A program shouldn't get the focus if the focus has been changed between the start and the ready state of the program

[datakid]

(note: this was titled "steal focus ever" but on Adam's sage advice, I've changed it. While I would like this more accurately titled bug fixed, I still would never like to see a program steal focus ever :) tx to adam)

I guess it's a gnome bug.

My focus get's stolen by any number of programs.

This may seem like a duplicate, but it's not - unlike other reports, I don't really care which particular programs are stealing my focus.

It just shouldn't by anything, ever.

There doesn't seem to be a setting that enables a "don't you dare" regards focus stealing.

Ubuntu Intrepid, fully up to date from this morning on eeepc 1000H

=====

Steps to reproduce:

1) Open any application. For example, gedit.
2) Start a program that takes a while to launch. For example, OpenOffice Writer.
3) While Writer is opening, quickly switch focus to gedit. (And start typing, if you're fast enough.)
4) In the middle of your typing, Writer will open and steal focus.

[Adam Niedling (krychek)]

Is compiz enabled for you?

[datakid (datakid)]

No, it's not - should it be?

On Thu, Jan 15, 2009 at 3:39 PM, Adam Niedling <email address hidden> wrote:
> Is compiz enabled for you?
>
> ** Changed in: ubuntu
> Status: New => Incomplete
>
> --
> Focus stolen ever
> https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/317370
> You received this bug notification because you are a direct subscriber
> of the bug.
>

--
because "The Wire" makes "Law and Order" or "CSI" look like an episode
of "The Brady Bunch."

http://www.stuffjournalistslike.com/2008/12/312-the-wire.html

[Adam Niedling (krychek)]

So it's not a compiz issue. Is it happening all the time? Could you create a video of it by any chance?

[datakid (datakid)]

On Thu, Jan 15, 2009 at 4:32 PM, Adam Niedling <email address hidden> wrote:
> So it's not a compiz issue. Is it happening all the time? Could you
> create a video of it by any chance?
>

Well, I am a power user - I'm sending 60+ emails a day (gmail in
browser mostly), alt-tabbing all day. I can confirm it happens at
least with firefox when it's first loading, it happens with the ubuntu
update manager and synaptic, it happens with xchat when it is first
loading, it happens with openoffice when it loads, amarok when it
loads, evolutin when it loads, opera when it loads etc.

Good point actually - it's mostly as things load. But since I'm also
in a multi tabbed firefox or the cli often (admittedly I'm in
terminal, not ctrl-alt-f(1-6)) I alt tab back to the program I was in
almost immediately.

Actually, with update manager, it also focus steals when it's finished
downloading and it wants input (ok to install, ok to finish, etc)

ie, flick to desktop, hit launcher, flick back to terminal/other
program, focus stolen as loading program is ready for use.

I think they should stay in the background until I am ready to get
back to them...

cheers
L.

> ** Changed in: ubuntu
> Status: Incomplete => New
>
> --
> Focus stolen ever
> https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/317370
> You received this bug notification because you are a direct subscriber
> of the bug.
>

--
because "The Wire" makes "Law and Order" or "CSI" look like an episode
of "The Brady Bunch."

http://www.stuffjournalistslike.com/2008/12/312-the-wire.html

[Adam Niedling (krychek)]

You should have said this in the first place. If you start a program it will get the focus. This is normal. I agree that a program shouldn't get the focus if the it has been changed between the start and the ready state of the program.
For example Miro takes like 10-15 seconds to load. I launch Miro, then I start working with Firefox then Miro shouldn't "steal" the focus.

The bug title should be changed to make it clear what the problem is.

[datakid (datakid)]

ok, thanks for you help

L.

