Launcher and global menu bar get invisible after a program is minimized from full screen mode

[andreasrasholm]

I'm using Ubuntu 12.10. I first experienced this bug when minimizing the fullscreen writing app Focuswriter some time before I switched (via fresh install) from Ubuntu 12.04 to 12.10 - probably caused by a an automatically updated change to 12.04 that persist in 12.10. Since then I've learned that the same things happens when I minimize any other program that is running fullscreen - I've tried with Focuswriter, LibreOfiice Writer, Firefox and Lyx, and the bug is consistent - and I've found this (unreported) mention of the same bug with Vitualbox: http://ubuntuforums.org/archive/index.php/t-2062165.html.

What I expect to happen:
When I minimize a program from full-screen I expect seeing my desktop, the launcher and the global menu bar.

What happens instead:
When one of the mentioned programs is minimized after it has been in full-screen mode the launcher and the global menu bar are invisible. Instead of seeing them I just see their outline the color of my desktop background where it should have been. The launcher and global menu become visible if I click these areas once.

ProblemType: Bug
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 12.10
Package: unity 6.8.0-0ubuntu2
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 3.5.0-17.28-generic 3.5.5
Uname: Linux 3.5.0-17-generic x86_64
ApportVersion: 2.6.1-0ubuntu3
Architecture: amd64
CompizPlugins: No value set for `/apps/compiz-1/general/screen0/options/active_plugins'
Date: Sun Oct 21 17:47:10 2012
InstallationMedia: Ubuntu 12.10 "Quantal Quetzal" - Release amd64 (20121017.5)
ProcEnviron:
 TERM=xterm
 PATH=(custom, no user)
 XDG_RUNTIME_DIR=<set>
 LANG=da_DK.UTF-8
 SHELL=/bin/bash
SourcePackage: unity
UpgradeStatus: No upgrade log present (probably fresh install)

[andreasrasholm (andreasrasholm)]

Update: the problem is the same when I minimize from full-screen in LyX and Firefox - and properly any other program in full-screen mode.

[andreasrasholm (andreasrasholm)]

Update: found this mention of an (unreported) similar bug when minizing Virtualbox:

http://ubuntuforums.org/archive/index.php/t-2062165.html

[Launchpad Janitor (janitor)]

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

[johnnynobody (engage1)]

So far, this only happens on my Dell Inspiron 14R running Ubuntu 12.10. When I launch Firefox, the side application launcher disappears (autohide isn't used). Even after minimizing Firefox, the side application launcher is still missing but there is a thin bar across the top of the workspace and when I click on it the bar goes away and the side application launcher becomes visible again.

[Edoardo Peri (edoardo-peri)]

Hi,

same behaviour happens to me in virtualbox, remmina (RDP) and other applications.

When I minimize the application, unity launcher and menu bar disappear. I can let them reappear only clicking on the menu bar or on the unity launcher.

It happened both on ubuntu 12.04 and 12.10.

If I close the full screen application it doesn't happen, only if I minimize it.

[Guy Lachance (guy-v)]

Hi,

This big affects me also when I run VirtualBox (4.2.4) on my Laptop running Ubuntu 12.04

[Edoardo Peri (edoardo-peri)]

Hi,

after the last software update (compiz and openGL) the behaviour has changed. Now when I minimize the full-screen application I get back again a full-screen of the application and if I click on it I return correctly to the desktop.

Better than before but the bug is still present.

[andreasrasholm (andreasrasholm)]

Hi Eduardo - I'm running 12.10 fully updated and I'm still experiencing the bug. Did you do anything else than just running the recommended updates?

[Edoardo Peri (edoardo-peri)]

Hi,

the bug is still present but with the latest automatic updates from
Canonical of the Compiz component I received yesterday the behaviour has
slightly changed.

Now when I minimize a full-screen application, instead of returning to
the desktop with menu bar and unity bar missing I receive back the same
full-screen application.

I still have to click on the full-screen application to return to the
desktop.

So at the end I still have to do another click to have the proper
behaviour, the difference is that I do it on the full-screen instead of
the missing menubar.

Regards,
Edoardo.

On 20/12/2012 15:12, andreasrasholm wrote:
> Hi Eduardo - I'm running 12.10 fully updated and I'm still experiencing
> the bug. Did you do anything else than just running the recommended
> updates?
>

[amishaa (amishaa)]

Also this bug appears when you use "show desktop" option from alt+tab menu.

[andreasrasholm (andreasrasholm)]

After the update, that was somehow delayed for me, I now get the same behaviour as you, Edoardo. A workaround that works for some purposes is to have the full screen application opened in a separate workspace - then you can switch from it with Ctrl+Alt+Arrow keys.

Being able to use full screen applications in a single workspace would be nice, though. I hope this bug will eventually be taken care of.

