New windows are put in the background when a window has Always on Top set

Bug #197288 reported by ogc
128
This bug affects 19 people
Affects Status Importance Assigned to Milestone
Metacity
Fix Released
Medium
metacity (Ubuntu)
Fix Released
Low
Ubuntu Desktop Bugs
Nominated for Hardy by unggnu
Nominated for Intrepid by unggnu

Bug Description

Binary package hint: metacity

Problem is that new windows are placed incorrectly.
For example:
1) Open Firefox
2) Open Calculator and set it to be always on top
3) Click on some link in ff and choose open in new window
New window appears behind current Firefox window

Expect behavior:
New window should appear on top of current ff window(and behind calculator).
Compiz handles this correctly

Revision history for this message
Samuel Lidén Borell (samuellb) wrote :

This happens for me too. If I set '/apps/metacity/general/focus_new_windows in gconf-editor' to 'strict' it works as it should.

Revision history for this message
Thomas Raffler (thomas-rafflers) wrote :

I can confirm this bug. Steps to reproduce:

1) open a new window and set it to be always on top
2) unfocus this window
3) open any new window and it will start minimized

This is partitcularly annoying if you have to use onboard. This virtual keyboard is always on top and always unfocused. So it is not possible to work adequately. This bug is a blocker for tablet-pc and disabled users who have to use onboard!

Revision history for this message
Adrian Fita (afita) wrote :

I am also experiencing this bug and it's very anoying. When a window is set to be always on top, any new open window opens in the background.

unggnu (unggnu)
Changed in metacity:
status: New → Confirmed
Revision history for this message
unggnu (unggnu) wrote :

I can confirm this issue and it even happens with Debian SID so I guess it is a general Gnome or maybe Debian problem. Compiz isn't affected.

Revision history for this message
unggnu (unggnu) wrote : Re: [hardy] new windows are put in background when a window has always on top set

I have reported it upstream since I haven't find any bug report. Feel free to confirm.

Changed in metacity:
status: Unknown → New
Changed in metacity:
assignee: nobody → desktop-bugs
importance: Undecided → Low
status: Confirmed → Triaged
Revision history for this message
Ken Phillis Jr (kphillisjr) wrote :

I confirm this, and there seems to be another bug... even after applying the fix that Samuel suggested it still seems to occur when using the keyboard shortcut (Alt+F2) for run application.

Revision history for this message
Raúl Núñez de Arenas Coronado (dervishd) wrote :

Metoo, with Hardy upgraded from Gutsy (not an installation from scratch, just in case it matters).

Revision history for this message
Yleeyas (yleeyas) wrote :

I confirm this problem.
My scenario;

1) open xmms (or audacity as per another user) and set 'always on top'
2) start FF 3.0.1 - opens behind xmms, focus is on xmms
3) select FF and get focus on FF
4) start new app from launcher (firestarter)
5) firestarter opens behind FF, focus remains on FF
6) in FF select tools>add-ons
7) add-ons window opens behind FF, focus remains on FF
(this last one may be an FF config issue?)

Revision history for this message
Josh Faulkner (hunkadoodledoo) wrote :

I can also confirm, and here is a link to a thread with more info about my experience with this bug:

http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=899590

I can also confirm that Compiz is not affected. Windows open the way they should when I use Compiz.

Here is my setup:
Fresh install of Ubuntu 8.04 Hardy Heron i386
Pentium 4 2.4Ghz
512MB RDRAM
Changed Visual Effects to "None"

Here is a video of the bug in action:

http://www.vimeo.com/1815384

Revision history for this message
Nico_argentina (ferrettinico) wrote :

This is also happening in Ubuntu Intrepid Beta, the workaround is also the one proposed on https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/metacity/+bug/197288/comments/1

Should i report this bug as a new one for intrepid or is it ok to say it here?

Thanks

Revision history for this message
pdecat (pdecat) wrote :

Same problem here on Ubuntu 8.10 Intrepid final, fully updated.
Switching /apps/metacity/general/focus_new_windows from 'smart' to 'strict' does not help.

Regards,
Patrick.

Revision history for this message
dth (destotelhorus) wrote :

Indeed, the fix, that is setting /apps/metacity/general/focus_new_windows to 'stricht* does not work on ubuntu 8.04 LTS.

