Bug 499765

Summary: Meaning of "Remain active when windows are full-screen" not obvious
Product: [Applications] systemsettings Reporter: John Veness <john.kde>
Component: kcm_kwinscreenedgesAssignee: KWin default assignee <kwin-bugs-null>
Status: CONFIRMED ---    
Severity: normal CC: cwo.kde, duha.bugs, kde, nate, plasma-bugs-null
Priority: NOR Keywords: usability
Version First Reported In: 6.2.5   
Target Milestone: ---   
Platform: Other   
OS: Linux   
Latest Commit: Version Fixed In:
Sentry Crash Report:
Attachments: Screen Edges window in Plasma 6.2.5

Description John Veness 2025-02-10 16:49:20 UTC 
SUMMARY
In the Screen Edges KCM, it is not immediately obvious what the option labelled "Behaviour: Remain active when windows are full-screen" does.

STEPS TO REPRODUCE
1. Open System Settings
2. Browse to Mouse & Touchpad > Screen Edges

OBSERVED RESULT
Not clear what the option labelled "Behaviour: Remain active when windows are full-screen" does.

EXPECTED RESULT
Clear what the option labelled "Behaviour: Remain active when windows are full-screen" does.

SOFTWARE/OS VERSIONS
Operating System: openSUSE Tumbleweed 20250209
KDE Plasma Version: 6.2.5
KDE Frameworks Version: 6.10.0
Qt Version: 6.8.2
Kernel Version: 6.13.1-1-default (64-bit)
Graphics Platform: X11

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
I think the main thing causing the confusion is that it is underneath, and seemingly connected to, the options:

- Maximise: Windows dragged to the top edge
- Tile: Windows dragged to left or right edge

By the time the brain has read those, it may have forgotten about the "You can trigger an action by pushing the mouse cursor against the corresponding screen edge or corner" thing. So, maybe the "Behaviour: Remain active when windows are full-screen" option should be relocated, to make it clearer what it is referring to.
Comment 1 David Redondo 2025-02-11 13:36:57 UTC 
Do you  have an idea for a better string?
I agree the placement could be better
Comment 2 cwo 2025-02-19 16:51:14 UTC 
How about something like

"In full-screen windows: Allow activating edge and corner actions"

The "Behavior:"  prefix doesn't match the way the prefix is used elsewhere, where it concretely references either an action or (directly or indirectly) a condition. It also reads a bit more like a sentence.

It also more accurately describes the behavior – the current wording seems to imply that with the setting disabled, the actions would no longer work if any window were full-screen, even if it's in the background. But that's not what it does, with a full-screen window in the background but not active, you can still maximize the active window by dragging, or move to a different virtual desktop using the edges. And that seems correct behavior-wise, it should only apply while the full-screen window is active. "When a full-screen window is active" or "…in the foreground" would be even more unambiguous, but that seems too long and a little clumsy.
Comment 3 John Veness 2025-02-19 17:26:58 UTC 
Created attachment 178599 [details]
Screen Edges window in Plasma 6.2.5
Comment 4 John Veness 2025-02-19 17:29:03 UTC 
(In reply to cwo from comment #2)
> How about something like
> 
> "In full-screen windows: Allow activating edge and corner actions"

That certainly reads better.

I also think it would be better if the option (whatever it will be called) is moved closer to the corner and edge buttons currently at the top of the window, rather than underneath the Maximise and Tile settings as it is currently.

I've attached a screenshot of the current window, for future reference.