I just checked new Plasma 5. There is no simple way to start a new instance of running application from Icon tasks (and in default task manager too). User need to do right mouse click and choose option. That's not comfortable. I propose to introduce a new feature: Ctrl (or Shift) +click on icon to start a new instance of running application. A bit of off-topic: I wish more attention would be given to Icon task appearance in Plasma 5. I suggest reconsider Bug 298490 Icons in Icon Task Manager are too small. I wish I could get rid of separate panel to keep launchers/shortcuts and use Icon task with option "Show a Launcher when not running" and be able to start multiple instances of application.
or, as it is done almost anywhere: middle click starts a new instance. confirming as regression.
i’ve found a quick fix: change this: https://projects.kde.org/projects/kde/workspace/plasma-desktop/repository/revisions/master/entry/applets/taskmanager/package/contents/ui/Task.qml#L56 to: acceptedButtons: Qt.LeftButton | Qt.RightButton | Qt.RightButton | Qt.MiddleButton and add to this: https://projects.kde.org/projects/kde/workspace/plasma-desktop/repository/revisions/master/entry/applets/taskmanager/package/contents/ui/Task.qml#L92 code to create a new instance if the button was Qt.MiddleButton
Middle-click actually tends to *close* things most of the time (browser tab bars, Present Windows, ...) so it's not a good idea to use it for launching new instances. Shift+Click makes more sense there I think.
Git commit 58b2a3d1bf7828698b02ea4778996f1b8796a982 by Eike Hein. Committed on 03/11/2014 at 13:37. Pushed by hein into branch 'master'. Launch new instances on Shift+Click. M +3 -1 applets/taskmanager/package/contents/ui/Task.qml M +2 -0 applets/taskmanager/package/contents/ui/main.qml M +9 -0 applets/taskmanager/plugin/backend.cpp M +1 -0 applets/taskmanager/plugin/backend.h http://commits.kde.org/plasma-desktop/58b2a3d1bf7828698b02ea4778996f1b8796a982
but then i need two hands, with 3 unused buttons on my mouse…
Comment #3 gives a reason on why middle click should not be used to launch a new instance, however I disagree. There are already situations in which middle clicking is used to launch new "things" and not just to close "things". For example, on Chrome and Firefox middle clicking a link or a bookmark launches it on a new tab. So, could you please add the possibility of middle clicking to launch a new instance? Or at least make it an option that we users can enable.
> For example, on Chrome and Firefox middle clicking a link or a bookmark launches it on a new tab. yeah! so this behavior is even expected.
And middle-clicking on a tab closes that tab.
yes. so are task bars tabs or bookmarks/links? they are both: they indicate the status of applications (launched or not, like tabs), but pinning a launcher also makes them bookmarks/links. so why not make it configurable? Middle click action: (x) Launch new instance ( ) Close window with this default and choice, people would have more functionality and there wouldn’t be bad surprises, as a new instance started when you want to close a window is less annoying than closing a window while wanting to start a new instance.
FWIW, the kde4 version of icontasks had this configurable. Personally, I prefer middle button click to handle that. Also, if shit+click is the current behavior, why isn't it stated in the right-click menu? It says "Icon-only task manager settings... Alt+D,S", but "Start new Instance". It should be "Start new instance Shift+Click" or something. I'd never figure out how to start a new instance had I not found this bug report tbh.
It'll be configurable in Plasma 5.4.
Middle click seems more reasonable, as a program icon is just a a link ... it opens a new instance(tab). Middle click on the application icon in a taskbar could close it (as doubleclick there does)