Losing focus/selection

[Alexandre Prokoudine]

This bug report consolidates descriptions of issues that are related to losing selections. The list was created by Sergey Karelin in forum at linuxgraphics.ru. This is all about user experience.

1. Undo loses selection. https://bugs.launchpad.net/inkscape/+bug/170394

2. Changing values in docked dialogs demands pressing Esc. This can be fine in some cases, but when you e.g. create a new layer from the Layers dialog, focus stays on "Create new layer" button which is far from desirable:

lh6.ggpht.com/_AlyXyPYYPW0/TM_e-oAoqhI/AAAAAAAAAZM/myg75f4yDSw/focus.png

3. When you choose font size in Text options toolbar and press Esc, focus isn't returned to the canvas and stays in the toolbar.

4. Creating a new layer loses selection of an object, because selection switches to the newly created layer.

5. Rubberband selection of objects doesn't lead to switching to the layer which contains these objects, whereas shift+clicking these objects does.

6. Selecting an arbitrary layer loses selection of an object.

7. When you select two closely placed objects, only the topmost one gets selected, even though cursor is above the lower one:

lh6.ggpht.com/_AlyXyPYYPW0/TM_gpqJ4V4I/AAAAAAAAAZc/FyhOgRMsnC0/selection.png

8. When you try dragging an already selected object that is below another object, the upper objects gets selected and is dragged instead.

If you think they should be filed separately (except those already filed), don't hesitate to order me around :)

[su_v (suv-lp)]

First attempt at triageing the list ;)

1. Undo loses selection
Bug #170394“objects lose selection after undoing some operations”

2. Changing values in docked dialogs demands pressing Esc
Bug #201203 “focus issues when using docked palettes”
Bug #505225 in Inkscape: “Layer text box popup”

3. font size in Text options toolbar
Confirmed (new in 0.48) - please file as separate bug.

4. Creating a new layer loses selection of an object
Depends on the use case: just when preparing a test file for the layer foxus issues described in this report, I was glad it works this way: Create an object on current layer, click 'Add layer', create new object as intended on the new layer without first deselecting the current selection, change to the new layer and draw the second object on the new layer.

Please file as separate bug (no existing one found), but consider different scenarios why a new layer is added (usually to crate the next object on the new layer).

related but not the same:
Bug #385240 “layer focus no-man's land”

5. Rubberband selection doesn't switch to object layer
Seems intentional: rubber-band always selects across layers - which one should be set active if the selection is on several layers? Shift-select OTOH changes to the layer of the first clicked object, but ignores layers of objects added later to the selection.

Not a (usability) bug (IMHO), but feel free to file one.

6. Selecting an arbitrary layer loses selection of an object.
Not a bug: configurable in 'Preferences > Selecting: [ ] Deselect upon layer change.

7. only the topmost selected, even though cursor is above lower one
The screenshot shows the opposite: the cursor is above the upper object, but the lower one is selected (not reproduced). The text describes the obvious and expected behavior: the object below the cursor is selected which normally is the top-most visible (selectable) one at this location.

Use 'Alt-click' to select under, if the lower object is overlapped by the topmost object (as seen in the screenshot). Else I don't understand the issue… (unless clipping/masking is involved which screws the selection area, bug #365458)
<http://tavmjong.free.fr/INKSCAPE/MANUAL/html/Select.html#Select-Mouse>

8. dragging an already selected object selects upper object
Not a bug: use 'Alt+drag' to avoid selecting a different object
<http://tavmjong.free.fr/INKSCAPE/MANUAL/html/Transforms.html#Transforms-Mouse-Translations>

[karamelin (karamelin)]

3. This is not only Text options toolbar bug. I've noticed analogous bug in Rectangular options toolbar: focus didn't return from pulldown list of measurement units.

4. I think there are two scenarios: first - create new layer to create new object on it and second - create new layer to place on it duplication of current selection. In both cases there is no necessity to deselect current selection. At the same time existing behavior (losing selection on layer creation) may be considered as interface inconsistence because it contradicts to unchecked option "Deselect upon layer change".

5. I think this rule will be efficient: selection multiple objects make active each layer that contain at least one of this objects.

6. Thanks))

7. Unfortunately this is not evident but very inconvenient bug. I've prepared new more understandable screenshot. No mask or clip have been used, just plane shapes.

http://lh4.ggpht.com/_AlyXyPYYPW0/TPpNBCZdE8I/AAAAAAAAAaU/UIAFbeu76X4/s800/selection_screenshot.png

As you can see, I tried to select dark blue triangle, but got selected violet triangle. Oops...

8. Thanks again))

[karamelin (karamelin)]

5. I forgot that Inkcape can make active (or select) only one layer.

[su_v (suv-lp)]

> 3. This is not only Text options toolbar bug.

As previously mentioned, please file separate bug reports for each instance where mouse focus is trapped in a controls bar widget.

> 5. (…) selection multiple objects make active
> each layer that contain at least one of this objects.

Only one layer can be active at the time. I'm not sure what you propose here?

> 7. Unfortunately this is not evident but very inconvenient bug.
> I've prepared new more understandable screenshot.

Please attach both SVG files used for the screenshots about this selection issue to this report. Also, please verify and confirm the setting in 'Preferences > Mouse > Grab sensitivity' (default: 8 px).

[su_v (suv-lp)]

>> 7. only the topmost selected, even though cursor is above lower one

Same as reported in bug #515997 “Problems selecting objects”?
<https://bugs.launchpad.net/inkscape/+bug/515997>

[karamelin (karamelin)]

3. Ok

5. I propose to highlight layers that contain selected objects. Not to make active but highlight. It will help to realize distribution of the objects in the layers.

7. Yes, it's the same as reported in bug #515997 “Problems selecting objects”. Grab sensitivity is set to 8 pix. Making this parameter lower will facilitate selecting but does not solve the problem finally.