desktop-packages team mailing list archive

[Bryce Harrington <727928@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

> * I have to use the proprietary NVidia driver because the open source driver STILL does not support multiple cards.
Known issue with most all the FOSS video drivers.  Bug #316514

> * I have to enable Xinerama to be able to drag windows between monitors. If I don't I get completely separate desktops.
Right, NVIDIA doesn't support XRANDR 1.2 (which provides for extended displays) so have to use Xinerama or Twinview.

> * If Xinerama is enabled 3D effects don't work. Ubuntu apparently doesn't realise this and still tries to use the "Ubuntu" (in other words Unity 3D) session by default, which doesn't work (it just hangs), leaving me unable to log in.
This sounds like a legitimate bug (two bugs really).  Would need to see the actual error messages to diagnose as there's a few different ways this can result.  Better to handle those issues in separate bug reports.

> * I have to install and use the GNOME Classic (no effects) session to be able to log in at all.
Why not Unity-2D?

> * Which STILL moves every full screen window that opens to my left monitor instead of the center one.
Sure, that's still metacity so still the same software.  Unfortunately I doubt Canonical will be investing engineer time into metacity since they're focusing efforts on Unity.  So if you care only about metacity I'd suggest going directly upstream with this issue; it likely won't be worked on in Ubuntu.

> Why is it so hard to get Ubuntu to leave my windows alone and let them
stay on the monitor on which it opens?!

To the contrary, this is a metacity behavior, not by Ubuntu's design.

Admittedly, once in a while I see windows getting opened on the other
display, however those are likely to be bugs, not by design. The UX
Multi-Monitor design specification specifically defines the expected
behavior:

"""
2.7   Placing New Windows

When creating new windows for an application, the windows should be
placed on the display which currently has focus. A display has focus if
it contains the mouse cursor.

This has the perceived effect of application windows appearing on the
display which:

 -  contains the Launcher used to launch the application or open a new
window

 -  contains the Dash or Indicators menu used to launch the application

 -  contains the desktop shortcut icon used to launch the application

 -  contains the file icon used to launch the application by file
association

 -  contains the application menu bar used to choose a New Window
command

 -  has keyboard focus for keyboard shortcuts

When an application persists the geometry of it’s windows across launch
invocations, the windows should always be restored onto the display
which has focus upon launching the application. This is to ensure that
windows always appear in a consistent and predictable fashion.

This approach may fail to satisfy use cases where an application has a complex user interface, which is organised across more than one display. In a later phase, relative positioning strategies could be developed to satisfy these cases. For example, the main (eg. document/content) window will be restored onto the display with focus, whilst a cluster of tool palettes is placed on the display to the right of the main window display.
"""


** Summary changed:

- Upon starting a program full screen, the window is immediately moved to the wrong monitor
+ Upon starting a program full screen with NVIDIA Xinerama, the window is immediately moved to the wrong monitor

-- 
You received this bug notification because you are a member of Desktop
Packages, which is subscribed to metacity in Ubuntu.
https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/727928

Title:
  Upon starting a program full screen with NVIDIA Xinerama, the window
  is immediately moved to the wrong monitor

Status in “metacity” package in Ubuntu:
  New

Bug description:
  Binary package hint: metacity

  On a multi-monitor system, when starting a program which starts full
  screen (such as Firefox or Thunderbird, if you closed them while being
  full screen), the window is immediately whisked away and moved to the
  wrong monitor. This is extremely irritating. I am forever having to
  drag windows back to the monitor I want them to be displayed on, and
  on which they initially opened.

  I'm guessing that it's metacity which is doing this (I'm not using
  desktop effects), but if that is wrong please let me know which
  package it should be!

  More details: I have two NVidia Geforce 8800 GTX cards, and three
  monitors. My middle monitor is connected to the first card, the other
  two to the second card. I'm using the proprietary NVidia driver with
  Xinerama enabled in order to be able to use all three screens as one
  desktop. I shall attach my xorg.conf file for the exact configuration.

  It doesn't happen for every program. For instance, gedit also
  remembers when you closed it while it was full screen, and opens full
  screen again, but it stays on the monitor it opens op. It happens
  consistently for Firefox and Thunderbird at least.

  Initially, the window opens on the monitor the mouse is on, as
  expected, but within a fraction of a second, it is moved to the left
  monitor. It always moves to the left monitor, never another one. It
  also only seems to happen the first time the window gets the focus.
  Usually that is right away, but occasionally the window will open
  behind another window, stay where it is, and then jump to the left
  monitor when I first move my mouse over it.

  Please let me know how I can help debug this problem!

  ProblemType: Bug
  DistroRelease: Ubuntu 10.10
  Package: metacity 1:2.30.2-0ubuntu1
  ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 2.6.35-27.48-generic 2.6.35.11
  Uname: Linux 2.6.35-27-generic i686
  NonfreeKernelModules: nvidia
  Architecture: i386
  Date: Wed Mar  2 18:35:56 2011
  InstallationMedia: Ubuntu 10.10 "Maverick Meerkat" - Release i386 (20101007)
  ProcEnviron:
   LANG=en_US.utf8
   SHELL=/bin/bash
  SourcePackage: metacity

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