On Thu, Jan 15, 2009 at 5:25 PM, Adam Niedling <email address hidden> wrote:
> You should have said this in the first place. If you start a program it will get the focus. This is normal. I agree that a program shouldn't get the focus if the it has been changed between the start and the ready state of the program.
> For example Miro takes like 10-15 seconds to load. I launch Miro, then I start working with Firefox then Miro shouldn't "steal" the focus.
>
> The bug title should be changed to make it clear what the problem is.
>
> --
> Focus stolen ever
> https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/317370
> You received this bug notification because you are a direct subscriber
> of the bug.
>

--
because "The Wire" makes "Law and Order" or "CSI" look like an episode
of "The Brady Bunch."

http://www.stuffjournalistslike.com/2008/12/312-the-wire.html

[datakid (datakid)]

While adam suggested I change the title on this one, I think I only gave him examples of start up focus theft because they were the most noticable - http password requests can also steal focus.

Apache passwd requests...you know, when it's not in browser, but there's a pop up instead? afaik this only happens when you use a .htpasswd file....

cheers

[tjagoda (tjagoda)]

This is a complaint, not a bug.

[datakid (datakid)]

Well, that's one opinion. I think it's a matter of perspective.

I think the fact that it's an issue, but the only way to solve it is to write code...makes it a bug. To me this kind of functionality should be configurable. It doesn't seem to be. Therefore, bug.

[Adam Niedling (krychek)]

As I'm told by a developer, usability bugs are bugs.
tjagoda: You shouldn't go around closing bugs like this with such a low bug triaging experience. And at least subscribe to them!

[Pedro Villavicencio (pedro)]

open gconf-editor-> metacity-> focus mode and set it to strict. not a bug.

[datakid (datakid)]

did as instructed, didn't work using opera9.6 and update-manager as tests over open firefox windows.

restarted gnome to make sure, same result.

I would like this reopened please.

note that

/apps/metacity/general/focus_mode

doesn't actually have a strict mode, but allows you to enter one:

The window focus mode indicates how windows are activated. It has three possible values; "click" means windows must be clicked in order to focus them, "sloppy" means windows are focused when the mouse enters the window, and "mouse" means windows are focused when the mouse enters the window and unfocused when the mouse leaves the window.

but /apps/metacity/general/focus_new_windows

has a strict option for programs started from a terminal:

This option provides additional control over how newly created windows get focus. It has two possible values; "smart" applies the user's normal focus mode, and "strict" results in windows started from a terminal not being given focus.

I rarely start programs from a terminal....

[Adam Niedling (krychek)]

I also think this bug should be reopened. The solution suggested by Pedro is only applicable for applications started from terminal.

[datakid (datakid)]

Have fully updated to Jaunty this morning, still on the eeepc1000H and this is still replicable.

[datakid (datakid)]

Have fully updated to Karmic just now, still on the eeepc1000H and this is still replicable.

[Steven Sproat (sproaty)]

Subscribing to this with Jaunty, it still annoys me after a year

[David Tombs (dgtombs)]

Thank you for taking the time to report this bug and helping to make Ubuntu better. This bug did not have a package associated with it, which is important for ensuring that it gets looked at by the proper developers. You can learn more about finding the right package at https://wiki.ubuntu.com/Bugs/FindRightPackage. I have classified this bug as a bug in metacity.

When reporting bugs in the future please use apport, either via the appropriate application's "Help -> Report a Problem" menu or using 'ubuntu-bug' and the name of the package affected. You can learn more about this functionality at https://wiki.ubuntu.com/ReportingBugs.

[datakid (datakid)]

This still exists in Lucid, Dell Dimension 9200. So, very, bitterly, disappointing that this is still an issue.

[David Tombs (dgtombs)]

Confirming because I can reproduce it myself.

[David Tombs (dgtombs)]

Added reproduction steps in the description. In the future, please provide such steps initially.

[jpfle (jpfle)]

Still an issue with Ubuntu 11.10 Beta 1.

[Adam Niedling (krychek)]

This bug has been fixed in Ubuntu 13.04.
I guess it's because Ubuntu doesn't use metacity anymore with Unity.

[TomasHnyk (sup)]

Yeah, but this is filed against metacity that is still a package in ubuntu so the bug is valid (even if nobody is going to ever fix it as metacity is afaik not maintained anymore).