Task Switcher in Linux Mint KDE 17.3 switches to Desktop when no tasks are available

[Steve Phelps]

I have recently updated from Linux Mint KDE 17 to 17.3. I have a desktop configuration with multiple virtual desktops, each configured with their own widgets and backgrounds. My task manager widget is configured to show only the tasks for the current desktop. When I use ALT-TAB to switch between tasks, this works normally when there are multiple tasks, but if there are no tasks associated with the current virtual desktop, then ALT-TAB switches the desktop background to a generic desktop view. Moreover, this effects *all* the other virtual desktops. Pressing ALT-TAB again switches back to the widgets and backgrounds that I originally configured. However, I have to visit each and every virtual desktop to restore the correct configuration. This behaviour did not occur with KDE Qiana.

[Steve Phelps (phelps-sg)]

I have realised that the problem relates to the "Show Desktop Icon" feature. In "System Settings/Task Switcher/Content/" there is an option "Include 'Show Desktop' icon". When I select this option, the task-switcher includes a "show desktop" option in the result set. However, the problem arises when:

- Include "Show Desktop" icon is *not* nselected
- Windows are filtered by "Virtual desktops / Current Desktop"
- There are no tasks associated with the current desktop

When this is the case, the "Show Desktop" icon is presented when the task-switcher is invoked, despite the fact that the configuration specifies that the Show Desktop icon should *not* be included.

It is big problem for usability, because in this situation, the "Show Desktop" icon is the only available option and there is no way to avoid selecting it. Whe the user selects it (which they are forced to do), it reverts all virtual desktops to the generic desktop. This in turn means the user is then faced with a significant tidying up task if they have a significant number of desktops.