[Edoardo Peri (edoardo-peri)]

Hi, the delay on the update can be related to the settings.
My system is setup to receive the updates even if they are not yet
considered stable.
Kind Regards,
Edoardo.
Il giorno 29/dic/2012 17:20, "andreasrasholm" <email address hidden> ha
scritto:

> After the update, that was somehow delayed for me, I now get the same
> behaviour as you, Edoardo. A workaround that works for some purposes is
> to have the full screen application opened in a separate workspace -
> then you can switch from it with Ctrl+Alt+Arrow keys.
>
> Being able to use full screen applications in a single workspace would
> be nice, though. I hope this bug will eventually be taken care of.
>
> --
> You received this bug notification because you are subscribed to the bug
> report.
> https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/1069451
>
> Title:
> Launcher and global menu bar get invisible after a program is
> minimized from full screen mode
>
> Status in “unity” package in Ubuntu:
> Confirmed
>
> Bug description:
> I'm using Ubuntu 12.10. I first experienced this bug when minimizing
> the fullscreen writing app Focuswriter some time before I switched
> (via fresh install) from Ubuntu 12.04 to 12.10 - probably caused by a
> an automatically updated change to 12.04 that persist in 12.10. Since
> then I've learned that the same things happens when I minimize any
> other program that is running fullscreen - I've tried with
> Focuswriter, LibreOfiice Writer, Firefox and Lyx, and the bug is
> consistent - and I've found this (unreported) mention of the same bug
> with Vitualbox:
> http://ubuntuforums.org/archive/index.php/t-2062165.html.
>
> What I expect to happen:
> When I minimize a program from full-screen I expect seeing my desktop,
> the launcher and the global menu bar.
>
> What happens instead:
> When one of the mentioned programs is minimized after it has been in
> full-screen mode the launcher and the global menu bar are invisible.
> Instead of seeing them I just see their outline the color of my desktop
> background where it should have been. The launcher and global menu become
> visible if I click these areas once.
>
> ProblemType: Bug
> DistroRelease: Ubuntu 12.10
> Package: unity 6.8.0-0ubuntu2
> ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 3.5.0-17.28-generic 3.5.5
> Uname: Linux 3.5.0-17-generic x86_64
> ApportVersion: 2.6.1-0ubuntu3
> Architecture: amd64
> CompizPlugins: No value set for
> `/apps/compiz-1/general/screen0/options/active_plugins'
> Date: Sun Oct 21 17:47:10 2012
> InstallationMedia: Ubuntu 12.10 "Quantal Quetzal" - Release amd64
> (20121017.5)
> ProcEnviron:
> TERM=xterm
> PATH=(custom, no user)
> XDG_RUNTIME_DIR=<set>
> LANG=da_DK.UTF-8
> SHELL=/bin/bash
> SourcePackage: unity
> UpgradeStatus: No upgrade log present (probably fresh install)
>
> To manage notifications about this bug go to:
> https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/unity/+bug/1069451/+subscriptions
>

[lVWy2QVhieXLsi (fshmuxibpmsioz)]

I am experiencing this as well. When I minimize virtualbox, the Unity desktop briefly appears, then the virtualbox windows guest re-appears until I click anywhere on the screen, and then Unity returns. I'm running 12.10 on an Acer Aspire 7750G laptop.

[Giulio D'Ambrosi (giulio79)]

Hi,
 This bug affects me also when I run VirtualBox (4.2.6) on my Laptop running Ubuntu Precise

Linux XXX 3.2.0-37-generic #58-Ubuntu SMP Thu Jan 24 15:28:10 UTC 2013 x86_64 x86_64 x86_64 GNU/Linux

[Ben Maccagnan (ben-maccagnan)]

This bug affects me too. It happens most when I use Remmina and VMware Workstation in full screen. I minimize the application and it pops back up and I have to click in the task bar area and then the task bar covers my systray icons. This should be a much higher priority as it has really effected my desktop. I had to switch to Cinnamon and I really like Unity. This bug does not effect the Cinnamon desktop by the way.

[Tibor Halasz (orb)]

Hello,

I have the same problem in 12.04 and 12.10 too.

I have to use many remote desktops (I use Remmina) and I have many VirtualBoxes too. I need to switch to Windows 7, because this bug makes impossible to work with Unity, but I like Unity.

This problem doesn't occur on any window managers (XFCE, KDE, Cinnamon, MATE, E17) except in Unity.

[Graham Lucking (lucking)]

On Ubuntu+1 section of Ubuntu forums I was asked to check if this bug had been fixed in Raring Ringtail 13.04. It has not been fixed. Tested with Firefox. F11 maximizes Firefox and f11 restores Firefox but when Firefox is minimized using the icon in the top right corner of the maximized window (do not know a keyboard shortcut for this) then Firefox minimizes and the global menu and the launcher disappear even when autohide is turned off.

When the mouse pointer is clicked in the area of the notification icons. Then the icons appear and can be accessed. The menus remain available. The Launcher also appears but is inactive until the notification menus disappear and then the Launcher hides.

As Firefox is number 2 in the Launcher - pressing Super+2 will un-minimize Firefox and if it is then restored the global menu and the Launcher reappear.

[Marcin Dylewski (marcin-dylewski-m)]

Confirmed on fully updated 13.04. It happens on all apps I use in full screen which are VMware Workstation, Remmina, Firefox, Google Chrome.

[Christopher Townsend (townsend)]

Hi,

This is duplicate of bug #1064155 and a fix is in the works.

Thanks for reporting this issue!