Regards,
dth

Revision history for this message
Austriaco (lanieves) wrote :

I'm using Intrepid and this is bugging me also :) But in my case it doesn't have to do with any window being set as "always on top".

Revision history for this message
ryan (rsingley) wrote :

I'm using Jaunty, 9.04, and I have this problem as well. For me, it's not connected to "always on top". Workaround from the first comment worked for me. Thanks a bunch, this was a really annoying problem.

--ryan

Revision history for this message
dth (destotelhorus) wrote :

Workaround 1 not working for me on Jaunty, 9.04.

Regards,
dth

Revision history for this message
Martin von Wittich (martin.von.wittich) wrote :

Workaround does not seem to work for me (jaunty).

Revision history for this message
Avi Schwartz (le-avion) wrote :

I have the same problem with 9.04. Setting focus_new_windows to strict does not help and I don't have anything set to "always on top". When I turn on Compiz it works fine. This is extremely annoying since so many times I click on something and when nothing seems to happen I click dew more times just to find out later that I have many new windows open in the background.

Revision history for this message
Toby Murray (toby-murray) wrote :

I think this bug still exists in 9.10. I notice it when having a video playing in vlc or mplayer that I set to "always on top." Then if I open a new application, sometimes the new window does not get focus. Focus stays on whichever window had focus before I opened the new one. However not all applications are affected. For example if I open the calculator (gcalctool) it gets focus correctly. However gnome-terminal windows do not get focus. Chrome gets focus, the gnome games don't. Not sure what the determining factor is.

Revision history for this message
Captain Chaos (launchpad-chaos) wrote :

This seems to be happening to a lot of people, and it's a very annoying bug. I regularly miss newly opened windows because they are always opened in the background, and every time there is the additional needed step of hunting it down in the task bar and clicking on it.

And yet nothing seems to have been done about it for almost two years now. Could this please be taken up?

summary: - [hardy] new windows are put in background when a window has always on
- top set
+ New windows are put in the background when a window has Always on Top
+ set
Revision history for this message
almos (almos-dinnyes) wrote :

I can confirm, that the same problem exists in Karmic :(

Changed in metacity:
status: New → Invalid
Revision history for this message
Ogilvierothchild (ogilvierothchild) wrote :

I am experiencing this bug on Lucid.

The effects option (System/Preferences/Appearance/Visual Effects) is set to 'None'.

$ gconftool -R /apps/metacity/general
 visual_bell_type = fullscreen
 auto_raise_delay = 500
 titlebar_font = Sans Bold 10
 reduced_resources = false
 application_based = false
 theme = Hanso
 audible_bell = false
 focus_new_windows = strict
 action_double_click_titlebar = toggle_maximize
 compositing_manager = false
 resize_with_right_button = false
 titlebar_uses_system_font = false
 mouse_button_modifier = <Alt>
 num_workspaces = 6
 button_layout = menu:minimize,maximize,close
 action_middle_click_titlebar = lower
 disable_workarounds = true
 focus_mode = sloppy
 raise_on_click = true
 action_right_click_titlebar = menu
 auto_raise = false
 visual_bell = false

Revision history for this message
Ogilvierothchild (ogilvierothchild) wrote :

I forgot to mention that it doesn't matter if the "always on top" setting is used on any window.

The particular use case that I experience routinely is that when in a terminal window, gnome-terminal or xterm, then web browser windows (firefox, konqueror, google-chrome) always appear in the background. These browsers are started from clicks on the top panel toolbar.

Changed in metacity:
importance: Unknown → Medium
status: Invalid → Expired
Changed in metacity:
status: Expired → New
Revision history for this message
andrey_campbell (andreycampbell) wrote :

Also experiencing this in Maverick on a brand new laptop.

It boggles the mind how something so serious could be ignored for ~2 years :((

Revision history for this message
andrey_campbell (andreycampbell) wrote :

Also, the "strict" mode workaround is not working for me. Anything else you reckon I should try?

Revision history for this message
Alexander.Viator (nottez) wrote :

Same here on Maverick, Metacity
I have a netbook on Intel GMA500 thus I'm unable to switch to Compiz...
Really annoying :(
and it's just unbelievable that this one bug persists for years! very annoying and very persistent

Revision history for this message
rduke15 (rduke15) wrote :

Same problem on 12.04LTS

Changed in metacity:
status: New → Fix Released
Changed in metacity (Ubuntu):
status: Triaged → Fix Released
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