Compiz disables Alt-F2 for run dialog in KDE3

[waustin]

First time with a computer capable of running copiz. Fresh install of kubuntu hardy on a new amd64 computer. Enabling compiz works fine for a while, but after a few hours, the alt-f2 key combination will not bring up a run dialog. Compiz changes kde's own key combination setting, disabling the run dialog command. Further, in compiz config under keybindings, alt-f2 is shown as the combination for bringing up the run dialog. Still, it doesn't work.

I found a workaround from another distro that calls for disabling the compiz keybinding and making my own in "commands" using a dcop call to run the run dialog app. Still no luck.

if I erase all compiz settings in my home directory and reset KDE's keyboard shortcuts, it works again, but after enabling compiz again, it's only a few hours before the run dialog will not work with alt-f2 again.

[Paulus (donmatteo)]

I think you will find that the window is opened, though it starts in the background. So if you use Alt-Tab a couple of times, you'll see it.

I confirm this bug, and would like to see it fixed. I think it's related to compiz's window stacking algorithms.

[waustin (waustin)]

If only that were the case. I can start without any windows open, hit alt-f2 all day long, and get nothing. The only way I've been able to fix it is to disable compiz and then reset my KDE keyboard shortcuts.

[meisterplanlos (meisterplanlos)]

Full ACK.
I searched for a solution of this bug, too and found a possible workaround:
Change the keybinding of "Run dialog" in "General Options"-tab of compiz settings manager to something else than <Alt>F2. Don't disable it! After that, the assigned <Alt>F2 keybinding will work for the user-defined command ("dcop kdesktop KDesktopIface popupExecuteCommand"). Hope this helps.

@Paulus: I know the behaviour, you decribed, too. But it isn't related to the bug described by beartard at all.

[waustin (waustin)]

I've had compiz disabled since filing this bug, since I use alt-f2 a million times per day. I'll try it out and report back. Thanks for the tip.

[Gwmngilfen (greg-sutcliffe)]

Fully confirm the bug - Compiz disables a lot of other KDE shortcuts too, such as Alt+F3, Alt+F5 etc.

The workaround worked fine for me - I set Run Dialog in Compiz to Alt+F6 (which isn't used in KDE afaik). Then (still in Compiz) I set Command 0 to the above dcop command, and Run Command 0 to Alt+F2. Works a treat.

[ubertoo (ubertoo)]

This bug also affects myself.

[ubertoo (ubertoo)]

I think it has something to do with the "KDE Configuration Backend". The following worked for me...

* In ccsm go to Preferences -> Backend and enable "Flat-file Configuration". You will have to reset your compiz preferences after this.
* Still in ccsm go to general options and key bindings and disable the ALT-F2 binding.
* Open KDE system settings -> Keyboard & Mouse -> Keyboard Shortcuts and insure that the Run Command is binded to ALT-F2
* Log out and back in

[Tom Chiverton (bugs-launchpad-net-falkensweb)]

Confirmed still happens on Kbuntu 8.04 w/Compiz.
meisterplanlos' fix from above (disable Compiz's main run 'key binding', and bind alt-f2 to the dcop command line in Compiz's 'commands') works a treat.

Interestingly, I have the same problem at work on OpenSUSE 10.3 so will try the same fix there

[Tom Chiverton (bugs-launchpad-net-falkensweb)]

I can confirm the same issue and fix with OpenSUSE 10.3 and their latest CompizFusion.

Suggest forwarding upstream ?

[hoc (highoncoffee)]

@Paulus Esterhazy: Did you try setting the focus stealing prevention to off? (It's in ccsm, under General Options -> Focus and raise behaviour)

@mia1dolfan: Thx for the workaround. Works like a charm!

[Paulus (donmatteo)]

hoc, thank you for that! Indeed in my case, it seems to be "Focus steeling behaivor" that makes the "Run Command..." dialog go to the back in Kubuntu. Turning it off makes it work again.

[Alex Tribble (prat)]

This is still a problem. I installed Kubuntu, and quickly nearly became frustrated enough to uninstall it (I didn't). Note that on my system, this also breaks Alt-F1 (K-Menu), Alt-F3 (Window Menu), etc, although Alt-Tab and Alt-F4 work.

