing the code from the repository on 3 different systems and GS versions, including Ubuntu 20.04 with GS 3.36 and Fedora Rawhide with GS 42.beta, and all works.

[Knud3]

[knude@LCND1457CH5` ~]$ journalctl /usr/bin/gnome-shell -f -o cat
Can't update stage views actor <unnamed>[<ClutterText>:0x563ad333f890] is on because it needs an allocation.
cogl_framebuffer_set_viewport: assertion 'width > 0 && height > 0' failed
Can't update stage views actor <unnamed>[<StLabel>:0x563ad4b26cd0] is on because it needs an allocation.
Can't update stage views actor <unnamed>[<ClutterText>:0x563ad333f890] is on because it needs an allocation.
cogl_framebuffer_set_viewport: assertion 'width > 0 && height > 0' failed
Can't update stage views actor <unnamed>[<StLabel>:0x563ad4b26cd0] is on because it needs an allocation.
Can't update stage views actor <unnamed>[<ClutterText>:0x563ad333f890] is on because it needs an allocation.
cogl_framebuffer_set_viewport: assertion 'width > 0 && height > 0' failed
Can't update stage views actor <unnamed>[<StLabel>:0x563ad4b26cd0] is on because it needs an allocation.
Can't update stage views actor <unnamed>[<ClutterText>:0x563ad333f890] is on because it needs an allocation.
Can't update stage views actor <unnamed>[<MetaWindowGroup>:0x563ad363a300] is on because it needs an allocation.
Can't update stage views actor <unnamed>[<MetaWindowActorX11>:0x563ad53d4b10] is on because it needs an allocation.
Can't update stage views actor <unnamed>[<MetaSurfaceActorX11>:0x563ad53d8a30] is on because it needs an allocation.
JS ERROR: TypeError: pattern is null
_getCustomWindowList@/home/knude/.local/share/gnome-shell/extensions/[email protected]/windowSwitcherPopup.js:2493:9
_getSwitcherList@/home/knude/.local/share/gnome-shell/extensions/[email protected]/windowSwitcherPopup.js:574:33
show@/home/knude/.local/share/gnome-shell/extensions/[email protected]/windowSwitcherPopup.js:501:33
_startSwitcher@resource:///org/gnome/shell/ui/windowManager.js:1711:23

JS ERROR: TypeError: this._switcherList is null
fadeAndDestroy@/home/knude/.local/share/gnome-shell/extensions/[email protected]/windowSwitcherPopup.js:819:17
vfunc_key_release_event@/home/knude/.local/share/gnome-shell/extensions/[email protected]/windowSwitcherPopup.js:1320:26

[G-dH]

I need to see the beginning of the event, leave it running and try to open the switcher again, please.

[Knud3]

It was included.

Key press:

JS ERROR: TypeError: pattern is null
_getCustomWindowList@/home/knude/.local/share/gnome-shell/extensions/[email protected]/windowSwitcherPopup.js:2493:9
_getSwitcherList@/home/knude/.local/share/gnome-shell/extensions/[email protected]/windowSwitcherPopup.js:574:33
show@/home/knude/.local/share/gnome-shell/extensions/[email protected]/windowSwitcherPopup.js:501:33
_startSwitcher@resource:///org/gnome/shell/ui/windowManager.js:1711:23

Key release:

JS ERROR: TypeError: this._switcherList is null
fadeAndDestroy@/home/knude/.local/share/gnome-shell/extensions/[email protected]/windowSwitcherPopup.js:819:17
vfunc_key_release_event@/home/knude/.local/share/gnome-shell/extensions/[email protected]/windowSwitcherPopup.js:1320:26

[G-dH]

Thanks I found it too. Fixed...

[Knud3]

Thanks it works!

It looks like that "Include Modal Windows" option do not do anything. No matter enabled or disabled modal windows are showed and alt tab working in same way. Also Gnome Tweak "Attach Modal Dialogs" do not affect this.

Also original problem does not only occur with modal windows. Here are example (now in better quality): https://1drv.ms/v/s!AkB2BxNSQ4E2kvUjCpIz4nDrIDpjyA?e=cECxQy

[G-dH]

Did you update all AATWS files?

[Knud3]

Yes. I have always removed whole extension directory, cloned it again from repo and restarted.

[G-dH]

Tested on Fedora 35 and the option works - if active, modal windows are listed.
Btw, it's the only system where prefs windows launched from the Extensions app are really modal, usually these windows behave like semi-modal (despite of its Tweaks setting), which complicates their use because it lets you launch another instance of prefs window which is irresponsive until you close the previous one.

