Srolling handle prevents window resize

[Grojo]

When in an nautilus window with a split config (F3), it is very hard to move the centre separation line left or right with the mouse due to the scrolling handle popping up immediately.

ProblemType: Bug
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 12.04
Package: nautilus 1:3.4.1-0ubuntu1
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 3.2.0-24.38-generic 3.2.16
Uname: Linux 3.2.0-24-generic x86_64
NonfreeKernelModules: nvidia wl
ApportVersion: 2.0.1-0ubuntu7
Architecture: amd64
Date: Wed May 30 13:47:02 2012
GsettingsChanges:
 org.gnome.nautilus.window-state geometry '1042x597+212+76'
 org.gnome.nautilus.window-state maximized true
 org.gnome.nautilus.window-state sidebar-width 200
 org.gnome.nautilus.window-state start-with-status-bar true
InstallationMedia: Ubuntu 12.04 LTS "Precise Pangolin" - Release amd64 (20120425)
SourcePackage: nautilus
UpgradeStatus: No upgrade log present (probably fresh install)
modified.conffile..etc.xdg.autostart.nautilus.autostart.desktop: [modified]
mtime.conffile..etc.xdg.autostart.nautilus.autostart.desktop: 2012-05-08T13:38:29.453389

[Launchpad Janitor (janitor)]

Status changed to 'Confirmed' because the bug affects multiple users.

[Michael Butler (efo7bk9)]

Temporary workaround: Because the scroll element pops up more easily when approaching the divider from the left side, approach the divider from the right side (very slowly) and you will get the resize cursor. You only have a 1 pixel opportunity to do it, however. :'(

Recommended fix for Nautilus devs: Perhaps disable the popup scroll when depressing the shift, alt, or CTRL key. Although it is not very intuitive.

[Ricardo Graça (devius)]

Or make the scrollbar itself thicker instead of adding that handle. Or move the handle to the left side of the scrollbar instead of the right side. This way it won't cover the window resize border. Doesn't seem like that hard to fix this.

[Stephan Henningsen (zta77)]

This is indeed very frustrating, and seems to counteract the enhanced usability that Ubuntu tries to stand for.

In my attempt to come up with a usable solution, I've disabled the overlay (which means the very scroll-handle itself) entirely. The orange indicator is still there, and I can still scroll with PgUp, PgDn, and alt+trackpoint (on Thinkpad; the standard scroll wheel most likely works too).

On Ubuntu 13.04, I did it like this: gsettings set com.canonical.desktop.interface scrollbar-mode 'overlay-touch'

You can revert it by doing: gsettings set com.canonical.desktop.interface scrollbar-mode 'overlay-auto'

[Stephan Henningsen (zta77)]

I find the overlay exceptionally annoying when working in Eclipse, to a point where I think the option of disabling it (like I described above) should be a standard option in the Ubuntu System Settings.