gnome-system-log auto-scrolls away from entry being viewed

[Rocko]

If you run gnome-system-log (the gnome app that hasn't been modified to fit in with the Unity theme) and scroll to look at a particular line, ie so you are not on the last line of the log, when the system adds another log entry gnome-system-log automatically scrolls to this new entry, losing your previous position. This makes it very difficult to use.

I would expect it to follow its previous behaviour, which is that if you are on the last line of the log, it auto-scrolls to show new entries, but if you are not on the last line, it never auto-scrolls. It would even be preferable if it never auto-scrolled or if there were an option to turn auto-scrolling on and off.

ProblemType: Bug
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 15.04
Package: gnome-system-log 3.9.90-2
Uname: Linux 3.19.0-031900rc7-generic x86_64
ApportVersion: 2.15.1-0ubuntu4
Architecture: amd64
CurrentDesktop: Unity
Date: Thu Feb 5 14:19:41 2015
InstallationDate: Installed on 2015-01-02 (34 days ago)
InstallationMedia: Ubuntu 15.04 "Vivid Vervet" - Alpha amd64 (20141220)
SourcePackage: gnome-system-log
UpgradeStatus: No upgrade log present (probably fresh install)

[Launchpad Janitor (janitor)]

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

[Ubfan (ubfan1)]

Ubuntu 14.04 gnome-system-log does have the option to turn on/off autoscrolling, under the menu item "System Log". It is the first item in the menu list, and has a function key, F8 assigned.

[Rocko (rockorequin)]

@Ubfan: Unfortunately, Gnome seems to have removed this option from the gnome-system-log that comes with 15.04 (there's a surprise!). I think it was already gone by 14.10, but I don't have a 14.10 installation around to check anymore. The only menu I can see is on the cog (right hand side of the title bar) and it has only Open, Close, Copy, Select All, Zoom In, Zoom Out, Normal Size, and Filters.

[jay armstrong (jayarmstrong)]

In 16.04, I have the option to disable autoscroll but the sane default expected by the OP still seems much more useful, convenient, and common.

Additionally, with autoscroll enabled, the app will change the log file being viewed every few seconds - in this case, from syslog to Xorg.0.log. That makes even less sense.

gnome-system-log v3.9.90