Bug 424494 - Select and tile windows on demand
Summary: Select and tile windows on demand
Status: RESOLVED FIXED
Alias: None
Product: kwin
Classification: Plasma
Component: Custom Tiling (other bugs)
Version First Reported In: unspecified
Platform: Other Linux
: NOR wishlist
Target Milestone: ---
Assignee: KWin default assignee
URL:
Keywords:
Depends on:
Blocks:
 
Reported: 2020-07-21 01:35 UTC by manuelchaves
Modified: 2023-01-25 18:21 UTC (History)
2 users (show)

See Also:
Latest Commit:
Version Fixed/Implemented In: 5.27
Sentry Crash Report:


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Description manuelchaves 2020-07-21 01:35:57 UTC
Right now it's possible to have 2 windows in a column through quarter tiling. But when a user needs to have 3 windows in a vertical column the only way to do it is by manual resizing. I think adding more tiling options is something a window manager should strive for. 

Here's how I think it could work: 
- Use alt+shif+drag to "draw" a rectangle to select the windows you want
- OR trigger some popup with a list of windows in the current screen to pick
- After selecting the windows ask what kind of tiling arrangement you want
- For instance if 3 windows are selected allow picking a 3 window column (or row)
- This could be represented visually or by text descriptions
- The windows get tiled

This is a basic idea.
Right now what I do is manually resize windows and make them remember the size and position.
I know kwin tiling scripts exist, but I don't use them and I don't think they're tightly integrated into the workflow since they depend on keyboard shortcuts.
The idea is to make it painless to discover and use.
Comment 1 manuelchaves 2020-07-21 01:47:20 UTC
Instead of alt+shift+drag, it could be alt+shift+click to select windows, put a border around them for feedback. This could be useful for many functions that depend on a list of windows not just tiling. Automatically removing any selected windows after x seconds to avoid cases where the user accidentally selects one and doesn't know they can click again to remove.
Comment 2 Nate Graham 2023-01-25 18:21:13 UTC
This is now possible using KWin's new "Custom Tiling" feature in Plasma 5.27!