Rhythmbox window isn't raised when clicking on it in the sound menu

[Alan Jenkins]

[Originally reported for banshee. Re-tested with Rhythymbox on Ubuntu 12.04].

1) Start rhythymbox. Leave the window open
2) Open another application e.g. gnome-terminal or firefox.
3) Click on sound menu (volume icon in the top panel). Click on banshee.

Normally (when the rhythymbox window is closed, but still playing), you'd see the banshee window appear. As a new window, it would appear in front of the other application.

But in this case, the rhythymbox window is already open. Instead of being raised to the front, as I'd expect, the Unity sidebar pops up, with the Banshee icon jiggling about.

I know very roughly why this happens. The rhythymbox window _is_ demanding attention. But it's clearly doing the wrong thing. There's no reason why the user should have to click on the jiggling banshee icon - they've already said that they want to see the Banshee window!

I don't think Unity needs a new API for this. I don't have this problem with the integration of Thunderbird and the Mail application notifier.

ProblemType: Bug
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 11.10
Package: banshee-extension-soundmenu 2.2.0-1ubuntu2
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 2.6.38-11.50-generic 2.6.38.8
Uname: Linux 2.6.38-11-generic x86_64
ApportVersion: 1.23-0ubuntu3
Architecture: amd64
Date: Sun Oct 16 12:47:07 2011
ProcEnviron:
 PATH=(custom, user)
 SHELL=/bin/bash
SourcePackage: banshee
UpgradeStatus: Upgraded to oneiric on 2011-10-14 (2 days ago)

[Chow Loong Jin (hyperair)]

I think it's most likely a focus-prevention issue in Compiz. Try lowering it using CompizConfig Settings Manager, under General Options → Focus & Raise Behaviour → Focus Prevention Level.

I'm not sure exactly what each level means, but on the higher levels, windows that attempt to raise themselves are forced into demands-attention mode instead.

[Alan Jenkins (aj504)]

Doesn't seem to help. The initial focus prevention setting was "Low". I changed it to "Off", the only lower value, but that didn't change what happens.

[Launchpad Janitor (janitor)]

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

[Ricardo Mendonça Ferreira (b-ric-z)]

I have the same problem, here's my slightly different description:

1) Start Banshee.
2) Have another application open and *with focus*, e.g. Firefox.
3) Click on sound menu (volume icon in the top panel). Click on banshee.
OR
4) Press the "media" key on the keyboard.

The Banshee window is not raised to the front (and contrary to the case with the OP, there is no Unity sidebar pops up).

*The Banshee window is raised only if the Desktop area has focus*.

DistroRelease: Ubuntu 11.10
Package: banshee-extension-soundmenu 2.2.1-1ubuntu3
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 3.0.0-17.30-generic-pae 3.0.22
Uname: Linux 3.0.0-17-generic-pae i686
ApportVersion: 1.23-0ubuntu4
Architecture: i386
UpgradeStatus: Upgraded to oneiric on 2012-04-03 (2 days ago)

[Chow Loong Jin (hyperair)]

Like I mentioned before, this is probably a focus prevention issue. If you lower the focus prevention level in CompizConfig Settings Manager as I mentioned in my earlier post, you shouldn't be seeing this issue.

[Ricardo Mendonça Ferreira (b-ric-z)]

Chow Loong Jin, just like Alan Jenkins, the setting on my computer was "low", but when I chaged it to "off" the issued was solved. Thank you!

[Artem Baguinski (femistofel)]

Can this be solved without having to install CompizConfig Settings Manager?
Can ubuntu ship with this option set to Off by default?