[Zedd (ubuntubugs-zedd)]

I'm on Ubuntu 8.04.1 and can confirm Alex' problems: there exactly the same here. Alt-f2 doesn't work anymore and after reading Alex's post I found that alt-f1 and alt-f3 don't work anymore either.

I'll try above workaround, thanks!

[Zedd (ubuntubugs-zedd)]

Since I'm on KDE4, the DCOP command will not work for me.
using 'krunner' in stead, does the workaround-job fine, though!

[Vladimir Hidalgo (vlad88sv)]

I tried every workaround listed on this bug, sadly none of them worked.

Finally I found that the problem raises when I put in ~/.profile the "export KDEWM=/usr/bin/compiz" line, used to start compiz & emerald from the start without loading KWin.

If I comment out that export line and let KWin start, then later replacing it by starting Compiz, Alt+F2 will work fine.

very strange bug, I just wish there was a formal way to avoid loading KWin so there were not need to kill it after with Compiz.

[thisperishedmin (thisperishedmind)]

I just wanted to say that I ran into the same problem using KDE4.1 as you KDE3 users are describing. Thankfully, the solution is much the same as above work arounds.

I opened ccsm and went to the general options > key bindings and set run dialog to alt+f6 (it seems to be otherwise unused). I then opened the commands tab (again, in CCSM > general options > commands) and set command line 0 to simply "krunner". Then, under key bindings put run command 0 to alt+f2.

This has allowed me to access the oh so loveable run dialog with Compiz running on KDE4. I realize this is for KDE3 users, but it seems like the problem still exists in KDE4 to some extent. As you see, its basically the same to everything about but instead of using "dcop kdesktop KDesktopIface popupExecuteCommand" you are simply using "krunner".

Good luck and cheers for the great info!

[Greg Rundlett (greg.rundlett)]

Ack. Same here on Ubuntu 8.10 using gdm and compiz.

I open System --> Preferences --> "CompizConfig Settings Manager" and SEE under "General Options" --> keybindings that Alt+F2 is supposed to launch the "Run Dialog". But it doesn't.

Workaround provided by thisperishedmin (and others) worked for me. Yay, I have a run dialog back, bound to the familiar Alt+F2 key combination (which I use many times per day)!

Please fix this so that I don't have to (remember &) apply this workaround to all the systems that I use.

[Scott Howard (showard314)]

Thank you for taking the time to report this bug and helping to make Ubuntu better. We were wondering if this is still an issue in 9.04 (Jaunty). If it is, we can mark it confirmed.

[waustin (waustin)]

As 9.04 doesn't include kde3, I'd say it's resolved. :)

On May 7, 2009 4:11 PM, "Scott Howard" <email address hidden> wrote:

Thank you for taking the time to report this bug and helping to make
Ubuntu better. We were wondering if this is still an issue in 9.04
(Jaunty). If it is, we can mark it confirmed.

** Changed in: compiz (Ubuntu)
      Status: New => Incomplete

-- Compiz disables Alt-F2 for run dialog in KDE3
https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/219163 You receiv...

[Scott Howard (showard314)]

Thanks for the info! Marking the bug as "invalid" since KDE3 is not in 9.04.

[Nightwing (jualin)]

I have experienced the same problem on Gnome and I have found that after installing compiz-settings-manager and enabling "Gnome Compatibility" (found on the Workarounds category). The keyboard shortcuts work. Hope this helps!

[nate8nate (nate8nate)]

This bug recently arose for me using Ubuntu 9.10. None of the workarounds work.

[baisong (get-oren)]

none of these workarounds worked for me either (Kubuntu Jaunty), but then I did the following:

1) in confizconfig settings manager, keep gnome compatibility enabled, but change the two keybindings to something unused in KDE (I chose <alt><super>F6 and <alt>F6).

2) In System Settings > Global Keyboard Shortcuts > Run Command Interface, verify that <alt>F1 and <alt>F2 still map correctly.

3) Log out, and log back in.

Now both <alt>F1 and <alt>F2 work as they did before I installed Confiz.

hope something works for you!

[Schema (jose-costa-f)]

This worked for me in Ubuntu 9.10...
Go to System > Preferences > CompizConfig Settings Manager... in the General Options keep the GNOME compatibility checked but also check KDE Compatibility.... after that Alt+F2 worked for me... i got the run command window... I hope this works... XD.