Bug 513028

Summary:	Per-output radio button for "Primary" setting is inappropriate
Product:	[Applications] systemsettings	Reporter:	HORIE Seiichi <a6m1zero+kde>
Component:	kcm_kscreen	Assignee:	kscreen-bugs-null <kscreen-bugs-null>
Status:	CONFIRMED ---
Severity:	normal	CC:	nate, plasma-bugs-null
Priority:	NOR
Version First Reported In:	6.5.80
Target Milestone:	---
Platform:	KDE Linux
OS:	Linux
Latest Commit:		Version Fixed/Implemented In:
Sentry Crash Report:
Attachments:	The "primary" radio button in the Display Configuration.

Description HORIE Seiichi 2025-12-06 23:39:30 UTC

Created attachment 187399 [details]
The "primary" radio button in the Display Configuration.

SUMMARY
The display configuration application has a per-output radio button for "primary" settings. This is not intuitive to a user. It should be checked in the per-output check box. 

STEPS TO REPRODUCE
1. Connect two displays to the system.
2. Open the Display Configuration. 
3. You can see the "primary" radio button. 

OBSERVED RESULT
The primary selection is presented as a radio button. This is not intuitive to the user. 

Please see the attached screenshot.


EXPECTED RESULT
The primary screen should be selected by a per-screen check box instead. 

The developer might think, "We will choose only one screen among the multiple ones. So, the radio button should be appropriate."

But this is not a good idea. GUI should be consistent in one horizontal plane. This kind of 3D concept is not intuitive to the user. We should not push our high-level thoughts to the user. 

On the other hand, in Bug #458180, a combo box is suggested because "Select output screen and check" is not simple. But "Select and do" is the basis of the GUI design. I think still check box is still best.

Or, if the 'impossible to uncheck the "primary' check box' is the big issue, we can display "primary / not primary" by text, and place the "set primary output" button. 


SOFTWARE/OS VERSIONS
Windows: 
macOS: 
(available in the Info Center app, or by running `kinfo` in a terminal window)
Linux/KDE Plasma: KDE Linux 2025-12-06
KDE Plasma Version: 6.5.80
KDE Frameworks Version: 6.22.0
Qt Version: 6.10.1

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

I have found a similar issue : 
- Per-output checkboxes for "Primary" setting are inappropriate and should be a global combobox instead. #458180

This issue seems to be left un-maintained while the GUI has been changed from when the issue was reported. That is why I opened a new bug report.

Comment 1 Nate Graham 2025-12-08 18:19:17 UTC

Indeed, a Checkbox would be the more appropriate UI control here.

The minor challenge is that if we use a checkbox, it becomes possible to uncheck the checkbox for the primary screen, which isn't something that makes sense. This is presumably also a reason why a Radio Button was used.

Because we basically want a UI control that can only be checked (never unchecked), this is actually describing a regular button. So I think it would make the most sense to replace this UI with a "Make Primary" button.

Comment 2 HORIE Seiichi 2025-12-08 22:13:08 UTC

I agree. That make sense.