New windows always use active window's keyboard layout

[Mikhail V. Golubev]

If Compiz used (e.g. Ubuntu with Unity), Gnome keyboard settings "Allow different layouts for individual windows" & "New windows use the default layout" doesn't work properly. New windows always use last active window's layout ignoring default keyboard layout.

This bug affects all Ubuntu versions using Compiz as window manager (including Ubuntu 12.04 LTS and Ubuntu 12.10-beta1).

Steps to reproduce this bug.

Required settings:

1. Ubuntu with Compiz as window manager (e.g. Ubuntu with Unity, which is based on Compiz).

2. Two or more input languages in the Keyboard Layout Settings (e.g. 1st - English (US), 2nd - Russian).

3. Keyboard Layout Settings:
a) Allow different layouts for individual windows;
b) New windows use the default layout.
[Default layout is the first one in the layouts list, I think]

*** Scenario 1

1. Open Text Editor (gedit).
2. Switch input language to Russian.
3. Type some text in the gedit window in russian.
4. Start Terminal (gnome-terminal).
5. Type some text in the Terminal window (without keyboard layout switching).

Expected behavior:
Typed symbols in the terminal are English (because English was set as default input language in Keyboard Settings, and new windows should use the default layout).

What actually happens:
Typed symbols in the terminal are Russian (same input language as in the previous active window).

*** Scenario 2

1. Open Text Editor (gedit).
2. Switch input language to Russian.
3. Type some text in the gedit window in russian.
4. Leave your computer with no activity for 10 minutes (wait for screen locking).
5. Try to enter password in the logon screen (without keyboard layout switching).

Expected behavior:
Password is entered in English (because English was set as default input language in Keyboard Settings, and new windows should use the default layout).

What actually happens:
Password is entered in Russian (same input language as in the previous active window).

[Sebastien Bacher (seb128)]

Thank you for your bug report. The issue is an upstream one and it would be nice if somebody having it could send the bug the to the people writting the software (https://wiki.ubuntu.com/Bugs/Upstream/GNOME)

[Mikhail V. Golubev (mvgolubev)]

This bug on GNOME Bugtracker:
https://bugzilla.gnome.org/show_bug.cgi?id=628529

[Alexey Golovin (spidermc)]

This bug exists in Natty. I have two layouts (USA and Russian).

[Mikhail V. Golubev (mvgolubev)]

Now I'm using Ubuntu 11.04 (with Unity desktop) on two computers: one is upgraded from Ubuntu 10.04 and one is clean installed Ubuntu 11.04.

And this bug is still reproducible in both systems.

This bug appears not every time when I switch keyboard layout and launch new application window, but sometimes.
I'm using "Caps Lock" and "Right Ctrl + Right Shift" keys to change keyboard layout, maybe this causes the bug.

[Mikhail V. Golubev (mvgolubev)]

This problem occurs only when using Gnome with Compiz window manager (including the use of Unity desktop).
If I boot into Gnome with Metacity [Ubuntu Classic (no effects)] the "New windows use active window's layout" option in the gnome-keyboard-properties works fine.

[Mikhail V. Golubev (mvgolubev)]

This bug is still present in Ubuntu 12.04 LTS and Ubuntu 12.10-Beta1.
That is realy old bug, it came to Ubuntu with Compiz (in Ubuntu 7.04 as I remember) and not fixed yet (more than 5 years).

Steps to reproduce this bug.

Required settings:

1. Ubuntu with Compiz as window manager (e.g. Ubuntu with Unity, which is based on Compiz).

2. Two or more input languages in the Keyboard Layout Settings (e.g. 1st - English (US), 2nd - Russian).

3. Keyboard Layout Settings:
a) Allow different layouts for individual windows;
b) New windows use the default layout.
[Default layout is the first one in the layouts list, I think]

*** Scenario 1

1. Open Text Editor (gedit).
2. Switch input language to Russian.
3. Type some text in the gedit window in russian.
4. Start Terminal (gnome-terminal).
5. Type some text in the Terminal window (without keyboard layout switching).

Expected behavior:
Typed symbols in the terminal are English (because English was set as default input language in Keyboard Settings, and new windows should use the default layout).

What actually happens:
Typed symbols in the terminal are Russian (same input language as in the previous active window).

*** Scenario 2

1. Open Text Editor (gedit).
2. Switch input language to Russian.
3. Type some text in the gedit window in russian.
4. Leave your computer with no activity for 10 minutes (wait for screen locking).
5. Try to enter password in the logon screen (without keyboard layout switching).

Expected behavior:
Password is entered in English (because English was set as default input language in Keyboard Settings, and new windows should use the default layout).

What actually happens:
Password is entered in Russian (same input language as in the previous active window).

[saksmlz (saksmlz)]

Hi guys! I would really appreciate if someone could help me to debug this issue. This issue is quite annoying for me, so I'd like to help debug this.

I've read all the stuff at https://bugzilla.gnome.org/show_bug.cgi?id=628529 gnome bug. Guys there think that this is Compiz bug, but they have no idea about what is the problem about. It can be reproduced only with Compiz as WM, not in Gnome Shell.

Does anyone know how to debug this about interaction between gnome-control-center and Compiz?

[AAron Z Stranger (az-stranger)]

It is terrible!

[SirG (sirg-nj)]

I see the same bug with gnome shell, so this does not appear to be a Compiz (or Compiz interaction) issue.

I recently added a third keyboard layout (learning a new language); now getting a password into xscreensaver to unlock my desktop is a _real_ challenge :(

[Oleg Cherkasov (o1e9)]

SirG, I may not see any problems with GNOME Shell on Ubuntu 12.10 however language layout is an issue for screensaver. Do you use GNOME screensaver or xscreensaver? GNOME screensaver shall be immune to the problem.

[Ihor Romanyshyn (iromanyshyn)]

Still present in 13.04, awesome... Aaaah... Please, someone, fix this bug.

[terriblechild (terriblechild)]

I'm experiencing the same issue since couple of releases. I'm now using 13.04 with Unity and it's the same. Giving that English is not the only language most of the people use, it's affecting many users. Should you require any information, let me know and I'll try to help resolving that issue, as it's very annoying.

[Andrea Azzarone (azzar1)]

I can no longer reproduce it on my system. Can anyone confirm it?

[terriblechild (terriblechild)]

Yes, it seems fixed on my system as well.

[Ihor Romanyshyn (iromanyshyn)]

It still happens on my computers, especially when locking screen.

[Alex (topic001)]

The same. When locking screen it switchs to RU from EN, which is default lenguage in the system.
Thanks,