[Knud3]

I do not find any difference between these options. There was reboot between just in case. And this is quite vanilla setup. Just applied those extensions which shown in screenshots and Gnome theme.

https://1drv.ms/u/s!AkB2BxNSQ4E2kvUhXIy7R37SKlMClQ?e=jeeF0c

https://1drv.ms/u/s!AkB2BxNSQ4E2kvUifUC8RuZg__hjRA?e=97xI7B

Anyway... That is just secondary problem. More problematic is that windows which activates after minimizing windows does not affect alt tab order. Like presented here: https://1drv.ms/v/s!AkB2BxNSQ4E2kvUjCpIz4nDrIDpjyA?e=cECxQy (reuploaded because original show just first 4 seconds)

[G-dH]

I've found that the differences makes the Wayland session, works as expected with X11. I'll try to fix it.

[Knud3]

I am using x11.

I did not get custom resolutions working with Wayland so x11 is way to go for now at least.

[G-dH]

Interesting, I had to switch to Wayland to reproduce at least the Include Modals option bug....

[G-dH]

The problem with the sorting occurs only if I don't click to the window that is being focused after the minimization of the first window, in this case the window manager doesn't update the time stamp without user interaction with the window. I can then activate another window and my history will not be affected by the automatically focused window which I didn't really wanted to activate. This is expected behavior.

[Knud3]

eg. XFCE and Windows change order even when no interaction with window. It might be expected behavior for others who comes from different desktop environments.

Many times I'm just looking something from window and not interacting with them. Then the order is wrong next time when I try to look that window again.

[G-dH]

Open looking glass (Alt+F2, lg, Enter), from the lg execute this:

global.display.connect('notify::focus-window', ()=>{ let win = global.display.get_focus_window(); if (win) Main.activateWindow(win); })

and then try to reproduce your sorting issue.

[Knud3]

Super cool! Looks like it "fixes" the issue/feature. I tried the one before you edited your message.

[G-dH]

The edit handles exceptions when the focus changes to null if there is no focus window (empty workspace).

[G-dH]

Ok, I've added the option to Misc page.

[Knud3]

This works now more or less just what I like. Fantastic! Where I can buy you a coffee?

Modal window option is still mysterious. In my Fedora 35 x11 setup that option do not do anything as seen in these screencaps: https://1drv.ms/u/s!AkB2BxNSQ4E2kvUhXIy7R37SKlMClQ?e=jeeF0c
https://1drv.ms/u/s!AkB2BxNSQ4E2kvUifUC8RuZg__hjRA?e=97xI7B

I know I should make new feature requests of these, but they do not concern me that much. Take to your todo list if you like :)

• Disabling "Minimized Windows Last" should automatically disable "Skip Minimized Windows"
• Option to inport/export settings
• I found that some Window Switcher settings affect App Switcher and vise versa. Maybe add those settings to common or seperate tab
• Centered (to screen) Overlay Title
• In Hotkey menu include options to "Clear All" and "Reset to Defaults"

Here is my settings listed if someone care:

- Common
  - Behavior
    Placement: Center
    [ ] Search Mode as Default
  - Appearance
    [ ] Show Tooltip Title
    [ ] Show Hotkeys F1-F12 for Direct Activation
    [ ] Show Status
- Window Switcher
  - Behavior
    [ ] Distinguish Minimized Windows
    [ ] Minimized Windows Last
  - Appearance
    [ ] Show Workspace Index
- Misc
  - Windows Manager
    [X] Always activate Focused Window

Thanks!

[G-dH]

Thanks for your feedback and suggestions, I will try to find some time to fix it and improve.
You can buy me a coffee here. Thank you!

[G-dH]

Thanks again for the coffee Mika! Can I ask you what exactly do you mean by
"I found that some Window Switcher settings affect App Switcher and vise versa."?

[G-dH]

"Centered (to screen) Overlay Title"
Added options for the title - Disable, Show Above Item, Show Centered.

[G-dH]

"Option to inport/export settings"
You can try this extension: https://extensions.gnome.org/extension/1486/extensions-sync/

[Knud3]

Thanks again for the coffee Mika!

Np. It was cheap price for coding and problem solving :)

Can I ask you what exactly do you mean by "I found that some Window Switcher settings affect App Switcher and vise versa."?

There was at least one or two options which affect another switcher and did actualy opposite what it did with switcher which setting it was.

Cannot remember which one was it.

"Centered (to screen) Overlay Title" Added options for the title - Disable, Show Above Item, Show Centered.

Thanks. Works perfectly!

"Option to inport/export settings" You can try this extension: https://extensions.gnome.org/extension/1486/extensions-sync/

Seems to do the trick.

I think it is time to close this issue. Thanks again for all!