Switching application through Unity launcher makes launcher loose focus

[Frederik Elwert]

Binary package hint: unity

I am using Unity launcher in “dodge windows” mode (default).

When switching an application using the launcher, the launcher looses focus and hides. This conflicts with the use-case where one wants to use the launcher to switch windows of an application. I hope the following description explains the issue:

Open Evolution Mail, compose a new message, open a web browser (all fullscreen).

Aim: Switch to Evolution’s main window.
What I do: Open the launcher and click on the Evolution icon. It brings the composer window to front. After a second or so, the launcher hides automatically. Open the launcher again, click the evolution icon again which triggers exposé, and choose the Evolution main window.
What I expect: Open the launcher and click on the Evolution icon. It brings the composer window to front, but the launcher stays open. A second click on the Evolution icon triggers exposé and I can choose the Evolution main window.
Problems with current behaviour: The first issue is a usability issue, as switching to any other window than the last active one of an application requires more steps than necessary. The second one is the risk of incidentally triggering an unwanted action. In my setup, the Evolution icon is the top one in the launcher. Thus, it is exactly above the send button of the mail composer. When switching to the composer, the launcher still is visible because the hide animation takes some time, but it does not receive the events. So when I click the icon again to switch Evolution windows, the send button receives the click event instead of the launcher icon. Similar situations might occur with other applications.

ProblemType: Bug
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 11.04
Package: unity 3.8.2-0ubuntu1
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 2.6.38-7.39-generic 2.6.38
Uname: Linux 2.6.38-7-generic i686
NonfreeKernelModules: wl
Architecture: i386
CompizPlugins: [core,bailer,detection,composite,opengl,compiztoolbox,decor,mousepoll,vpswitch,grid,gnomecompat,snap,regex,imgpng,move,animation,wall,resize,place,unitymtgrabhandles,workarounds,expo,session,ezoom,staticswitcher,fade,scale,unityshell]
Date: Mon Apr 4 19:35:17 2011
InstallationMedia: Ubuntu-Netbook-Remix 9.10 "Karmic Koala" - Release i386 (20091028.4)
ProcEnviron:
 LANGUAGE=de_DE:en
 LANG=de_DE.UTF-8
 SHELL=/bin/bash
SourcePackage: unity
UpgradeStatus: Upgraded to natty on 2011-04-01 (2 days ago)