We can select an alternative widget (icon only, task manager or window list) to use as task manager by right-clicking an empty space of the task manager and selecting "Alternatives...". However, currently there is no way to open "Alternatives..." menu when the panel is full of apps. It would be very nice if we could access the menu even when the taskbar is full. SOFTWARE/OS VERSIONS Operating System: Arch Linux KDE Plasma Version: 5.15.2 KDE Frameworks Version: 5.55.0 Qt Version: 5.12.1
Have a patch: https://phabricator.kde.org/D19472
Git commit fd7b359f84617cbab6a232007789b2ed618c4395 by Nate Graham. Committed on 02/03/2019 at 14:05. Pushed by ngraham into branch 'Plasma/5.15'. [Task Manager] Make sure "Alternatives..." context menu item is always available Summary: Currently, the Task Manager does not show the {nav Alternatives...} item in the context menu for tasks, so it's inaccessible when the Task Manager is full. This patch fixes that. FIXED-IN: 5.15.3 Test Plan: - Menu item is visible in the context menu for individual tasks when widgets are unlocked - Menu item is hidden when widgets are locked - Menu item works, and shows the {nav Alternatives} panel when clicked - No duplication in context menu for an empty area of the Task Manager Reviewers: #plasma, hein Subscribers: plasma-devel Tags: #plasma Differential Revision: https://phabricator.kde.org/D19472 M +18 -0 applets/taskmanager/package/contents/ui/ContextMenu.qml https://commits.kde.org/plasma-desktop/fd7b359f84617cbab6a232007789b2ed618c4395
Sorry, but I don't agree with this change. Switching the task manager widget is a seldom performed task, whereas opening the context for app specific task is quite more often. With this change more mouse distance and overhead to the already overwhelming menu for the *VAST* majority of uses was added. Furthermore: 1) "Alternatives" is ambiguous in this context, since one clicked on an application it could also mean an alternative for the application. 2) Even when the task bar is full, one can access the "alternatives" menu from configure panel. As a compromise I could imagine a sub-menu "Task Manager" which helds the entries for "Configure..." and "Alternatives...", but I would rather see it gone completly. Currently the context menu contains every possible action, which is overwhelming and IMHO a disservice to the user. Instead we should try to focus on the task the user actually wants to perform.
Created attachment 118525 [details] Example for reduced context menu in W10
(In reply to richardlm from comment #3) > 2) Even when the task bar is full, one can access the "alternatives" menu > from configure panel. panel settings shows no "Alternative..." here.
I agree that the presentation could be improved, and I support that. Please open a new ticket for that request.
(In reply to Patrick Silva from comment #5) > (In reply to richardlm from comment #3) > > 2) Even when the task bar is full, one can access the "alternatives" menu > > from configure panel. > panel settings shows no "Alternative..." here. You are right (... till now ;). I opened a bug a for it: bug 405082 , I still think this issue here can be solved otherwise better...