Bug 483586 - Spectacle window no longer returns when using hotkeys?
Summary: Spectacle window no longer returns when using hotkeys?
Status: REPORTED
Alias: None
Product: Spectacle
Classification: Applications
Component: General (show other bugs)
Version: 24.02.0
Platform: Other Linux
: NOR normal
Target Milestone: ---
Assignee: Noah Davis
URL:
Keywords: qt6
Depends on:
Blocks:
 
Reported: 2024-03-14 17:50 UTC by Nick
Modified: 2024-07-23 09:47 UTC (History)
2 users (show)

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


Attachments
Taking screenshots with buttons in the window, followed by using hotkeys. (3.90 MB, video/webm)
2024-03-14 17:50 UTC, Nick
Details

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Description Nick 2024-03-14 17:50:42 UTC
Created attachment 167194 [details]
Taking screenshots with buttons in the window, followed by using hotkeys.

SUMMARY

Settings:
When launching Spectacle: Use last-used capture mode
After taking a screenshot: [unchecked] Save file to default folder
Copy image to clipboard
Press screenshot key to: Take a new Screenshot

While a Spectacle window is open, pressing a hotkey combo closes the window while taking the screenshot. But the window doesn't return after the screenshot is taken. Clicking any of the screenshot method buttons in the application closes the window to take the screenshot, but still brings it back afterwards.
Using a hotkey combo while a Spectacle window is not open no longer brings one up after the screenshot is taken, but a notification does still appear. If "After taking a screenshot: Save file to default folder" is unchecked and "Copy image to clipboard" is selected, the only way to save the screenshot through the notification is with annotations which is cumbersome.

STEPS TO REPRODUCE
1. Open Spectacle / Skip
2. Press screenshot hotkey combo (IE Meta+Print for active window)

OBSERVED RESULT
Spectacle window doesn't return/open after taking the screenshot.

EXPECTED RESULT
Spectacle window returns/opens after taking the screenshot.

SOFTWARE/OS VERSIONS
Linux/KDE Plasma: CachyOS
KDE Plasma Version: 6.0.2
KDE Frameworks Version: 6.0.0
Qt Version: 6.6.2

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Comparing to Spectacle 23.08.5 which brings the window back after using a hotkey combo to take a screenshot while it's open. Or brings a window up after using a screenshot combo while no Spectacle window was open.
If this was an intentional change, an option to retain the previous behavior would be useful.
Comment 1 Nick 2024-03-14 19:49:26 UTC
I double checked with a Fedora 39 KDE 5.27.10 install and found I was misremembering how Spectacle 23.08.5 behaved when a window was not open, so disregard that half. Only copying with a notification is how it behaved as well with my settings.
But the behavior when using hotkeys with the window open is definitely different with Spectacle 24.02.0.
Comment 2 Nate Graham 2024-04-09 22:53:41 UTC
Unfortunately despite the text and the screen recording, I'm afraid I can't figure out what the problem you're describing is. Would you mind writing down more detailed steps to reproduce, going step by step to exactly reproduce the issue?
Comment 3 Nick 2024-04-10 10:36:31 UTC
Settings:
When launching Spectacle: Do not take a screenshot automatically
After taking a screenshot: Save file to default folder UNCHECKED / Copy image to clipboard
While Spectacle is running: Press screenshot key to: Take a new Screenshot
Remember selected area: Until Spectacle is closed

Spectacle 23.08.5 (On Plasma 5.27.11):
* Open a Spectacle window.
* Take a screenshot using hotkeys. In this example, meta+print for "Active Window."
* Spectacle window reopens with the newly taken screenshot, without making a screenshot notification.

Spectacle 24.02.1 (On Plasma 6.0.3):
* Open a Spectacle window.
* Take a screenshot using hotkeys.
* Spectacle window closes after the hotkey combo is used and doesn't reopen. Still with no screenshot notification. Screenshot is still created in /tmp/Spectacle.<random> and copied to the clipboard.

In both situations "Quit after manual Save or Copy" is unchecked. Clicking any of the screenshot method buttons in 24.02.1 behaves as expected, having the window reopen with the newly taken screenshot.


I've found through launching Spectacle 24.02.1 from the terminal, the process continues to run after the window closes when taking a hotkey screenshot if there was already a screenshot taken. Either from having "When launching Spectacle: Take full screen screenshot" set or by having previously taken one with any of the buttons in the window.
When taking a screenshot through hotkeys with an "empty" Spectacle window, the process ends immediately after taking it.
In the case when a Spectacle window already contains a screenshot, a hotkey exception is "Rectangular Region." Performing that has the Spectacle process end after the notification closes, which unusually appears.
Nothing new is printed to the terminal after the window closes in any way.

(With Spectacle 23.08.5, using "Rectangular Region" by hotkey with an open window still has it reopen with the screenshot after selecting an area and doesn't make a notification.)

When the Spectacle process is in that background state, taking hotkey screenshots other than "Rectangular Region" will not make new notifications until: another Spectacle window is opened then closed, "Rectangular Region" is used with hotkeys and the notification closes ending the process, or the Spectacle process is otherwise killed.

Without a Spectacle 24.02.1 process already running, the process ends as expected after the notification(s) from any hotkey screenshot method closes. No problem there.
Comment 4 Nate Graham 2024-04-11 16:27:02 UTC
Thanks. Unfortunately I still cannot reproduce the issue with those instructions.
Comment 5 Nick 2024-04-11 19:23:56 UTC
I tried Spectacle on a fresh and updated KDE Neon user edition install to rule out Arch. Same settings as my previous reply.
An existing Spectacle window not reopening after taking a hotkey screenshot happens there the same.

As for the process continuing to run after the window closes, it seems it's due to "After taking a screenshot: Copy image to clipboard"?
If I set "After taking a screenshot: Do not copy anything" the process does end after the window closes with the hotkey screenshot, even if it took a screenshot prior. But that's still a problem, since Spectacle should still be reopening the window on hotkey screenshots as well.
Comment 6 Nick 2024-07-23 09:47:34 UTC
Actually, a quick and easy way to experience this issue is to put the Fedora KDE ISOs of 39 and 40 on a drive with Ventoy.
Spectacle works as expected on 39's live environment, and the issue occurs on 40's live environment as previously outlined.

Fedora 39 KDE live environment:
Plasma 5.27.8
Spectacle 23.08.1

* Open a Spectacle window
* Press meta+printscreen to take a screenshot
* Spectacle window closes, window opens again showing the captured screenshot

Fedora 40 KDE live environment:
Plasma 6.0.3
Spectacle 24.02.1

* Open a spectacle window
* Press meta+printscreen to take a screenshot
* Spectacle window closes, window doesn't open again (with process still running)
* Additionally, the Spectacle window does still close and reopen showing the captured screenshot if any of the buttons in the UI are used instead