Bug 501081

Summary: "Always sort applications alphabetically" is named inaccurately because it does not affect KRunner search result ordering
Product: [Plasma] plasmashell Reporter: rdk
Component: Application Launcher (Kickoff) widgetAssignee: Plasma Bugs List <plasma-bugs-null>
Status: RESOLVED FIXED    
Severity: minor CC: alexander.lohnau, mikel5764, natalie_clarius, nate, noahadvs
Priority: NOR Keywords: junior-jobs, usability
Version First Reported In: 6.3.2   
Target Milestone: 1.0   
Platform: NixOS   
OS: Linux   
Latest Commit: Version Fixed/Implemented In: 6.4.0
Sentry Crash Report:
Attachments: Screenshot showing that "Always sort applications alphabetically" is checked but not working

Description rdk 2025-03-05 02:04:13 UTC
Created attachment 179133 [details]
Screenshot showing that "Always sort applications alphabetically" is checked but not working

SUMMARY
Typing "disco" into application launcher always shows "Discover" above "Discord", even when I go into Application Launcher Settings and check the box for "Always sort applications alphabetically"

STEPS TO REPRODUCE
1. have Discord and Discover installed
2. launch the launcher (Super key)
3. click the gear icon to go into Application Launcher Settings
4. check the box for "Always sort applications alphabetically", ok/apply
3. launch the launcher again, type "disco"

OBSERVED RESULT
Discover and Discord appear, in that order

EXPECTED RESULT
Discord and Discover appear, in that order

SOFTWARE/OS VERSIONS
nixos-unstable, kernel 6.13.5, nixpkgs rev ba487dbc9d04e0634c64e3b1f0d25839a0a68246

Linux/KDE Plasma: 
KDE Plasma Version: 6.3.2
KDE Frameworks Version: 6.11.0
Qt Version: 6.8.2

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
I rebooted once after checking "Always sort applications alphabetically" and applying, just to see if that would make it actually take effect, but same result.
Comment 1 Nate Graham 2025-03-05 17:26:32 UTC
I guess this setting needs to be renamed, because it doesn't affect KRunner ordering; just the normal order of the items.

Wanna submit a patch to change it?
Comment 2 rdk 2025-03-05 19:14:50 UTC
(In reply to Nate Graham from comment #1)
> I guess this setting needs to be renamed, because it doesn't affect KRunner
> ordering; just the normal order of the items.

Ahh I see, thanks!
 
> Wanna submit a patch to change it?

No, I wouldn't know where to even begin and it's not personally bothersome enough for me to ramp up on kde development, let alone learn c++, especially if it doesn't actually fix sorting of search results. But in any case I appreciate the quick response and the correction of the details and title in this bug report, thanks so much!
Comment 3 Nate Graham 2025-03-05 21:33:35 UTC
Making affect KRunner search results is not really feasible. But changing the label is super easy, no C++ required! Just change this one line here: https://invent.kde.org/plasma/plasma-desktop/-/blob/master/applets/kickoff/package/contents/ui/ConfigGeneral.qml?ref_type=heads#L173
Comment 4 rdk 2025-03-07 01:25:36 UTC
Fair enough! Here's a merge request, though I'm not super happy with the actual change I'm making, I also can't think of a more concise way to say it, so I'm definitely open to feedback

https://invent.kde.org/plasma/plasma-desktop/-/merge_requests/2871
Comment 5 Nate Graham 2025-03-10 05:45:51 UTC
Git commit de10d7f75f008a7acc4a5b54af0a73ab07c252ef by Nate Graham, on behalf of Bob Danek.
Committed on 10/03/2025 at 05:45.
Pushed by ngraham into branch 'master'.

Clarify "Always sort applications alphabetically" checkbox doesn't affect search results

Application Launcher's settings window has a checkbox for "Always sort
applications alphabetically". It's not clear that this doesn't affect how
applications in search results and favorites views get sorted. Clarify
that using a less absolutist text label and a ContextualHelpButton.
FIXED-IN: 6.4.0

M  +11   -4    applets/kickoff/package/contents/ui/ConfigGeneral.qml

https://invent.kde.org/plasma/plasma-desktop/-/commit/de10d7f75f008a7acc4a5b54af0a73ab07c252ef