Unity shortcuts (Super+A/F/M/C/V) do not work on non-latin layout in Trusty - shortcuts are defined via keyboard layout, not the keys

[Masoud Abkenar]

There are shortcuts to open lenses in Unity, for example "Super + A" for App Lens, or "Super + F" for Files Lens, etc. There are also shortcuts in the Launcher "Super + 1 to 9" to launch apps from the Launcher. These shortcuts don't work if the keyboard layout is set to a non-Latin layout, in my case Persian, where almost all the keys are mapped to new characters.

HOW TO REPRODUCE:
Add a new Persian keyboard layout to the system, in addition to English, via keyboard layout indicator --> Text Entry Settings.
Switch to the Persian layout (by clicking on the keyboard layout indicator).
Press "Super + F".

WHAT HAPPENS:
Dash is not open. Nothing happens.

WHAT SHOULD HEPPEN:
The Files Lens in the dash should open.
The shortcuts should be associated with the keys on the keyboard, not to the characters they are associated with (which depends on the active keyboard layout).
When I am typing something in Persian, and I want to search for a file, it is not reasonable that I should first switch back to the English layout before I can use a particular shortcut.

====================
This problem does not happen in some other apps like gedit or Firefox.

COMPARE TO GEDIT:
Open gedit text editor.
Write something.
Switch to the Persian layout.
Press "Ctrl + S" (the shortcut to save the document).

WHAT HAPPENS, AND WHAT SHOULD HAPPEN:
The save dialoge box appears.

====================
I think this problem happens for all keyboard layouts that don't use Latin characters.
Layout-wise, when I press "Ctrl + S" while Persian layout is active, I am typing "Ctrl + س".
But keyboard-wise, I am always pressing the same keyboard binding.

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For other layout switching problems introduced in Ubuntu 13.10 you can see bug 1218322.
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ProblemType: Bug
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 14.04
Package: libunity9 7.1.4+14.04.20140210-0ubuntu1
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 3.13.0-8.27-generic 3.13.2
Uname: Linux 3.13.0-8-generic x86_64
ApportVersion: 2.13.2-0ubuntu4
Architecture: amd64
CurrentDesktop: Unity
Date: Sun Feb 16 12:04:10 2014
InstallationDate: Installed on 2014-02-15 (0 days ago)
InstallationMedia: Ubuntu 14.04 LTS "Trusty Tahr" - Alpha amd64 (20140211)
SourcePackage: libunity
UpgradeStatus: No upgrade log present (probably fresh install)

[Masoud Abkenar (mabkenar)]

This bug still exists in Trusty after recent updates on the Unity desktop.

[Launchpad Janitor (janitor)]

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

[Norbert (nrbrtx)]

Made a clean install of Ubuntu 14.04 beta2 ( 4cf9e5ef2c1c362317c90312c76cfda0 *ubuntu-14.04-beta2-desktop-i386.iso).
I can confirm this bug. Please fix it before final Ubuntu 14.04 release.

For other non-latin shortcut problems you can see my Google Docs table (https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0Ao5e713Ig9g_dEJrX2NRYlpLWWVzSWxsVXU4ck9HYVE&usp=sharing , Sheet "!!! Non-latin shortcuts (14.04)").

[Alberto Salvia Novella (es20490446e)]

It's estimated to have a moderate impact on a large portion of Ubuntu users.

[Norbert (nrbrtx)]

I have tested Ubuntu 12.04 about this bug. I can use Super+A/F/M/T/S/W on qwerty and йцукен (english and russian) layouts.

So this bug is a regression which should be fixed before Ubuntu 14.04 final release.

[Norbert (nrbrtx)]

The comment is for comparison between Ubuntu 12.04 and 14.04.

Below is a text table for Unity shortcuts, non-latin layout selected.
         12.04 14.04
Super+T + +
Super+A + -
Super+F + -
Super+M + -
Super+C n/a -
Super+V + -
Super+L n/a +
Super+W + +
Super+S + +

So Super+T/L/W/S work on Ubuntu 14.04 and Super+A/F/M/C/V do not work on Ubuntu 14.04.

[Masoud Abkenar (mabkenar)]

With Persian layout in 14.04, I can confirm your last comment: Super+T/L/W/S work, Super+A/F/M/C/V do not work. Great job.

[Alexey Kulik (doctor-rover)]

A small comment, just in case. Though Super+W works in trusty, there is a malfunction: bug 1283702
I noticed this bug right after implementation of the filter in the Spread mode.

[Masoud Abkenar (mabkenar)]

I just noticed that the following shortcuts are working again:

Super + 1 to 9
Super + Shift + 1 to 9
Ctrl + Alt + Num

They didn't work at the time I reported this bug, probably because the Persian layout uses the Eastern Arabic numerals (e.g. ۱ ۲ ۳ ۴ instead of 1 2 3 4).

[Norbert (nrbrtx)]

Ubuntu 14.04 with all updates for today - bu exists. Please fix it as soon as possible.

[Vasil Yakauleu (vasilbelarus)]

Ubuntu 14.04.1 + latest updates:

Super+T/L/W/S work, Super+A/F/M/C/V do not work.

[Norbert (nrbrtx)]

Ubuntu 14.04.1 with all latest updates.
Super+T/L/W/S work, Super+A/F/M/C/V do not work.
The bug is still here.
Please fix it.

[Norbert (nrbrtx)]

Bug exists in Ubuntu 14.10 (installed from Ubuntu 14.10 _Utopic Unicorn_ - Alpha i386 (20140902)).
Super+T/L/W/S work, Super+A/F/M/C/V do not work.
The bug is still here.
Please fix it.

[zeine77 (mohamed-eyil)]

I experienced the following issue, I think It's related to the same bug.
I have two keyboard layouts: English and Aabic (Azerty).
I typed a text in the search box on Firefox then tried to select it with CTRL+A shortcut. With Arabic layout activated this had caused Firefox to close. In the other hand, when English layout is activated this had behaved normally (selecting all the text in the box).
I switched back to Cinnamon because of this issue. User experience in Unity become very complicated when using a non latin layout with a latin one.

[Norbert (nrbrtx)]

Reinstalled Utopic from official beta2 , the bug is still here.

[Norbert (nrbrtx)]

Bug exists in Ubuntu Utopic 14.10 final.