Is there a way in Plasma 6 to bring back the option for the desktop grid view to change the layout of the desktops? In Plasma 5.27 we could set it to arrange the desktops fallowing the pager layout. This is like what we currently have in Plasma 6. However we could also choose for the desktop grid to ignore the pager layout and arrange the desktops in a way that better uses the space on the screen. Like for example, I only have one row of 6 desktops. Currently when I activate the grid, the desktops appear in one row - like the pager shows them. With the other option selected I could still have only one row of 6 desktops but the grid would arrange them on 2 rows of 3 desktops each. This makes it easier to move windows between them, as the desktops are larger. SOFTWARE/OS VERSIONS Operating System: KDE neon Unstable Edition KDE Plasma Version: 6.0.80 KDE Frameworks Version: 6.0.0 Qt Version: 6.6.2 Kernel Version: 6.5.0-21-generic (64-bit) Graphics Platform: Wayland
At the moment there is no such option.
I would untag it from "wishlist", it is a regression in functionality causing problems either in the Pager or in the Grid View as described.
I'm also affected by this regression. I'm on a laptop with a relatively small screen with 4 workspaces in a row. Using the Desktop Grid in Plasma 6 doesn't show the desktops in the most screen space-efficient manner possible, like it did in Plasma 5. As a result, I have trouble seeing what windows are in what workspaces, which wasn't a problem in Plasma 5.
I made the discovery that, if you open your Virtual Desktop settings and set, let's go for 4 desktops (works nicely in the Grid, right?) If you then set 4 ROWS. Then you have 4 vertical desktops... which display (IMO) nicely in Overview (but suck in Grid). The vertical desktop arrangement here is actually nicer for navigation for me. If you set 1 ROW, then you have 4 Horizontal desktops... which display worse still in GRID, and not much better in Overview. So we have a Hobsons Choice here. I would suggest 1. Fix the Grid, and make Overview flexible in lining up whatever desktops we have or 2. Fix the Overview and make GRID more flexible. Desktops have names/numbers, so an option to display this - if we assume that mixing up layouts would be in some way 'confusing'.
Created attachment 171216 [details] Desktop grid overview regression example This issue persists in Plasma 6.1.1. Instead of using the desktop grid overview space efficiently, desktops are shown in a row instead of a grid. I uploaded an example of the regression. Notice how the desktops are in a horizontal row instead of a grid like they were in Plasma 5.27. This makes using the desktop grid overview mostly useless, as you can't even see the windows in each desktop because they're too small. KDE Plasma Version: 6.1.1 KDE Frameworks Version: 6.3.0 Qt Version: 6.7.2 Graphics Platform: Wayland
Hello, based on the screenshot this issue may be as quick a fix as setting the Rows count in System Settings -> Window Management -> Virtual Desktops. This of course affects the pager where the top-right window will jump down to the next row, etc. Not ideal, but if I understand correctly, Plasma 6 fully overhauled the way that Virtual Desktops are handled. This makes the system unified across all these separate components like Overview, Desktop Grid, but it also causes issues like this where the behavior of one component negatively affects others. Now i'm questioning why the Desktop Grid isn't designed to tile desktops smartly into an actual multi-dimension "Grid" by default, to use optimal screen space. Using a linear list of desktops in the full Desktop Grid seems counterproductive to actually switch between, and if users don't research or go deep into the semi-unrelated Virtual Desktop settings they'd never know they could split the rows.
Thanks for the response, Blazer. Unfortunately, adding multiple rows affects the pager as you mentioned, and makes virtual desktop switching gestures pretty confusing. I'd prefer to keep switching desktops horizontally, as swiping left/right is easier than navigating a grid of desktops with gestures. Same thing when it comes to dragging windows between virtual desktops. Optimally, an option for the desktop grid to tile desktops in a space-efficient manner would be ideal, as was the case in Plasma 5.