Bug 515504

Summary: Allow multiple Sticky Note applets to reference the exact same note (useful with external screen)
Product: [Plasma] plasmashell Reporter: m.kurz
Component: Notes widgetAssignee: Plasma Bugs List <plasma-bugs-null>
Status: CONFIRMED ---    
Severity: wishlist CC: kdedev
Priority: NOR    
Version First Reported In: 6.5.5   
Target Milestone: 1.0   
Platform: Other   
OS: Linux   
Latest Commit: Version Fixed/Implemented In:
Sentry Crash Report:

Description m.kurz 2026-02-04 15:16:34 UTC
STEPS TO REPRODUCE
1. Add two Sticky notes applets to the task bar (actually I have two screens, each containing a task bar, with each having a sticky notes applet) - just to be clear, I am NOT talking about the sticky notes widgets that can be placed on the desktop

OBSERVED RESULT
Both sticky notes applets have their own files stored ~/.local/share/plasma_notes/

EXPECTED RESULT
I want to be able to reference the same note from multiple applets.

This specially makes sense when having multiple monitors/screens, each having their own taskbar with their own sticky notes applet. I use a keyboard shortcut to open the sticky notes widget. (Actually I had to create a shortcut for each applet on each screen, but ok). Now I want to always edit the exact same note. Specially when I use my laptop and connect an external screen, the sticky notes on the external screen will be gone once I unplug the screen (I mean yes the note still exists in ~/.local/share/plasma_notes/ so I see the note again on the external screen when connecting the screen again).

SOFTWARE/OS VERSIONS
Linux/KDE Plasma: Arch Linux ARM (Asahi Linux)
KDE Plasma Version: 6.5.5
KDE Frameworks Version: 6.22.0
Qt Version: 6.10.2

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
I tried various workarounds:

1. In ~/.config/plasma-org.kde.plasma.desktop-appletsrc I tried to set the same noteId on both applets, but that does not work. I restarted the session and it seems plasma detects that two noteId reference the same id and just duplicated on of them and again creates a new duplicated file.

2. I removed one of the two note files ~/.local/share/plasma_notes/ (they have that uuid name) and instead hard linked it to the other uuid file (with the same name of course). Restarted the session. However that also does not really work. Initially the content gets shown correctly on both applets, but the second note applet does not pick up the changes when I edit the first note applet (and vice versa). The file in ~/.local/share/plasma_notes/ itself gets updated correctly all the time, but the applet's content are out of sync.

My guess is the hard link workaround would be the easiest one for users like me, however all applets need to listen to file changes and immediately re-load the applets note content. I think right now the content of the note only gets loaded when to applets gets loaded?
Comment 1 TraceyC 2026-02-05 19:54:23 UTC
Changing this to wishlist, since it's a feature request rather than a bug.

Thanks for the suggestion. I'll pass this along for consideration. To temper expectations, this may involve some complexity that isn't obvious on the surface. The maintainers will be able to provide more detail.