Bug 407112 - Physical arrangement config data is not stored systemwide, but it should be, since this will never change on a per-user basis
Summary: Physical arrangement config data is not stored systemwide, but it should be, ...
Status: CONFIRMED
Alias: None
Product: systemsettings
Classification: Applications
Component: kcm_kscreen (show other bugs)
Version: unspecified
Platform: Neon Linux
: NOR wishlist
Target Milestone: ---
Assignee: kscreen-bugs-null@kde.org
URL:
Keywords: usability
Depends on:
Blocks:
 
Reported: 2019-04-30 22:14 UTC by Tim Richardson
Modified: 2022-11-08 18:45 UTC (History)
3 users (show)

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Description Tim Richardson 2019-04-30 22:14:41 UTC 
SUMMARY

I added a new user via system settings. After logging in (even after reboots), it appeared to be completely broken. Could not add panels, could not start most apps such as system settings, and failure was silent. No error messages logged. 
The problem was quite innocent. System is a laptop with two external monitors. The laptop lid is closed, the display should be disabled. But the new session did not notice the lid was closed, and made the laptop display both enabled and the primary monitor. 

STEPS TO REPRODUCE
1. Laptop with external display (I have two). Close laptop lid. 
2. Make a new user with system settings (admin or not, doesn't matter)
3. Switch to new user or logout/login or reboot & login to new user

OBSERVED RESULT
"Broken desktop. No panels. Can't add panels. Can't start settings.

EXPECTED RESULT

Normal desktop



Problem
The laptop display in the new session was both enabled and made the primary monitor. 


SOFTWARE/OS VERSIONS

Operating System: KDE neon 5.15
KDE Plasma Version: 5.15.4
KDE Frameworks Version: 5.57.0
Qt Version: 5.12.0
Kernel Version: 4.18.0-19-generic
OS Type: 64-bit
Processors: 8 × Intel® Core™ i7-8550U CPU @ 1.80GHz
Memory: 31.2 GiB of RAM




Windows: 
macOS: 
Linux/KDE Plasma: 
(available in About System)
KDE Plasma Version: 
KDE Frameworks Version: 
Qt Version: 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Comment 1 Nate Graham 2020-01-31 20:37:57 UTC 
Are you able to reproduce this issue in Plasma 5.17?
Comment 2 Tim Richardson 2020-01-31 20:54:54 UTC 
When making a new user in 5.17.5, the problem did not occur, but the monitor setup was not cloned from the existing session. The primary monitor was maintained, but the second monitor was incorrectly oriented (it appeared on the wrong side). The closed laptop monitor was disabled. 

So it was not a broken experience, but it is still not quite right ... it seems to me that the parent sesssion's monitor arrangement should be copied to the new user account.
Comment 3 Nate Graham 2020-01-31 22:18:40 UTC 
Thanks!

This could be Plasma, it could be ksmserver, or it could be KScreen. Putting it in KScreen for now.
Comment 4 Nate Graham 2022-11-07 20:59:31 UTC 
> it seems to me that the parent sesssion's monitor arrangement should be copied to the new user account

That's not the worst idea, but then they could subtly drift out of sync over time.

Really what we need is for the physical arrangement and orientation to be stored systemwide. Then individual users could configure things like resolution, refresh rate, scale factor etc. according to their taste.