Unable to place icons on desktop in user-defined order, use vertical column instead

[Norbert]

Steps to reproduce:
1. Install GNOME FlashBack, login to it
2. Open terminal and create some files on the desktop with `touch ~/Desktop/{a,b,c,1,2}`
3. Try to place icons in user-defined order

   [ ] [1] [2]
   [ ] [ ] [ ]
   [a] [b] [c]

(or any other custom layout)

Expected results:
* user is able to place icons as he/she wants

Actual results:
* icons are placed in vertical column

Note:
1. the Placement is frozen on *Auto arrange icons*, two other options - *Align icons to grid* and *Free* are disabled
1. some users use desktop for productivity to store objects in spatial groups, but now it is not possible.

ProblemType: Bug
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 20.04
Package: gnome-flashback 3.36.1-1ubuntu1
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 5.4.0-26.30-generic 5.4.30
Uname: Linux 5.4.0-26-generic x86_64
ApportVersion: 2.20.11-0ubuntu27
Architecture: amd64
CasperMD5CheckResult: skip
CurrentDesktop: GNOME-Flashback:GNOME
Date: Tue Apr 28 20:04:26 2020
InstallationDate: Installed on 2020-04-24 (4 days ago)
InstallationMedia: Ubuntu 20.04 LTS "Focal Fossa" - Release amd64 (20200423)
ProcEnviron:
 TERM=xterm-256color
 PATH=(custom, no user)
 XDG_RUNTIME_DIR=<set>
 LANG=ru_RU.UTF-8
 SHELL=/bin/bash
SourcePackage: gnome-flashback
UpgradeStatus: No upgrade log present (probably fresh install)

[Norbert (nrbrtx)]

see screenshot

[Dmitry Shachnev (mitya57)]

It is simply not implemented yet.

[Alberts Muktupāvels (muktupavels)]

And upstream issue is https://gitlab.gnome.org/GNOME/gnome-flashback/-/issues/41.

[Launchpad Janitor (janitor)]

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

[roots (roots)]

@ Alberts: After checking the link you provided I now understand the issue. May we expect the other placement modes (most importantly "free") to be implemented any time soon? Unfortunately my coding experience is pretty limited, but if I may be of help in solving this issue, please let me know!

Thanks!
r.

[Alberts Muktupāvels (muktupavels)]

Expect that it will be implemented? Yes. Any time soon? Can not answer that...

If you want help free feel to ask any questions in linked issue and/or ask on IRC (gnome-flashback @ irc.gnome.org).

[Enrico Segre (enrico-segre)]

Adding that there is a key "Placement" in org.gnome.gnome-flashback.desktop.icons, which can be {'auto-arrange-icons','align-icons-to-grid','free'}. However it doesn't help to set it in dconf-editor, it is always resetted to auto. Unsurprising if unimplemented otherwise, but I wish it was...

[Alberts Muktupāvels (muktupavels)]

"Placement" setting is there because it is planned to implement other modes...

[Valentyna (valia0906)]

It`s could be great if you implement this other modes as soon as possible.

[Alberts Muktupāvels (muktupavels)]

Currently I don't have time for that! Help is welcome...

[MikeR (mike-rechtman)]

As stated above there is a bug report Bug #1875695 which is a duplicate and for which I apologize.
The problem appeared after an update from 10.04 LTS GNOME to 20.04 LTS.

Any additional details that I could add are of course available.

[MikeR (mike-rechtman)]

correction: should be:
The problem appeared after an update from 18.04 LTS GNOME to 20.04 LTS.
                                          ^^^^^^

[frank (frankwu)]

Have same Problem on ubuntu 22.04 clean install.

[MikeR (mike-rechtman)]

quote from two years ago:
"Expect that it will be implemented? Yes"

When can we expect a solution?
Given up hope for 20.04,
What are the chances for 22.04?

[Patrick Menschel (menschel)]

The corresponding MR is stale because no one was reviewing it and I lost my patience with the build system / test environment.
The MR was already at a stage where you could drag stuff along on the grid and it remembered it's position.

https://gitlab.gnome.org/GNOME/gnome-flashback/-/merge_requests/37

[Alberts Muktupāvels (muktupavels)]

@menschel Sorry, I simply have no enough time to review it...

@mike-rechtman Zero chances for 22.04... It will happen when I will find time to review and/or write some code for desktop icons.

I had an idea that maybe we could use https://gitlab.com/rastersoft/desktop-icons-ng/ as I knew that it was possible to launch it as standalone application. Sadly it is meant only for testing, opens as regular window...