Clicking on "Files" opens new window, rather than switch to already open one

[Shahbaz Youssefi]

Although I can currently recreate the bug with "Files" (Nautilius, is it?), I remember having seen such a thing before with other windows, although only with previous Ubuntu versions.

The bug is as follows. In the current desktop, I open Files (and I see the arrows on the left saying how many of such windows are open). It only happens if "Files" is open once. I click on a partition that is not automatically mounted on startup (e.g. a Windows partition) (I haven't tested with one that automatically mounts but is not a part of /), regardless of whether it was previously mounted or not.

When I switch away from that window (e.g. click on Firefox), then I click back on its icon, I get a new "Files" window, rather than the old one I had open, which was viewing the windows partition. If you can't replicate this, try CTRL+L (leave the cursor on the path box) on that window and then switch away and back.

Note that with ALT+TAB and ALT+` I can see the window alright. Also, if there is more than one "Files" window, whether all looking at windows partitions or not, there is no problem, even if the first such window was the last to be viewed, clicking on the "Files" icon correctly returns to that window.

In summary, when "Files" is opened once and viewing a windows partition, clicking on a different application and back on its icon opens a new "Files" window rather than switch to the old one.

ProblemType: Bug
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 14.04
Package: unity 7.2.2+14.04.20140714-0ubuntu1.1
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 3.13.0-36.63-generic 3.13.11.6
Uname: Linux 3.13.0-36-generic i686
ApportVersion: 2.14.1-0ubuntu3.4
Architecture: i386
CompizPlugins: [core,bailer,detection,composite,opengl,decor,mousepoll,vpswitch,regex,animation,snap,expo,move,compiztoolbox,place,grid,imgpng,gnomecompat,wall,ezoom,workarounds,staticswitcher,resize,fade,unitymtgrabhandles,scale,session,unityshell]
CurrentDesktop: Unity
Date: Fri Sep 26 12:01:15 2014
ExecutablePath: /usr/bin/compiz
InstallationDate: Installed on 2014-07-04 (83 days ago)
InstallationMedia: Ubuntu 14.04 LTS "Trusty Tahr" - Release i386 (20140417)
SourcePackage: unity
UpgradeStatus: No upgrade log present (probably fresh install)

---

P.S. regarding info collected by `ubuntu-bug`:

- This is NOT a fresh install.

[Shahbaz Youssefi (shabbyx)]

A reminder that this bug still exists! Can someone at least confirm it? Here are exact steps to reproduce reliably for me:

1. Close all "Files" windows
2. Attach a USB disk
3. Open a "Files" window by clicking on its icon in the left bar
4. Click on the USB drive. You should see your USB files now
5. Click on another open window on the left bar
6. Click back on the "Files" icon on the left bar

Expected behavior:

- The single "Files" window that is open (currently showing the USB driver) comes back up

Observed behavior:

- A new "Files" window is opened

[Launchpad Janitor (janitor)]

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

[Kumbarov (kumbarov)]

I have this problem too. Sometimes I have one instance of Files open and I work with some other application like Firefox. Then I click on Files to navigate to the opened instance of Files but this starts a second instance of Files. I can still find the first instance with Alt+Tab.

[Shahbaz Youssefi (shabbyx)]

On Ubuntu 15.10, this still happens to me with previously-unmounted drivers. Steps to reproduce:

- Close all instances of "Files"
- Open a new "Files" window, and click to mount a windows partition (one that is not previously mounted)
- Click on another open window, such as firefox
- Click back on "Files"

Expected behavior:

- The "Files" window previously opened should be selected

Observed behabior:

- A new "Files" window is opened as if there were none previously. Alt-tab/Alt-backtick find the window correctly nevertheless.

[Shahbaz Youssefi (shabbyx)]

... previously-unmounted *drives* ...

[Shahbaz Youssefi (shabbyx)]

Since 16.04 (I think), where Files changed its behavior to show mounted drives in another window (a bad choice in my opinion, but whatever) this problem is not reproducible anymore. I marked as fixed thus.