Bug 478241 - The overview/desktop grid effect with 4-finger-swipe in Plasma 6 Beta wastes space when no virtual desktops
Summary: The overview/desktop grid effect with 4-finger-swipe in Plasma 6 Beta wastes ...
Status: RESOLVED INTENTIONAL
Alias: None
Product: kwin
Classification: Plasma
Component: effects-desktop-grid (show other bugs)
Version: git master
Platform: openSUSE Linux
: NOR normal
Target Milestone: ---
Assignee: KWin default assignee
URL:
Keywords:
Depends on:
Blocks:
 
Reported: 2023-12-08 06:45 UTC by Paul McAuley
Modified: 2023-12-11 20:27 UTC (History)
1 user (show)

See Also:
Latest Commit:
Version Fixed In:
Sentry Crash Report:


Attachments
The problem when swiping with 4 fingers (1.33 MB, image/png)
2023-12-08 06:45 UTC, Paul McAuley
Details
Proposal of where to put the virtual desktop functionality (1.07 MB, image/png)
2023-12-08 06:45 UTC, Paul McAuley
Details

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Description Paul McAuley 2023-12-08 06:45:06 UTC
Created attachment 163997 [details]
The problem when swiping with 4 fingers

In the Plasma 6 Beta 1 when I swipe with 4 fingers, I get a screen showing "No other virtual desktops to show". I do not use virtual desktops as I don't like having information hidden from me, therefore, all this screen is doing is wasting a lot of space rather than using it for showing more of my current desktop. The same functionality could be provided using a lot less space -- see the attached problem and a proposal to fix.
Comment 1 Paul McAuley 2023-12-08 06:45:52 UTC
Created attachment 163998 [details]
Proposal of where to put the virtual desktop functionality
Comment 2 Nate Graham 2023-12-08 16:21:10 UTC
If you don't use virtual desktops, then don't swipe down to see the Desktop Grid. This isn't any different from how things worked in Plasma 5, it's just that the Desktop Grid was integrated into the Overview effect.

Ideally folks who don't use virtual desktops could re-bind a four-finger downward swipe to do something else (I would also like this) but that hasn't been implemented yet.
Comment 3 Paul McAuley 2023-12-10 19:16:39 UTC
It is different to Plasma 5 as I got a full-screen overview there and I find it useful from a touchpad swipe.

I actually don't mind it having a virtual desktop feature, my problem is how much space is wasted when you aren't using virtual desktops. If you look at my "Proposal" mock-up there is potential for all the same functionality, but using a much more space-efficient layout where you just put the "add virtual desktop" and "Configure virtual desktops..." buttons in the top-right beside the Filter button (which incidentally is also missing - I think these effects should be merged and it present).

Could I therefore make this a feature request? I'm also not sure if it is for the correct product as I am not clear on which effect is now the Overview Effect and which is the Desktop Grid. I don't seem to be able to change the category.
Comment 4 Nate Graham 2023-12-11 20:27:17 UTC
If you want to make a new feature request, the cleanest way would be with a new Bugzilla ticket, as it won't inherit the back-and-forth in this one that will distract people speed-reading it. But I'm still not sure what exactly the problem is. You said:

> I think these effects should be merged
The effects *are* merged. In Plasma 5, Overview and Desktop Grid were separate KWin effects. In Plasma 6 they've been merged together into one named "Overview". And If you don't use virtual desktops, then the advice is the same:

Plasma 5: "If you don't use virtual desktops, don't intentionally trigger the separate Desktop Grid effect."

Plasma 6: "If you don't use virtual desktops, don't intentionally trigger the Overview effect's built-in Desktop Grid functionality."

So I am still really failing to understand what the problem is. Maybe it will be clearer in your new bugzilla ticket that proposes a partial redesign of the Overview effect.