Unable to use Alt+Shift as layout switcher in GNOME FlashBack session (gnome-flashback-metacity, gnome-flashback-compiz)

[Norbert]

Steps to reproduce:
1a. For predictable results download 16.04 mini ISO and install system from it (system packages, OpenSSH server and then
"sudo apt-get install aptitude
sudo aptitude install gnome-panel lightdm gnome-session-flashback light-themes gnome-control-center gnome-terminal apport python-apport firefox compiz-gnome"
).
1b. Start with already installed Ubuntu 16.04 LTS (install gnome-panel to it).
2. Login to GNOME FlashBack session (Metacity) or (Compiz).
3. In gnome-control-center set keyboard layouts (for example Russian and English), set shortcut to <Alt+Shift> (displayed as <Alt+Next Group>).

Expected results:
1. User is able to use <Alt+Shift> as keyboard layout switcher.

Actual results:
1. User is unable to use <Alt+Shift> as keyboard layout switcher.

Notes:
1. This bug is very likely related to well known bug #1218322 and proposed testcase from bug #1604466.
2. <Ctrl+Shift> works, but interfere with other <Ctrl+Shift+...> combinations (see bug #1245473).
3. <Super+Shift> works but displayed as <Mod4+Super+Hyper+Shift L>. Seems to be good variant, but it's unusual.

ProblemType: Bug
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 16.04
Package: gnome-session-flashback 1:3.18.2-1ubuntu1
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 4.4.0-75.96-generic 4.4.59
Uname: Linux 4.4.0-75-generic i686
ApportVersion: 2.20.1-0ubuntu2.5
Architecture: i386
CurrentDesktop: GNOME-Flashback:Unity
Date: Mon May 1 23:00:28 2017
PackageArchitecture: all
SourcePackage: gnome-flashback
UpgradeStatus: No upgrade log present (probably fresh install)
---
ApportVersion: 2.20.1-0ubuntu2.5
Architecture: i386
CurrentDesktop: GNOME-Flashback:Unity
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 16.04
Package: gnome-flashback 3.18.2-1ubuntu1
PackageArchitecture: i386
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 4.4.0-75.96-generic 4.4.59
Tags: xenial
Uname: Linux 4.4.0-75-generic i686
UpgradeStatus: No upgrade log present (probably fresh install)
UserGroups: adm cdrom dip lpadmin plugdev sambashare sudo
_MarkForUpload: True

[Norbert (nrbrtx)]

apport information

[Norbert (nrbrtx)]

apport information

[Norbert (nrbrtx)]

apport information

[Dmitry Shachnev (mitya57)]

Hi Norbert!

Why are you using gnome-control-center and not unity-control-center (which opens when you click on the “Text Entry Settings…” option in the keyboard indicator)?

If I set the shortcut to Alt+Shift in unity-control-center, it displays and works fine. See the attached screenshot.

[Alberts Muktupāvels (muktupavels)]

If you can, then please test with Ubuntu 17.04. There we switched back to GNOME settings daemon and also control center. Might be good to know it everything works there or not.

[Launchpad Janitor (janitor)]

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

[Norbert (nrbrtx)]

@mitya57
On 16.04 LTS
indicator-bluetooth depends on unity-control-center, indicator-applet-complete depends on indicator-bluetooth and so on. So it is a kind of dependency problems. It seems that indicator-keyboard indirectly may depend on unity-control-center.

Moreover left Alt+Shift is shown as "Alt+Mod2+Next Group" and Ctrl+Shift as "Ctrl+Mod2+Shift L".

My problem is not unique, other user on AskUbuntu (https://askubuntu.com/q/912640/66509) has this problem too.

I fixed this bug by switching to MATE Desktop Environment. I do not like current GNOME development.

[Alberts Muktupāvels (muktupavels)]

At least on Ubuntu 20.04 using GNOME Tweaks Alt+Shift as layout switching can be enabled under additional layout options.

[Alberts Muktupāvels (muktupavels)]

Closing, 16.04 is way too old at this point.