Ian, I think you're right.
applications != windows
An application can have zero or more windows. I think the question
here is consistency:
If your application has just one window, when you click on the
launcher icon, this window will minimize. But if you have 3 opened
windows to that application? What should happen when you click the
launcher icon if:
1. All windows are visible?
2. Two windows are visible and one is already minimized?
3. One window is visible and two are already minimized?
4. All windows are minimized?
Considering that there is just one icon per application, I think the
best way to minimize a window is to click the minimize button of that
window. If I'm not mistaken, this why clicking on launcher icons
doesn't minimize windows.
Besides this, If you want to organize your windows, you can use the
workspaces to arrange them. And use <Super>+D to show desktop if needed.
On Ter, 2011-04-19 at 07:30 -0600, Ian Santopietro wrote:
It was my understanding that the launcher icons only represent apps,
and since an app can't really be minimized (only windows of that
app), they don't do it. It works with Gnome 2 because the list was a
list of windows. It would be clicking on a Gnome 2 shortcut and
having the windows of that app minimize.
I might be wrong here though.
On Apr 19, 2011 7:19 AM, "Bazon" <bazonbloch@xxxxxxxx
<mailto:bazonbloch@xxxxxxxx>> wrote:
> -------- Original Message --------
> Subject: [Bug 733349] Re: Natty: Unity launcher buttons should
allow to
> minimize apps, not just launch/restore
> Date: Tue, 19 Apr 2011 07:45:08 -0000
> From: Michael <733349@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
<mailto:733349@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>>
> Reply-To: Bug 733349 <733349@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
<mailto:733349@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>>
>
>
>
> > I'm sure that if you ask on the Ayatana mailing list they will be
happy
>
>> to explain, and perhaps to discuss, the reasoning.
>
>
> OK, so here we go:
> Why isn't it possible any more to minimize windows when clicking a
further time on the button which represents the application?
> That was possible with the Gnome Panel Window Switcher, it is
possible in the XFCE taskbar, it is possible in Cairo-Dock, it is
possible with the MS Windows taskbar and probably many more.
>
> So why break users expectations?
> You leave the experienced user in frustration while the
inexperienced user will not be mocked by minimizing on an extra click
he probably never makes.
> (Showing and hiding a window quick by clicking two times on the
icon/switcher is a very common practice.)
>
> I believe it's generally not a good idea that clicking on an
interactive element of your screen leads to NOTHING.
>
> Some users will wonder whether their system is responding slow,
experienced users who are used to the minimize behaviour will miss it.
> (and you know, many of them are already frustrated enough losing
Gnome 2 features.....)
>
>
> So please reconsider allowing minimizing windows by clicking on the
launcher.